This dreaming region of Panama, in Central America,
must be celebrated for its unique atmosphere. It is an explosion
of vegetation, biodiversity, history and customs.
It has a seductive, primitive and unforgettable charm,
able to captivate visitors and throw them in a real dream.
I would like to enhance the spirit dominating the
area, a life lesson that deserves to get across to readers: the multi-cultural
population, coming from different branches of Indian tribes, set an incredible example of coexistence and respect for
everyone.
This communities live in a protected area, a
reservation where they can keep their own identity and can manage contacts with
our modern society.
“Quebrada Sal”, “San Cristobal” and “Popa 2” are just
some of the Indian groups inhabiting the
archipelago, and particularly these ones are very open to tourism: they enjoy
talking about their culture and costumes to visitors (as there are not yet
organized tours through the area, but their kindness let tourist partly inside
their life).
These communities are really poor. They live on
fishing and survival agriculture, producing fruits such as bananas, peach palm,
cork.
Their homes are built using wood, with floors made
with the bark of the Jira tree, and roofs made with the leaves of the guagara,
a palm that grows in stamps.
The Ngobe civilty, Guaymi, is a world-famous one. Their land is a
geological interest for studious.
The “chozas” are their
typical homes: huts made of strain with floors made out of dirt.
Ngobe women are particularly known for their crafts:
they make “chacaras”, which are bags made of
fibres from pita, a local plant. These hand sewn peculiarity display jagged
shapes on their surface, a women inspiration to Ngobe mountains and forests!
These drawings, some beautiful geometric designs, are tinted with vegetable
dyer.
Bocas town is one of the
major villages in Bocas de Toro.
A stroll along its main street is a travel back to the
past. It has such a vibrant and strong personality that will leave you
speechless whilst admiring it.
Just to give an idea, Bocas town houses are old-looking, Caribbean style, and are part of the
identity of locals. At the beginning of the century, banana plantation was the
major reliable economic activity.
The must-see bit of the place does not cover museums,
art galleries or historic buildings, as there are none. Instead, Bocas town is all centred on people, cultures and nature
at its highest.
On the beaches, you can contemplate a paradisiac water: a clean,
turquois blue Caribbean one, with an incredible richness in coral reefs and sea
life.
A part from Dolphin bay,
from which the animals can be observed while they play or feed, the turtles are the favourite landmark.
Conservationist groups work
through day and night to preserve turtle nesting from
predators. This astonishing event is a blast for visitors’ experience, and it
deserves all attention and respect.
Among locals, legend goes
that, when it’s storm season, the lightning
would show the turtle where the beach is, whilst the thunder afterword would
signal their arrival to the nesting area.
Turtle nesting is by far the most magical and owe
inspiring thing you will ever see: watching the giant
leatherback turtles making their way slowly up the beach, digging in the soft
sand, with their enormous flippers, depositing several eggs that will become a
new generation, is a one in a lifetime pleasure.
These little new born will then make their way back
out to the sea to begin their life.
Switching over to other kind of entertainment, surfing is a world-class experience here in Bocas.
The Caribbean sea offers warm,
crystal-blue water and swells, enjoyed by seasoned veterans and beginners
alike.
During the November-March surfing season, 4 to 12 feet
range waves dominate the paradise, with special surf brakes such as coral
reefs, and boat charters ready to get you out to open ocean, to find your
unique spot to enjoy with your friends and nobody else to share with.
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