Swimming in Pristine Waters of Boca Del Toro
Panama | admin | June 18, 2010I know where I want to go for my honeymoon with my husband when I’ll get marry to someone, to Bastimentos Island. It is a part of Boca Del Toro archipelago and has everything you expect from a Caribbean island. It is chilled out, picturesque beaches, resorts, Patois talking locals are friendly and rum as much as you think you can drink. The entire island is a beautiful combination of Latin and Jamaican culture, which makes it more dreamy and romantic place to be. I just fell in love with the island. Bastimentos Island was not at all crowed with tourists. Isla Colon is one of those islands which gives similar experience without anything memorable to take away back home. So avoid going there. From the mainland, I took a direct boat ride to Bastimentos and stepped into a tropical world, overlooking the calm Caribbean ocean are rainbow colored houses. There were a very small number of tourists here. I guess the locals and the natural beauty is better off without intrusion of more human habitat.
My daily schedule would be following; I used to get up to the reverberation of the tender lap of the waves of the ocean. I just loved where I was staying. It was a stilts, made above the water of the ocean on the shore. Through the cracks between the wooden floors, I could the turquoise color water sweeping back and forth. It was amazing to stay amid such a romantic place. Ocean water below the room, seeing the sunset and sunrise through room’s window, cool winds and the sound of the ocean waves, and everything about that island made me mesmerized. Ok enough about that. Then after I woke up, I used go for breakfast, avoiding and hiding from my hostel owner. He was good but early morning he would offer a joint and beer, which is not my kind of morning as once I regretted it. But it’s usual here to see people having joints. After having satisfactory breakfast I would head towards the beach and resort, it would be either Red Frog Beach or Wizard Beach. Then just hand out or lay back on the white dazzling sand looking far as sight would go on the horizon. In afternoon, my ideal meal was cooked fresh fish and a chilled beer. Later, would walk around or go to the end of the pier of our hostel and relax on one of the hammocks. After spending alone and peaceful time until evening, I would return back to my hostel. Have my dinner and went to bed. It might sound boring to you, but it’s to tell you how peaceful and stress free life is here. You are away from the hustle and bustle of the city or crowded beach and easy to relax here. This island does not have any roads but broad footpaths and few tracks into the forest. Aside multi colored houses; music can be heard in nook and corners of the town. As I used pass on houses, I could hear different type of the music played on full volume. The town is amazing; music showcases a great blend of culture through mixture of Latino- Afro rhythms. After awhile, you will realize your hips moving according to the music rhythms. It has happened to me so many times that I cant stop moving with the music flow.
I do speak and understand Spanish but people here speak mix of Spanish and Patois. I had such difficulty communicating with them as they would start with Spanish and later took off to Patois. In the middle of a conversation, I would be confused and without words. And when they start speaking Patois, they speak in such a hurry that it’s really difficult to understand. On top of that, their Spanish has a touch of Jamaican accent. There were so many words I couldn’t understand, but these one word I have heard so many time but never understood its meaning – ‘bambaclot man!’ now what does it mean, if anybody know, please let me know. However, the locals are very friendly and even though we had little communication barrier, they were really nice and loving to me.
The deserted island of Zapatilla is my ideal idea of paradise. The island does not have any inhabitant nor buildings and plus the beaches and resorts are so pristine, powdery white smooth sand and green seawater of the ocean washing the shore of the land. Ohhh… it was really soothing to be, seriously. Swimming in the warm water with other beautiful and colorful marine fish was fantastic. Coconuts are the best source to quench your thirst and healthy too. I even saw nests of many turtles. The Polo Beach and Old Polo are best to snorkel and surfing which is to a further side of the island. With few other tourists and me, set off on a speedboat with our boat captain, Lewis. While riding between on the coral reefs from Polo Beach to Old Polo, he was smoking a joint and having chilled beer. We all thought to have little faith in him and let him have it. Later we started to regret it because on our way, our tiny small started to wobble that made us think its going to flip and soon we will meet our maker. With god’s grace and Lewis wits, we survived! When we reached to other beach, it wasn’t that different from rest of the beaches I have seen. The best part about this beach and resort was the corals population. I was having fun; sufing and snorkeling underwater coral and reefs, playing hide and seek with the colorful little fish, hiding inside the corals as they soon sensed someone. I even came face to face with a Dog Shark.
The best part of the island is the rain. It rained daily at six o’clock. It does not rain heavily or ruins the surrounding for excursion next day. As darkness of night fell on the island, the lightening in the sky would steal the entire show. It was breathtaking to see lightening illuminated in the sky like a crooked fork. While seeing the natures most magical and mesmerizing creation, it was really one of the best things I treasured in my heart. After having my dinner and lying back on a hammock, the night would be satisfying, watching natural fireworks.
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Bocas now is full of unspoiled beauty. Rainforests are home to the elusive jaguar..The opinion of the local people is divided whether increase in tourism is good for Bocas or not..! Boca islands dense jungles and mangroves must be conserved!