1) Airline recommendations - We have used www.intratours.com for our flights from Colorado or
Maryland. They customize in Central American travel and I've always been satisfied with them. You can
also find supersaver fares through the major air carriers. Major carriers who fly to Panama City are Delta,
American, Continental and COPA. US Air has specials via Houston seasonally, so they are also worth a
look. There are so many variations with travel that all I can really do is point you in the right direction. I have
found tickets via Atlanta, Houston, Newark, JFK for $300+, roundtrip.
2) When you arrive in Panama City you will know you are closer to the equator. It will be humid and warm.
Most North American flights arrive in the evening, so you'll be spending the night in Panama City. It is
possible on some days to arrive in time to connect for Bocas del Toro. We can have one of our partner
companies, 'Golden Frog Services', www.goldenfrog.net meet you at the airport and bring you to the
Hotel El Parador ($55/nt). We prefer to stay here when in the city. It's clean, located downtown and there's
a restaurant in the ground floor that's good. There's also a pool on the rooftop, with a panoramic view of
Panama City. There are many great local restaurants just around the corner which serve just about
everything. Several casinos are within a short walk....ask at the front desk.
3) From Panama City, you will cross town to the Al Brook airport, next to the Panama Canal. This is where
the 'domestic' trips travel from. The plane to Bocas del Toro is normally a 40 seater or so. Your two carrier
choices from Panama City (PTY) to Bocas del Toro (BdT) are www.aeroperlas.com and the new Air
Panama, www.flyairpanama.com . Both carriers charge about $140 for a roundtrip. I recommend, you
purchase your tickets via their website and pay on line. Be sure and printout your tickets to present at the
airline counter in Al Brook airport. Also, check out the new Costa Rica / Bocas flights coming available
via Air Panama and Nature Air (www.natureair.com)...This is a new flight service which could save you
the overnight in Panama City, if you choose, plus $100 on the international flight. Costa Rica flights tend to
be more frequent from major US cities and have more travel discounts associated with them. UPDATE: I
have heard that there is a CR entry and exit tax that you pay twice going via CR. Based on this I
recommend you come via Panama City and at least fly over the canal....Jose Seanz can meet you and
assist with any emergencies you might encounter....
4) Before you travel to the Al Brook airport I recommend you change into your island/beach clothes.
Panama is a formal clothing culture, however, when you land in Bocas it's time to play. You will be met at
the airport by myself or a quality partner and, depending on the weather that day, brought to the Lodge by
car/truck ($25 min) or by boat to the beach ($15 pp/$60 min) The boat ride is a lot more fun and a great
way to start your vacation. However, the seas are not always perfect for a beach landing.....If you go by boat,
your bags and any groceries from town, will be sent by road to the Lodge.
5) As far as clothing, I recommend t-shirts, good sandals, like TEVAs or equivalent, rain poncho, an old
pair of tennis shoes and comfortable shorts. We have had guests show up in high heels and more
formal clothes, and it was 'just not right'....There are places in town to go for formal dinners, but you'll find
that Bocas is very laid back. Around the Lodge, I recommend people walk around in their bare feet when
on the tile and bring a pair of slip on sandals for walks to the beach or short jaunts around the island. You
can also buy a cheapo pair of sandals in town for around $3...or we can get you some.
6) The weather - the dryest and calmest sea periods are 15-Aug to 15-Nov, 01-Mar to 01-May. This is
when it's normally 'hot and flat'. The other periods can be 'beautiful to %&%^& wet'. However, the summer
of 2005 has seen 4 inches in 3 months, so who knows. The good news is the tropical rains are warm.
The rains tend to make the howler monkeys louder, so they are easier to locate. Rainy months are good
surfing months. The flowers bloom on everything. It's cooler during the rainy months at our lodge, with the
offshore breezes making it high 70's. In the hot and flat months, it's low 80's at the Lodge. It will be 10
degrees++ warmer in town, but we have the rain forest canopy and the offshore breeze that keeps it 'nice'.
7) Coming and going from the Lodge - We have vehicles for transportation and daily rentals (A Mitsubishi
Montero 4x4 is available), to wander around the island at your own pace. Please let us know if you'd like
any transportation arranged in advance, we can have it ready for your arrival. We also have 2 mountain
bikes you can take to the beach or down the back roads to the restaurant. Also, I recommend we meet
you at the airport, show you around town and bring you out by boat to Drago, or the Lodge (weather
permitting). The boat ride is fast, fun, smooth and a great introduction to Bocas. ($60 one way for four
people, then $15 per person after) We might also be able to pick you up in Almirante or Changuinola......
Maryland. They customize in Central American travel and I've always been satisfied with them. You can
also find supersaver fares through the major air carriers. Major carriers who fly to Panama City are Delta,
American, Continental and COPA. US Air has specials via Houston seasonally, so they are also worth a
look. There are so many variations with travel that all I can really do is point you in the right direction. I have
found tickets via Atlanta, Houston, Newark, JFK for $300+, roundtrip.
2) When you arrive in Panama City you will know you are closer to the equator. It will be humid and warm.
Most North American flights arrive in the evening, so you'll be spending the night in Panama City. It is
possible on some days to arrive in time to connect for Bocas del Toro. We can have one of our partner
companies, 'Golden Frog Services', www.goldenfrog.net meet you at the airport and bring you to the
Hotel El Parador ($55/nt). We prefer to stay here when in the city. It's clean, located downtown and there's
a restaurant in the ground floor that's good. There's also a pool on the rooftop, with a panoramic view of
Panama City. There are many great local restaurants just around the corner which serve just about
everything. Several casinos are within a short walk....ask at the front desk.
3) From Panama City, you will cross town to the Al Brook airport, next to the Panama Canal. This is where
the 'domestic' trips travel from. The plane to Bocas del Toro is normally a 40 seater or so. Your two carrier
choices from Panama City (PTY) to Bocas del Toro (BdT) are www.aeroperlas.com and the new Air
Panama, www.flyairpanama.com . Both carriers charge about $140 for a roundtrip. I recommend, you
purchase your tickets via their website and pay on line. Be sure and printout your tickets to present at the
airline counter in Al Brook airport. Also, check out the new Costa Rica / Bocas flights coming available
via Air Panama and Nature Air (www.natureair.com)...This is a new flight service which could save you
the overnight in Panama City, if you choose, plus $100 on the international flight. Costa Rica flights tend to
be more frequent from major US cities and have more travel discounts associated with them. UPDATE: I
have heard that there is a CR entry and exit tax that you pay twice going via CR. Based on this I
recommend you come via Panama City and at least fly over the canal....Jose Seanz can meet you and
assist with any emergencies you might encounter....
4) Before you travel to the Al Brook airport I recommend you change into your island/beach clothes.
Panama is a formal clothing culture, however, when you land in Bocas it's time to play. You will be met at
the airport by myself or a quality partner and, depending on the weather that day, brought to the Lodge by
car/truck ($25 min) or by boat to the beach ($15 pp/$60 min) The boat ride is a lot more fun and a great
way to start your vacation. However, the seas are not always perfect for a beach landing.....If you go by boat,
your bags and any groceries from town, will be sent by road to the Lodge.
5) As far as clothing, I recommend t-shirts, good sandals, like TEVAs or equivalent, rain poncho, an old
pair of tennis shoes and comfortable shorts. We have had guests show up in high heels and more
formal clothes, and it was 'just not right'....There are places in town to go for formal dinners, but you'll find
that Bocas is very laid back. Around the Lodge, I recommend people walk around in their bare feet when
on the tile and bring a pair of slip on sandals for walks to the beach or short jaunts around the island. You
can also buy a cheapo pair of sandals in town for around $3...or we can get you some.
6) The weather - the dryest and calmest sea periods are 15-Aug to 15-Nov, 01-Mar to 01-May. This is
when it's normally 'hot and flat'. The other periods can be 'beautiful to %&%^& wet'. However, the summer
of 2005 has seen 4 inches in 3 months, so who knows. The good news is the tropical rains are warm.
The rains tend to make the howler monkeys louder, so they are easier to locate. Rainy months are good
surfing months. The flowers bloom on everything. It's cooler during the rainy months at our lodge, with the
offshore breezes making it high 70's. In the hot and flat months, it's low 80's at the Lodge. It will be 10
degrees++ warmer in town, but we have the rain forest canopy and the offshore breeze that keeps it 'nice'.
7) Coming and going from the Lodge - We have vehicles for transportation and daily rentals (A Mitsubishi
Montero 4x4 is available), to wander around the island at your own pace. Please let us know if you'd like
any transportation arranged in advance, we can have it ready for your arrival. We also have 2 mountain
bikes you can take to the beach or down the back roads to the restaurant. Also, I recommend we meet
you at the airport, show you around town and bring you out by boat to Drago, or the Lodge (weather
permitting). The boat ride is fast, fun, smooth and a great introduction to Bocas. ($60 one way for four
people, then $15 per person after) We might also be able to pick you up in Almirante or Changuinola......
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Our Panama reach #
011- 507- 6415- 4560
or email us at
dragoadventures@yahoo.com
011- 507- 6415- 4560
or email us at
dragoadventures@yahoo.com
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