In Panama, you can find a group of islands, located in the north-west of the country and very close to border with Costa Rica. The place is named as "Archipielago Bocas del Toro". One of the beautiful islands are the Zapatilla Cays, which ones are two beautiful uninhabited islands, surrounded by a coral reef.
Zapatilla 1, which was the one we visited, is a beautiful and spectacular island where the enjoyment of Mother Nature and the sea, give you a moment of incomparable relaxation. It is a very nice place to visit and it is usually offered as an obligatory tourist spot, for those who visit the "Archipielago Bocas del Toro ".
There are three ways to go to Bocas del Toro, from Panama City. One by plane from Albrook airport. The second, by car, you must drive on the Pan American Highway for 10 to 11 hours, and you must cross the mountainous area of the north of the country to reach the Almirante harbour, where the ferry's boats leave to Isla Colon. Let me tell you, it is a long trip because is so far away from the city". The third and the cheapest, is that you buy the bus ticket in advance, at least one day in advance, because these are filled very quickly and especially in high season. The bus leaves from Albrook and have two schedules one at 7am or 7pm, the price I do not know, but it should be around 40 dollars per person and performs the same route that I mentioned before and these leave you the same on the dock of Almirante harbour.
If you arrive at the Almirante harbour by car, I recommend that you locate a parking in the town and you can go on the ferry or rent a boat for $ 10 to make the trip to the islands, but if you arrive by bus , you have the opportunity to get on the ferry, or the boats. I recommend the boats, the ferry is usually slower. The trip is about 1 hour by boat something like 50 km.
In Bocas del Toro you can find some Cooperatives, you can registers and pays 20 $ for the tour. In the trip you can see dolphins, starfish and other beautiful things that island area have. I recommend that you pay direct trip to the island one island that you wish to go, because you lose moments of enjoyment in the islands.
This island "Zapatilla 1" is a beautiful place to rest and to enjoy a day in front of the sea, with savage vegetation and your beautiful company with whom you have gone. There are other very beautiful islands , we have in our booking list next visit is Isla Carenero, Isla La Estrella, and Isla Bastimento. In our particular case, we enjoyed a lot in Isla Zapatilla 1, on this island the sea was at a pleasant temperature, soft breeze, soft sand, the sun was not strong, but nevertheless, I recommend using 100% sunscreen, as well as a hat when you are walking, I also recommend that they bring something to eat and drink, because inthe island you don't find nothing to buy. However, you can go to other by the same boat and go to an island, which has a restaurant, you can eat very well and it is not expensive.
When you are back, you need to buy a ticket at the dock office, for return to the mainland "Almirante harbour" and pick up your car and return to Panama City. Those who arrived by bus have to do the same, in Almirante you need buy the ticket to return to the Albrook terminal and from there, you can take a taxi, or you can also buy the metrobus ticket or if you want, you can take a Red Devil, and enjoy the most economical, folkloric and popular way to get to the City.
Please, I would like to remind you that it does not matter where you go or how you arrive and if the tropical paradise is beautiful when you arrived, collaborate with everything you bring, when you leave, especially all your trash, so that others can also can enjoy, like you, the beauty of the place. Thank you.
