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At Roots restaurant and bar, it is possible to arrange for a tour of a recently discovered bat cave about 45 minutes travel by boat from the island. The route to the cave heads across the bay and then into a winding canal through a mangrove swamp. From the landing point, it's a short walk to the cave itself, but the cave was really less interesting than the boat ride. The only access to the long winding cave passage is by wading up a stream that flows out of the cave. There are some garden variety stalactites and a lot of bats hanging from the ceiling. I and my guide waded in perhaps 50 yards, where the water was knee deep. I was told it is possible to continue upward through ever deeper water until the water becomes too deep for wading, but it was hard to see the point of this, so I turned around. Although the cave itself was a bit disappointing, I'd rate the overall experience positively, even on a day marked by clouds and drizzle.
Written May 26, 2009
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A visit to this Guaymi Indian Village will take your vacation from normal to exotic in one hours time. Very few villages in Panama are as remote and primitive as this one. Thick with lush green vegetation andn tropical wildlife the village is home to 500 inhabitants. These are wonderful people who will greet you as you arrive. I wandered in alone and had the time of my life playing with their children, making deals on their handi-crafts, and touring their part of the island.
Enter Salt Creek and keep going until both sides of the boat are almost touching the mangroves. To the left will be a dock where supplies and tourist are unloaded. I followed a young girl down the path as the guide remained in the launch.
I came to a sign and was about to enter when a woman beckoned me her way, opposite the sign. It turned out her family maintained a store from which I purchased wood carved parrot and a shell necklace.
My new guide took me around along a trail for $7. The trail would end up looping around and back to the village, I didn't know this at first. It was important for me to see a crockidile and I made this clear to my guide who gave me a reassuring nod that would indeed see one which we did. Probably the most interesting part of the trip was passing a home on stilts with a group of children cooking lunch on the porch. Taking pictures and making these kids laugh alone was worth the trip.
Updated Aug 19, 2006
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A visit to this Guaymi Indian Village will take your vacation from normal to exotic in one hours time. Very few villages in Panama are as remote and primitive...
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1
Probably the most inviting island in the Bocas group as there is much to do on every side of the island. When I recap my adventure in these parts this island involves some of the most vivid...
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I chose this place because I was looking for an alternative to the higher priced accomodations and "touristy" Bocas del Toro nearby. The island is easily reached by a short boat ride from Bocas. While...
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