Boca town, Bocas del Toro, Panama
In Bocas, it seems that everyone is schlepping a bag through town or harbor. All travelers look as coming or going somewhere but chances are the most of them are streaming to and from Puerto Viejo. The agencies in the village advertise round-trips to Bocas starting around $50 that include four buses (one for each side of the border) and two boat rides. And all are pitching the idea that in 3 hours you are in Bocas' paradise, not a bad deal considering how far is Bocas del Toro if you come from Panama City.
Isla Carenero, Bocas del Toro, Panama
But the time stretches on the way because you have to cross the border that requires to buy an exit card, after that another line is for the Costa Rica exit stamp and after you walk over the border bridge you land in another line for an entry stamp into Panama.
Isla Carenero, Bocas del Toro, Panama
So if you add also the change of time zones - Panama is on EST - you arrive at your hotel around 1:30 PM local time even if you were picked up at 8:30 AM. With the day getting shorter, I shed my plans to do a bike tour of the main island and I hopped on a water taxi and crossed from Boca Town to Isla Carenero.
Isla Carenero, Bocas del Toro, Panama
I walked toward the beach that had a smaller side filled up by westerners sun bathing in front of a luxurious private villa. The atmosphere was quaint and peaceful and obviously a bit boring.
Isla Carenero, Bocas del Toro, Panama
However, on the other side of the wooden dock was a huge crowd of locals that were swarming the beach listening to the club music blasted from some gigantic speakers. It was a completely different vibe, way more alive, but too noisy for my taste.
Isla Carenero, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Later some of the sun bathers gathered at Bibi's, a restaurant that seem to be a highlight of the island. Absolutely everybody whom I told that I was in Isla Carenero asked me if I had a drink at Bibi's. For sure it's important because it seems to be the only one close to the beach and besides the its sunset view at happy hour is worth a visit.
Isla Carenero, Bocas del Toro, Panama
But what strikes the most is the discrepancy between the fancy lounges by the water and the poverty that hides right behind them. Mounts of garbage, trashed old TVs, burning fires, discarded mattresses, all were surrounding the rickety houses hosting several generations. The heat sent their inhabitants out on the patch of sand in front of the house shared also with the winding guessed beach path walked by skimpy dressed girls posing for their Instagram posts.
Isla Carenero, Bocas del Toro, Panama
No comments:
Post a Comment