Panama's Other Paradise Islands

Where: Panama

April 1, 2009 at 9:01 AM | by BS | Comments (0)

Our own Brendan Spiegel is down in Panama this week and will be reporting back on all that he's seen and done. Whether or not he's wearing a Panama Hat, we can't say. But if you have any questions or suggestions for him, let us know.

While Bocas Del Toro is Panama's first obvious stop for a beach bum, drop-out-of-life vacation, those with a few extra days in the country shouldn't miss Panama's other Caribbean beach archipelago, the Kuna Yala Islands.

Not far from the southern border with Colombia, these tiny isles are even more cartoonishly idyllic than Bocas, and we swore multiple times we must be on the set of Lost (the beautiful beach paradise part, not the scary smoke monster part).

The isolated islands are part of the Comarca de Kuna Yala, a semi-autonomous homeland of the Kuna people, most of whom live in thatched-roof huts on the islands. Kuna Yala is even harder than Bocas to get to via land, and pretty much the only sane way to get there is the one-hour flight from Panama City. But that hour flight is worth it to spend a few days in a place that feels about as far from "civilization" as possible.

Unlike Bocas, you can't really arrange travel around these islands on your own, and there aren't many stores or restaurants to speak of. Most visitors opt for either a charter cruise around the islands or to stay at one of the rustic accommodations, like Sapibenga Kuna Lodge, where the hosts will take you on day trips to visit Kuna villages and find remote snorkeling spots. But honestly, once you plop down in a hammock overlooking the waves on one of these miniscule islands, you won't have much urge to go anywhere at all.

Related Stories:
· Panama Field Trip [Jaunted]
· This is Panama's Version of 'Pura Vida' [Jaunted]
· The Five Best Beaches in Bocas Del Toro [Jaunted]

[Photo: Guillermo d.]

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