A journey to take a look at the magnificent nature of Panama

Duration: 2 weeks
Average cost: $ 50 per day
Italy Flight: KLM (via Amsterdam) Cost: 900 euro
Local transportation: Domestic flights to the islands (San Blas and Contadora) with Aeroperlas, local bus travel for all earthlings.
Lighters: cheap hotels and guest houses in Panama City (about 15 euro / night)
Info: www.panamaroad.com Blog on Panama
www.panamaviaggi.com travel guide to Panama in Italian. All useful information for planning your trip.
www.visitpanama.com Institutional web site.
Lonely Planet Guide

 

Arrival in Panama and trip to San Blas

Arriving in Panama
Finally, in Panama. The emotion is strong when we see the city from the terrace of our hotel, a breathtaking view, a number of skyscrapers and ocean fades into the distance the outline of the colonial buildings of Casco Viejo.
Walking along the streets of the Casco Viejo, the city rebuilt by the Spaniards after the destruction of the first city by the pirate Henry Morgan. Houses of different colors more or less in ruins. Continue along the Avenida Central in Santa Ana, a working class neighborhood teeming with shops and street vendors. Here people will invent all sorts of work to survive, we board a diablo rojo, one of those local bus driven by madmen, with music blaring from slalom and passes, rushing traffic speed in Formula One.

San Blas
We are welcomed by the indigenous Kuna community. These beautiful coral islands are 365 plots of land on which to grow only coconut trees. The Kuna are a nation of fishermen who took refuge in these islands to live according to its laws and traditions, unchanged for centuries, and also applies to those who come simply as a visitor. A Mamitupo luckily in the only existing hotel within a few kilometers there is still room. The island is a little bigger than a football field with colorful hand-painted wooden cabañas really beautiful.
We visit the village of Aligandi, where we are "attacked" by children. Intrigued by our cameras, we pose to be photographed and then, vain, want to see how they came. A real delight. We are dedicated to snorkeling. We are able to spot, among the thousands of underwater beauty, a starfish, a multitude of tropical fish and a couple of dolphins.

Las Perlas

Las Perlas
During check-in for the islands of Las Perlas, we deliver a piece of orange plastic that look somewhat perplexed: our charter is to harness. Isla Contadora choose to stay where we have a dream beach all to ourselves. Hiring a boat ride with a boy who draws a tuna fisherman. So we have a delicious dinner cooked by a chef kuna. On the way back we cross the whales and we can observe them very closely, not more than 30 meters, while a boat of the filming scholars.

Azuero

Azuero Peninsula
Came back to Panama, but this time, only as a starting point for a long bus ride that brings us to Pedasi, very quiet little tourist town in the province of Los Santos.
Full of energy we choose to walk the 5 km needed to get to Playa El Toro: wild beach, excellent fishing and surfing, surf pity that we do not know anything and we just play with the waves.
In the evening we go to Isla Cañas, a small island, where between July and November more than 10,000 turtles come to lay their eggs. After so much walking, we reach the beach: after a while 'waiting finally the small footprints show us the passage of a turtle. We can see a turtle lay white eggs. She digs a hole in the wet sand that covers carefully before you crawl exhausted into the sea.
Info and pics: www.panamaviaggi.com

Bocas del Toro, Caraibi al 100 per 100

Bocas del Toro
Without knowing it, we get right to the Feria del Mar, the most important holiday of the year for which the island is nicely animated. To decide to stop to stay in Bocas town, a town with a relaxed atmosphere where the Caribbean-style buildings are built directly on the water. These islands have nothing to envy to any destination: lush tropical forests, mangrove swamps, unspoiled beaches, beautiful coral reefs and crystal clear waters.
Here the sea is very, with a walk along the coast, between the palm trees, we arrive at a perfect spot to put your mask and hunt for fish. The first marine animals I see are two breeds semi-hidden under the sand, then dozens of starfish clearly visible a few inches deep.
The next day we board for Isla Bastimentos, an authentic jewel of a protected Marine Park. During the trip we sail into a bay where we meet the dolphins, hence the name Bahia de los Delfines. Bastimentos swim near a coral reef in shallow and therefore perfect for snorkeling. The evenings are spent at the Bocas Hundido Barco, lying on the beach sipping rum and coca-looking starlit sky.
It's our last night in Panama, the trip will continue tomorrow in Costa Rica from Bocas del Toro, by boat, bus and taxi to Changuinola where we arrive at the border, we recognize that cross the border between the two countries on foot, walking through an old railway bridge in disrepair and disuse. This is the first time I pass a border walk, really exciting. I have left this country in the heart: its colors, sounds, tastes and all the emotions will live forever within me.
Pictures of this incredible journey is available at www.panamaviaggi.com