Beach Clean Up - Rescheduled
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
So the beach clean up was rescheduled. In the mean
time they are working on improving the trail on the
island. We have donated two wheelbarrows to the
cause. We have had several opportunities to visit the
island since they began working on the trail and we
are happy to report that the trail is getting better
with each visit.
So you can't see the trail from this shot - but you can see the island!
So you can't see the trail from this shot - but you can see the island!
Beach Clean Up
Monday, January 28, 2008
The first scheduled beach clean up in quite some time
is on Wednesday January 30, 2008. The communities of
Macca Bite and Salt Creek have been asked to
participate for the day cleaning up Zapatilla 2.
Zapatilla 2 is the island with the station for the
ANAM employees. We are thrilled to participate in
this clean up. We have scheduled to take our
employees, children and guests to the island for the
day. Ourselves, our employees and children and the
other members of the community will assist the ANAM
employees as directed. Our guests will participate to
the extent they choose to do so. We hope that this is
the first of many regularly scheduled clean ups.
This process helps to have the entire community involved in protecting its natural resources for the well-being of the community and the area's tourism.
This process helps to have the entire community involved in protecting its natural resources for the well-being of the community and the area's tourism.
New Year's Eve in Bocas del Toro
Monday, December 31, 2007
What does one expect from New Year's Eve in Bocas?
Well honestly it depends upon your location. For
those people spending the holidays on Isla Colon it
is more of a party and I believe the day is spent in
preparation or in planning for the evening. For those
off the main islands it is a different experience.
For some the outer island experience during the day might include a boat ride to the outer edges of the archipelago for a visit to an indigenous village. Once onsite in the indigenous village there is a hike and an opportunity to learn how the indigenous people spend their days and the different things in the rainforest they use for food and shelter. Then from there another brief boat ride to another indigenous village for a hike to a long stretch of beautiful beaches. Body surfing, beach combing and a variety of other beach activities prevail for the day. Once it is time to make the trip back to the lodge everyone collects their belongings trying only to leave footprints on the sand.
After a delicious dinner full of family and good conversation, the guests can collect at the dock for a small fireworks show to begin the New Year!
Happy 2008 to to you all!
For some the outer island experience during the day might include a boat ride to the outer edges of the archipelago for a visit to an indigenous village. Once onsite in the indigenous village there is a hike and an opportunity to learn how the indigenous people spend their days and the different things in the rainforest they use for food and shelter. Then from there another brief boat ride to another indigenous village for a hike to a long stretch of beautiful beaches. Body surfing, beach combing and a variety of other beach activities prevail for the day. Once it is time to make the trip back to the lodge everyone collects their belongings trying only to leave footprints on the sand.
After a delicious dinner full of family and good conversation, the guests can collect at the dock for a small fireworks show to begin the New Year!
Happy 2008 to to you all!
What to do in the rain?
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Well I guess we all know why they call this jungle of
ours a rainforest. We have to have rain to keep this
lush vegetation happy - but do we have to have so
much rain all at one time? This has been a popular
question over the last few days. We had a cycle of
five days of rain. Not exactly normal - but also not
unheard of. If you have never experienced rain in a
rain forest you should do so at least once in your
life. It begins with a drizzle and then the magnitude
of the rain increases and then it increases again and
over and over until you really think it just can't
rain any harder. It is like the ultimate crescendo in
a musical piece. Then it drops down and stops - but
unfortunately there are also those times when it is a
viscous cycle that continues and continues.
What do you do when all this rain is coming down on you? You can do a few things: eat, drink, hang out with friends and family and then you can also venture outside and snorkel, kayak, hike and even walk along a beach. It might be raining, but at least it is warm!
Cheers to the sun which showed up today!
What do you do when all this rain is coming down on you? You can do a few things: eat, drink, hang out with friends and family and then you can also venture outside and snorkel, kayak, hike and even walk along a beach. It might be raining, but at least it is warm!
Cheers to the sun which showed up today!
Bonefishing
Friday, December 21, 2007
Yesterday I went to the beach with my husband, my
son, our business partner’s wife and son and a few
friends. As we arrived at the beach we took the boat
down the edge of the island to scan for fish. My
husband was certain they would be there as he
encountered them several times at this same beach
over the last month. As we were about to reach our
preferred parking spot, Jim spotted the bonefish.
They were swimming near the water’s edge directly off
of a small point.
We parked the boat, disembarked and the guys took off to cast. About thirty minutes and about 4 fish later, they returned for lunch. They enjoyed a quick bite and talked about what it was like to catch the fish in such an idyllic setting.
The sun was high and the water was beautiful. The sky couldn’t have been any bluer or the clouds any fluffier. The sunshine shone through the water allowing them to watch the bonefish and determine the exact location to cast the fly.
They went in and out of the water casting the rod to the fish most of the afternoon. My son and his buddy had their first bonefish experience at the tender ages of three and four. My son is already talking about what it is going to be like when he gets to catch the bonefish. Talk about a family adventure.
We parked the boat, disembarked and the guys took off to cast. About thirty minutes and about 4 fish later, they returned for lunch. They enjoyed a quick bite and talked about what it was like to catch the fish in such an idyllic setting.
The sun was high and the water was beautiful. The sky couldn’t have been any bluer or the clouds any fluffier. The sunshine shone through the water allowing them to watch the bonefish and determine the exact location to cast the fly.
They went in and out of the water casting the rod to the fish most of the afternoon. My son and his buddy had their first bonefish experience at the tender ages of three and four. My son is already talking about what it is going to be like when he gets to catch the bonefish. Talk about a family adventure.
Hike to the beach
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Today my husband took a couple on a hike through an
indigenous village, the jungle and out onto the
beach. They left here this morning around 9:00 am in
one of our boats to travel over to the indigenous
village. At the village they depart from the boat and
walk around a bit.
We have been working with the village to build and maintain a trail which goes from one side of the island to the other side through the jungle on the edge of Bastimentos National Marine Park. So, one of the members of the village accompanies our group along the trail. Along the way they encounter a variety of different plants and animals. Red frogs, sleeping bats, sloths, various reptiles, and maybe even a monkey or two. As they near the end of the trail they enter into an area which resembles more of a lake or a river rather than an ocean lagoon. In this area there are waterfalls and other natural attractions.
After walking through the lagoon they walk a bit further and they access a beautiful beach called Playa Larga. The hike out to Playa Larga from the indigenous village takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes. The guests are welcome to hang out at the beach and take in all that the island has to offer for a number of hours. Then they begin the return trip back to the indigenous village and the boat. On the return trip they might see something they missed on the way out to the beach. Either way they have had an experience of a lifetime.
We have been working with the village to build and maintain a trail which goes from one side of the island to the other side through the jungle on the edge of Bastimentos National Marine Park. So, one of the members of the village accompanies our group along the trail. Along the way they encounter a variety of different plants and animals. Red frogs, sleeping bats, sloths, various reptiles, and maybe even a monkey or two. As they near the end of the trail they enter into an area which resembles more of a lake or a river rather than an ocean lagoon. In this area there are waterfalls and other natural attractions.
After walking through the lagoon they walk a bit further and they access a beautiful beach called Playa Larga. The hike out to Playa Larga from the indigenous village takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes. The guests are welcome to hang out at the beach and take in all that the island has to offer for a number of hours. Then they begin the return trip back to the indigenous village and the boat. On the return trip they might see something they missed on the way out to the beach. Either way they have had an experience of a lifetime.
Sea Turtle Facts
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Bocas del Toro Panama is the nesting ground for a
number of sea turtles. Here are some basic facts
about sea turtles:
Sea turtles do not have teeth, instead they have a beak like jaw which they use to tear, crush and bite at the food in their diet.
Sea turtles do not have ears. They have an inner eardrum covered by a flap of skin and they hear best at low frequencies.
Sea turtles have an excellent sense of smell. Their vision is good underwater but they are nearsighted when on land.
Sea turtles can remain submerged underwater for an extended period of time if they are not exerting themselves. For example, routine activity requires oxygen replenishment every four to five minutes, but they can sleep underwater for several hours at a time without the need to replenish oxygen.
They have flippers shaped like paddles for easier navigation in the water. The front flippers are used to propel themselves and the back flippers are used for steering. Their shells are more streamlined for speed and efficiency in the water.
Due to their immense size, sea turtles cannot retract their heads into their shells. Their skulls and necks are not armored. Sea turtles cannot right themselves if they are turned upside down. They also cannot back up in water or on land.
Because the sea turtle is a reptile, it cannot regulate its own temperature. When they are too cold, they become lethargic and seek warmth. At warmer temperatures they risk overheating. A rapid rise in body temperature can cause a deadly heat stroke which is one reason they nest at night.
Sea turtles do not have teeth, instead they have a beak like jaw which they use to tear, crush and bite at the food in their diet.
Sea turtles do not have ears. They have an inner eardrum covered by a flap of skin and they hear best at low frequencies.
Sea turtles have an excellent sense of smell. Their vision is good underwater but they are nearsighted when on land.
Sea turtles can remain submerged underwater for an extended period of time if they are not exerting themselves. For example, routine activity requires oxygen replenishment every four to five minutes, but they can sleep underwater for several hours at a time without the need to replenish oxygen.
They have flippers shaped like paddles for easier navigation in the water. The front flippers are used to propel themselves and the back flippers are used for steering. Their shells are more streamlined for speed and efficiency in the water.
Due to their immense size, sea turtles cannot retract their heads into their shells. Their skulls and necks are not armored. Sea turtles cannot right themselves if they are turned upside down. They also cannot back up in water or on land.
Because the sea turtle is a reptile, it cannot regulate its own temperature. When they are too cold, they become lethargic and seek warmth. At warmer temperatures they risk overheating. A rapid rise in body temperature can cause a deadly heat stroke which is one reason they nest at night.
Bocas del Toro Beach
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Playing in the ocean – fun for kids and adults alike.
Today we went to the Zapatilla Cayes with a group of
people. There were five children and nine adults. We
all played in the water. We had boogie boards, kayaks
and snorkeling equipment.
The crystal clear water made a beautiful backdrop for the island and its foliage as well as for our different activities. The kids, young and old, rode on the kayaks all the while pretending that one group were pirates and the other group was full of good guys. We took turns on the boogie boards to see who could catch the biggest wave. Some people swam a little further out to check out what they could find under the water.
There is a certain joy in watching a child play in the ocean at the water’s edge. They play in and out of the waves to see if they can withstand the push and pull of the waves or if the sand itself will knock them down. They go a bit further out and float in the water on a boogie board or a kayak flipped upside down. All in the name of practice for the day they will be big enough to go on a real surf board and catch some serious waves.
The crystal clear water made a beautiful backdrop for the island and its foliage as well as for our different activities. The kids, young and old, rode on the kayaks all the while pretending that one group were pirates and the other group was full of good guys. We took turns on the boogie boards to see who could catch the biggest wave. Some people swam a little further out to check out what they could find under the water.
There is a certain joy in watching a child play in the ocean at the water’s edge. They play in and out of the waves to see if they can withstand the push and pull of the waves or if the sand itself will knock them down. They go a bit further out and float in the water on a boogie board or a kayak flipped upside down. All in the name of practice for the day they will be big enough to go on a real surf board and catch some serious waves.