| Area Activities: |
We have our own fishing boats and gear for inshore and offshore fishing.
The area features big tarpon, snook, red snapper, tuna, mackeral, wahoo,
dorado and billfish. (Small boat = $150/day+gas, Big Boat = $250/day+gas)
The area features big tarpon, snook, red snapper, tuna, mackeral, wahoo,
dorado and billfish. (Small boat = $150/day+gas, Big Boat = $250/day+gas)
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Activities from the Lodge:
1) Nature - We have howler, white face and 'Titi' monkeys which frequent the fruit trees
around the Lodge. One of our Lodge staff can take you on a guided tour, if you like. ($5
pp/hour)
2) Boat Tours - We've developed several boat tours for birding, wildlife viewing and
snorkeling within the Drago area. Locations include Bird Island, Soropta, the banana canals,
Ground Creek and a visit to an Indian home. We can support longer distance trips to Dolphin
Bay and Zapatillas.
3) Birding - There are 1300 types of birds which live and transit Panama and the flight path
of our area. (This is a great place to birdwatch!!) The green Amazons feed in fruit trees in the
yard much of the year. We also see Oropendolas, Ospreys, Pelicans, Woodpeckers, Hawks,
White/Blue Herons, Egrets, Gulls, Hummingbirds, and all kinds of 'little birds'....I'm not a bird
watcher, yet. We just see them around the Lodge.
4) Snorkeling - The water for snorkeling from our beach, is fantastic in the dry months
(mid August to early November, and March to May). Other times of the year can be dirty,
but typically in the rainy periods we travel 3 miles to the lagoon side of the island and snorkel
coral on the mangrove side. (It is also good)
Bring your own snorkel gear.
5) Guided jungle walks through a rich rain forest of 1000's of surrounding acres. Take
one of our guides and go for an hour, or all day.
6) Hop in a sea kayak and head up or down the shore, or out to Bird Island.
The 2 person sea kayak is an hourly rental. Other kayaks can be rented at the
Yarisnori restaurant.
7) Walking trips to 'paradise areas' where freshwater rivers flow to the sea. Swim in salt, then
freshwater and vice versa, it's great!!!
8) We have a new TV in the main lodge with a selection of DVD movies. I recommend you bring
some of your favorites.
9) The Lodge is a GREAT place to kick back, read a book and have a drink. You will feel
'unplugged' from the rest of the world.
10) The 4 types of turtles begin to come ashore, on all the area beaches, in early April. The
egg laying continues through the summer. You are welcome to help us and other volunteers in
supporting the turtle populations. We can join ITEC (Institute Tropical Education Center), down
on Drago beach, for night trips to see the turtles nesting in the Soropta National Park. Just
across the Drago Bay.
11) The Lodge is designed to conserve resources - (water, power and waste). We use
Solar panels and wind generators as our primary power sources. We do have a back up
generator. We collect and store rain water and filter for the Lodge's use. The filtered rain water
is safe and very good.
12) This is not "your father's" eco-lodge, meaning we've developed this modern lodge
experience for couples and families, not just for the 'boys' fishing outing..... There's as much
to do for women as for men. (massages, beaches...) Call us in advance for activity planning
and then with our Property manager locally.
13) After completing our first year, (2005) we've found this is a great place for families, family
reunions, or large groups. If that's what your needs are, you should certainly consider
staying with us.
14) If you have some 'special needs' or don't see an activity listed here, please ask us....
15) Our jungle hikes can be muddy. It's best to bring an old pair of tennis shoes, so that if need
be, you can sacrifice them at one of our beach parties. We also have some old shoes that have
been left behind by previous clients.
1) Nature - We have howler, white face and 'Titi' monkeys which frequent the fruit trees
around the Lodge. One of our Lodge staff can take you on a guided tour, if you like. ($5
pp/hour)
2) Boat Tours - We've developed several boat tours for birding, wildlife viewing and
snorkeling within the Drago area. Locations include Bird Island, Soropta, the banana canals,
Ground Creek and a visit to an Indian home. We can support longer distance trips to Dolphin
Bay and Zapatillas.
3) Birding - There are 1300 types of birds which live and transit Panama and the flight path
of our area. (This is a great place to birdwatch!!) The green Amazons feed in fruit trees in the
yard much of the year. We also see Oropendolas, Ospreys, Pelicans, Woodpeckers, Hawks,
White/Blue Herons, Egrets, Gulls, Hummingbirds, and all kinds of 'little birds'....I'm not a bird
watcher, yet. We just see them around the Lodge.
4) Snorkeling - The water for snorkeling from our beach, is fantastic in the dry months
(mid August to early November, and March to May). Other times of the year can be dirty,
but typically in the rainy periods we travel 3 miles to the lagoon side of the island and snorkel
coral on the mangrove side. (It is also good)
Bring your own snorkel gear.
5) Guided jungle walks through a rich rain forest of 1000's of surrounding acres. Take
one of our guides and go for an hour, or all day.
6) Hop in a sea kayak and head up or down the shore, or out to Bird Island.
The 2 person sea kayak is an hourly rental. Other kayaks can be rented at the
Yarisnori restaurant.
7) Walking trips to 'paradise areas' where freshwater rivers flow to the sea. Swim in salt, then
freshwater and vice versa, it's great!!!
8) We have a new TV in the main lodge with a selection of DVD movies. I recommend you bring
some of your favorites.
9) The Lodge is a GREAT place to kick back, read a book and have a drink. You will feel
'unplugged' from the rest of the world.
10) The 4 types of turtles begin to come ashore, on all the area beaches, in early April. The
egg laying continues through the summer. You are welcome to help us and other volunteers in
supporting the turtle populations. We can join ITEC (Institute Tropical Education Center), down
on Drago beach, for night trips to see the turtles nesting in the Soropta National Park. Just
across the Drago Bay.
11) The Lodge is designed to conserve resources - (water, power and waste). We use
Solar panels and wind generators as our primary power sources. We do have a back up
generator. We collect and store rain water and filter for the Lodge's use. The filtered rain water
is safe and very good.
12) This is not "your father's" eco-lodge, meaning we've developed this modern lodge
experience for couples and families, not just for the 'boys' fishing outing..... There's as much
to do for women as for men. (massages, beaches...) Call us in advance for activity planning
and then with our Property manager locally.
13) After completing our first year, (2005) we've found this is a great place for families, family
reunions, or large groups. If that's what your needs are, you should certainly consider
staying with us.
14) If you have some 'special needs' or don't see an activity listed here, please ask us....
15) Our jungle hikes can be muddy. It's best to bring an old pair of tennis shoes, so that if need
be, you can sacrifice them at one of our beach parties. We also have some old shoes that have
been left behind by previous clients.
Other area activities which we can coordinate: (Advanced deposits requested)
1) Snorkeling & diving area sites with Starfleet Scuba or Bocas Water Sports.
2) Daily boat trips to Bird Island, Dolphin Bay, Zapatillas.
3) Day trips to an indigenous indian village in the mountains.
4) Surfing transport and/or instruction.
5) Jungle hikes, from our site or others, with local guides.
6) There are many new trips developing all the time. We can coordinate with all the local 'reputable' operators.
1) Snorkeling & diving area sites with Starfleet Scuba or Bocas Water Sports.
2) Daily boat trips to Bird Island, Dolphin Bay, Zapatillas.
3) Day trips to an indigenous indian village in the mountains.
4) Surfing transport and/or instruction.
5) Jungle hikes, from our site or others, with local guides.
6) There are many new trips developing all the time. We can coordinate with all the local 'reputable' operators.
Diving & snorkeling - Hospital Point The restaurant at Crawl Key Boat trip out to Escudo Island
Boat or Kayak to Bird Island The view from our sunset lounge Swimming at the Mimitimbi river
Please use the navigation bar to continue to surf the website for more information. The navigation bar is at the
top of the page....
top of the page....
Our Panama reach # 011- 507- 6588 5992 or USA 970-884-4320 or
lodgeatswanscay@yahoo.com
lodgeatswanscay@yahoo.com
FISHING !!
Here's what we've concluded (my 57 year old, Indian guide 'Enrique' and I) regarding fishing in the area.
Small boat - 5M - 85HP Yamaha. Great for two fishing. Rate includes captain/guide for 2. The captain will tell you the fuel
consumed at the end of the trip.
Big Boat - 9M - 2x 200+ HP. Rate includes captain & mate, bait, drinks for 4. The captain will tell you the fuel consumed at
the end of the trip.
Tarpon - 30 to 80 lbs - They are here year round. Rainy/gray season they cirlcle through the area every 6 weeks. In the dry
season, they are here almost daily - at the beach, at the rivermouths - wherever the bait is that particular day. But they're
here!! They are fantastic to fish for and CATCH!
Small Mackeral - 2 to 6 lbs - They are here year round and we have a few 'go to' places where we typically find them. Great
for 'family fishing'.
Snapper/bottom fish - 2 to 20lbs - They are here year round. Best months are Jan/Feb, May/August. They like the grey
days when the visibility off the bottom is clear '5 ft off the bottom'.
Barracuda - 5 to 20 lbs - A great sport fish!! I have seen them diving 6 ft long. Anyway, 'Barras' are fun to catch and you
can eat them here. A lot like Mackeral, which is great. You can find them on most clear to 'smoky' water reefs.
Offshore/Pelagics - Tuna (to 50lbs, mostly 10 to 15lbs so far...), Wahoo (to 90lbs), They start to appear late February,
closer to shore, when the water clears up (the rain/river runoff has stopped). We've got some great spots just a few miles
offshore where there's some good structure - either weedlines or ledges.
Dry season/s are the best time for offshore, flat water, sunny days. (mid-August to early November, then mid-February to
early May)
There are snook around, but were finding the Indian netting has really made them more difficult to get into....You are
welcome to come and try a few of the rivers. Our guide can get you there.
For FISHERMEN and DIVERS - I recommend mid-August to late October, then mid-February to mid-May. That's the dry,
cleanest water time.
Here's what we've concluded (my 57 year old, Indian guide 'Enrique' and I) regarding fishing in the area.
Small boat - 5M - 85HP Yamaha. Great for two fishing. Rate includes captain/guide for 2. The captain will tell you the fuel
consumed at the end of the trip.
Big Boat - 9M - 2x 200+ HP. Rate includes captain & mate, bait, drinks for 4. The captain will tell you the fuel consumed at
the end of the trip.
Tarpon - 30 to 80 lbs - They are here year round. Rainy/gray season they cirlcle through the area every 6 weeks. In the dry
season, they are here almost daily - at the beach, at the rivermouths - wherever the bait is that particular day. But they're
here!! They are fantastic to fish for and CATCH!
Small Mackeral - 2 to 6 lbs - They are here year round and we have a few 'go to' places where we typically find them. Great
for 'family fishing'.
Snapper/bottom fish - 2 to 20lbs - They are here year round. Best months are Jan/Feb, May/August. They like the grey
days when the visibility off the bottom is clear '5 ft off the bottom'.
Barracuda - 5 to 20 lbs - A great sport fish!! I have seen them diving 6 ft long. Anyway, 'Barras' are fun to catch and you
can eat them here. A lot like Mackeral, which is great. You can find them on most clear to 'smoky' water reefs.
Offshore/Pelagics - Tuna (to 50lbs, mostly 10 to 15lbs so far...), Wahoo (to 90lbs), They start to appear late February,
closer to shore, when the water clears up (the rain/river runoff has stopped). We've got some great spots just a few miles
offshore where there's some good structure - either weedlines or ledges.
Dry season/s are the best time for offshore, flat water, sunny days. (mid-August to early November, then mid-February to
early May)
There are snook around, but were finding the Indian netting has really made them more difficult to get into....You are
welcome to come and try a few of the rivers. Our guide can get you there.
For FISHERMEN and DIVERS - I recommend mid-August to late October, then mid-February to mid-May. That's the dry,
cleanest water time.
For guests who would like to learn how to surf, need
to hone their surfing skills, or want the expertise of a
surf guide, the lodge highly recommends our close
friend (and neighbor) Clay Blaker – a veteran surfer and
Bocas resident intimately familiar with the archipelago’s many
surf spots.
Clay was a board shaper and competitive Gulf Coast surfer
in the late ‘60s before moving with his family to Hawaii, where
the waves were much more consistent and challenging. A
successful career in the music industry – begun in Southern
California in the early ‘70s – paid for his many surf trips over
the next 30 years before he retired and moved to Panama.
His surfing travels (unfinished) have taken him all over
Europe, Mexico and Central America.
Surf lessons/trips are planned to accommodate guests’
experience levels and may include lunch, beverages,
snorkeling and/or other amenities.
to hone their surfing skills, or want the expertise of a
surf guide, the lodge highly recommends our close
friend (and neighbor) Clay Blaker – a veteran surfer and
Bocas resident intimately familiar with the archipelago’s many
surf spots.
Clay was a board shaper and competitive Gulf Coast surfer
in the late ‘60s before moving with his family to Hawaii, where
the waves were much more consistent and challenging. A
successful career in the music industry – begun in Southern
California in the early ‘70s – paid for his many surf trips over
the next 30 years before he retired and moved to Panama.
His surfing travels (unfinished) have taken him all over
Europe, Mexico and Central America.
Surf lessons/trips are planned to accommodate guests’
experience levels and may include lunch, beverages,
snorkeling and/or other amenities.
Surfing
Our on-call surf guide/instructor Clay Blaker has also been entertaining lodge guests in the evenings with his
guitar and seasoned voice. Often accompanied by other musicians, Clay performs a repertoire which might include
oldies, country, rock and self-penned songs which many may recognize.
A songwriter for Famous Music/Sony for decades, Clay has had some of his works recorded by such well-known artists as
George Strait, Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Mark Chesnutt and even Barbra Streisand.
An entertainer in his own right, Clay released six highly acclaimed albums during his musical career; played at European
country music festivals nearly every year from 1979 – 2000; and toured with his band more than 200 days per year across
the U.S. from California to New York, including one of President Bill Clinton’s inaugural balls in Washington, D.C.
Ask us about Clay’s availability/price for a two-hour concert at the lodge you won’t forget.
guitar and seasoned voice. Often accompanied by other musicians, Clay performs a repertoire which might include
oldies, country, rock and self-penned songs which many may recognize.
A songwriter for Famous Music/Sony for decades, Clay has had some of his works recorded by such well-known artists as
George Strait, Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Mark Chesnutt and even Barbra Streisand.
An entertainer in his own right, Clay released six highly acclaimed albums during his musical career; played at European
country music festivals nearly every year from 1979 – 2000; and toured with his band more than 200 days per year across
the U.S. from California to New York, including one of President Bill Clinton’s inaugural balls in Washington, D.C.
Ask us about Clay’s availability/price for a two-hour concert at the lodge you won’t forget.
Organized Activity Pricing
Boat tour # 1 - Changuinola canal, $120 plus gas small boat small boat max 4 people
Visit the guide's house (up a mangrove
river) snorkel spots,
Beach transport (to/from) take cash to
lunch at drago restaurant or we can pack
a lunch $10/pp
Boat tour # 2 - Bird Island, Soropta,
Starfish beach, Indian home $120 plus gas small boat Small boat max 4 people
Beach transport (to/from). Take cash to
lunch at Drago restaurant (closed TUE)
or we can pack lunch for $10/pp
Boat tour # 3 - Dolphin Bay, Crawl Cay,
Red Frog Beach, Hospital Point $120 plus gas small boat $250 plus gas (big boat)
Take cash to lunch at Crawl Cay Restaurant
or we can be pack lunch/for $10/pp
Boat tour # 4 - Zapatillas, Crawl Cay,
Dolphin Bay $120 plus gas $250 plus gas
Take cash to lunch at Crawl Cay Restaurant (big boat)
or we can be pack lunch/for $10/pp
Guided Jungle/Beach walk $5 pp/hr You determine time/distance.
Learn to surf Weather/conditions dependent
Guided snorkeling locally* $5 pp/hr Per hour - guided tour & safety
Sea Kayak Free must wear life jackets
In shore/Near shore Fishing $150 plus gas - 2-3 people max Includes Gear, bring lunch and drinks.
Pickup/drop off in Drago. small boat
Offshore Fishing $250.00 plus gas Includes Gear, bring lunch
Big Boat we have coolers and ice.
* Bring your own snorkel gear, take a guide for safety. Plus, they'll take you to the best
spots…...
** Boat tours include transfers to/from the dock.
***Ask manager about gas prices as prices fluctuate, tours of greater distance cost more, floating around/'on anchor'
snorkeling costs less
Meals are NOT inclusive with the fishing trips.
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Captain Enrique Dixon -
Raised his family on fish,
bilingual, boat guide,
free/spear diver, great guy.
Raised his family on fish,
bilingual, boat guide,
free/spear diver, great guy.