Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE BORDER WITH COSTA RICA
The
border at Paso Canoas
is by far the busiest of the three border crossings Panama
shares with
Costa Rica
; in recognition of this,
immigration
is open longer hours
(7am-11pm Panamanian time). Don't forget that whether entering Panama or Costa Rica
you'll need to get an exit stamp from immigration in the country you are leaving and an
entry stamp from immigration in the country you are entering; you will also need to show
proof of onward travel and financial solvency.
Paso Canoas is reached by frequent
minibuses
from David, with regular
onward trans-
port
to San José and other destinations in
Costa Rica
. If you are arriving from Costa Rica,
you can find transport to both Panama City and David 100m down the Interamericana from
the border. The Panachif ( 727 7054) office here sells tickets for buses to Panama City via
David (7am-6.30pm; 8-9hr; $17) plus two express overnight services (9.30pm, 10.30pm;
7hr; $21). Small minibuses also scoot off down the highway to David (every 10-15min
4am-9pm; 40min), from where onward transport is easy (see
By bus
); after the last shuttle,
you'll need a taxi ($20-25).
Parque Nacional Marino Golfo de Chiriquí
The laidback fishing village of
Boca Chica
, 30km southeast of David as the vulture flies,
provides the gateway to one of the province's most prized natural treasures: the
Parque Na-
cional Marino Golfo de Chiriquí
, a nirvana for
scuba diving
,
snorkelling
and
sport fish-
ing
enthusiasts. Created in 1994 to protect almost 150 square kilometres of terrestrial and
marine wildlife, the park comprises 25 islands - some with places to stay - and nineteen cor-
al reefs, teeming with hundreds of fish in a rainbow of colours. The coastline to the west of
Boca Chica, meanwhile, is thick with
mangroves
- which means you'll have to venture to
the more distant islands to find white sand or crystalline waters. Note that when the wind
drops in the rainy season, sandflies can be a nuisance, so bring repellent.
Islas Parita and Paridita
Isla Parita
, by far the largest land mass, together with the much smaller
Isla Paridita
, are
the only two inhabited islands on account of their fresh water sources; the rest are generally
small, low-lying sedimentary outcrops that enjoy a tropical savannah climate, with beaches
backed by coconut palms and manchineel trees, where the only visitors to disturb the hermit
crabs and iguanas are nesting hawksbill and leatherback turtles.
Boca Brava and beyond
Across the narrow water channel in front of Boca Chica's jetty is
Boca Brava
, an island host-
ing two contrasting lodgings, while on the mainland a couple of upmarket fishing lodges and
