Passion et Liberté: Bocas del Toro

The Bocas del Toro Archipelago is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea in northwest Panama. It's a Caribbean tropical paradise with perfect beaches and world class surf breaks, coconuts, crabs, party and sandflies.

Christopher Columbus visited Bocas del Toro in 1502. During the 17th century, the archipelago became a haven for pirates. The buccaneers repaired their ships on the islands, built others with wood from their forests and fed upon the many sea turtles that nested on the beaches. The pirates are said to have buried treasure on a number of the islands, but to date none of this loot has been found. Later the islands became a Chiquita banana production hub.

The main party hub is Isla Colon, with the village and the beaches and surf breaks like Bluff, Paunch etc.

Relatively few Panamanians live on the island, opting for cheaper housing on the mainland. Today you find a blend of people, from Afro Caribbean inhabitants, to indigenous people from the Ngobe, Teribe, Guaymie and Teribe tribes, Spanish settlers, Chinese immigrants, and “gringos” from mainland Panama.

Here are some pics from playas and surf breaks, on Isla Colon and the Point I surfed at Isla Carenero.

Paunch.

Bluff.

Isla Zapatilla.

The walks around the island.

Isla Carenero.

An amazing tree.

I actually discovered the meaning of life, I truly believe in, and it's (wait for it): Trees and waves. :)

The locals say this one can be actually dangerous.

The Point at Isla Carenero.

Isla Zapatilla.

Our friend Irwin from the Ngobe tribe whom we helped to carry water to his village in Isla Carenero.

The locals live like this.

A serious problem on the islands is the waste management. It doesn't exist in the form it should. 50 years ago people were used to eat out of banana leaves and throw it into the jungle. Now, they do it with plastic and Tetrapak.

So the garbage is a real problem here. Food and water? You'll care when it's gone.