On to Bocas Del Toro

  Bocas Town, Panama
Saturday, September 16, 2006

Saturday morning we had to get up pretty early for our flight from Panama City to Bocas Del Toro.  Luckily, our hotel was pretty close to the regional airport and it was only a 10 minute taxi ride.  Again, we got up so early that it was still dark so we still didn't get a good look at the city.  We got to the airport quite early for our Air Panama flight, so we get to sit around for a long time and people watch.

Bocas Del Toro from the air

The regional airport definitely had character, and a very diverse mix of people waiting for their flight. Eventually it was time for our flight,  and I was relieved to see that our plane was bigger than I imagined.  I thought we would be on a small Cessna type plane.  Our plane was actually a large prop plane; we even got served food.  The flight was only about an hour, and the view was great. 

We landed in Bocas Town on Isla Colon.  We were staying on a different island, Isla Bastimentos.  Henry, the owner of La Loma, met us at the airport, but we didn't go straight to the lodge since Henry need to so some shopping while he was in town. 

Erin in Bocas Town

So while he went shopping Rick and I had some breakfast and wandered around Bocas Town.  After checking out some of the little shops and taking in the eclectic spirit if the little town (including a 1 hour wait to get cash at the local bank.  We won't get into that story...) we met up with Henry and took his boat to La Loma Jungle Lodge.

La Loma is located on Isla Bastimentos, which is the island west of Isla Colon.  The boat ride was beautiful, and Henry pointed out the sights as we passed by. 

La Loma

After about 15 minutes, we pulled up the the dock at La Loma.  My first impression was that it was a very serene place, tucked away in the jungle.  We walked through the mangrove forest to the main lodge/dining area of La Loma.  There we met Margret, Henry's girlfriend who also helps run the place.  We had a little lunch, and got our first taste of Margret's amazing cooking.  Henry then led us up to our room. Our room was actually a "rancho," which was a hut built in the native style of the area.  There were onlly three ranchos on the property, and they basically consisted of a thatched roof, and really no walls.

Rancho living room

It was beautiful; made of reclaimed hardwood from the surrounding forest, and included two beds (in a mosquito net), two hammocks, a little table with chairs, and a bathroom with a shower.  No electricity, though.  I think having electricity would have taken away from the experience. 

La Loma was fomerly a cacao farm, and they still grow chocolate beans but La Loma is also a

Rick walking the grounds

butterfly farm.  For the rest of our day Rick and I wandered around La Loma, taking in the jungle and all of the amazing plants and creatures.