Kayaking in Paradise
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
This morning it is a beautiful sunny day with clear
blue skies, bright white clouds and a slight breeze.
Great conditions for a morning kayak through the
mangroves. The bright sunshine makes it easier to
check out the sea life from the vantage point of your
kayak. The bird life in the mangroves is on display
to be checked out from an angle that is just about
impossible to reach using any other mode of
transportation.
When you have had enough adventure for the morning, you can turn around and paddle back to the dock.
All of this adventure is within eyesight of the lodge. So you can return for lunch and some hammock time before you head out again for a different adventure in the afternoon. Snorkeling perhaps?
When you have had enough adventure for the morning, you can turn around and paddle back to the dock.
All of this adventure is within eyesight of the lodge. So you can return for lunch and some hammock time before you head out again for a different adventure in the afternoon. Snorkeling perhaps?
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!
Jellyfish Kayak
Friday, October 12, 2007
What would you think if I told you that you could go
for a kayak and then get out and snorkel and check
out an entire bed of upside down jellyfish? Would you
be intrigued or a bit freaked out? We have had
clients that go either way.
Upside down jellyfish are quite an unique sight. They live in shallow water and frequently in the mangroves. They reach 12-14 inches in diameter. They reproduce sexually in one part of their life and asexually in another part. They have lacy frilly ruffles. They appear to glow in the dark. They contain symbiotic golden algae. Most of their food is produced by the symbiotic algae. These same algae produce oxygen which allows the jellyfish to survive in oxygen poor water.
Upside-down jellyfishes have more than 40 mini mouth openings. They are invertebrates and their bodies are 95% water, 3% salt, and 2% protein. They usually lie on the bottom of the water and can be mistaken for the sea anemone. They have a sting, but it is minor and they do not sting often.
The jellyfish starts out as free swimming organism, and as soon as it reaches 2 centimeters long it inverts its bell and goes to the bottom of the water where it lands upside-down.
Upside down jellyfish are quite an unique sight. They live in shallow water and frequently in the mangroves. They reach 12-14 inches in diameter. They reproduce sexually in one part of their life and asexually in another part. They have lacy frilly ruffles. They appear to glow in the dark. They contain symbiotic golden algae. Most of their food is produced by the symbiotic algae. These same algae produce oxygen which allows the jellyfish to survive in oxygen poor water.
Upside-down jellyfishes have more than 40 mini mouth openings. They are invertebrates and their bodies are 95% water, 3% salt, and 2% protein. They usually lie on the bottom of the water and can be mistaken for the sea anemone. They have a sting, but it is minor and they do not sting often.
The jellyfish starts out as free swimming organism, and as soon as it reaches 2 centimeters long it inverts its bell and goes to the bottom of the water where it lands upside-down.
Panama Outdoors
Saturday, September 15, 2007
What can you do from the dock? You can go fishing,
kayaking, snorkeling, or swimming.
We keep a few fishing rods rigged up with small hooks for people to catch and release fish on the dock. Kids enjoy catching crabs along the dock and putting them into a bucket to be used for bait. The fish are plentiful in the morning as they are used to a morning feeding. We save all of the food remaining on people’s plates each night for the fish. The fish along our dock have grown in size and number ever since we began the morning feeding. We have a wide variety of fish cruising the dock looking for a tasty meal. Our guests have snagged snapper, barracuda, and others with the crabs. We ask that they release the fish back into the ocean so that they may be enjoyed by other guests in the future.
These same fish are great for viewing when you are snorkeling. We have coral formations right at the dock which allow you to observe both the coral and the fish in action. You can either snorkel and swim right at the dock or go for a longer distance swim which incorporates a bit of exercise into the process as well.
If you would prefer not to get directly in the water you can observe many of the underwater activities from the vantage point of your kayak. The water is clear and shallow throughout the bay so you can paddle about and check out the different coral formations.
We keep a few fishing rods rigged up with small hooks for people to catch and release fish on the dock. Kids enjoy catching crabs along the dock and putting them into a bucket to be used for bait. The fish are plentiful in the morning as they are used to a morning feeding. We save all of the food remaining on people’s plates each night for the fish. The fish along our dock have grown in size and number ever since we began the morning feeding. We have a wide variety of fish cruising the dock looking for a tasty meal. Our guests have snagged snapper, barracuda, and others with the crabs. We ask that they release the fish back into the ocean so that they may be enjoyed by other guests in the future.
These same fish are great for viewing when you are snorkeling. We have coral formations right at the dock which allow you to observe both the coral and the fish in action. You can either snorkel and swim right at the dock or go for a longer distance swim which incorporates a bit of exercise into the process as well.
If you would prefer not to get directly in the water you can observe many of the underwater activities from the vantage point of your kayak. The water is clear and shallow throughout the bay so you can paddle about and check out the different coral formations.
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.
Bocas del Toro Kayaking
Monday, August 27, 2007
The nice thing about kayaking is it is a sport both
for athletes and those of us not as athletically
inclined. I am not athletic. I am not a big outdoors
person. But I do like to kayak.
We use sit on top kayaks. They are much easier to maneuver or more importantly to get back onto after you have fallen off than a cockpit style kayak. Normally we have a few kayaks on the dock so it is easy to get going rather quickly once you decide you are ready to go for a paddle.
Once in the kayak is in the water, I climb on board. I release the kayak from the dock and off I go. I can paddle around the edge of the island and watch for the different aquatic life living at the island’s edge. I can paddle into open water and circle the small island out in the bay. I can head for a point nearby where I get to go through a mangrove tunnel to check out a different type of coral than we have right at our place.
Or if I was feeling adventurous I could head over to the rancho in the water not too far from our place and disembark. At the rancho I can have a picnic lunch, go fishing, go snorkeling, read a book, do yoga, or even take a nap. It all depends upon my current mood.
Kayaking can be done as a solitary activity or it can be done in a group. I can go on a single kayak or I can go with my husband on a double kayak. My three year old son loves to climb on board and take a ride.
Regardless of the excursion or companions, I always return from a paddling experience refreshed and renewed with a smile on my face.
We use sit on top kayaks. They are much easier to maneuver or more importantly to get back onto after you have fallen off than a cockpit style kayak. Normally we have a few kayaks on the dock so it is easy to get going rather quickly once you decide you are ready to go for a paddle.
Once in the kayak is in the water, I climb on board. I release the kayak from the dock and off I go. I can paddle around the edge of the island and watch for the different aquatic life living at the island’s edge. I can paddle into open water and circle the small island out in the bay. I can head for a point nearby where I get to go through a mangrove tunnel to check out a different type of coral than we have right at our place.
Or if I was feeling adventurous I could head over to the rancho in the water not too far from our place and disembark. At the rancho I can have a picnic lunch, go fishing, go snorkeling, read a book, do yoga, or even take a nap. It all depends upon my current mood.
Kayaking can be done as a solitary activity or it can be done in a group. I can go on a single kayak or I can go with my husband on a double kayak. My three year old son loves to climb on board and take a ride.
Regardless of the excursion or companions, I always return from a paddling experience refreshed and renewed with a smile on my face.
How to truly experience an adventure vacation
Sunday, August 19, 2007
What do you need to do to truly experience an
adventure vacation? Try getting a strong sense of
place. How can one learn about a place in a short
expanse of time?
Take a walk. When you walk along a jungle path you see and feel the enormity of being in the jungle. You see the canopy above you. You see the plants along the forest floor. You feel the change in temperature when you step into the rain forest from a cleared area. You sense the birds and animals all around you. If you walk slowly and quietly you might happen upon a troop of monkeys eating breakfast. You might see a sloth and her baby hanging out in a tree. Step carefully and you might see a red frog which is only found on Isla Bastimentos.
Go for a kayak. Kayaking along the edge of an island is perfect for your family adventure. From the vantage point of a kayak you can watch the birds as they fly overhead going from home to feeding ground or vice versa each day. You can watch for dolphins at play in the Caribbean Sea. You can go into a secluded bay and stop for a while to snorkel and check out the life under water.
Snorkel. Move slowly along the coral reef and you will experience the different colors of the aquatic life living amongst the reef. There are many different kinds of coral, fish and plants which make their home under the water near the islands edge.
Hammock. Okay so technically hammock isn’t a verb, but spending some time in a hammock allows you to take in a different aspect of island life. It allows you to gaze out at the view of the mountains in the distance over the Caribbean Sea. It gives you an opportunity to listen to the sounds of the jungle. And maybe the opportunity to take a nap – after all this adventure, it is a vacation and you deserve some rest.
Take a walk. When you walk along a jungle path you see and feel the enormity of being in the jungle. You see the canopy above you. You see the plants along the forest floor. You feel the change in temperature when you step into the rain forest from a cleared area. You sense the birds and animals all around you. If you walk slowly and quietly you might happen upon a troop of monkeys eating breakfast. You might see a sloth and her baby hanging out in a tree. Step carefully and you might see a red frog which is only found on Isla Bastimentos.
Go for a kayak. Kayaking along the edge of an island is perfect for your family adventure. From the vantage point of a kayak you can watch the birds as they fly overhead going from home to feeding ground or vice versa each day. You can watch for dolphins at play in the Caribbean Sea. You can go into a secluded bay and stop for a while to snorkel and check out the life under water.
Snorkel. Move slowly along the coral reef and you will experience the different colors of the aquatic life living amongst the reef. There are many different kinds of coral, fish and plants which make their home under the water near the islands edge.
Hammock. Okay so technically hammock isn’t a verb, but spending some time in a hammock allows you to take in a different aspect of island life. It allows you to gaze out at the view of the mountains in the distance over the Caribbean Sea. It gives you an opportunity to listen to the sounds of the jungle. And maybe the opportunity to take a nap – after all this adventure, it is a vacation and you deserve some rest.