Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION: PARQUE NACIONAL COIBA
BY BOAT
Day-trips from Santa Catalina
Fishermen on the beaches at Santa Catalina should do the
return trip for $50/person (assuming a group of six) but it'll cost more if you want them to
take you round the island to some of the sights; each journey can take anything from 90min
to several hours, depending on the weather conditions and the boat. Make sure you establish
your itinerary and pick-up times beforehand, and check that any boat has a decent-sized en-
gine, and preferably a roof to stop you frying. However, day-trips from Santa Catalina can
be both costly and a little disappointing since the lengthy journey there plus the unavoidable
tramites
(bureaucracy) at the ranger station mean that by the time you actually venture into
the rainforest any animal or bird with sense will be hiding from the heat and humidity.
Multi-day tours
Because of the limitations of day-trips, it pays to spend several days on
Coiba with a boat and guide willing to take you out at first light, which is why it's worth
splashing out the extra for a hassle-free multi-day deal with a
tour operator
.
INFORMATION
Park permits
Every visitor has to buy a park permit ($20), theoretically in advance at the
Santiago ANAM office (
998 4271) - in practice it can be acquired on arrival at the ANAM
ranger station on Coiba.
Ranger guides
You can engage a ranger to accompany you on trips around the island for
$15-20.
When to visit
As there are no limits on visitor numbers to the national park, holiday periods
and summer weekends should be avoided at all costs.
ACCOMMODATION
Coiba's accommodation is, in some ways, a great leveller - whether you're on an exclusive
all-in deal or you've hitched a ride with the park wardens, everyone has to stay in the same
basic huts.
ANAM cabins
ANAM ranger station.
Forty-odd beds spread dormitory-style around five
double cabins with screening and shared bathrooms. If travelling independently, you will
need to book ahead through the
ANAM office
in Santiago ( 998 4271) in the dry season;
alternatively your tour operator will make the reservation. You'll also need to bring your own
food supplies from Santa Catalina, in a cool box supplied by your boatman; for $15 (per
group) the rangers let you share their kitchen (but not the fridge), though the gas occasionally
runs out. The cabins have electricity and a/c after 6pm though power cuts are frequent. Other
useful items to bring include mosquito coils and net (as some screens have holes), a torch,
candles a
nd p
lenty of insect
rep
ellent and bite cream. Limited camping spaces are available.
Camping
$15
/person, dorms
$20
