Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Isla Contadora
Home to the main public airstrip,
Isla Contadora
is by far the most developed and most pop-
ular destination in the archipelago. It derives its name from the counting house the conquista-
dors established on the island to tot up their riches from the pearl trade before shipping them
off to Europe. As well as possessing its own fine selection of lovely soft-sand beaches, Conta-
dora provides a sound base for snorkelling trips to the corals and crystalline waters of neigh-
bouring islands, visits to sea-bird colonies and whale-watching. Away from the shoreline, the
wooded areas provide shelter and food for a surprising array of wildlife - deer, agoutis and
iguanas can all be spotted here.
Only a handful of families are permanently resident, while workers from nearby Isla Saboga
commute daily to service the 180 luxury villas, which remain empty for much of the year.
Inland
, the centre of the island is occupied by a football pitch, which comes alive in late
afternoon. South of the pitch there's a small whitewashed church, while the road up the east-
ern side of the pitch passes one of the island's two
ponds
, on the left, which are magnets for
thirsty wildlife such as magnificent frigatebirds that skim the surface scooping up water at
dusk. However, it's the beaches and views that constitute Contadora's main attractions.
The beaches
Playa Larga
, on the island's eastern side, provides the longest stretch of sand and the most
sheltered swimming in the warmest water; an abandoned ferry is the only eyesore. Moving
south round the headland,
Playa de las Suecas
(“Swedish Women's Beach”), Panama's only
public nudist beach, is suitably secluded and also offers the island's best snorkelling round the
headland towards Playa Larga, where sharks, stingrays and turtles can often be seen. Another
few minutes' stroll, skirting the end of the runway, brings you to the island's loveliest swathe
of soft, sugary sand,
Playa Cacique
. Backed by lush vegetation, it looks across turquoise
waters to nearby Isla Chapera.
