Taboga…Just One Reason my Friends are Green with Envy

July 2008
Panama City, Panama

This is the "main road," but there's not a vehicle in sight. Though some
residents have golf carts, walking is the preferred form of
transportation on Taboga Island.

Dear Panama Insider:

I'm always saying things to make my friends envious…I don’t mean to (or maybe I do it because I have issues, but let's leave that can-o-worms be)…it's just so easy. When they write and send me snapshots from a Bahamian cruise or European jaunt, I tell them how lucky they are. "Oh by the way, here are some photos from my weekend trip to this or that island," I add….and for good measure, I throw in a P.S.—something to hint that my trip was shorter, cheaper, and easier than theirs.

I've sent photos of islands like El Escudo de Veraguas, which is very remote and has been visited by few Panamanians. A few months ago it was Contadora and other islands in the Pearl Archipelago, the kind of hideaway to which the rich and famous quietly escape. Soon I plan to return to Bocas del Toro, one of my favorite archipelagos, which I jokingly refer to as Little Jamaica because of the notable Caribbean flavor.

My last foray from the city took me to itsy-bitsy Taboga, an island just off the coast. Taboga is about an hour away by ferry, but I usually go when invited to ride on someone's boat…I don’t have a lot of wealthy friends nor do I dislike the ferry…it's just that a lot of people have boats in Panama, so it's not unusual to get an invite.

This time a friend of a friend had just bought a new boat, and Taboga was the perfect destination for an inaugural trip—it's known for its beauty and it's one of the closest islands to the city. We sped away from the dock in Amador that Sunday morning with a cooler full of beer and swimsuits in tow…soon enough the Island of Flowers, as it's called, came into view.

Here the Pacific ocean is a royal blue that reminds me of the French Riviera. A few speedboats and yachts lined the dock, but the beach was far from crowded. We dove right off the boat into the water and laughed and swam for a couple hours, until hunger began to strike. We put on our caps and an extra layer of sunscreen, and meandered through the little village and up the hill, which was dotted as always with bright flowers—fuchsia, yellow, red, and even purple.

Where to eat? Yet another friend had something new to show off…or rather, her mother did…a new quaint hotel called Vereda Tropical. We were delighted by the island décor and cute little courtyard, and had a great meal at the cheery hotel restaurant overlooking the beach. My friends had fresh seafood, while I enjoyed the thin-crust Northern Italian-style pizza. I spent about $6 on my pizza.

Want to learn more? Taboga is the topic of this month's Panama Insider. Cynthia Cudmore Mulder tells all…

Click the “current issue” button on the left to download your issue of Panama Insider.

Thanks for reading Panas,

Jessica Ramesch
Editor, Panama Insider
Panama@InternationalLiving.com

P.S. Expats like Cynthia Cudmore Mulder will be at the upcoming Live and Invest in Panama Seminar, ready to share their expertise with you. If you have not yet registered for this event, do so now. It’s just a few weeks away (July 31-August 2). Remember, as a Panama Insider you are entitled to a discount. Get all the information you need and sign up here.