THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Panama - page 331

ACTIVITIES AND TOUR OPERATORS
Bike rental Several places rent out bicycles (around $10-12/day) in varying states of repair.
The main cycling destinations are Playa Bluff and Boca del Drago. Flying Pirates (

6689

5050, flyingpiratesbocas.com ) also does quad-bike rental ($107/day).
Cocoa farms The communities of Silico Creek ( urari.org ) and Río Oeste Arriba (
oreba.bocasdeltoro.org ) on the mainland offer fascinating tours of their organic cocoa farms,
with plenty of tasting along the way.
Horseriding At Playa Bluff, you can arrange horseriding at Bluff Beach Retreat ( 6677
8867; $30 for 3hr plus tip for the guide). On Isla San Cristóbal, a highly acclaimed but
more expensive operator, Panama Horseback Adventures ( 6915 3147, panamahorse-
back.com ) , offers half-day ($50) and full-day tours ($75) to a Ngäbe village and, for experi-
enced riders, an overnight trek ($200).
Kayak rental Bocas Water Sports, Flying Pirates and several lodgings rent out kayaks.
Learning Spanish Habla Ya and Spanish by the Sea are the best-known language schools,
both with good reputations (weekly rates for small group classes around $200).
Massage In keeping with the boho vibe of Bocas, there's no shortage of people willing to
knead your aching surfing limbs - Starfleet Scuba offers massage for around $50/hr; other-
wise just check the hostel notice boards and posters round town.
Turtle-watching
Yoga The striking lilac Bocas Yoga Centre (top end of C 4,

6658 1355, bocasyoga.com ;

$5 per session, with discounts for multi-class passes) has rave reviews.
TOUR OPERATORS
There are loads of tour operators in town; below is just a small selection of the best. We give
an overview of typical destinations and itineraries in our “ Tours from Bocas ” box.
ANCON Expeditions At Bocas Inn Av “H”, at C 3 757 9600, anconexpeditions.com .
Excursions into the marine park and the forests on the mainland. More expensive than other
operators but very organized, with good boats and experienced bilingual naturalist guides.
Bocas Sailing C3, at Av “B” 757 9710, bocassailing.com . Offers excellent-value cata-
maran trips to see dolphins en route to Cayo Crawl ($45 including picnic lunch) or heads for
Boca del Drago, with private charter possible (min 8 people).
Bocas Surf School Av Norte, between C 5 & C 6 6852 5291, bocassurfschool.com . Of-
fers professional private lessons with qualified instructors ($60 half day, $90 full day, includ-
ing board) at all levels.
Bocas Water Sports C 3, at Av “A” 757 9541, bocaswatersports.com . Professional and
well-established US-run outfit with bilingual Panamanian staff offering diving (two tanks