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Published: July 10th 2010
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The border crossing from Costa Rica was very quick and easy. The immigration official on the Panama side asked me if I had a return ticket (a condition of entry) and I simply told him that I was just passing through Panama to Colombia and that I had a credit card as proof that I could support myself. He simply stamped me through without insisting that I buy a return ticket. I then took a bus from the border to David, a city in the North, where I changed to Boquete.
Boquete is a sedate, attractive town nestled in the mountainous North of the country and is a popular base for walking, rafting, climbing, and learning Spanish. It is also rated as one of the top places in the world to retire and there is consequently an ageing American expat community.
I stayed at a hostel well situated next to the central park called Mamallena ran by a guy from the city called Miguel. The hostel was one of the best I've stayed in - a cosy sitting room with a huge DVD collection, two gardens, good kitchen with free coffee and pancakes, lots of information and very friendly
staff. As I had spent some time without going out, I partied a fair bit whilst I was there. I went out several nights with Miguel and the other people who worked there and we had a great time at a few of the bars and clubs. The hostel had a particularly friendly atmosphere and I enjoyed hanging out with some really sound backpackers.
One day I hiked to a waterfall - about an hour walk from the road through beautiful cloud forest along rocky streams and cliffs. Together with some guys from the hostel I also made a trip to the hot springs (hot baths alternated with plunging in to the crisp, fast flowing river).
Together with several other backpackers that I got on well with- Sebastian and Rob from Holland, and Nigel from Australia- I travelled up to Bocas de Toro (bus to David, bus to Almirante, speed boat to Bocas town). I stayed at Casa Verde in Bocas town for several nights, which was more than enough for me. Bocas de Toro are very beautiful Mangrove and beach ringed islands off the North East coast of Panama close to the border with Costa Rica. The
town, however, is extremely touristy and I didn't really get that good a feel from the place.
The hostel was nice with a dock over the clear water and very friendly fun people. I enjoyed hanging out with Rob, Nigel, and Sebastian and I also randomly met up with Theresa and Synove who I met in the hostel in San Jose. There were also two talented and spiritual hippy musicians from Chile living there. They stayed for free in exchange for jamming in the evenings so the hostel ringed with Reggae. We all had a go accompanying them on the Bongo and other percussion, and Rob and Nigel jammed with their guitars too.
Most of the time at Bocas was spent relaxing on the hostel dock and in the sea, and going out in the evening. One day we hired a water taxi and went snorkelling around the islands and then to a beach on one of the other islands, Bastamento. A pleasant day, reasonable snorkelling (but still lacking in fish), and a chill on a beautiful beach.
Unfortunately, my camera broke in Boquete so all the photos accompanying this post are courtesy of Nigel, Sebastian, and
Rob.
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Sebastian
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Good Times!
Hi Luke, Beautifull story and memories! Have fun in Colombia Cheers Sebastiaan