In the city it’s typical to pay less than $5 for a taxi ride to just about any reasonable distance from your hotel including the regional airport. In the small communities of Boquete and Bocas taxi fares drop to $2 or less. Although the town of Bocas is small dragging luggage down Main Street in the heat and humidity can be a pain. Here te taxis will typically charge 50 cents to take you to your hotel.

For getting around the country you can go back-packer-frugal and get from one end of the country to the other for under $20 but the best way to get around is by air.

Panama has two regional airlines - Aeroperlas and AirPanama. They flit around the country to dozens of locations each day and for a pleasantly low amount. A week ago I took a taxi from the Atlanta Airport to a hotel in Suwannee, about a 30 minute ride. The one way fare was over $100. In Panama I can fly all the way from Panama City to David or Bocas del Toro, about a 1 hour flight, for just $75!

On our first visit we were focused solely on Bocas del Toro. While perusing the EscapeArtist website I discovered some really exciting articles about getting rich growing Teak & Noni while living the good life in the Caribbean. If you read my letter about Bocas at LearnAboutPanama.com you now know it was a scam. However, the scam artist himself did give us one good piece of advice. He suggested that if we were coming to see Bocas we might as well check out the rest of the country. He recommended a town called Boquete in the mountains, said is was lovely and quite different. If that suggestion had not been made we would never have discovered our piece of Panama Paradise. That led us to create our Panama Travel Triangle. We would fly from Panama City to Bocas then across to David and return to Panama City from David. It really is a very convenient way to explore most of the country in a short period of time. PC to Bocas costs $75, and Bocas to David $39 inclusive of taxes.

Another adventure is taking the train from Panama City to the Port of Colon - the Freezone. The train leaves Panama from the Corozal terminal around 7AM. It takes about 45-60 minutes to get to Colon. The return leaves Colon at 5:30. The last time I checked it was about $35 round trip and $20 one way. It’s a good idea to buy your tickets in advance as the train is often booked full by Cruise Ship passengers. This railroad was originally built to connect the city of Colon on the Atlantic (Caribbean) to Panama city on the Pacific. This was the very first transcontinental railroad in the Americas. A cautionary note - an entire day is a long time to spend in Colon. Although you can get some great deals in the Freezone this is one of the worst parts of Panama for crime. I suggest you plan ahead to get out of Colon City as quickly as you can. You might want to explore the beautiful Caribbean communities and islands on the coast. Look to Portobello or even a day on the beach at Isla Grande.

The Pan-American Highway (Carretera Panamericana), commonly known as the Inter-Americana, stretches from the Costa Rican border in the west across the country into the heart of the Darien province. There it stops about 50 miles from the Columbian border. The Darien Gap is this area along the border between Colombia and Panama. It is a lush rain forest with one of the highest degrees of bio-diversity in the entire world. The Pan-Am Highway is a real treat by Central American standards, and in some cases even North American standards! It is well maintained and there are plenty of food and gas stops all the way across the Isthmus. The trickiest part of driving in Panama is in the cities and getting out of Panama City itself. Be sure to read my directions at LearnAboutPanama.com Taxis are so cheap I recommend getting about by cab within the city and then picking up your rental car when you are just ready to leave.

Buen Viaje! Happy Tavels!

Mark has been there and done it! He moved to the warm, stable Republic of Panama. With his wife and two sons he travelled throughout the country and learned how to Safely Invest in Panama Real Estate. Panama City, Bocas del Toro & Boquete - Now you can follow this family journey discovering the best places to eat, stay, live and invest. Learn more about Mark’s adventures at  http://www.LearnAboutPanama.com

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“The helicopter tour of this coastline is unbelievable,” states the president of one of the largest resort development groups in the U.S. “I have never seen so much undeveloped, beautiful, Caribbean beachfront in my life! It is almost impossible to know where to even start and it is inevitable that the major resort players will begin staking out their territory in this developing region.”

All indications are that this professional is right about Panama’s Caribbean secret. Panama has primarily developed along its Pacific coast, due in part to the InterAmerican Highway that links North and Central America. The Pacific side is attractive to investors and travelers, but it also has temperamental weather patterns, a 15- to 20-foot tide change and the beaches simply can’t compare to those on the Caribbean side. Despite the negatives, Panama has seen its Pacific beachfront property values escalate to over US$400,000 an acre in developments such as Coronado and El Valle.

It is only a matter of time before the tide turns to the Caribbean side of Panama. Panama mounted an extremely successful multimillion dollar marketing campaign through the BBDO and Ketchum Agencies in 2002, and, of course, Panama’s Caribbean gold mine was featured prominently (http://www.visitpanama.com).

Panama has everything required to support its billion-dollar, Caribbean development. In terms of tourism, the country has four hundred years of Spanish history, one hundred years of international influence and 14 years of Democracy, a diversity that appeals to world travelers. It also has more varied destinations to travel to than most of the top tourist destinations in the world. In fact, Panama has “found its place” on the Caribbean tourist map in the past seven years in locations such as the Bocas del Toro Archipelago and the San Blas Islands. Panama has also been constantly recognized as one of the safest places to travel in the world.

But that’s not all. Panama has modern air transportation and new, modern highways and tollways that are going to provide complete access to this Caribbean paradise over the next few years. Panama has the most modern and extensive banking center in Latin America, has earned the title of the fiber-optic hub of the Americas, has exquisite dining and five-star hotels, and the U.S. dollar as its main currency. With all this, full Internet traction and the prolific infrastructure that Panama has it should gain the recognition in five years that it took Costa Rica twelve years to achieve.

The combination of Panama’s strong points spells opportunity for San Cristobal International (a private Investment Promotion Agency that helps individuals and institutional investors participate in the expansion of Panama’s touristic zones), which has sold over 45 Caribbean, waterfront lots in the last eleven months. “We have seen a hyper-increase in our website traffic statistics and a steady flow of investors coming to Panama with their eyes wide open,” states Tom McMurrain of SCI (www.sancristobalsa.net). “We have worked 18 hours a day for the last year trying to keep up with the momentum that this country has, it is incredible!”

To sum up, Panama has the potential to become a world-class tourist destination and a dominant business center for companies looking to cash in on its Caribbean “Gold Coast” boom. Now is the time to make the move to Panama if you are interested in exceptional land prices and want to enjoy the unspoiled and undeveloped regions of this beautiful country.

For media information or to schedule interviews, contact media@sancristobalsa.net, 1-866-811-5324 (U.S.) or at +507-322-0913 (Panama).

About San Cristobal Land Development, Inc.
http://www.sancristobalsa.net

San Cristobal Land Development (SCLD) is a leading developer of Emerging Growth Real Estate in the Caribbean. Through SCLD, investors have access to a portfolio of international properties that have been hand-selected by a real estate and marketing team that has a proven track record of identifying emerging-growth destinations, properties and opportunities. These may have unique timing value, have suffered media damage or simply possess infrastructure improvement opportunities.

SCLD offers carefully executed programs that bring value to its investors. Investors benefit from a solid return on their money while it works, and SCLD offers tremendous upside potential that our customers benefit from before we do. This “customer-first” mentality has provided SCLD with a global network of real-estate purchasers seeking our opportunities.

For more information, contact:

San Cristobal International
Panama City, Panama
Toll Free: 1-866-811-5324
Tel: +507-322-0913
Email: media@sancristobalsa.net
Website: http://www.sancristobalsa.net

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Those travelers who are more into adventurous and active endeavors while visiting the Caribbean can spend your days with plenty of exciting activities. Try the popular sports of tennis and golf if you enjoy a little friendly competition. There are watersports and underwater exploration for those who want to get their feet wet. And nature-friendly eco-oriented endeavors allow you to become one with the great outdoors. All you have to do is decide which activity interests you the most, and you’re ready for all kinds of adventures during your visit to the beautiful and exciting Caribbean.

Caribbean Sports

A lot of hotels and resorts in the Caribbean have packages especially for tennis and golf players to accommodate sports-minded travelers. A lot of the major resorts in the region have tennis courts on location that are available to their guests and by reservations for those who aren’t staying at the hotel. A lot of the time hotels with tennis courts will offer tennis instruction for various fees, so even if you’re a beginner player, you can still enjoy some great tennis action on your vacation in the Caribbean.

If you happen to be in the Caribbean at just the right time, or if you plan a little bit in advance, you may be able to catch a professional tennis tournament during your stay. If you want to spend the daytime hours relaxing and soaking up some sun, a lot of hotels have lighted courts, so you can hit the courts at night, which may also be more comfortable than playing in the hot Caribbean sun. Keep in mind that you may have to pay a little extra for the luxury of lighting.

In order to guarantee that you get some much-coveted court time in the Caribbean, contact your hotel or other resorts near where you’ll be staying to see if they have courts available, if the courts are illuminated, and how much it costs to play. There are several islands in the Caribbean where vacationers can go to find great tennis courts and facilities, including the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica, which feature resorts that provide special tennis packages and top-notch facilities.

Golf is also a popular sport for many people visiting to the Caribbean. Golf can be a laid-back and relaxing outing, as well as provide some exciting competition. The beautiful tropical weather in the Caribbean is just right for enjoying a game of golf almost any time of year, and many of the region’s courses are located in beautiful breathtaking settings among majestic mountains and tropical greenery. Vacationers can find great golf courses throughout the Caribbean, but especially on the larger islands. The majority of courses are available to visitors and offer equipment for rental as well as golf lessons for various fees. The expenses of golfing on particular greens will vary from course to course, and can range from extremely pricey to budget play, so check ahead with the course or golf resort.

Golf players can find courses in the Caribbean that were designed by world renowned golfers and expert course designers. You can find exciting golf courses and golf resorts on many Caribbean islands with some of the best being in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.

Making Waves

During your visit to the Caribbean, you’ll be surrounded by the amazing sapphire waters of the Caribbean Sea and sparkling Atlantic Ocean, so you’ll have access to a wide variety of watersports and other aquatic endeavors, like snorkeling, scuba diving, and fishing, just to name a few.

People from around the world come to the Caribbean to enjoy its offshore activities in the region’s warm, clear, blue waters. Beneath the calm surface of the Caribbean waters is a wondrous world of colorful and exotic ocean wildlife including brilliant fish and coral. Because of its fascinating underwater habitats, the Caribbean features some of the most popular dive destinations in the world, and is home to various resorts and hotels that focus especially on the diving aspect of visiting the Caribbean by offering special dive package.

Dive resorts and many hotels offer their guests equipment rental for scuba diving and snorkeling, and even provide scuba diving lessons and certification, because you must have a license and some instruction in order to get the most out of your diving experience.

Volcanic vents, Coral reefs, old shipwrecks, as well as other underwater formations make great places for scuba divers to explore, and can be an unforgettable experience for vacationers of all ages. The cost of your dive or snorkeling excursion will vary according to the kind of dive you take, when you go, and what kind of certification you want to get. Travelers can find great dive spots all over the Caribbean, but especially on the Cayman and Virgin Islands.

Other water-based pursuits that vacationers can enjoy while vacationing in the Caribbean include fantastic watersports like fishing which is a popular activity for many who visit the Caribbean, which has a countless number of fish species dwelling beneath the surface of the crystal blue waters. In recent years, windsurfing has become an extremely popular watersport in the region. Also, there is kayaking, parasailing, water rafting, and many other ways to enjoy the waves of the salty Caribbean.

Ecological Activities

For a lot of travelers, a trip to the Caribbean is the perfect chance to get back to nature. Several islands in the region boast lush landscapes and are home to a variety of exotic animal species. Travelers who are more ecologically aware can experience nature in the Caribbean in a number of ways, such as through hiking, camping, and mountain biking. To find out more information about outdoor excursions and nature-related activities, the best place to start is your hotel information desk, which may be able to provide you with maps of the island, the names and numbers of rental companies where you can get camping equipment and mountain bikes, and information on local guides that you can hire to show you around island trails.

Hiking is good exercise and can be a great way to see parts of islands that can’t be reached by car. Hikers can pick from a few different levels of hiking difficulty, from leisurely strolls to brisk uphill hikes and more strenuous treks. Mountain biking is also another way to get off the beaten path and see areas of the island you couldn’t see by staying in the city limits. Take a trip up the side of a volcano, visit a cascading waterfall, or do some exotic birdwatching. In the Caribbean the ecological possibilities are endless.

If you want your vacation to be an active and exciting one while in Caribbean, you won’t be at a loss for things to do in this amazing region of the world, which is rich in various sports and activities. You’re sure to have a memorable experience while enjoying active pursuits in the Caribbean.

About The Author

Danielle Mitchell writes for http://Caribbean-Guide.info , http://Jamaica-Guide.info , and other Segisys travel Web sites. © 2005, Interactive Internet Websites, Inc. Article may only be reprinted if it is not modified in any way, and if all links remain live.

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Bocas del Toro Panama : Pristine tropical rainforests slope towards the Talamanca and Central mountains. The province is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Veraguas province to the east, Chiriqui province to the south and Costa Rica to the west. Offshore lay wait to a wonderland of coral reefs teeming with marine life surrounded by an Archipelago of mangroves and white sandy beach Islands and some surf. Here is a surf video from bocas del toro. .

The 1,684 square mile/ 4,632 square kilometer province is made up of primarily four main towns Chiriqui Grande, Changuinola, Almirante on the mainland and Bocas del Toro Town the province Capitol. Bocas province population of 90,000 represents a more diverse mix of ethnicities and nationalities than anywhere in the country outside of Panama City. The islands have long been home to four indigenous tribes the Ngobe, Bugle, Bri-Bri and Naso. Due to Bocas rich history of Spaniards, pirates, banana plantations and now burgeoning expatriate community the ethnic mix also includes banana and canal worker descendents from Africa, Columbia, Jamaica, and the French Antilles, and an International Expatriate population that was tallied in 2003 to include 50 Nations.

One is more likely to hear English spoken here than in any other Panamanian province, however predominantly Spanish is spoken and some Guaymi and Teribe from local Indians lending to a unique Bocas slang. This unique melting pot of food, music and cultures creates a laid back Jimmy Buffet, Paradise.
 
Previously only know by some Panamanian tourists, adventuresome surfers and a trickling of a few brave backpackers, Bocas has become the hottest new tourist spot in panama. Where have 12 countries filmed their Survivor series including France, Spain, Italy and Russia? The answer is the exotic Bocas del Toro Archipelago. During the last few years bocas has seen an explosion of new settlers from Europe and the US, establishing a new infrastructure of quaint hotels diverse restaurants and exotic resorts. The Investment opportunities have been amazing and will continue to draw both Entrepreneurs and those desiring a near perfect retirement option for years to come. CLICK HERE FOR BOCAS NEWEST PROJECT 

 It is an outdoor lover’s paradise with diving, fishing, boating, kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, horseback riding and white water rafting. This region, considered the most geographically diverse in the Caribbean, is also a nature lover’s dream come true. Bocas del Toro Panama is one of the few places in the world that can boast of being the home to a fully functional research facility owned and operated by the Smithsonian Institution. that Eco-tourism is coming of age in Bocas del Toro Panama Eco-tourism is coming of age in Bocas, and why not, with unspoiled coral reefs, a magnificent rain forests and miles of unspoiled beaches within close proximity. If nature is your thing, you will find quality jungle tours, river tours, island tours, bird watching and turtle watching expeditions.

The charm of Bocas del Toro Panama is found not only in the people and the aquatic paradise but also in the laid back life style it affords. The all wood structures many weathered by age bring you into a world both Jimmy Buffet and Humphrey Bogart would fell right at home in. Bocas offers a true flash back in time when life was simpler with fewer stresses and no problems man. If you’re looking to do nothing or be very adventuresome you have found your perfect spot. Bocas is one of Panama’s top tourist attractions and with good reason. Where else can you enjoy beautiful beaches with scarcely a soul in sight and rainforests so fine Lonely Planet Guide calls them “a biologists fantasy”.

 SOURCE: panama-travel-bureau.com

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There is an almost magical quality to the Chiriqui highlands. This is a land of peaceful vistas, rushing rivers, gigantic flumes of rainbow covered waterfalls, terraced farmlands and rolling misty hills. The Highlands has a sense of aristocracy with all the new thoroughbred horse breeding stables being built by the influx of retiring Europeans. One can only imagine the poetic vista of majestic peaks surrounding emerald carpeted pastures with galloping herds of horses racing through wild flowers towards a trickling brook.

The Lowlands are dry and hot even stifling at times. The lack of wind in the area lends to a feeling that the earth’s moisture is being squeezed out and steam is actually wafting up your legs. .

SOURCE: panama-travel-bureau.com

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The capital of Colon province is Colon city, which is located at the entrance to the Panama Canal on the Caribbean side. It is a bustling port city of around 200,000 residents and Panama’s second largest city, Colon was founded in 1850 when the Panama railroad was constructed connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts includes a new cruise ship terminal, and is also famous for it’s Free Zone. The city of Colon remains essentially an industrial area.

The province of Colon is also famous for the port city of Portobelo, which was named by Christopher Columbus in 1502, and means “beautiful harbor”. Portobelo National Park also lies within Colon Province. There are two Spanish forts to visit in Portobelo. The Santiago de Gloria Fort protected from pirates the Customs Building ,where gold was kept before it was shipped to Spain. The Fort of San Lorenzo perched high on a cliff at the mouth of the Chagres River, frequently came under attack by pirates, including the infamous Captain Henry Morgan, and British war ships. Its crumbling ramparts contrast against the lush green jungle foliage. Just offshore from Colon is the lush tropical island of Isla Grande. Known throughout the region for its coral reefs and excellent snorkeling and scuba diving, this pristine island caters to day-trippers.

Colon is most famous for the “Free Zone”.The Colon Free Zone is a major distribution center at the Atlantic gateway to the Panama Canal, primarily dedicated to the re-export of an enormous variety of merchandise to Latin America and the Caribbean.The success of the Colon Free Zone is reflected in the more than 400 hectares and 1,800 established companies and 250,000 visitors a year. Most of the goods originate in the Far East and Europe. Tourists are allowed to shop duty free when presenting their passport.

SOURCE: panama-travel-bureau.com

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Water. The world is 80% water and we are between 70 and 80%. Water is very important to our existence but when buying a home site I forgot how important it was. Panama is told by all to have safe drinking water….well…almost all of Panama and almost all of the time. It turns out Bocas is well known for having not so safe drinking water quite often, just look at any guide book on Panama and in it’s chapter on Bocas it is one of the first things they tell you. Of course no realtor told me this nor did they tell me of water rationing over the last couple of years because of sporadic rain. Living on the Island or barrier Islands can give few good options for water, you are living off , “The Grid”. Most use their roofs to collect and reuse rain water in their homes. Others that have access to running water often find it contaminated. I would prefer to live on a waterfront lot but be where I could drill a well for drinking water. A private well is between $10,000 and $15,000 so I would suggest a small community that would share the costs and the benefits of such a well.

Electricity.At home we take this utility for granted. We are told when researching Panama of how cheap electricity is, 6 cents a kilowatt. That of course assumes one thing, that ETESA, (Panama’s National Power Company) actually has power lines for you to connect to. Well if you don’t then you hear about the romantic term again of living off the grid, power grid that is. Now your choices are much more limited and much more expensive. If you are on the Island you may have access to their private utility, but the costs are now 12 -13 cents a kilowatt hour and much less dependable. If you want to become your own Private utility using solar power, diesel generators or a combination then the cost and inconveniences can be considerable. I would find a home site that is waterfront but still has a real utility, the ETESA.

ROP vs. Titled land.Well I won’t say much that hasn’t been said before on this one. Many lawsuits have ensued from people thinking they would own outright their land in a title only to find it ROP land. I remember people in the USA that were in mobile home parks didn’t have titles to their land but held similarly to ROP. I thought it was a bad deal then and I think it is a bad deal now. Find out how many Banks won’t lend to ROP land. My home site would be on titled land.

True costs to build your Dream home.I did not know that a regular pressure treated 2x 4 on the mainland costs only $3.20 but by the time you get it to your Island it now averages $8.21 for the same 2 x 4. A bag of cement that costs $5.00 on the mainland costs $9.60 on the Islands. Everything has to be shipped and sometimes disassembled shipped then reassembled. You get a much smaller home for much more money if you decide to build on an Island. Now try to move your couch, dresser, big screen onto the Island. My good value quickly became a money pit. My perfect home site would be a Waterfront lot on the Mainland.

Location,Location,Location!Location is much more than just a pretty view. Find out if your lot is either water locked or land locked. Many people buy island property but the water is to shallow for anything more than a small skiff. Try crossing a choppy bay for groceries or worse for a medical emergency in just a small shallow skiff. Some buy wonderful Waterfront mainland acreage only to find no road access and pitiful water access. My lot would be in a Waterfront community with deepwater access and good road access.

Missed adventuresMany people fly to Bocas and never leave the Island. Yes many great adventures can be found in the seas of Bocas archipelago, but that is only half or less of what Bocas has to offer. In the states there use to be books about cities called “tank away” books. These books detailed all the adventures that could be found by car on a tank of gas. I have never seen a city that has more tank away adventures than can be found in Bocas. However try and safely maintain a working auto while living on an island nothing to be said about the added inconvenience. My Waterfront home site would be in a community on the mainland with good road access.

Bocas is one of the last truly magical places left to live in.Follow these things to look for in a new home site and maybe just maybe you’ll find your Dream Home the first time in Bocas

About the Author

Article authored by James H. Furthin a seasoned Expat who has fallen in love with Bocas.Submitted 3-20-2007

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I checked into Hotel Bahia, which is really quite a funny little place. Above all the history that surrounds it, as the converted headquarters of The United Fruit Company, it has these loveable little quirks. For beginners, everything in my room is opposite: you push the light switch down to turn on the lights, you turn the cold water nozzle in the shower for warm water, and the you pull the toilet handle upwards to flush—to such an extent that it’s almost practical joke-ish.

The owner Tito was a grateful host and like a proud general showing off his war scars, Tito gave me the full, and I mean full, hotel history. The hotel slowly transformed from a deserted government address to a fully-functioning tourism hotspot over the course of the past 30 years and today, Tito is deservedly proud to tell you how it all went down.

I ate breakfast at Shelly’s BBQ, where the atmosphere couldn’t be any further its western sounding namesake. It sits off the main drag in Bocas and the only reason I stumbled upon it was because I was lost. Crammed into a ping pong table-sized space sat four wobbly tables accompanied by several rotting wooden stools. The menu was etched in Spanish chicken scratch on the wall and asked no more than $2 for an item. Stacks of soon-to-be recycled beer bottles rested in the corner and sand covered the floor. I ordered the first thing on the menu, suspiciously called “sandwich”. What arrived was great: a toasty brown flour tortilla over-stuffed with a beef and a bright and crunchy cucumber salsa. The breakfast of champions

I’m keenly becoming accustomed to this stuff. Places where you help yourself to beers at the bar. Places where it’s ok to wander in shirt-less. And places where the only attitude is the mutt (photo) or rooster searching hungrily for scraps. Places where no one looks at you funny for sitting alone or walking in with sandy or muddy feet. I’ve grown to really love it—the stiff bouncer and tightly-wound maitre’d, now becoming distant, almost alien things to me. Dress codes and table manners, contentedly just a thing of my past.

For lunch I decided to go in search of the famed “sushi sandwich”: a meal that, according to all my co-workers, I “had to have” while in Bocas. I asked a young delivery boy in the lobby of my hotel where to find an Asian-fusion restaurant called Limongrass—and he directed me enthusiastically. I walked down the main street and loved what I saw—this hilarious blend of Caribbean, hippie and Latin cultures. Crunchy people with dreadlocks and Birkenstocks, squinty-eyed tourists with fanny packs, and hard-at-work locals with giant sacks of yucca root on their backs—totally microcosmic. Following the instructions, I opened the door to the restaurant only to hear a sharp and seemingly aggressive voice from the back squeal out “We’re closed.” “How could you be closed on a Thursday afternoon?” I asked the faceless voice. “We just are! Alright?” Limongrass was closed on Thursdays. And their employees were obnoxious. How odd. I began to debate my next move, as the same delivery fellow from my hotel lobby passed by on his rusty beach cruiser. “It’s closed on Thursdays” I told him. “How could they be closed on Thursdays?” “They just are!” I witted back.

Suddenly, the young delivery boy was my only hope. Limongrass was my only recommendation in Bocas and I wanted a memorable meal! In desperation, I asked him where he ate lunch, figuring that had to be the next best thing. If I wasn’t going to have my sushi sandwich I was going to find some real Panamanian food. I didn’t want the timbales and napoleons, the au jus’ or the pom frite’s. I had this sudden, almost possessed, urge for down-home Panama food. I wanted the real stuff and granted, Bocas wasn’t the best place to find it…but dammit I’d try. The delivery boy, Silvio, told me where he ate lunch—a rustic little buffet on the main drag. I offered to buy him lunch and he obliged. He said he had to go to the bank and he’d meet me out front in 10 minutes. Eating like the locals—Oh right!

I waited innocently at the bar, clearly not belonged. I tried to look busy, scanning through my cell phone directory and drawing empty martian scribbles in my notebook. I asked for a beer with ice, trying to blend in, since that’s what everyone else was drinking. Then in due time, I ordered a second, then a third. I began to think Silvio had abandoned me—told the gullible gringo to wait at some small restaurant while he biked off as fast and as far away from me as possible. But finally, who comes rolling up on his four-speed, but the all-knowing Silvio. It was time for lunch. We ordered whole fish and ate the succulent, smoky flesh with our fingers, sipping on chichas of watermelon and tangerine juice. The habanero sauce on the table was named Devils Inferno: mind-bogglingly hot. Lunch for the two of us cost about $4 though I would gladly have paid more. A boat sit out on the dock so i snapped a pic.

After an ill-deserved yet well-needed 2 hour rest, I was somehow hungry again. Bocas has an impressive gauntlet of ethnic restaurants, gourmet cafes, and local joints. You’ve got this crunchy demographic: backpackers who’d be happy eating bananas and water all day—and then you have the fancier people who wouldn’t accept an overcooked bead of risotto. After asking a few people where they recommend I eat, I wandered into a pier directly across the street from my hotel. It was, what looked like, an old run-down fishery or docking station with war scars and that familiar peeling Caribbean-turquoise paint. I had a seat at the bar and started chatting with the bartender—Cathy, a short, rather squatty girl—who recommended I order the Pargo filets since they had just been loaded off the boat. Her recommendation was great—two nice sized fish filets that, in a seriously delicious way, tasted like the ocean. While you’re dining on the water’s edge its hard to complain about anything. Slow service suddenly becomes distracted by amazing sunsets. Mediocre food is oddly considered acceptable. And high prices are somehow justified. The Reef is the poster child for this phenomenon and I was loving it.

I was tired from a day’s…cough cough…hard work and research, so I hit the hay sack. Laying in bed, I ran through the three good meals I had under my belt. I was looking forward to the culinary cosmos I would uncover in the days to come. I passed out watching the movie Legally Blonde—really a funny movie. I’d never seen it before but it was pretty darn funny. Ah. Man. Pretty funny.

Matt Landau is a self-proclaimed “international man of mystery”. For short, friends just call him “Mystery”. You can read all of his bizare international adventures at http://www.thepanamareport.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Landau

SOURCE: panama-travel-bureau.com

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The rainy season in Bocas takes place from December through January and then again June through August, however this season rarely produces enough rain to ruin a vacation. The dry season runs from February through May and during this period it is not uncommon to miss the raindrops all together. However, since we are in the tropics, short storms can come and go at any time. The great part about this tropical positioning though, is that we enjoy warm temperatures and light ocean breezes all year round.

Sometimes small storms can swing through but they usually do not last very long. More often, are the stretches of bright sunlight and clean skies. The most common wind direction in Bocas del Toro, Panama is North and there are several popular spots for surfing.

For the most part, Bocas enjoys calm sea conditions. Because Bocas del Toro is an archipelago, many of the islands protect it from rough weather and high seas. These outlying islands also make for a picture perfect horizon line.

Most people say that the best time to visit Bocas del Toro is in the Fall and Spring when there is the least rain and the clearest waters. But in reality, almost year-round you can find a sunny beach to enjoy. Bocas’ terrific climate is perfect for snorkeling and boating trips as well as all other water-related activities. For the less adventurous members of your family, this may simply translate into relaxing afternoons at the beach.

Matt works with the best Bocas del Toro hotel as well as another Bocas del toro panama hotel

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Landau

Living Third World Style
By Matt Landau Platinum Quality Author

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Editor’s Comment: As you read this article please keep a couple of things in the back of your mind. For starters please remember that Jean Morales originally intended to sell only 35 of her 90 hectares of land. She is an illiterate indigenous Indian on Cayo de Agua. There is no doubt she did receive $100,000 in payment for the 35 hectares of land, that part of the deal is not in dispute. Jean Morales “signed” the Rights of Possession documents with her thumb-print, which is commonly done on the islands in Bocas del Toro when dealing with illiterate Indians. At the time of the transaction she did not receive a copy of the documents - she just put down her “thumb print” and the people left. Now supposedly I am told of a mystical and magical document which has appeared which supposedly bears the “signature” of Jean Morales. According to the stories I’ve heard (and, I have not yet seen a copy of this document) the document with her “signature” says she really intended to sell the entire 90 hectares for $100,000. Of course, this would be a miracle in the truest sense of the word because because Jean Morales has never signed any document in her entire life, ever! I call this the “Bocas Miracle.”

The Other 55 Hectares: Ricardo Palacio is the lifetime partner of Jean Morales. They were never married but lived together on Cayo de Agua for more than 40 years. While Jean Morales sold the 35 hectares to Cirilo McSween, the Rights of Possession over the other 55 hectares passed to Ricardo Palacio. He since passed them to his daughters Florencia and Cecilia Palacio, and his granddaughter Roxana Smith. These women still live in wooden shacks on this land today. It is common practice in the islands to sell the land to the “gringos” then to move inland (beyond the newly established land boundary) and set up housekeeping there. Now, lawyers for Cirilo McSween, specifically the same Carmen Sosa mentioned in this article, are going to Cayo de Agua and threatening to burn down the houses of Florencia Palacio, Cecilia Palacio, and Roxana Smith. These are poor illiterate Indian women who live with babies in the jungle in shacks made out of wood and straw roofs. Nothing illegal or immoral about that, no way…

What I’m Going To Do Next: I have asked the Palacio family to get me copies of the original documents bearing the famous “thumb print” of Jean Morales, which I am told both exists and is apparently available. In addition I intend to interview a Mr. Andino Archibald, the man who supposedly served as a trusted negotiator and facilitator for Juan Conquet on behalf of Cirilo McSween for the land purchase with Jean Morales. As the story goes, Jean Morales trusted Juan Antonio Conquet because of the presence and participation of Mr. Andino Archibald, a man trusted by the Indians. According to the Indians I spoke to on the island, Archibald is widely respected and trusted, and he will supposedly collaborate the story being told to me by Florencia Palacio, Cecilia Palacio, and Roxana Smith. Specifically, he will supposedly collaborate the part of the story saying that Jean Morales only intended to sell 35 hectares of land, and to keep the other 55 hectares for the rest of her family and the daughters of Ricardo Palacio.

More To Do: Next, I plan to interview Jean Morales herself - the woman who sold the 35 hectares (not 90 hectares) of land on Cayo de Agua. Then, I intend to obtain a copy of the document which supposedly bears a “signature” of Jean Morales for the purchase of this land, and I will show it to her. If she says it is a fake or forgery then I will help her take that claim to the PTJ and the prosecutors of the Public Ministry.

What About Daniel Ayora? In this article Cirilo McSween’s “Edict”, which is really just a public statement of his intention to try to obtain a concession to develop these lands on Cayo de Agua, talks about the extension of the land he wants to develop. In this “edict” are included the lands owned by Daniel Ayora who obtained Rights of Possession over (just) 3 hectares of land in 2003 for $30,000. He’s been there ever since, continuously developing the land and improving his stake. McSween’s “Edict” completely ignores the fact that Ayora exists, and equally ignores the fact that no two people can hold the Rights of Possession over the same land. McSween apparently intends to “grab” Ayora’s land as well.

Nothing Illegal or Immoral: When I spoke to Cirilo McSween on the phone he said that “I have done nothing either illegal or immoral” with regards to the manner in which he obtained the Rights of Possession over the lands he now claims to be his on Cayo de Agua. I have in my hands a document from the President of the Regional Congress of the No Kribo Region of the Ngobe Bugle Indigenous Reserve which represents the interests of several families of indigenous Indians on Cayo de Agua. Specifically the letter, dated 16 January 2007, specifies Juan Antonio Conquet, Carmen Silva, and Cirilo McSween as being involved both directly and indirectly (intermediaries) in illegal land sales on the island. This letter was addressed to Lic. Monica Perez as the “Defensoria del Pueblo”. It appears that Cesar Salazar, the President of the Regional Congress of the No Kribo Region of the Ngobe Bugle Indigenous Reserve, as well as Javier Selle (Secretary) and Clemente Jimenez (Legal Commissioner) all would disagree with that whole “nothing illegal or immoral” claim.

Not All Lawyers Are Created Equal: One more thing you should know - Carmen Sosa is also the lawyer for Cinco Cruces de Oro (a.k.a. Six Diamonds Resorts International (SDRI), Landbridge Holdings, and Frank Delape.) She’s also representing the guy who stabbed and killed a guy in a bar fight last week, because he was a Cinco Cruces de Oro employee. Sweet, lots of work for Carmen thanks to the gringos in Bocas. She’s driving a nice, new car. So is the Mayor of Bocas del Toro, by the way. Oh, almost forgot - Carmen started out as the lawyer for Dario Vanhorne but that relationship turned south when she jumped ship to the “other side” and started working for Cinco Cruces de Oro, and then promptly went to work to take Wild Cane Key away from Dario Vanhorne. Not a whole lot of respect for client - attorney privilege in Bocas, eh? Hey, where’s the Panamanian “dudes who hold law degree” association on that one? No conflict of interest thing there?

More to Come from Cayo de Agua: Obviously there’s a lot more to do there. I really don’t understand why people, investors of any stripe, can’t just come on down and play by the established rules. Daniel Ayora has no problem with Cirilo McSween’s claim to the land around his - but he has a serious (really serious) problem with the fact that Cirilo McSween apparently wants to take his land away. The Palacio sisters have no problem with the 35 hectares of land Jean Morales sold to Cirilo McSween, and they wonder why he can’t just do whatever he wants on that land (and leave them alone.) Why the “grab and greed” mentality? Basically, they don’t get it. And, all of these kinds of shenanigans make everyone else nervous. Basically anyone and everyone who is sitting on Rights of Possession land anywhere in the entire Bocas del Toro archipelago is watching this entire process like nervous fish because they want to know if they might be next.

Panama City - Wake the %uck Up! I keep waiting for the politicians and government officials in Panama City to take this bull(shit) by the horns, but so far the response has been lukewarm to say the least. Back door PTJ sources indicate they already have “enough information to put everyone in jail.” If that’s the case, then why has it not happened? What, exactly, are decision makers waiting for? Maybe they are waiting to see just exactly how much crap I can dredge out. Next stop, the offices of the Public Ministry…

Who Is Paying For This? For the most part those people who want me to help them bang the drum for justice. Daniel Ayora drove me down to Cayo de Agua in his boat, for example, and spent about $50 in gas. Dario Vanhorne takes me out to Wild Cane Key every time I’m in Bocas del Toro so I can take pictures of the “magical” house owned by Cinco Cruces de Oro which should not be there at all. “Paki” Gale, the owner of the “Limbo” hotel usually buys my lunch, which I eat while he tells me about the latest threats to his wife and family, and how his security guard was jumped by two “big black guys” at 3:00 am. He’s going to get me copies of the police reports and medical reports from the forensic medical examiner’s office. Paki, you see, also owns land on Cayo de Agua and a claim that’s being threatened by Cirilo McSween. And in between bites of pasta I take a call from Jerry Wheeler, who is fighting his own battles with Cinco Cruces de Oro over “first beach.” Jerry had his house burned down by Cinco Cruces de Oro.

Form an Association: All of those involved in these land-grab fights are in the process of forming an association to better manage their campaigns and individual fights. This will allow them to create, for example, a “checklist” of legal actions to take and claims to file. Their combined funds will help pay for legal support for people like the Palacios sisters who are basically ignorant and scared by lawyers making threats. The association can use their funds to hire lawyers and surveyors to draw up maps and to clarify claims, and to do simple things like have a few administrative workers to collect all of the pertinent documents and to put them all in one repository where they can be easily accessed. And, having such an association would allow me, as an investigative journalist, one place to wade through all of those documents to find patterns of actions which would be invisible to any one particular case or individual. In short, they have to get organized or they will be picked off, one by one. Even people who have Rights of Possession not currently under threat could join such an association to lend support and to lobby for an improvement to the way things are being done now. Because, in short, Bocas is a friggin’ mess.

And Now, The Article: Call this an article within an article. Translating this “El Siglo” article from last May got me going again. Maybe I’ll go digging through the archives for more. In any case, without further adieu…

“A Friend of Martín Acquires Land”

El Siglo - 25 May 2007

By Horacio Trottman, Carmen Boyd and Jahiro Pole

Cayo de Agua, Bocas del Toro: The area of Punta Laurel in Bocas del Toro is a wonder of nature, comprised of small islands, estuaries, reefs, and small barren islands of mangroves. They form an ecosystem rich in diverse marine species. The area was attractive to the indigenous native Indians as well as blacks of Afro-Antillean heritage of the coastal regions of Punta Valiente and the Cayo de Agua island forms part of this paradise, where the natives took root in small communities.

In order to arrive at this community we boarded a small boat in the Bay of Altamirante, crossing the lagoon of the archipelago of Bocas del Toro, then the lagoon of the Dolphins, passing Isla Popa and the Loma Partida before reaching our objective some two hours later.

Foreign Owners: During two days in the island, “El Siglo” corroborated that at about ever 150 meters along the beaches of the island there are signs that say “Private Property: McSween.” The signs belong to an investor named Cirilo McSween Jr., from the United States, who realized a transaction with the Backer family, buying their Rights of Possession for 88 hectares of land on Cayo de Agua island for $1 million dollars.

Cirilo McSween Sr. was the man trusted by General Omar Torrijos Herrera to educate his son, who is now Panama’s President Martin Torrijos. Cirilo McSween Sr. is a prosperous businessman who owns a chain of McDonald’s restaurants in Illinois, and he would eventually name Martin Torrijos as the administrative manager of of one of his restaurants in Chicago area.

“El Siglo” learned from political sources that President Martin Torrijos made a private trip to Chicago Illinois on 12 May 2007 to visit Cirilo McSween Sr., who is reportedly in ill health.

Much Interest: The indigenous Indians on the islands were initially against the creation of a “Reordering” in the insular (or coastal) areas because they were afraid the new laws would benefit those with economic power and that the natives would be evicted from their lands.

Behind everything: There is a general displeasure among the members of the eleven Backer families. Gilberio Jal, the oldest grandson of Aurelio Backer, expressed his displeasure and said that “they sold us.” Seated on a wood bank he explained the land sale. He said his grandfathers were the sole owner of these lands and that the sale was “not consulted” because they should have held a family meeting to discuss the sale and that the meeting did not take place.

“He just sold the land, and they relocated the eleven families on these two hectares, where Mr. McSween promised to build eleven houses of wood and metal roofs with all the extras, but it did not happen that way,” he said.

Unfulfilled Promises: The sale was conditional to the relocation of the eleven families, the construction of eleven houses each with two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, dining room, bathrooms with toilets, as well as an aqueduct (water supply.) In addition the two hectares of land was supposed to be divided into eleven equal parts.

According to Jal the sale of the land has divided the Backer family because only some of them have received money from their grandfathers. One can notice a sense of hermetism with the Backer family on the subject and the family members referred us to Lubio Backer, who we were unable to speak to. In Gilberio Jal’s opinion there was something more to the negotiation, because he now compares the prices for hectares and asks how is it possible that his grandfathers sold 40 hectares for only $250,000.

It is known that the Backer family used Juan Conquet as the intermediary in the land sale with the American (Cirilo McSween.) What’s more, McSween asks Panama’s the National Tax office through the Ministry of Economy and Finance to buy these lands with edict number 263-2006 of 23 May 2006. In addition McSween published Edict Number 25,585 in the “Gaceto Oficial” which contains the general information related to the process, which describes McSween’s request to purchase land measuring 88 hectares plus 911.65 additional meters of land (the land acquired from the Rights of Possession from the Backer family.

According to McSween the land bordered on the North by the Caribbean Sea, on the south by an unnamed stream, to the East Lands of the Nation occupied by the Hotel El Limbo, and on the West by the Caribbean Sea and an access. But what the buyers of these lands have not said yet is that they plan to construct a resort hotel with luxurious rooms, swimming pools and other infrastructures for American and European tourists.

The Tax Office: According to the director of the Tax Office in Bocas del Toro, Roberto Prestán, the transaction made by McSween with the Backer family is only for the Rights of Possession of these lands. Prestán said that it can not be called a purchase, because the office he presides over (the Tax Office or :Cadastro”) has not received any documents regarding the purchase of land on the islands.
Prestán said McSween should present the mega-tourist project he intends to develop in Panama (City), while (his) Tax Office in Bocas del Toro will make estimates to quantify the economic scale of the project, and then Panama might give a concession to develop the lands.
More hectares: “El Siglo” spoke with McSween’s lawyer Carmen Sosa, who said her client acquired the Rights of Possession for a total of 363 hectares of land on Cayo de Agua island, divided in the following manner: 100 hectares from Julián Morales, 90 hectares from Jean Morales, 88 from the Backer Family, 70 from the Chuito family, and 15 from the Taylor family.
Carmen Sosa said McSween paid $1 million dollars to the Backer family for their lands, but did not specify how much McSween paid to the other families. Carmen Sosa said McSween will have to present a master plan to Panama’s Tourism Institute (IPAT), and that it will be evaluated by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), the General Comprtoller’s Office of the Republic, as well as Panama’s National Environmental Authority (ANAM.)
She added that employees from the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) should travel to the island to evaluate the land to prepare a tax assessment.
The entire island measures approximately 400 hectares total.
He Wants To Invest: “El Siglo” contacted Cirilo McSween Jr. who confirmed his interest in acquiring some land for, in the future, a tourist development. However, he explained there is nothing set in stone yet, because he still does not have an answer from the Panamanian government with regards to the concession he is requesting over his plans to develop the lands in question and to address the issue regarding his Rights of Possession over the lands.
“What interests me is investing in Bocas del Toro and my idea is to acquire a very small extension of land on one island and for that I have negotiated the purchase of some Rights of Possession,” he said. He added that in spite of having in his possession the documents (regarding the Rights of Possession) he still has not been able to obtain the concession from the state because “I understand that the bureaucratic process is very long and very complicated.”
“I know that you can not buy land directly from the government, and that part of the process is that you have to obtain permissions from several governmental authorities and then request a concession, but part of that is you first must have the Rights of Possession that this we already have,” he said. He said that his lawyer, Carmen Sosa, is in charge of the proceedings, and that he has not participated in the proceedings, except for the purchase of the Rights of Possession, for which he has already invested “enough.”
“I have bought Rights of Possession from more people in Bocas del Toro, and that they were interested in selling”, he said. It said that in spite of the personal relationship between his family Panama’s President Martin Torrijos, he has not received any help from the government in the purchase of these lands.
SOURCE: Don Winner @ Panama-guide.com

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