Cahuita -Bocas del Toro (February 24th - 25th, 2007)

Cahuita - The small town of Cahuita located 1km off the main road is a sleepy laid back community where north of town is a black sand beach, and north is the Cahuita National Park, a narrow strip of beach protection with a Coral Reef. The trail takes about 3 hours
We arrive around mid afternoon and find shelter at Bobo Shanti; a colorfully painted hostel in red, green, and gold. A rasta-relax place with four two-bed rooms with fan, shower for $12.00/night. We went to eat at Miss Ediths' which was described by the lonely planet as almost legendary with nice people, good food, and plenty of Caribbean style. I ordered a coconut vegetable curry and the only thin legendary was how long we had to wait to eat. The curry was very bland.

The next morning, Scott and I awoke the next morning and went to explore the Parque National Cahuita and were greeted to a loud tribe of howler monkeys in the canopy above. As we ventured further along the beach path, a Seattle native, and her two young sons joined us we viewed Basilisk lizards, the lizards that can run on water, and some friendly white-faced monkeys. No snakes so far, whew. Later in the day, we caught the bus to Sixapla on a twisty windy scary pot hole infested trail where the passengers behind us vomited at will. At the border, we walked across an old United Fruit railroad bridge and paid $5.00 for tourist visas to cross. From the border, Scott and I bartered with a private driver to take us to the dock to catch a boat to Bocas del Toro.


Bocas del Toro (Bulls' Mouth) - Northwest Coast of Panama
Panama's Caribbean banana-growing region has historical links with Columbus's fourth voyage and with the black slaves imported to work the plantations. Ports of varying age and activity lie on the Laguna de Chiriqui, provide the alternated land route to Costa Rica. The banana railway that was wiped out in the 1940/50's by disease is now the small commerical port city of Almirante, which today, serves as a transit point for tourists heading to the Bocas Archipelago. United Fruit with newer disease resistant bananas is still very active her. Across the bay from Almirante are the rain forests, reefs, and beaches of the Bocas islands. The most important of which is Isla Colon. The protected bay offers all forms of water sports and diving, beautiful sunrises and sunsets. All the islands, Isla Colon, Isla Basimientos, Isla San Cristobal, Isla Popa, and Isla Carenero harbour plentous wildlife but especially those east of Colon where tropical birds, butterflies, red, yellow, orange frogs, and a great variety of other wildlife abound. For some, this is being called the new Galapagos, but as in that fragile paradise, attraction and concern walk hand in hand. Formerly a major banana producer, the industry failed to revive alongside the mainland plantations and the major sources of income are now fishing and tourism. Bocas del Toro town, where most visitors stay is on the southeast tip of the island. Most activity takes place around the broad main street - Calle 3 - and the leafy square of Simon Bolivar. English is spoken by most of the black population and is home to the largest Panamanian population outside of the canal zone.