Adios Panamá

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Still in the Christmas spirit (which admittedly felt somewhat awkward on they beach in a tropical Costa Rica), I entered Panamá at Chanquinola with only a few days remaining in 2006, and headed to the Caribbean hotspot of Bocas del Toros in the north-east of the country to ring in the New Year in style. The laid-back reggae & rasta island of Bastimentos became my base for the stay there exploring virgin beaches and neighboring islands.

Next the road led me via Almirante and David to the mountain highland of Boquete. The region around Boquete and mountain Barú was beautifully picturesque, offered great rain forest and mountain walks, cool nights, steaming hot springs and indigenous culture. From there passing through David and the Chiriquí cow-boy region I arrived in the capital of Panama City with the purpose of finding a boat to Colombia. Little did I know that I would “be stuck” there for 2 weeks until stepping on the boat and setting sail. This gave me plenty of time to explore the many highlights of this lively city: ocean side walks, colonial down town, the Panama canal, residential areas, business districts, museums, a cowboy rodeo, a Jazz festival (featuring a unique blend of Jazz and Latin music) and of course the amazing nightlife.

Onward the road led to the Caribbean ocean and then along the scenic ocean road to Portobelo to meet the captain of our boat who would take us to Colombia. But before leaving Panamá I spent two wonderful days exploring the paradise islands of San Blas snorkeling, walking along white sand beaches or playing football with the natives. Finally it was time to bid farewell after one month in Panamá as the 9 meter Tarona sail boat left behind the last of the San Blas islands and crossed into international waters.