| Additional Bocas del Toro Excursions |
26 & 27 February 2007
Geography:
"Bocas del Toro" and "Bocas" refers to any one of three places: to the town of Bocas del
Toro located on the island of Colon, or to the many islands comprising the Bocas del Toro
Archipelago, or to the province of Bocas del Toro which includes not only the archipelago
but also part of the northwestern Panamanian mainland.
"Bocas del Toro" and "Bocas" refers to any one of three places: to the town of Bocas del
Toro located on the island of Colon, or to the many islands comprising the Bocas del Toro
Archipelago, or to the province of Bocas del Toro which includes not only the archipelago
but also part of the northwestern Panamanian mainland.
Bird Island & Bocas del Drago:
About 9:30am on 26 February we started on a boat excursion which first took us to "Bird
Island", or "Isla de Los Pajaros", about a half-hour boat trip from Bocas Town. The small
rocky heavily vegetated island which serves as a nature preserve on which humans are not
allowed go. Our boat drifted close to the shore so we could see hundreds of birds flying
about and many more resting on the trees. It was impressive to see so many different
kinds of beautiful exotic birds, none of which we could identify.
About 9:30am on 26 February we started on a boat excursion which first took us to "Bird
Island", or "Isla de Los Pajaros", about a half-hour boat trip from Bocas Town. The small
rocky heavily vegetated island which serves as a nature preserve on which humans are not
allowed go. Our boat drifted close to the shore so we could see hundreds of birds flying
about and many more resting on the trees. It was impressive to see so many different
kinds of beautiful exotic birds, none of which we could identify.
Approaching Bird Island.
Closer view of Bird Island.
From Bird Island we boated to nearby Bocas del Drago on the northwestern shore of Isla
Colon. There we stayed for a couple of hours on a miles-long coconut-fringed white sandy
beach with crystal-clear water. There was a snack bar and several beach houses. Virginia
and I enjoyed staying on this beautiful beach while John and Judy were snorkeling nearby.
Colon. There we stayed for a couple of hours on a miles-long coconut-fringed white sandy
beach with crystal-clear water. There was a snack bar and several beach houses. Virginia
and I enjoyed staying on this beautiful beach while John and Judy were snorkeling nearby.
Old Bank, Bastimentos:
On 26 February we took a "water taxi" from Bocas Town (US$2 per person) for the
ten-minute ride to the village of Old Bank on the island of Bastimentos.
Old Bank has several simple backpacker-guesthouses and basic bar/restaurants but we did
not see facilities catering to typical tourists; we believe that will come soon.
"Main Street" in Old Bank is a concrete walkway paralleling the shoreline. There are no cars
or other motorized vehicles
Old Bank's population is almost entirely Black, descendants of workers brought from
formerly British Caribbean Islands to work on the nearby banana plantations and to help
build the Panama Canal, Many are poor but the ones we met seemed in good spirits. A quaint
English patois is spoken.
On 26 February we took a "water taxi" from Bocas Town (US$2 per person) for the
ten-minute ride to the village of Old Bank on the island of Bastimentos.
Old Bank has several simple backpacker-guesthouses and basic bar/restaurants but we did
not see facilities catering to typical tourists; we believe that will come soon.
"Main Street" in Old Bank is a concrete walkway paralleling the shoreline. There are no cars
or other motorized vehicles
Old Bank's population is almost entirely Black, descendants of workers brought from
formerly British Caribbean Islands to work on the nearby banana plantations and to help
build the Panama Canal, Many are poor but the ones we met seemed in good spirits. A quaint
English patois is spoken.
Approaching Old Bank, Bastimentos, by boat.
Old Bank, Bastimentos, waterfront.
An outdoor mural with a map of Old Bank, Bastimentos Island.
Old Bank houses.
Old Bank waterfront.
Roots bar/restaurant, Old Bank.