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Bocas del Toro Zipline

July 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 2010 – We are pleased to announce that the Bastimentos Sky Canopy Tour in Bocas del Toro, Panama on Isla Bastimentos has been built and is fully operational.  We had the opportunity to perform a ¨sign-off¨ride today with Jose Manuel from Linea Vertical and the experience exceeded our expectations.  I will flat out admit that it was an amazing experience and puts the Bocas del Toro visitor in touch with the beauty of the canopy in ways that are impossible on the ground.  The ziplines are thrilling.  The obstacle course is challenging and engaging and the quality of engineering, design and construction is world class.    Finally, the team are professionals in every sense of the word.

We anticipate this to be one of the top ziplines in Central America. More visitors will have a reason to visit Bocas del Toro.

The best new outdoor adventure in Panama! This island canopy tour in Bocas del Toro comprises 7 ziplines, a Tarzan swing, suspended sky bridge, ropes course, and vertical rappel. This Canopy Tour is located adjacent to a national marine park above Panama’s top rated beaches and set within a lush rainforest. From elevated platforms participants can peer out to views of the surrounding Caribbean ocean and the verdant rainforest habitat below.

Witness the sights, sounds, and rare beauty of this pristine Caribbean Island while flying through the rainforest. Bastimentos Sky zipline takes advantage of the hilly island terrain where several peaks and ridges allow for incredible zipline descents through native rainforest. This Bocas del Toro zipline incorporates a total of seven ziplines with the longest being an absolutely thrilling 300-meter ride over a lush rainforest valley.

7 Ziplines

Tarzan Swing

Sky Bridge

Ropes Course

Vertical Rappel

Up to 1000 foot long zips

Speeds up to 42 mph

250ft high

Guided ecotour and interpretive journey

Stunning views of the ocean and native habitats

Created by one of the top Zipline Designers and operated by a team of experts, guests will find this adventure exhilarating, educational and safe. It is our goal to ensure that a Canopy Tour on Bastimentos Sky will be among the highlights of your trip to Bocas del Toro Panama.

Filed Under On Land

Bocas del Toro Zip Line

June 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment

One survey in Costa Rica pointed out that 41% of visitors to that country decided to ride a Costa Rica zip line. If that statistic is true, the new zip line in Bocas del Toro is going to have a lot of people riding. Furthermore, the zip line is such an attraction that more people will be coming to Bocas del Toro as every hotel can market the zip line as yet another activity guests can enjoy while in Bocas del Toro.

I learned today the the zip line will have a superman styled ride — as in head first!! Should be incredible soaring through the rainforest like that! The zip line in Bocas del Toro is scheduled to open August 2010. The price will be around $50–$60 for a 2.5 hour tour spanning 5-6 zip rides, a ropes course, tarzan swing, and rappel.

The zip line in Bocas del Toro is on Isla Bastimentos and is located in some very dense rainforest. The jungle paths to get to the zip line training area are beautiful.

Anyway, can’t wait to ride!

Filed Under On Land

Polo Beach Hike on Bastimentos

May 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Wonderful journey through the jungle today from Red Frog Beach to Polo Beach. Our tour guide Cody kept us nourished with fresh coconuts and almonds found right on the beach! The hiking here in Bastimentos is pretty stunning. I can’t wait until the Canopy Tour opens! I might even like the zipline more than than hiking. It will be Bocas Del Toro’s best attraction.

Hiking Picture

Hiking Picture

Filed Under Activities, On Land

Exploring Bocas Town

December 16, 2009 By DigaMe Leave a Comment

Isla Bastimentos variant spellingBocas town provides visitors with many options of things to do:

Nightlife
Bocas is a low-key and friendly town where it is easy to meet with fellow travelers and the local people. In some places of town, every night it’s a party.
On the water is the Buena Vista Deli & Bar, known for good times and good food. For a younger crowd, start with Mondo Taitu, to meet an international mix of young travelers and surfers, and an equally diverse menu of specialty island cocktails (think mojito with a twist), served by the young, hip and friendly bartenders. Also fun is the newer La Iguana, right on the water. Don’t forget to visit the famous Barco Hundido, also known as the “wreck-deck,” which is a good place to get your dance on. Like anywhere, it is advisable to practice discretion and stay on the lighted main streets at night.

Souvenir Shopping
Souvenir shops can be found on Bocas’ main street and hippies from all over the world can be found lining the main street with their crafts and beautiful jewelry. Also, on the opposite end of the main street, just before the end, is a display of molas attended by the Kuna Indians.
Panama is famous for its molas, colorful reverse applique cloth designs. This humble stand has one the best selection of molas in the world. You have the added satisfaction of purchasing directly from the Indians and knowing your dollar will go a long way to helping these worthy people

Restaurants
Bocas restaurants are easy on the budget and have a surprising variety of offerings. For seafood try El Pecado and El Refugio for dishes that will satisfy the sophisticated palate but are reasonably priced.

Across the street from El Pecado, La Laguna Hotel offers mostly Italian dishes including a yummy pizza, and has street side seating making it the best place in town for people watching. Bahia Hotel has a good Italian restaurant with some of the best pizza in town.

For excellent ‘gringo’ food, we highly try Buena Vista. Kum Ja is the only Chinese restaurant and the food is inexpensive and good. Another popular and good restaurant is Om for East Indian food. If you are just looking to take out a beach-picnic lunch, stop by at the Super Gourmet Deli for epicurean sandwiches.

During dining the day on the islands outside of Bocas: For seafood in incomparable surroundings, take a water taxi to restaurant Coral Cay, perched on stilts over the sea. Your lobster will be picked live from a sea cage and you will enjoy gorgeous sea views all around as you wait for your dish to be prepared. This is a Bocas must-do. Most tours will take you there as part of their route.

http://www.panamainfo.com/en/destinations/bocas-del-toro

Filed Under Activities, Bocas Del Toro, Bocas Town, On Land, Panama

Bocas del Toro Bastimentos Cave Tour

December 16, 2009 By DigaMe Leave a Comment

Isla Bastimentos variant spellingIf you’re looking for something entirely different from anything else you can do in Bocas look no further. The Bocas del Toro Bastimentos Cave Tour is for the adventurous, gutsy and sure footed. Comments often overheard about the tour include “the most unforgettable part of my vacation” and”seen many caves before, but nothing like this.” The cave is located inside the National Park of Bastimentos.

Getting to the cave is fun. You travel up a small creek, navigating around half submerged fallen trees, and pointing out animals along the way. You get a little exercise navigating through the narrow water way. The creek is lined with mangrove trees filled with sloths that feed on the leaves.  If you are quiet and lucky you might see even see a crock.

Before entering the cave remember to use caution walking through the water and feel the bottom before you put your foot down hard. It is a very slow walk ahead.

The ceiling of the entrance of the cave is lined with several different species of bats. The floor subsequently is lined with bat droppings which is a a slippery situation.  Try not to spend too much time directly underneath the bats as they keep producing “droppings”.  However, bats are great creatures and not dangerous.

When walking through the water the water temperature is moderate and is a welcome refreshing change to the humidity inside cave.  In some parts the water comes up to your neck (It helps if you have a nice back walking in front of you).  At the end of the cave, not really the end but the end of the accessible part, is a deep pool.  Fresh water is constantly entering on one side and exiting on the other side of the pool.  You can take a nice swim there and cool off.

After exiting the cave you return to the cayuco and slowly paddle back down the creek.  You usually leave Bocas at 10:00 am in the morning and arrive back at 4:00 pm.

http://www.bocasmarinetours.com/bastcave.html

“There have been several moments during my time in Bocas del Toro that I’ve thought to myself, “If my mom only knew what I was doing right now…”  But our adventure last week takes the cake.  Last Saturday, Jameson, our friends, the Kates, and I paid Rutillio to take us in his kayuko to a bat cave on Bastimentos.

The ride there was surreal.  We paddled through mangroves up a winding river where it was totally silent except for the paddles hitting the water and a myriad of wildlife noises.  It was quite beautiful.  Then we got out and walked through a cacao field.  It was a dream come true, chocolate hanging from the trees.

The cave itself was awesome, terrifying, but awesome.  There were bats everywhere, we had to swim through cold murky water with who knows what swimming around us, and we hiked though jagged rocks & over deep crevasses.  At one point we climbed on a narrow ledge about 8 feet above the water with nothing to support us except the opposite wall so we shuffled along london bridge style for about 10 feet.  That was scary.  Fortunately bats don’t freak me out, but the spiders in there made me gag.
It was fun, but I just kept thinking, “What would my mom do if she could see me right now?”  It’s ok mom, we escaped without a single injury….
–Jocelyn Gardiner


Filed Under Activities, On Land
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