Pearl Islands. Panama Panama pearl islands tours

Holidays in the Pearl Archipelago, on the island of Contadora!!!

Hotel Via Romantica, located in the Pearl Archipelago in Panama - the best place to spend the May holidays and escape from the daily routine.

Pearl Islands

After a 15-minute flight you will see Contadora Island in the archipelago of the Pearl Islands, which were previously famous for their romantic stories about pirates and pearl divers. Contadora is the fifth largest island of the archipelago and a tourist center. The small village of Contadora has only two small cozy villages and two hotels right on the beach, as well as a couple good restaurants. Around the island you will find 7 more beaches, one for each day of the week. Unlike Panama City, Contadora seems like a different world, which may be why it was chosen as a refuge for the Shah of Iran. The small village located at the foot of the hill is a bright contrast to the elite villas of Julio Iglesias and Oscar de la Renta. The famous program The Last Hero was filmed here and if you are an adventure seeker, you can imagine yourself as such by staying for a couple of nights on one of the uninhabited islands around .

We offer you the following route for these dates: 3*. Free time.

Day 2. Half-day City Tour with visit to Miraflores. You'll visit the ruins of Old Panama, ravaged by the pirate Henry Morgan, then walk through the colonial city of Casco Viejo, which is dominated by French and Spanish colonial styles. You will also visit the first lock of the Miraflores Canal, from where you will be able to watch ships passing through the Canal. Lunch is not included in the program; we recommend staying for lunch at the Miraflores restaurant, located at the gateway itself. From the balcony you can watch the work of the Panama Canal. After the tour, transfer to the hotel, free time.

Day 3. Early morning departure from the hotel, transfer by ferry to Contadora Island (travel time 1.5 hours). Arrival at the Villa Romantica hotel, accommodation.

Day 4-8. Holidays on Contadora.

Day 8. Check out from the hotel, departure to Panama City, transfer to the Amador Ocean View hotel, accommodation for one night.

Day 9. Breakfast at the hotel, shopping if desired. Check out from the hotel, transfer to the airport. End of the program.

Program cost: (for 1-2 people) Hotels

Single occupancy

SGL

Double occupancy (cost per person per room) DBL

Panama is famous not only for its nature reserves, culture and the Panama Canal. U Panama there are exits to Pacific Ocean and to Caribbean Sea, this wonderful country has collected best resorts Central America, where there is everything: snow-white beaches, warm water, stunning islands, beautiful landscapes that are known far beyond the borders of Panama.

Bocas del Torro

Bocas del Torro (Bokas del Torro) is a unique, beautiful archipelago in the north-west of Panama, consisting of 9 big islands and many little ones.

You can get here by local airlines or air flights from neighboring Costa Rica. The route is very touristy, so there are a lot of buses and tourist shuttles from Panama and Costa Rica. First you need to get to the city of Almirante, then by ferry.

Bocas del Torro Archipelago - the most popular tourist destination With developed infrastructure and service. Most Big City — Colon, is located on the island of the same name - the largest of the entire archipelago. Colon - small town, which can be walked in half an hour. It is best to book hotels in Colon, because... this is very comfortable spot, there is all the infrastructure here, you can sail anywhere from here and the airport is close.

The best beaches in Bocas del Torro: Bocas del Drago, Bluff Beach And Punch Beach on the island of Colon, Cayos Zapatillos, Playas Larga And Red Frog Beach.

Best diving spots: around the island Hospital Point, Coral Key, Dark Wood Reef And Punta Juan, area Garden near Cayo Nancy, islands Butt, Cristobal, Cayo de Agua And Cayo Carener. These are some of the best reefs, underwater gardens, many sea creatures(rays, lobsters, crabs and tropical fish). Near the island Bird Island you can see colonies of sea gulls, it is also very interesting to visit national park Bastimientos and see endangered turtle species there.

Other entertainment options besides eco-tourism include almost anything: walks in the jungle, horseback riding, ATV rides, sea activities, boat rides, diving, snorkeling, surfing, fishing, etc.

Taboga Island

It's hard to believe that just a few kilometers from the dusty and noisy city, there are such paradise beaches with an excellent sea and a relaxing holiday. These beaches are located on Taboga Island- “Island of Flowers”. You can get here by ferry in just 15 minutes. Ferries run all day. In addition to beaches, the island has small town with the church ( San Pedro), where there is observation decks, and there are all kinds of recreation on the beach. You can stay here in one of the most wonderful hotels.

Spend a few days on this wonderful flower island and you definitely won’t regret it.

Las Perlas Islands

Archipelago Las Perlas is located southeast of Panama City in the waters of the Gulf of Panama. Las Perlas is several large islands San Jose, Pedro Gonzalez, Isla del Rey, Isla Pacheco, Saboga, Contadora, Chapera, Mogo Mogo, Casaia and Viveros and several dozen smaller islets and reefs.

You can get to the islands of the archipelago from Panama City by plane or ferry. Ferries also operate within the entire archipelago and this way you can get to any of the islands.

The most developed islands in terms of infrastructure are Contadora, Saboga And San Jose.

Contadora is the closest island to Panama City, which can offer you both a calm, secluded holiday and an active one. White sand beaches, picturesque corners of the island, nature surrounded by greenery - all this can be found here. You can swim in the ocean or in a cozy hotel pool, in any case it is best to do Starting point specifically Contador.

The city has a lot of entertainment and active rest: diving, fishing, snorkeling, yacht and boat trips, water skiing and scooters, tennis and golf. Evenings can be spent in numerous discos and bars, or you can relax in the casino.

To admire nature and feel like a part of it, it’s better to go to the islands San Jose And Viveros. By the way, there is also an old military base in San Jose, which lovers of military sights love to visit.

The best place to swim in the sea and sunbathe is on the islandSaboga, which will offer more than a dozen different beaches and recreational areas.

By the way, most of the income of the Las Perlas Islands comes not from tourism, but from pearling. Pearls and pearl jewelry can be purchased on the islands at very attractive prices.

Pearl Islands Panama

Archipelago Pearl Islands, Panama - located south of the capital of Panama - Panama City.
I have already written how to get to one of the islands of the archipelago Pearl Islands- Contadora Islands.

The fact is that yesterday we agreed on a private sailing on a boat with a good powerful motor, but in the morning a couple of old men ended up in this boat, as if by chance.
Without saying a word, we turned around, boarded our Kawasaki and a minute later we were on Galleon Beach, where boatmen of all stripes hang out, and ferries from the mainland also come here, so you can always meet some free native picking his nose and having boat with awning.

Second stop: Isla Casayeta - this is a wild island with many bays and the neighboring islands of Casaya and Isla Ampon, which I put in one bottle - 4 points for the fact that it is not as deep off the coast as I would like would.

I will immediately note that on all the islands of the Pearl Islands of the archipelago of the same name, the sand is white, coarse, does not stick to clothes or skin, and if it does stick, it is easily brushed off.

The tenth stop is on the island of Mogo-Mogo, where work is currently underway to demolish the huts of the “last heroes”, as well as clearing up the garbage after them. Beach rating 3 points - very small. You can just see how small it is in the photo. But the beach is wide and deserted. But nevertheless, there is no shadow just in case.

On the way to Mogo-Mogo we caught a grouper - the fishing rod was just dangling the whole trip. Hanging from the end was a wild orange artificial squid. And so the greedy grouper gobbled it up.
They ceremoniously let me pull him out, then there was a photo session, and then our sailors took him for themselves. But we're not offended - it's too big for our villa grill, so today I'll be grilling chicken there.

So, the last stop is Chapera Island. This island is in direct line of sight from Contadora Island, being due south.

The extreme islands of the archipelago are: northern - Pacheca Island, southern - Galera Island, eastern - Puercos Island, western - San Jose Island. Largest islands: Rey (with an area of about 232 km²), San Jose, Pedro Gonzalez, Viveros, Cañas, Bayoneta, Kasaya, Saboga, Chapego, Contadora, Santelmo and others. The relief of the islands is low, highest point- 206 m located in the northwestern part of the island of Rey. Coastline heavily cut up. Some of the islands are surrounded by reefs. The air temperature on the islands throughout the year fluctuates in the range of +20..+30 °C; there are dry and wet seasons.

Story

The islands were discovered in 1513 by the Spanish conquistador Vasco Nunez Balboa. After the discovery of a new ocean, he met an Indian boat encrusted with pearls. The Indians told him about islands rich in pearls. The conquistador named these islands the Pearl Islands and declared them the property of the Spanish king.

La Peregrina, considered the largest pearl in the world, was mined on one of the islands. In the middle of the 17th century, the islands were called Royal (las islas del Rey). Due to the richness of the islands, as well as the presence of a large number of hidden bays and coves, pirates from England, Portugal and France often stopped in the archipelago. In 1938, the shellfish from which pearls were extracted were destroyed by red tide. As of 2003, pearl mining on the islands has not been resumed.

Pearl Islands or Archipelago de las Perlas as their original name is, are a 30-minute flight away on a small (up to 6 people) twin-engine Islander aircraft from Air Panama inside what looks more like a coffin with propellers.

You can also get to the Pearl Islands by ferry, or rather by ferries of two companies, and you can find the websites of these companies if you google “ferry to perlas”, but we wanted to look at the city of Panama from a bird's eye view just as we wanted to look at these very pearls from a height islands.

I won’t torment you with information about who discovered these islands and why Balboa called them pearl islands - there’s Google for that and by formulating the right query you’ll find out everything (about the largest pearl found off Contadora Island in the 16th century).

How to get from Russia to Panama

In fact, there are many options: they fly to Panama through the USA (you need an American visa), fly through Cuba or Europe - British Airways, Iberia, Air France or KLM
I chose to fly with KLM via Amsterdam. At check-in for the flight at Sheremetyevo Airport I received boarding tickets to Amsterdam and Panama. At the entrance to the pipe, the visa control officer at first stared at my passport like a sheep at the new gate, but then it dawned on him that I did not need a visa to Panama since I had a valid Schengen visa.
The flight took place in an economy class cabin, but in privileged rows called comfort-economy.
This extra bed for the legs (you can sit with your legs crossed) and an additional tilt of the seat and a thinned seating arrangement (there will be 2 people on a triple seat).
Travel time from Amsterdam to Panama - 11 hours, flew by unnoticed (slept)

How to get to Cantadora Island

Ferry or plane. To buy a ticket, go to the website Air Panama(the only company currently that flies here regularly) and buy - no problem.
Departure from the airport Albrook- not to be confused with international airport Tocuman Panama hats.
Albrook Airport is located next to the Panama Canal, almost within the city limits. His PAC code and name is Marcos A. Gelabert
I hope it's clear.

Mobile Internet in Panama

Simka Movil costs 5 dollars plus 4 dollars must be deposited into your account to have unlimited internet for a week. Plus taxes - it turns out to be 10 dollars and kopecks.
Didn't you know that Panama doesn't have its own currency?

Money in Panama

Panama does not have its own currency, and neither does Panama. Or rather, it exists and seems to have its own flag and anthem, as well as armed forces. But the whole of Panama belongs to the United States and you can talk as much as you like about democracy and independence... Try to say something at odds with US policy and you will be pulverized, just as General Manuel Noriega was removed at one time, who hinted at the nationalization of the Panama Canal (by the way, received at the complete disposal of the United States through bribery and deception, however, like most American affairs, Colombia

Panama visa

For those who have a valid multi-Schengen visa or a valid US visa: a Panama visa is not required.
On board the plane you must fill out an immigration card and a customs declaration. On passport control You will be photographed and fingerprinted (all fingers).

By the way, if you are going to Panama without a US visa (that is, you will not be able to fly through the US in transit), then the best option to get to this Central American, and in fact South American republic, is to take advantage of the offers of KLM airline and it is possible that the best option will pay an additional 120 euros to fly not in regular economy class (of course it’s better to fly on a plane with a gym, a bath and masseuses), but in comfortable economy: this is an additional 10 cm between the seats, which is sometimes not enough, and an additional angle of the seat back - that is, you simply lie down between the knees of the regular economy class passenger sitting behind you and he has nothing against it.

The landing strip crosses the island from north to south from coast to coast since the island itself is small. And although the asphalt surface in the parking area of the corn workers is riddled with ruts, nevertheless, all the roads on the island are asphalt and people drive here mainly on Kawasaki buggies.
Can be rented.
Depending on the engine power and the number of seats, the price ranges from 45 to 100 dollars per day (hourly payment applies)
Gasoline in Panama is inexpensive, but I will talk about this in a separate chapter regarding Panama City and its surroundings.

There are 4 beaches on the island. I will not include the nudist beach and small coves in this number - they are not interesting and are usually private.

Playa Casique ( Playa Cacique) Maybe best beach on the island. Located on the south side. The main part of the beach is located near the Villa Romantica hotel. From the restaurant terrace of this hotel you can see the islands of the archipelago, including the one where the reality show Survivor was filmed

Contadora beach ( Contadora Resort) this large beach is located in the east of the island and on the site of a large hotel.
It is worth noting that this hotel belonged to a Colombian. The latter was killed by shooting down the helicopter in which he was flying to the island. All this was passed off as an accident, the case was hushed up, and the hotel was plundered and destroyed. Now there are remnants of former luxury with empty window sockets... But the land has not yet been divided.

Playa Galleon ( Playa Galeon) is located in the north of the island. Ferries from big land(from Panama City) and here there are 2 hotels (Gerald and The Point) and the beginning (or end, depending on the wind) of the runway of the Contadora Island airport

The Perlos archipelago is famous for its uninhabited islands, which can be rented for mega-drinking parties or filming reality shows. The main thing is not to cut down trees, not to shoot at capybaras and deer, and not to leave garbage.
Renting a boat with a 50hp engine and an awning costs $35 per hour. Tomorrow we’ll take one and explore the islands located south of us.
Today a helicopter landed at the airport from which two scarecrows with dreadlocks fell out - it looks like they are filming something on the islands to the south. Tomorrow I’ll write about the results and what’s there