Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Isla Popa
Just off the southern tip of Isla Bastimentos lies the archipelago's second-largest land mass,
Isla Popa
, home to five Ngäbe fishing communities and the only island where you can spot
toucans. The northern village of
Sandubidi
(Popa 2) has a community-based tourism pro-
ject that offers walks along a trail with a local guide. Nearby, on the island's northeastern
tip, you'll find several thin sandy
beaches
leading off into coral-filled shallows and acres of
rainforest
.
ARRIVAL AND ACCOMMODATION: ISLA POPA
By water-taxi
Isla Popa is a 1hr journey by water-taxi from Bocas Town.
Popa Paradise Beach Resort
Northeastern tip of the island 6550 2505,
popaparadis-
ebeachresort.com
.
The acclaimed luxury resort is spread over substantial grounds; as well
as the nine
casitas
and three suites, there are five more economical lodge rooms (all things
being relative) though restaurant and excursion cost
s rem
ain pricey. All meals included plus
transport from Bocas for a three-night or more stay.
$424
Sandubidi community project
6761 5818,
meringobe.bocasdeltoro.org
.
A breezy hill-
top wood-and-thatch
cabaña
with a fan and a bathroom provides accommodation for
overnight guests, while
the
restaurant serves simple dishes of fried fish,
patacones
or fried
yuca with coconut rice.
$20
Mainland Bocas
Mainland Bocas covers the vast majority of the province, yet its imperious jagged peaks clad
in virgin forest, boggy wetlands and powerful rivers are ignored by most visitors. True, the
three mainland towns of
Chiriquí Grande
,
Almirante
and
Changuinola
have little to offer
the visitor, but the
Humedales de San San Pond Sak
, home to countless aquatic birds and
the endangered manatee, and the spectacular wilderness
Parque Internacional La Amistad
are definitely worth the effort to reach. The two main obstacles to exploring the region - ac-
cessibility and lack of infrastructure - have helped preserve the province's natural heritage
and the indigenous Bri-Bri,
Naso
and Bokota populations' livelihoods are now under threat
from various hydroelectric projects.
Chiriquí Grande to Almirante
From the village of Chiriquí, 14km east of David on the Interamericana, a spectacular road
passes over the Fortuna hydroelectric dam, cresting the continental divide that marks the
entry into Bocas del Toro before descending to the small town of
Chiriquí Grande
, the At-
lantic terminus of the Trans-Panama Oil Pipeline. The road then hugs the crinkled coast-
line for 60km to the port of Almirante, before continuing to the main provincial town,
Changuinola, a mere 17km from the Costa Rican border.
