After getting back from Karen and Dave's wedding in the Domincan Republic, we headed West for an extra long weekend to see a few other areas of Panama. We rented a car and headed to the Boca Chica area to a very cool resort called Seagull Cove.
Seagull Cove is truly nestled in the steep hillside overlooking a quiet bay with several islands out in the distance. The views are stunning and the resort workers (especially Marcelo) and the owners (Jim and Sue) were very friendly and helpful. We rented a guided boat for one day and headed out to several islands to snorkel and relax. The water right in Seagull Cove bay is dark and muddy, but 1/2 hour by boat to some incredible spots. We snorkelled in some clear blue water that had quite a variety of small fish. We were all alone until 2 water taxis came in with about 12 people who were on a trip from Boca Chica. They had lunch set up for them and they were swimming in the crystal clear water on a nice white beach. We swam there too for a while and then headed to another island for our own lunch.
The resort had made us sandwiches and packed water, wine and beer for us to refresh ourselves with. We swam some more and just relaxed, it was great. From there we went to another island for more snorkelling. The very 1st spot was the best for fish, but each spot we stopped at was pretty cool.
The bar at the end of the pier. Only open Saturday, so we missed it.
The view from the pool.
My wonderful family.
The resort from the water.
Another shot of the bay from the bar on the pier.
Just so beautiful.
Snorkelling
Some are better than others.
Bright sun, but good picture of the kids.
My beautiful daughter.
So from Seagull Cove, we went with a Realtor named Dick who showed us a place in Boca Chica and then a very nice house in La Barqueta. If only we had the money just lying around to buy that place down here. Beautiful house with fruit trees, a nice pool and quiet beach. Oh well, someday maybe.
We headed up to Bambito, which is just a little higher up the volcano from Volcan. It is a very pretty rain forest that is very relaxed and laid back. We stayed at the Bambito Resort, which had a nice restaurant and several cool cabins that had lots of space. The area is very cool compared to the beach, so we actually had to wear jeans and T-shirts instead of just swim suits. The rooms did not have air conditioners, and we woke up each morning to a cold room, brrr. (I know wimpy Canadians can't take the cold anymore)
The path to the restaurant. Huge tree in the back.
Rain forest lady.
Waiting for a horse ride appointment. The person never showed.
This is a tree that grows up on and around a palm tree and eventually chokes it out (the palm is in the middle).
The kids in their room chilling out.
The grounds of Bambito
More of the grounds.
While at Bambito, The kids did homework (yeah I know - evil parents) and Karen and I went on a coffee plantation tour. Apparently The Geisha coffee beans from Panama are the best in the world (voted the top coffee last year). We went on a tour and saw first hand a coffee plantation that had the plants, processing plant and roasting plant. Our guide was a little white Panamanian. His family is Dutch and His grandparent bought the farm/plantation in the 50s. Our guide was born in Panama, but with blonde hair and blue eyes, he did look like any other gringo here.
We did the full tour and at the end had a cup of locally grown Geisha premium coffee. The perfect amount of freshly ground coffee was put in a coffee steeper and water that was the perfect temperature was put in and left for exactly 1 minute. Ok, so here is where I was expecting something absolutely incredible to happen in my taste buds, but for me it tasked like any other cup of coffee and I actually prefer the local cheap Duran coffee over the really expensive stuff we got. Karen and I both agree that we are totally not coffee aficionados (or coffee snobs if you prefer). I am glad to have been on the tour and seen first hand the effort it takes to grow coffee, but I will still not pay big bucks for a cup of coffee.
These are commercial grade coffee plants and are full and leafy.
This is our tour guide and the Geisha plant. It is skinny and not nearly as lush as the commercial plants.
Leif, our guide, did know his stuff and was very proud of his heritage. Their family had been farming this area since the 50s and had always employed the local tribespeople to help out. They stayed in their village and only interacted with the owners through their chief and only when needed. They were paid by the bucketful of coffee beans and so they tended the plants very well and made sure that everything was perfect. It is a good relationship and allows the locals to maintain their ancient way of life in their own area, while still providing a service and making money to cover their needs.
This is the view from the coffee plantation coffee house.
The West side of Panama is much less developed than around Panama City, but there is just as much natural beauty there as the rest of Panama. We realized how sweet we have it in the Arco de Seco (dry arch) part of the Panama Gold Coast. It is relatively expensive for Panama, but still pretty cheap for Canada and has the best climate ever!
Stew.
