Rainy Season - what does it really mean?

We are asked on a regular basis about the amount of rain we receive here in the rain forest. Well obviously based upon the name you would think that we get loads and loads of rain. We do, but it is rare that the rain keeps us from doing anything for an extended period of time. What is my definition of an extended period of time? Several days in a row, all day long – enough time to make young children crazy and adults on vacation a bit cranky.

Normally during the rainy season we may have rain at night. Or we might have rain during the morning. Or we might have rain all afternoon. The deal is that rarely during this season do we get all three in one day: rain morning, noon and night. And even if it is raining – the weather is warm here. The rain cools you down on a hike through the jungle or on a kayak trip in the ocean.

What are the benefits of traveling during the rainy season? Fewer people. Your children are on vacation from school so you can schedule your trip as it best fits with your schedule not during a specific period of time when so many other people want to travel. So your international flights are less crowded, you can pick and choose your hotel in Panama City, and you have fewer people to contend with through the country of Panama.

Don’t let the term rainy season worry you – the amount of rain we have had here this summer barely compares to that which has been coming down on the USA. Go ahead -come on and enjoy our Panama beaches and our Panama islands – the water is warm.

Cliff snorkeling

Along one of the Zapatilla Cayes here in Bocas del Toro Panama you can go snorkeling along an ocean cliff. You can take a leisurely walk from the leeward side of the island over to the windward side and enter the water. You swim along the Panama Island until you reach the cliff. Once you reach the cliff you can dive down a bit and encounter a large variety of fish. We help you locate the spot to enter the water and then accompany you to the cliff itself.

We had a couple out there yesterday who visited several spots in Bocas del Toro during their vacation. They both said that this beach and this snorkeling experience were the best they have had in Panama so far.

The Zapatilla Cayes are on the outer edge of the archipelago and the Bastimentos National Marine Park. Many of the boat captains and tour guides from Isla Colon do not venture out to these beautiful islands. The guides which do go as far as the Zapatillas generally do not accompany their clients on to the island. They drop them off and anchor or circle the island for some period of time and then return to pick them up. Their clients will have a wonderful beach experience. Their snorkeling experience is dependent upon chance. As it is up to the clients to find the spots to snorkel on their own.

As a Bocas del Toro Hotel, we try not to leave anything to chance – if we can improve upon your vacation by advance planning and guiding, then we do so.

Busy Season

During Semana de Santa, Bocas del Toro Panama might be described by the people who live here as crowded. Many people living in Costa Rica and Panama take advantage of the holiday time during that week and come for a visit. Our sleepy laid back archipelago is filled with visitors several times of year. Semana de Santa is one such time.

Semana de Santa marks the end of our busy season, which seems to begin earlier and end later each year. Bocas has a variety of different accommodations for each type of traveler. For the holidays each year, all of the accommodations are full. Reservations for the month of December are definitely required and if you want any options you need to begin early.

Last year, we had reservations for all of our cabanas for the December holidays by the end of September. This year I expect that it will be earlier. However, traveling during busy season is not for everyone. The experience is different during busy season as there are more people. Our natural surroundings are still the same and the number of people here is quite limited compared to other holiday destinations, but you do have to share with other people.

If you travel to Bocas del Toro during the non peak seasons you get the place to yourself (or almost so). So really, it depends upon how private a vacation you want to have. Really private – come some time between April and October. Semi private – head south between November and March.

Fish

One of the interesting things about being on an island is you never know when one of your neighbors is going to show up on your doorstep with something you might like to have.

Yesterday, our neighbor showed up with quite a large load of really nice snapper. We were pleased that he had been able to catch such a nice group of fish and purchased all that he offered. It was quite a bit of fish and took my husband and one of our kitchen assistant about 4 hours to clean the fish. Then we made fish stock and prepared the fish for the freezer. All of the cleaning took place in the afternoon and ran right into the dinner service. Fortunately we were able to get it all done and feed our guests dinner.

So it was with mixed feelings of appreciation and trepidation that I went to the door this morning when I was informed my neighbor was once again downstairs. This morning he brought an even larger load of fish.

We are one of the few Bocas del Toro hotels which are fortunate enough to have great neighbors who still go fishing. Our guests enjoy fresh caught snapper.

Yummy!

Coconut palms are abundant here in Bocas del Toro Panama. We have so many coconut trees growing here that young children learn at a very early age not to walk or loiter underneath a coconut tree. When asked why you don’t go under a coconut tree, my son at age two could tell you “Because coconuts bump you on the head.”

You can take the fruit of the coconut palm, which isn’t a nut at all, and use it for many different purposes. Only one of the usual uses of the coconut is for food. Whenever we have children visiting us, they like to go find a coconut or ask one of our employees to get them one. They love to watch our employees use a machete to get the fruit off the tree and then to open the big husk to get to the inner edible portion. Fresh coconut is not sweet like a pineapple, but does take well to sweet dishes. It is also used for many savory purposes.

One such dish is coconut rice. It is a staple here in Latin America. My younger brother who spent his first years in Louisiana wanted to know where the sauce for the rice was – I told him to taste the rice. Once he tasted it, he had a new appreciation for its flavor and agreed that it was delicious on its own.

We have so many different uses for coconut in our menu that we could almost serve it at every meal.

Little known banana facts

Did you know that the banana might be the world’s first fruit? Did you know that Malaysia was the first know banana jungle? Recent archeological evidence in Papua New Guinea suggests that bananas were grown as far back as 5000 BC and quite possibly as long ago as 8000 BC.

Did you know that nutritionally the banana is incredibly nourishing and can be eaten at any hour of the day due to its digestive properties? Each banana is full of proteins and the sugar provided within gives a lot of energy for those in need of endurance. Bananas also contain magnesium, selenium, iron, many different vitamins, and are recommended for low salt diets as they are low in sodium.

The banana is America’s number one fruit. Each American consumes an average of 28 pounds of banana a year. The market for bananas is nearly $5 billion per year.

There are nearly 400 varieties of banana plants. Ripe banana plants are sugary and are eaten raw. Plantains are unripe fruits which must be cooked before consumption. Plantains are more like a potato than a ripe banana.

Harvest for bananas begins when the plant is green. A banana that has had the opportunity to ripen on the vine has a much sweeter taste than one which has been harvested green.

The real thing

Here in Bocas del Toro we have the real thing. You know that feeling they used to describe in the old Coca Cola commercials – the real thing.

But what is the real thing you ask? I think it is an amalgamation of so many little things. Beginning the day with a beautiful sunrise and a cup of Panamanian coffee. Drinking in the warm sunshine all day long. Gazing upon a deep blue sky dotted with cottony puffs of clouds. Looking into the clear ocean waters down to the coral and other ocean life below. Paddling about on a kayak. Snorkeling in the bathtub warm water. Fishing for dinner. Quirky Latin American challenges which keep the big guys out and keep the little guys in business. Eating delicious local cuisine that happens to go great with a Coca Cola or a cold beer. Watching the sun go down and the moon rise on a balcony overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Walking under the stars – yes you can actually see the stars. Listening to the rain on a metal roof. Falling asleep to the sounds of the jungle.

To me these are all the little things that when added together make the real thing. Don’t you want to experience them for yourself?