After spending ten months driving down the Pacific Coast through Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica chasing waves, Glen finally agreed to check out the Caribbean Coast – yah!

We crossed the border at Paso Canoas, Costa Rica and had a long drive from the Northern Pacific Coast of Panama (near David) over a mountain range to a small town called Almirante. We arrived in Almirante just on dark, and got to Leizas Parking lot where we stayed in our van the night. First thing in the morning we got a local boat to the main island in the Boca Del Toro Archipelago – Isla Colon. The boat trip took about 30 minutes down a river then out onto the crystal waters of the Caribbean Sea.  The water was so clear you could see the reef on the bottom.

Leaving Almirante

On the boat heading to Boca

Driving past Boca

Arriving at Boca Town

Great hostal on Isla Colon

Funky little cafe

From the Boat Terminal to the our accommodation in Saigon Bay we got a shared local taxi for $1 each. We love the idea of sharing a taxi, you just hail the passing taxi down, hop in with other passengers and off you go.

It has been a dream of mine to stay in an over water bungalow, but they have always been so blimmin expensive – but not in Boca Del Toro. The difficult part was selecting one. There are SO many, and painted every colour under the sun, giving it a real colourful Caribbean feel.

We booked an over the water bungalow in Saigon Bay through Airbnb called Koko – bucket list tick, another one bites the dust.

Our two storied bungalow in Saigon Bay was perfect, a 15 minute walk to the town centre of Bocas, yet away from the noise of town, free kayaks to use, and stunning views to enjoy an evening gin and tonic.

Koko Bungalows

Chilling in the hammock

Gin and Tonic Time

Morning kayak around Saigon Bay

On our first day on Isla Colon we hired some bikes from Bicicletas Ixa – a super friendly local lady.

We headed off on our bikes to Playa Del Drago, the north western part of the island. The bike ride was a good work out over a few hills, and took us about an hour and a half.

On our way to Playa Del Drago we stopped off at Castillo Plastico, the Plastic Castle. What an amazing project Robert is undertaking creating awareness and educating the local children to recycle plastic bottles, it was very inspiring. The Castle is built out of fifteen thousand plastic bottles and is almost completed.

After a very hot and sweaty bike ride (what were we thinking??) we arrived at Playa Del Drago. We stopped for a much needed coconut water, and then we walked 15 minutes around the coast to Play Estrella (Starfish Bay).

The track to Starfish Bay

Groover Restaurants at Starfish Bay

Eating a refreshing coconut after our hot bike ride

Starfish Bay has crystal clear waters, plenty of large orange starfish, but not a lot of coral or other fish. We tried a few other places to snorkel around the bay, but it wasn’t up to much. We wussed out of cycling back to town and got a shared taxi back to town – the gin and tonics were calling us.

Starfish Bay

Feeling the love

The next day  we took a boat over to Isla Canero to the Leaf Eaters Cafe for lunch. A great wee cafe over the water that has a yummy vegetarian menu, and a fish bar. The American couple that owns the cafe have lived on Boca for 15 years, and talked to us about the many changes the islands have seen over the years. Some good, some bad, which always tends to come with tourism growth. It turns out that they lived in Nelson on Peppin Island 20 years ago – small world!

The rest of our time in Boca Del Toro was spent on Isla Baustimente at the La Loma Jungle Lodge (http://www.thejunglelodge.com). What a slice of paradise this is. The La Loma Jungle Lodge consists of four casitas (private bungalows) which range in height up the property. We opted for #1 which was at jungle height. A great place to watch the sloths, monkeys and many birds.

Arriving at La Loma

Our jungle bedroom

Morning yoga from our cabana

Chiling and enjoying the wildlife

At La Loma accommodation includes all your meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner. Our day started with a freshly brewed herbal tea or coffee along with a fresh muffin delivered to our doorstep at 7am – bliss. We felt like royalty. Then after some yoga we headed down to the lodge for second breakfast.

It was such a luxury for us to stay somewhere like La Loma Jungle Lodge, and the experience was one of the highlights of our trip. The food was healthy, tasty and plentiful (it was nice not to have to think about what we were going to cook for breakfast, lunch or dinner). The owners – Henry and Maggie, have spent the last 15 years building this eco retreat, and they have really nailed it!  We loved our time here.

While we were at La Loma Jungle Lodge we did a few tours. Glen did a fishing trip one morning (while I was lying in bed with my fresh herbal tea and muffin). He managed to score some barracuda and a crayfish (yum).  We did a snorkelling day trip out to the Zapatilla Islands with Captain Roger, and a chocolate farm tour with Mr Kelly, and Victoria.

Fishing Trip

Heading out to Isla Zapatillas

Kayaking near La Loma

Zapatillas

Zapatillas

Zapatillas

Strike a pose

Selfie at the Zapatillas

Walking across Isla Zapatilla

Success – one crayfish

Yum

Fighting the cray

Mr Kelly

Sloth at La Loma

Coral on our snorkelling tour

DCIM102GOPRO

Glen tasting the cacao

Stop off on the snorkelling tour

Flora at La Loma

Loving the green

Flora at La Loma

Henry & Maggie La Loma owners

Flora at La Loma

We really loved the Islas of Boca Del Toro. It was somewhere we thought we could easily move to for a year – laid back, friendly, interesting people, great climate, surfing, snorkelling, fishing and lots of other adventures. I think we’ll be back…………