All good things take time--especially along the little developed Costa Arriba of northern Panama, including this post. Some things there take a lot of time. From the house on the Carib shore (there for a week) it took some time just finding a really nice beach--all that cool reef and nice swell was in the way of just getting into the water on a hot day. After that we clued in to hiring la launcha out to several of the small islands outside the cool mangrove and reef shore. You know they are going to come back in the afternoon at the designated time (pretty much) as you pay them after you get back to the mainland.
Another time we were off to drive to the ziplines-a new operation out there, and got turned back by the lack of a passable road for our little rented Nissan-and the road work going on. So we turned back for Playa Langosta, a spot without a reef. After a fine lunch of whole fried fish and other goodies, Miles gets in the water first--and bingo, instant double jelly fish stings to the legs.
More days out via private launch--Chillaxing, as Miles puts it. Some launches funkier than others. One day the 2 guys (teenagers) were shaking the gas can for the outboard on teh way back to see how fast they could go. After we paid them and sat eating another fish and chicken dinner, back the younger one comes lugging a very heavy gas can.
The nicest part--breeze was usually up, swell with it, still god snorkling on the protected south sides, and fine fish. No photos of the reef fish here, but Tracie and I had a quick short swim back to the shallows after hearing both kids howling due to the howling of the howler monkies in the trees nearby. . .
So Isla Lame (top 3), Puerto Frances (w kids in bay), or Playa Blanca at Playa Grande (w Tracie)....which has the best palm tree scene--certinaly better than the Microsoft desktop image?? Well, they are diff views with v different levels of effort, so it goes down here. The heat, the cerveza, the little coral burn........
