1) 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. You can have
one of our partner companies, 'Golden Frog Services', www.goldenfrog.net meet you at the airport and bring you to your hotel.
2) 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 Air Panama www.flyairpanama.com . Both carriers charge about $170 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.
3) 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 an english speaking driver, 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.....The cost of transport to/from the Lodge is something you pay directly to the 'service
provider'.
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...
6) The weather - the dryest and calmest sea periods are 01-Aug to 10-Nov, 01-Mar to 15-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. It will be 10 degrees++ warmer in
town, but we have the rain forest canopy and the offshore breeze that keep it 'nice'.
7) Coming and going to and from the Lodging - Please let us know if you'd like any transportation to and from the lodge arranged in advance, we
have several taxi drivers we use and we can coordinate for your arrival.
I recommend the taxi drivers meet you at the airport, show you around town and bring you out by road, or boat (weather permitting to Drago)
The boat ride is fast, fun, smooth and a great introduction to Bocas. (Boat rates vary - you negotiate with the local captain - $60 was fair for 4
persons in 2010)
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. You can have
one of our partner companies, 'Golden Frog Services', www.goldenfrog.net meet you at the airport and bring you to your hotel.
2) 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 Air Panama www.flyairpanama.com . Both carriers charge about $170 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.
3) 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 an english speaking driver, 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.....The cost of transport to/from the Lodge is something you pay directly to the 'service
provider'.
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...
6) The weather - the dryest and calmest sea periods are 01-Aug to 10-Nov, 01-Mar to 15-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. It will be 10 degrees++ warmer in
town, but we have the rain forest canopy and the offshore breeze that keep it 'nice'.
7) Coming and going to and from the Lodging - Please let us know if you'd like any transportation to and from the lodge arranged in advance, we
have several taxi drivers we use and we can coordinate for your arrival.
I recommend the taxi drivers meet you at the airport, show you around town and bring you out by road, or boat (weather permitting to Drago)
The boat ride is fast, fun, smooth and a great introduction to Bocas. (Boat rates vary - you negotiate with the local captain - $60 was fair for 4
persons in 2010)
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Our Panama reach #
011- 507- 6588 5992
or USA 970-884-4320 or email
us at
lodgeatswanscay@yahoo.com
011- 507- 6588 5992
or USA 970-884-4320 or email
us at
lodgeatswanscay@yahoo.com
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