The Bastimentos Sky Canopy Tour that will be open in May of 2010 is one of the most unique Island Zip lines in the world. Here you can fly through the air at the very top of a Caribbean Island surrounded by lush rain forest and exotic sounds of nature as you slide from one platform to the next flying through the canopy attached to a zip line only.

Check back for updates and an official opening date for the zip line.

A Panamanian traveler shares his experience of hiking Volcano Baru in a day.

“When my oldest childhood friend and I decided to go to Panama, we knew that we had to hike its tallest mountain. Being from Colorado, where 14,000 foot peaks seem to be everywhere, we felt pretty confident that we could conquer Panama’s highest mountain, which stands at just over 11,000 feet. However, as we set out in the dark on our trek up the volcano that early morning, we did not fully anticipate the difficulty of actually reaching the top and coming back down in one day.

During our venture up Baru, we decided to avoid hauling our camping gear up the side of the mountain and to do the whole thing in one day. The trailhead to the top of Baru is almost a full day’s hike in itself from Boquete, so the day before the hike, we arranged for a taxi to pick us up in the center of town at 4 am. We agreed to his slightly inflated rate of US$4 each for the ride to the trailhead. An early start is necessary to avoid afternoon rain, and we were hoping to beat the clouds to the top and get a peak of the view, famous for allowing hikers to see both the Caribbean and Pacific oceans. Unfortunately, when we reached the summit just after 9 am, the top of the volcano was already shrouded in clouds. We couldn’t see 5 feet in front of us, so needless to say both oceans were totally out of sight. I hear the view, if you are lucky enough to catch it, is amazing though.

We will call this next stage of the hike, “Thank god Julie brought her headlamp.” The taxi dropped us off at the trailhead to the volcano in the pitch black, with no one and nothing other than jungle and its animal residents around us. It was terrifying. Lindsey and I spent the first 2 km of the hike paranoid at every noise coming from the darkness and trying to remember why we thought hiking up this volcano was a good idea. For the next two hours, we hiked through the dark, never really getting used to the sounds of the jungle waking up around us. We survived the darkness and finally daylight arrived and we continued the 15km, 5 hour hike to the summit.

The hike to the summit is steep and difficult, but definitely doable for in-shape individuals. We hiked at a fairly moderate pace and made it to the top in about 5 hours. The hike down actually took just as long, as the trail is full of loose rock and pumice and is slow-going. Be prepared for sore joints if you do the hike in one day.”

How to Conquer Baru: Hiker Tips
• If you do this 30km hike in one day, make sure you leave early and strap a headlamp on your head. You won’t be able to see the trail without one
• Bring warm clothes. The top of Baru is chilly. In the dry season it often frosts at the summit and it has snowed in the past
• The day before your trip arrange for a taxi to take you to the trailhead. For your way back into town you can either pre-arrange a taxi or wait for one on the side of the road. They do pass by with   semi-frequency and you can hail one down. You may end up riding in the back of a truck, but it will only cost you US$1-$2
• Bring plenty of water and snacks to sustain you during the 10-hour hike
• Prepare to be both mentally and physically challenged. This is a tough hike for a person at almost any fitness level, so be prepared hurt
• Don’t be surprised when you can’t walk the next day. I couldn’t.

http://www.panamatravelguide.org/hiking-volcan-baru.html

Roger, a traveler to Panama, shares his experience of a day of bike riding in the rain in Bocas del Toro.

“On rainy day in Bocas del Toro, my travel companion Lindsey and I played cards in our hostel (Mondu Taitu) and brainstormed activities that could be equally fun in sun as in the rain. After talking to David, one of the friendly American owners of Mondu Taitu, we decided a bike ride through the island to Playa del Drago on the opposite side was just the thing to do. David told us the bike ride was just as fun, if not more, in the rain and the drizzle would keep us from getting too hot. The journey was 15 km each way and hilly, but we were up for the challenge.

We found bikes to rent in town for US$5 each, though I can’t say these bikes were in top condition. Because of the humidity, ocean air and general lack of upkeep, most bike rental places have rather rusty and ill-working bikes. The brakes worked (mostly at least) and the tires were inflated though, so Linds and I set out on our journey.

The ride took longer than expected, as one of our chains seemed to fall off every 5 minutes, but the ride through the center of the island was amazing. The middle of the island was mostly dense jungle dotted with a few homes with chickens in the front yard. Panamanians in rubber boots walked the road returning from work. The road was paved, but littered with potholes and mounds of dirt, so the going wasn’t always the easiest, but the trip was definitely fun and

Playa del Drago, on the opposite side of the island was quiet and calm, a stark contrast to the busy and touristy city of Bocas. There was a small restaurant here where you could have a snack and a bay with a small scenic beach. There was some coral in the bay and fish to look at with a snorkel as well. We returned that night to the hostel covered in mud and soaking wet, but happy with our biking adventure that rainy afternoon.”

http://www.panamatravelguide.org/biking-in-bocas-del-toro.html