Blogs from Bocas Del Toro, Panama, Central America Caribbean - page 13

THE ISLANDS OF BOCAS DEL TORO We crossed the border at Sixaiola. This was the first border crossing we attempted on our own so given the chaotic nature of the last border we were a bit anxious at the prospect of getting into Panama on our todd with about 10 words of Spanish between us.. However, it turned out to be easy really. This crossing is for pedestrians only so you must walk across a rickety old railway bridge over a river and into Panama. Once your on the other side there are plenty of locals eager to guide you through the process; hoping you’ll use their taxi to get where you going when you’re finished. If you fly out of Costa Rica there is a $26 departure tax, but it cost us nothing to leave ... read more

Hi all, This is Nitzan, and I am going to write you about Bocas Del Toro. From Boqute we took a bus to a city called David, from there we took another bus to a town called Almirante, and from there we had to take a boat to Isla Colon, so on the bus we asked the driver if there are still boats at 6:00 p.m. when we arrive and he said there are no, Why didn't you say so before? before we arrived Almirante. Anyway we had to get off the bus and look for a hotel, you know it was not that easy as you think, the bus drops you a few meters out of town and you need to look for where to sleep. Luckily there are no hotels/ hostels in town there ... read more

friday 3/26 Another day I was looking forward to. We knew we would be working on the reforestation project today. Reforestation is basically: "the restocking of existing forests and woodlands which have been depleted." We hoped on the motor boat and drove to a secluded location....a secluded, marshy location. There were extra ankle length boots waiting for us, thankfully. The mud we'd be walking in would cover our ankles. I put on plenty of sunblock....except for my back!! And face! Normally I am very anal about covering my face...this time I simply forgot, but my back got the brunt of it. Erick and Neil carried the heavy trays of plants out from the motor boat. There were three other locals there that did not speak english but were very grateful to have us there. Our job ... read more

thurs 3/25 This was one of the hottest days yet. But a day I was excited for because we'd be going to the manatee platform to feed them!! It was a "free day" for Neil, so he had the day off to go explore and be a tourist in the nearby cities. So, Shen, Erick, and I went to do the "Aquatic path" The Aquatic path is basically the river....but we'd turn on little narrow mangroves to reach the manatee platform. We took a tiny motor boat and road out to the path....once we got there, it was too narrow and too shallow to use the motor so all three of us rowed!! Little ole' me was rowin' a boat!! My shoulders and arms hurt, of course. Geez, Im out of shape! but I kept thinking, ... read more

scenery and animals around San San Ponds. I have to say, from what I've seen of Panama, it is stunningly beautiful! Sure, I really only stayed at the camp area for the volunteer project, and I didnt get to see any large cities, or the canal or whatever, but from what I have seen of Panama, I absolutly love it. Shen, Neil and I went swimming in the river to cool off every afternoon. The water is a brownish-green-blue, depending how it looks for that day and who knows how dirty it is, but it certainly is refreshing! I kept wondering if piranah's were in there, lol. I took several pics of animals, as you can see. We had a very IRRITATING rooster whom I nicknamed "middle finger rooster" EVERY DAY that damn thing would crow. ... read more