We spent the weekend on the IslaTaboga, about a 30 minute ferry ride from Panama City. For the ferry ride, Angie chose to wear a red baseball style cap. You can see her stylish look in the photo above.
Taboga is a small island across from the canal entrance, and there are many ships sitting at large waiting for their turn in the canal. But Taboga itself is a sunsoaked village with colourful houses, sand beaches and delicious seafood.
We stayed in the Cerrido Tropical guesthouse, high on a hill with a veranda overlooking the water and were doted on by Aristides, the resident cook and handyman who has taken a real liking to Doug over the years.
We swam, kayaked and hiked, watched fish swim in the clear water but mostly we stayed in the shade, napping, reading, or having a cerveza and patacones snack.
One of the best things about Isla Taboga is that it has largely escaped the “development” craze evident in many parts of Panama City. There are big motor yachts in the harbour, but the locals still go out in their tiny cayucos. There is only one unsightly new hotel, no retirement condos, no massive estates with fences and guard dogs (except for one that Doug and I wandered into when taking a “shortcut”). The village is narrow streets, houses and small ceviche tiendas on the beach.