Interacuaticas
Escuela de Buceo
(Our trip to Bocas)
1. Make sure you have a valid passport.
2. If visiting Costa Rica, make sure you have a copy of your ticket that shows you will be leaving Costa Rica at a future date.
3. US citizens need an exit visa for Panamá ($5) issued on the Panamá side.
4. Panamá uses only US $. There are two cash machines on Bocas which may or may not work. There is 5% added to credit/debit card payments.
5. Panamá is one hour ahead.
6. We use the Almirante water taxi.
7. Drink bottled water.
8. Bring insect repellent, sun tan lotion, a towel, and very light jacket.
9. And as usual, bring a big smile.
10. If you are driving, please review the notes below.
AND ONWARD IN PANAMA
2. If you park at parking lot in Sixaola, make sure to leave one half of the parking slip on your dash and take the second half with you to show Panama immigrations. You will need to vouch for your passengers as well. Panama requires you show proof of how you exit the country.
3. A very reliable taxi person is Solomon Mora (507) 6711-3117. He charges a fair price and goes out of his way to provide excellent service and consideration. He will pick you up in Almirante when you return there from Bocas. Suggest you let him know where you staying in Bocas and tell him he was recommended by the Captain.
Remember, the border closes at 5:00P.M. Costa Rican time. You can travel to Bocas by either bus, car, or air. Nature Air (tel 2299-6000) charges $166 plus tax as of Jan 2010 plus their is a the $26 exit fee and additional fees for excess baggage. A bus leaves from near the Coca Cola terminal and costs about $15 each way and goes straight to Changuinola, Panama. Another bus leaves the Carib terminal in San Jose and goes to Sixaola. From either destination you will need to take a taxi to the water taxi at Almirante.
We leave Heredia at 7:00A.M. and stop for breakfast at around 8:30A.M. From there we drive to the border and either park the cars at a parking lot near immigrations (3000 colones per day) or continue on to Almirante with the car. Total distance to the border is about 150 miles. Total distance to Almirante is 180 miles. If you take your car into Panama, you will need to get the exit permiso at Banco Nacional in Plaza Mayor which now costs around 6000 colones. At the Panama side of the border you need to have the car fumigated which costs $4 as of October 2010. You will also need to buy additional car insurance inside the Panama border at a small office situated to the left of the first mercado on the left past the customs office. The insurance cost $15 as of October 2009.
After clearing Costa Rican immigrations, we walk across the bridge and clear Panamanian immigrations. If we use a taxi instead of driving to Almirante, our transportation contact will either have a minivan, bus, or taxis ready to take us to Almirante which is about a 90 minute ride. The cost of transportation from the border to Almirante varies. A regular taxi is $30 to $40 for four people. A minivan is less. If we are by car, we park the car next to the water taxi for $3 per day. The water taxi is now $4 each way. We arrive Bocas del Toro after a 30 minute water taxi ride. A ferry departs from Almirante at 8:00 A.M. each day and costs $35 each way.
If you are diving, a two tank dive will be about $60. Snorkeling tours are available for between $15 - $20 per person. You can take a bus to Bocas del Drago for $2-3 each way and visit the beach and dine as you wish, but make sure you know when the last bus returns to Bocas. Water taxis are readily available and cost between $2-$4 depending on location and time of day (night is more).
HOTEL HIPOCAMPO - (507) 757-9472
HAS TWO FLOORS. UPSTAIRS IS $5.50 MORE PER PERSON THAN DOWNSTAIRS. 25% MORE DURING THE HIGH SEASON 1 NOV - 30 APRIL.
PER PERSON IS
1 - $22
2 - $32
3 - $42
4 - $52
HOTEL SAGITARIO - (507) 757-9578
SINGLE WITHOUT AIR - $15
DOUBLE WITH AIR - $30
DOUBLE PLUS SINGLE - $26 WITHOUT AIR AND $36 WITH AIR.
HOTEL MARITZA - (507) 6654-3771
PRICES RANGE FROM $30 - $70 DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, TYPE OF UNIT AND LENGTH OF STAY. MOST UNITS HAVE AIR CONDITIONING AND A FEW HAVE A SMALL EFFICIENCY KITCHEN. IT IS CLEAN, BUT AT TIMES THERE CAN BE QUITE NOISY FROM IT'S LOCATION ACROSS FROM THE WELL KNOWN BAR BARCO HUNDIDO.
training site
Punta Manglar, The Boat Wreck, and The Airport
6MAR2010