Bocas, Bocas, Bocas…what is there to say about this spectacular chain of islands off the northern Caribbean coast of Panama? I suppose one could start with all the typical island attributes: deserted white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise water, unbelievable wildlife, stunning mangroves, cool reggae island vibe; really the list goes on and on. But these brochure clichés don’t even touch the true magic of this amazing ecological paradise. It is a place where conventional time stops. In fact, the only reason to look at a clock is to find out if happy hour has started yet.
Bocas del Toro, Panama is made up of several larger and smaller sized islands with less than 10,000 total inhabitants. The main island, Isla Colón, is the largest and most populated containing the most restaurants and accommodations. All of the other islands in the stunning archipelago, including Isla Bastimentos and Isla Cristobal are accessible by water taxis.  Although Bocas (as it is largely known) is one of Panama’s most popular tourist destinations, it remains largely unpolluted by large-scale development, which means compared to other popular tourist destinations it is extremely inexpensive.

In fact, life in Bocas is like no other. There is a laid-back, relaxed feeling in the air that defies description. You have to be there to feel its impossible charisma. While each Bocas experience is unique with its own crazy stories, my seven days in Bocas pretty much consisted of waking up, laughing about the wild goings-on of the previous night, leaving to a new beach on a new island, returning after several hours, starting drinking, bar-hopping, partying, and eventually heading to bed around 4 in the morning. It is true, Bocas is a place you may end up wondering, “what the hell was I thinking last night,” but once again, that is all apart of its charm.

For those uninterested in partying, although sights like relentlessly shoeless bartenders and bar side water trampolines really make the bar scene one of Boca’s biggest attractions, there is still a ton to explore and enjoy. For example, the snorkeling and scuba is wonderful as is wildlife watching and hiking. You can choose to stay in a very inexpensive youth hostel or in luxury accommodations.

In addition to the screensaver picturesque environment, the cultural diversity of the island is a true gem. There is an incredible mix of Afro-Caribbean inhabitants who migrated from Jamaica, a variety of indigenous tribes including the Ngobe and the Teribe, and a community of ex-pats from all over the world who came to Bocas on vacation and never left. Although the official language is Spanish, English and French are spoken almost everywhere.

Truly, the most amazing feature about the place is the people. Everyone is so laid-back and chill you end up hanging out with people from all over who become your closest friends if only for a week. My advice is to stay in a hostel and meet as many characters possible. Because Bocas is a little hard to get to—for instance, form Costa Rica I took two buses, crossed a rickety old bridge across the Panama border, took a taxi, then a water taxi, then finally another water taxi—only the most dedicated backpackers travel there. However, the trip is a must, especially if you are studying abroad or traveling through Central America. I suggest staying as long as possible to soak up the life where every thing seems funnier, more relaxed and more beautiful.

In the city it’s typical to pay less than $5 for a taxi ride to just about any reasonable distance from your hotel including the regional airport. In the small communities of Boquete and Bocas taxi fares drop to $2 or less. Although the town of Bocas is small dragging luggage down Main Street in the heat and humidity can be a pain. Here te taxis will typically charge 50 cents to take you to your hotel.

For getting around the country you can go back-packer-frugal and get from one end of the country to the other for under $20 but the best way to get around is by air.

Panama has two regional airlines - Aeroperlas and AirPanama. They flit around the country to dozens of locations each day and for a pleasantly low amount. A week ago I took a taxi from the Atlanta Airport to a hotel in Suwannee, about a 30 minute ride. The one way fare was over $100. In Panama I can fly all the way from Panama City to David or Bocas del Toro, about a 1 hour flight, for just $75!

On our first visit we were focused solely on Bocas del Toro. While perusing the EscapeArtist website I discovered some really exciting articles about getting rich growing Teak & Noni while living the good life in the Caribbean. If you read my letter about Bocas at LearnAboutPanama.com you now know it was a scam. However, the scam artist himself did give us one good piece of advice. He suggested that if we were coming to see Bocas we might as well check out the rest of the country. He recommended a town called Boquete in the mountains, said is was lovely and quite different. If that suggestion had not been made we would never have discovered our piece of Panama Paradise. That led us to create our Panama Travel Triangle. We would fly from Panama City to Bocas then across to David and return to Panama City from David. It really is a very convenient way to explore most of the country in a short period of time. PC to Bocas costs $75, and Bocas to David $39 inclusive of taxes.

Another adventure is taking the train from Panama City to the Port of Colon - the Freezone. The train leaves Panama from the Corozal terminal around 7AM. It takes about 45-60 minutes to get to Colon. The return leaves Colon at 5:30. The last time I checked it was about $35 round trip and $20 one way. It’s a good idea to buy your tickets in advance as the train is often booked full by Cruise Ship passengers. This railroad was originally built to connect the city of Colon on the Atlantic (Caribbean) to Panama city on the Pacific. This was the very first transcontinental railroad in the Americas. A cautionary note - an entire day is a long time to spend in Colon. Although you can get some great deals in the Freezone this is one of the worst parts of Panama for crime. I suggest you plan ahead to get out of Colon City as quickly as you can. You might want to explore the beautiful Caribbean communities and islands on the coast. Look to Portobello or even a day on the beach at Isla Grande.

The Pan-American Highway (Carretera Panamericana), commonly known as the Inter-Americana, stretches from the Costa Rican border in the west across the country into the heart of the Darien province. There it stops about 50 miles from the Columbian border. The Darien Gap is this area along the border between Colombia and Panama. It is a lush rain forest with one of the highest degrees of bio-diversity in the entire world. The Pan-Am Highway is a real treat by Central American standards, and in some cases even North American standards! It is well maintained and there are plenty of food and gas stops all the way across the Isthmus. The trickiest part of driving in Panama is in the cities and getting out of Panama City itself. Be sure to read my directions at LearnAboutPanama.com Taxis are so cheap I recommend getting about by cab within the city and then picking up your rental car when you are just ready to leave.

Buen Viaje! Happy Tavels!

Mark has been there and done it! He moved to the warm, stable Republic of Panama. With his wife and two sons he travelled throughout the country and learned how to Safely Invest in Panama Real Estate. Panama City, Bocas del Toro & Boquete - Now you can follow this family journey discovering the best places to eat, stay, live and invest. Learn more about Mark’s adventures at http://www.LearnAboutPanama.com

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“The helicopter tour of this coastline is unbelievable,” states the president of one of the largest resort development groups in the U.S. “I have never seen so much undeveloped, beautiful, Caribbean beachfront in my life! It is almost impossible to know where to even start and it is inevitable that the major resort players will begin staking out their territory in this developing region.”

All indications are that this professional is right about Panama’s Caribbean secret. Panama has primarily developed along its Pacific coast, due in part to the InterAmerican Highway that links North and Central America. The Pacific side is attractive to investors and travelers, but it also has temperamental weather patterns, a 15- to 20-foot tide change and the beaches simply can’t compare to those on the Caribbean side. Despite the negatives, Panama has seen its Pacific beachfront property values escalate to over US$400,000 an acre in developments such as Coronado and El Valle.

It is only a matter of time before the tide turns to the Caribbean side of Panama. Panama mounted an extremely successful multimillion dollar marketing campaign through the BBDO and Ketchum Agencies in 2002, and, of course, Panama’s Caribbean gold mine was featured prominently (http://www.visitpanama.com).

Panama has everything required to support its billion-dollar, Caribbean development. In terms of tourism, the country has four hundred years of Spanish history, one hundred years of international influence and 14 years of Democracy, a diversity that appeals to world travelers. It also has more varied destinations to travel to than most of the top tourist destinations in the world. In fact, Panama has “found its place” on the Caribbean tourist map in the past seven years in locations such as the Bocas del Toro Archipelago and the San Blas Islands. Panama has also been constantly recognized as one of the safest places to travel in the world.

But that’s not all. Panama has modern air transportation and new, modern highways and tollways that are going to provide complete access to this Caribbean paradise over the next few years. Panama has the most modern and extensive banking center in Latin America, has earned the title of the fiber-optic hub of the Americas, has exquisite dining and five-star hotels, and the U.S. dollar as its main currency. With all this, full Internet traction and the prolific infrastructure that Panama has it should gain the recognition in five years that it took Costa Rica twelve years to achieve.

The combination of Panama’s strong points spells opportunity for San Cristobal International (a private Investment Promotion Agency that helps individuals and institutional investors participate in the expansion of Panama’s touristic zones), which has sold over 45 Caribbean, waterfront lots in the last eleven months. “We have seen a hyper-increase in our website traffic statistics and a steady flow of investors coming to Panama with their eyes wide open,” states Tom McMurrain of SCI (www.sancristobalsa.net). “We have worked 18 hours a day for the last year trying to keep up with the momentum that this country has, it is incredible!”

To sum up, Panama has the potential to become a world-class tourist destination and a dominant business center for companies looking to cash in on its Caribbean “Gold Coast” boom. Now is the time to make the move to Panama if you are interested in exceptional land prices and want to enjoy the unspoiled and undeveloped regions of this beautiful country.

For media information or to schedule interviews, contact media@sancristobalsa.net, 1-866-811-5324 (U.S.) or at +507-322-0913 (Panama).

About San Cristobal Land Development, Inc.
http://www.sancristobalsa.net

San Cristobal Land Development (SCLD) is a leading developer of Emerging Growth Real Estate in the Caribbean. Through SCLD, investors have access to a portfolio of international properties that have been hand-selected by a real estate and marketing team that has a proven track record of identifying emerging-growth destinations, properties and opportunities. These may have unique timing value, have suffered media damage or simply possess infrastructure improvement opportunities.

SCLD offers carefully executed programs that bring value to its investors. Investors benefit from a solid return on their money while it works, and SCLD offers tremendous upside potential that our customers benefit from before we do. This “customer-first” mentality has provided SCLD with a global network of real-estate purchasers seeking our opportunities.

For more information, contact:

San Cristobal International
Panama City, Panama
Toll Free: 1-866-811-5324
Tel: +507-322-0913
Email: media@sancristobalsa.net
Website: http://www.sancristobalsa.net

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Those travelers who are more into adventurous and active endeavors while visiting the Caribbean can spend your days with plenty of exciting activities. Try the popular sports of tennis and golf if you enjoy a little friendly competition. There are watersports and underwater exploration for those who want to get their feet wet. And nature-friendly eco-oriented endeavors allow you to become one with the great outdoors. All you have to do is decide which activity interests you the most, and you’re ready for all kinds of adventures during your visit to the beautiful and exciting Caribbean.

Caribbean Sports

A lot of hotels and resorts in the Caribbean have packages especially for tennis and golf players to accommodate sports-minded travelers. A lot of the major resorts in the region have tennis courts on location that are available to their guests and by reservations for those who aren’t staying at the hotel. A lot of the time hotels with tennis courts will offer tennis instruction for various fees, so even if you’re a beginner player, you can still enjoy some great tennis action on your vacation in the Caribbean.

If you happen to be in the Caribbean at just the right time, or if you plan a little bit in advance, you may be able to catch a professional tennis tournament during your stay. If you want to spend the daytime hours relaxing and soaking up some sun, a lot of hotels have lighted courts, so you can hit the courts at night, which may also be more comfortable than playing in the hot Caribbean sun. Keep in mind that you may have to pay a little extra for the luxury of lighting.

In order to guarantee that you get some much-coveted court time in the Caribbean, contact your hotel or other resorts near where you’ll be staying to see if they have courts available, if the courts are illuminated, and how much it costs to play. There are several islands in the Caribbean where vacationers can go to find great tennis courts and facilities, including the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica, which feature resorts that provide special tennis packages and top-notch facilities.

Golf is also a popular sport for many people visiting to the Caribbean. Golf can be a laid-back and relaxing outing, as well as provide some exciting competition. The beautiful tropical weather in the Caribbean is just right for enjoying a game of golf almost any time of year, and many of the region’s courses are located in beautiful breathtaking settings among majestic mountains and tropical greenery. Vacationers can find great golf courses throughout the Caribbean, but especially on the larger islands. The majority of courses are available to visitors and offer equipment for rental as well as golf lessons for various fees. The expenses of golfing on particular greens will vary from course to course, and can range from extremely pricey to budget play, so check ahead with the course or golf resort.

Golf players can find courses in the Caribbean that were designed by world renowned golfers and expert course designers. You can find exciting golf courses and golf resorts on many Caribbean islands with some of the best being in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.

Making Waves

During your visit to the Caribbean, you’ll be surrounded by the amazing sapphire waters of the Caribbean Sea and sparkling Atlantic Ocean, so you’ll have access to a wide variety of watersports and other aquatic endeavors, like snorkeling, scuba diving, and fishing, just to name a few.

People from around the world come to the Caribbean to enjoy its offshore activities in the region’s warm, clear, blue waters. Beneath the calm surface of the Caribbean waters is a wondrous world of colorful and exotic ocean wildlife including brilliant fish and coral. Because of its fascinating underwater habitats, the Caribbean features some of the most popular dive destinations in the world, and is home to various resorts and hotels that focus especially on the diving aspect of visiting the Caribbean by offering special dive package.

Dive resorts and many hotels offer their guests equipment rental for scuba diving and snorkeling, and even provide scuba diving lessons and certification, because you must have a license and some instruction in order to get the most out of your diving experience.

Volcanic vents, Coral reefs, old shipwrecks, as well as other underwater formations make great places for scuba divers to explore, and can be an unforgettable experience for vacationers of all ages. The cost of your dive or snorkeling excursion will vary according to the kind of dive you take, when you go, and what kind of certification you want to get. Travelers can find great dive spots all over the Caribbean, but especially on the Cayman and Virgin Islands.

Other water-based pursuits that vacationers can enjoy while vacationing in the Caribbean include fantastic watersports like fishing which is a popular activity for many who visit the Caribbean, which has a countless number of fish species dwelling beneath the surface of the crystal blue waters. In recent years, windsurfing has become an extremely popular watersport in the region. Also, there is kayaking, parasailing, water rafting, and many other ways to enjoy the waves of the salty Caribbean.

Ecological Activities

For a lot of travelers, a trip to the Caribbean is the perfect chance to get back to nature. Several islands in the region boast lush landscapes and are home to a variety of exotic animal species. Travelers who are more ecologically aware can experience nature in the Caribbean in a number of ways, such as through hiking, camping, and mountain biking. To find out more information about outdoor excursions and nature-related activities, the best place to start is your hotel information desk, which may be able to provide you with maps of the island, the names and numbers of rental companies where you can get camping equipment and mountain bikes, and information on local guides that you can hire to show you around island trails.

Hiking is good exercise and can be a great way to see parts of islands that can’t be reached by car. Hikers can pick from a few different levels of hiking difficulty, from leisurely strolls to brisk uphill hikes and more strenuous treks. Mountain biking is also another way to get off the beaten path and see areas of the island you couldn’t see by staying in the city limits. Take a trip up the side of a volcano, visit a cascading waterfall, or do some exotic birdwatching. In the Caribbean the ecological possibilities are endless.

If you want your vacation to be an active and exciting one while in Caribbean, you won’t be at a loss for things to do in this amazing region of the world, which is rich in various sports and activities. You’re sure to have a memorable experience while enjoying active pursuits in the Caribbean.

About The Author

Danielle Mitchell writes for http://Caribbean-Guide.info , http://Jamaica-Guide.info , and other Segisys travel Web sites. © 2005, Interactive Internet Websites, Inc. Article may only be reprinted if it is not modified in any way, and if all links remain live.

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Bocas del Toro Panama : Pristine tropical rainforests slope towards the Talamanca and Central mountains. The province is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Veraguas province to the east, Chiriqui province to the south and Costa Rica to the west. Offshore lay wait to a wonderland of coral reefs teeming with marine life surrounded by an Archipelago of mangroves and white sandy beach Islands and some surf. Here is a surf video from bocas del toro. .

The 1,684 square mile/ 4,632 square kilometer province is made up of primarily four main towns Chiriqui Grande, Changuinola, Almirante on the mainland and Bocas del Toro Town the province Capitol. Bocas province population of 90,000 represents a more diverse mix of ethnicities and nationalities than anywhere in the country outside of Panama City. The islands have long been home to four indigenous tribes the Ngobe, Bugle, Bri-Bri and Naso. Due to Bocas rich history of Spaniards, pirates, banana plantations and now burgeoning expatriate community the ethnic mix also includes banana and canal worker descendents from Africa, Columbia, Jamaica, and the French Antilles, and an International Expatriate population that was tallied in 2003 to include 50 Nations.

One is more likely to hear English spoken here than in any other Panamanian province, however predominantly Spanish is spoken and some Guaymi and Teribe from local Indians lending to a unique Bocas slang. This unique melting pot of food, music and cultures creates a laid back Jimmy Buffet, Paradise.
 
Previously only know by some Panamanian tourists, adventuresome surfers and a trickling of a few brave backpackers, Bocas has become the hottest new tourist spot in panama. Where have 12 countries filmed their Survivor series including France, Spain, Italy and Russia? The answer is the exotic Bocas del Toro Archipelago. During the last few years bocas has seen an explosion of new settlers from Europe and the US, establishing a new infrastructure of quaint hotels diverse restaurants and exotic resorts. The Investment opportunities have been amazing and will continue to draw both Entrepreneurs and those desiring a near perfect retirement option for years to come. CLICK HERE FOR BOCAS NEWEST PROJECT 

 It is an outdoor lover’s paradise with diving, fishing, boating, kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, horseback riding and white water rafting. This region, considered the most geographically diverse in the Caribbean, is also a nature lover’s dream come true. Bocas del Toro Panama is one of the few places in the world that can boast of being the home to a fully functional research facility owned and operated by the Smithsonian Institution. that Eco-tourism is coming of age in Bocas del Toro Panama Eco-tourism is coming of age in Bocas, and why not, with unspoiled coral reefs, a magnificent rain forests and miles of unspoiled beaches within close proximity. If nature is your thing, you will find quality jungle tours, river tours, island tours, bird watching and turtle watching expeditions.

The charm of Bocas del Toro Panama is found not only in the people and the aquatic paradise but also in the laid back life style it affords. The all wood structures many weathered by age bring you into a world both Jimmy Buffet and Humphrey Bogart would fell right at home in. Bocas offers a true flash back in time when life was simpler with fewer stresses and no problems man. If you’re looking to do nothing or be very adventuresome you have found your perfect spot. Bocas is one of Panama’s top tourist attractions and with good reason. Where else can you enjoy beautiful beaches with scarcely a soul in sight and rainforests so fine Lonely Planet Guide calls them “a biologists fantasy”.

 SOURCE: panama-travel-bureau.com

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There is an almost magical quality to the Chiriqui highlands. This is a land of peaceful vistas, rushing rivers, gigantic flumes of rainbow covered waterfalls, terraced farmlands and rolling misty hills. The Highlands has a sense of aristocracy with all the new thoroughbred horse breeding stables being built by the influx of retiring Europeans. One can only imagine the poetic vista of majestic peaks surrounding emerald carpeted pastures with galloping herds of horses racing through wild flowers towards a trickling brook.

The Lowlands are dry and hot even stifling at times. The lack of wind in the area lends to a feeling that the earth’s moisture is being squeezed out and steam is actually wafting up your legs. .

SOURCE: panama-travel-bureau.com

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The capital of Colon province is Colon city, which is located at the entrance to the Panama Canal on the Caribbean side. It is a bustling port city of around 200,000 residents and Panama’s second largest city, Colon was founded in 1850 when the Panama railroad was constructed connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts includes a new cruise ship terminal, and is also famous for it’s Free Zone. The city of Colon remains essentially an industrial area.

The province of Colon is also famous for the port city of Portobelo, which was named by Christopher Columbus in 1502, and means “beautiful harbor”. Portobelo National Park also lies within Colon Province. There are two Spanish forts to visit in Portobelo. The Santiago de Gloria Fort protected from pirates the Customs Building ,where gold was kept before it was shipped to Spain. The Fort of San Lorenzo perched high on a cliff at the mouth of the Chagres River, frequently came under attack by pirates, including the infamous Captain Henry Morgan, and British war ships. Its crumbling ramparts contrast against the lush green jungle foliage. Just offshore from Colon is the lush tropical island of Isla Grande. Known throughout the region for its coral reefs and excellent snorkeling and scuba diving, this pristine island caters to day-trippers.

Colon is most famous for the “Free Zone”.The Colon Free Zone is a major distribution center at the Atlantic gateway to the Panama Canal, primarily dedicated to the re-export of an enormous variety of merchandise to Latin America and the Caribbean.The success of the Colon Free Zone is reflected in the more than 400 hectares and 1,800 established companies and 250,000 visitors a year. Most of the goods originate in the Far East and Europe. Tourists are allowed to shop duty free when presenting their passport.

SOURCE: panama-travel-bureau.com

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Water. The world is 80% water and we are between 70 and 80%. Water is very important to our existence but when buying a home site I forgot how important it was. Panama is told by all to have safe drinking water….well…almost all of Panama and almost all of the time. It turns out Bocas is well known for having not so safe drinking water quite often, just look at any guide book on Panama and in it’s chapter on Bocas it is one of the first things they tell you. Of course no realtor told me this nor did they tell me of water rationing over the last couple of years because of sporadic rain. Living on the Island or barrier Islands can give few good options for water, you are living off , “The Grid”. Most use their roofs to collect and reuse rain water in their homes. Others that have access to running water often find it contaminated. I would prefer to live on a waterfront lot but be where I could drill a well for drinking water. A private well is between $10,000 and $15,000 so I would suggest a small community that would share the costs and the benefits of such a well.

Electricity.At home we take this utility for granted. We are told when researching Panama of how cheap electricity is, 6 cents a kilowatt. That of course assumes one thing, that ETESA, (Panama’s National Power Company) actually has power lines for you to connect to. Well if you don’t then you hear about the romantic term again of living off the grid, power grid that is. Now your choices are much more limited and much more expensive. If you are on the Island you may have access to their private utility, but the costs are now 12 -13 cents a kilowatt hour and much less dependable. If you want to become your own Private utility using solar power, diesel generators or a combination then the cost and inconveniences can be considerable. I would find a home site that is waterfront but still has a real utility, the ETESA.

ROP vs. Titled land.Well I won’t say much that hasn’t been said before on this one. Many lawsuits have ensued from people thinking they would own outright their land in a title only to find it ROP land. I remember people in the USA that were in mobile home parks didn’t have titles to their land but held similarly to ROP. I thought it was a bad deal then and I think it is a bad deal now. Find out how many Banks won’t lend to ROP land. My home site would be on titled land.

True costs to build your Dream home.I did not know that a regular pressure treated 2x 4 on the mainland costs only $3.20 but by the time you get it to your Island it now averages $8.21 for the same 2 x 4. A bag of cement that costs $5.00 on the mainland costs $9.60 on the Islands. Everything has to be shipped and sometimes disassembled shipped then reassembled. You get a much smaller home for much more money if you decide to build on an Island. Now try to move your couch, dresser, big screen onto the Island. My good value quickly became a money pit. My perfect home site would be a Waterfront lot on the Mainland.

Location,Location,Location!Location is much more than just a pretty view. Find out if your lot is either water locked or land locked. Many people buy island property but the water is to shallow for anything more than a small skiff. Try crossing a choppy bay for groceries or worse for a medical emergency in just a small shallow skiff. Some buy wonderful Waterfront mainland acreage only to find no road access and pitiful water access. My lot would be in a Waterfront community with deepwater access and good road access.

Missed adventuresMany people fly to Bocas and never leave the Island. Yes many great adventures can be found in the seas of Bocas archipelago, but that is only half or less of what Bocas has to offer. In the states there use to be books about cities called “tank away” books. These books detailed all the adventures that could be found by car on a tank of gas. I have never seen a city that has more tank away adventures than can be found in Bocas. However try and safely maintain a working auto while living on an island nothing to be said about the added inconvenience. My Waterfront home site would be in a community on the mainland with good road access.

Bocas is one of the last truly magical places left to live in.Follow these things to look for in a new home site and maybe just maybe you’ll find your Dream Home the first time in Bocas

About the Author

Article authored by James H. Furthin a seasoned Expat who has fallen in love with Bocas.Submitted 3-20-2007

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I checked into Hotel Bahia, which is really quite a funny little place. Above all the history that surrounds it, as the converted headquarters of The United Fruit Company, it has these loveable little quirks. For beginners, everything in my room is opposite: you push the light switch down to turn on the lights, you turn the cold water nozzle in the shower for warm water, and the you pull the toilet handle upwards to flush—to such an extent that it’s almost practical joke-ish.

The owner Tito was a grateful host and like a proud general showing off his war scars, Tito gave me the full, and I mean full, hotel history. The hotel slowly transformed from a deserted government address to a fully-functioning tourism hotspot over the course of the past 30 years and today, Tito is deservedly proud to tell you how it all went down.

I ate breakfast at Shelly’s BBQ, where the atmosphere couldn’t be any further its western sounding namesake. It sits off the main drag in Bocas and the only reason I stumbled upon it was because I was lost. Crammed into a ping pong table-sized space sat four wobbly tables accompanied by several rotting wooden stools. The menu was etched in Spanish chicken scratch on the wall and asked no more than $2 for an item. Stacks of soon-to-be recycled beer bottles rested in the corner and sand covered the floor. I ordered the first thing on the menu, suspiciously called “sandwich”. What arrived was great: a toasty brown flour tortilla over-stuffed with a beef and a bright and crunchy cucumber salsa. The breakfast of champions

I’m keenly becoming accustomed to this stuff. Places where you help yourself to beers at the bar. Places where it’s ok to wander in shirt-less. And places where the only attitude is the mutt (photo) or rooster searching hungrily for scraps. Places where no one looks at you funny for sitting alone or walking in with sandy or muddy feet. I’ve grown to really love it—the stiff bouncer and tightly-wound maitre’d, now becoming distant, almost alien things to me. Dress codes and table manners, contentedly just a thing of my past.

For lunch I decided to go in search of the famed “sushi sandwich”: a meal that, according to all my co-workers, I “had to have” while in Bocas. I asked a young delivery boy in the lobby of my hotel where to find an Asian-fusion restaurant called Limongrass—and he directed me enthusiastically. I walked down the main street and loved what I saw—this hilarious blend of Caribbean, hippie and Latin cultures. Crunchy people with dreadlocks and Birkenstocks, squinty-eyed tourists with fanny packs, and hard-at-work locals with giant sacks of yucca root on their backs—totally microcosmic. Following the instructions, I opened the door to the restaurant only to hear a sharp and seemingly aggressive voice from the back squeal out “We’re closed.” “How could you be closed on a Thursday afternoon?” I asked the faceless voice. “We just are! Alright?” Limongrass was closed on Thursdays. And their employees were obnoxious. How odd. I began to debate my next move, as the same delivery fellow from my hotel lobby passed by on his rusty beach cruiser. “It’s closed on Thursdays” I told him. “How could they be closed on Thursdays?” “They just are!” I witted back.

Suddenly, the young delivery boy was my only hope. Limongrass was my only recommendation in Bocas and I wanted a memorable meal! In desperation, I asked him where he ate lunch, figuring that had to be the next best thing. If I wasn’t going to have my sushi sandwich I was going to find some real Panamanian food. I didn’t want the timbales and napoleons, the au jus’ or the pom frite’s. I had this sudden, almost possessed, urge for down-home Panama food. I wanted the real stuff and granted, Bocas wasn’t the best place to find it…but dammit I’d try. The delivery boy, Silvio, told me where he ate lunch—a rustic little buffet on the main drag. I offered to buy him lunch and he obliged. He said he had to go to the bank and he’d meet me out front in 10 minutes. Eating like the locals—Oh right!

I waited innocently at the bar, clearly not belonged. I tried to look busy, scanning through my cell phone directory and drawing empty martian scribbles in my notebook. I asked for a beer with ice, trying to blend in, since that’s what everyone else was drinking. Then in due time, I ordered a second, then a third. I began to think Silvio had abandoned me—told the gullible gringo to wait at some small restaurant while he biked off as fast and as far away from me as possible. But finally, who comes rolling up on his four-speed, but the all-knowing Silvio. It was time for lunch. We ordered whole fish and ate the succulent, smoky flesh with our fingers, sipping on chichas of watermelon and tangerine juice. The habanero sauce on the table was named Devils Inferno: mind-bogglingly hot. Lunch for the two of us cost about $4 though I would gladly have paid more. A boat sit out on the dock so i snapped a pic.

After an ill-deserved yet well-needed 2 hour rest, I was somehow hungry again. Bocas has an impressive gauntlet of ethnic restaurants, gourmet cafes, and local joints. You’ve got this crunchy demographic: backpackers who’d be happy eating bananas and water all day—and then you have the fancier people who wouldn’t accept an overcooked bead of risotto. After asking a few people where they recommend I eat, I wandered into a pier directly across the street from my hotel. It was, what looked like, an old run-down fishery or docking station with war scars and that familiar peeling Caribbean-turquoise paint. I had a seat at the bar and started chatting with the bartender—Cathy, a short, rather squatty girl—who recommended I order the Pargo filets since they had just been loaded off the boat. Her recommendation was great—two nice sized fish filets that, in a seriously delicious way, tasted like the ocean. While you’re dining on the water’s edge its hard to complain about anything. Slow service suddenly becomes distracted by amazing sunsets. Mediocre food is oddly considered acceptable. And high prices are somehow justified. The Reef is the poster child for this phenomenon and I was loving it.

I was tired from a day’s…cough cough…hard work and research, so I hit the hay sack. Laying in bed, I ran through the three good meals I had under my belt. I was looking forward to the culinary cosmos I would uncover in the days to come. I passed out watching the movie Legally Blonde—really a funny movie. I’d never seen it before but it was pretty darn funny. Ah. Man. Pretty funny.

Matt Landau is a self-proclaimed “international man of mystery”. For short, friends just call him “Mystery”. You can read all of his bizare international adventures at http://www.thepanamareport.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Landau

SOURCE: panama-travel-bureau.com

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The rainy season in Bocas takes place from December through January and then again June through August, however this season rarely produces enough rain to ruin a vacation. The dry season runs from February through May and during this period it is not uncommon to miss the raindrops all together. However, since we are in the tropics, short storms can come and go at any time. The great part about this tropical positioning though, is that we enjoy warm temperatures and light ocean breezes all year round.

Sometimes small storms can swing through but they usually do not last very long. More often, are the stretches of bright sunlight and clean skies. The most common wind direction in Bocas del Toro, Panama is North and there are several popular spots for surfing.

For the most part, Bocas enjoys calm sea conditions. Because Bocas del Toro is an archipelago, many of the islands protect it from rough weather and high seas. These outlying islands also make for a picture perfect horizon line.

Most people say that the best time to visit Bocas del Toro is in the Fall and Spring when there is the least rain and the clearest waters. But in reality, almost year-round you can find a sunny beach to enjoy. Bocas’ terrific climate is perfect for snorkeling and boating trips as well as all other water-related activities. For the less adventurous members of your family, this may simply translate into relaxing afternoons at the beach.

Matt works with the best Bocas del Toro hotel as well as another Bocas del toro panama hotel

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Landau

Living Third World Style
By Matt Landau Platinum Quality Author

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