MAP When we arrived in Costa Rica, we started hearing about Panama. It was wonderful, with cheap prices, beautiful islands with clear water and white sand beaches, and good surf. Everything we heard is true. Our first landfall in Panama was at Isla Parida, where we met Doug and Linda, California transplants who were managing a small ecoresort on the south end of the island. Doug took us surfing at his secret spot, where the waves were small but fast and fun. Leigh got some great rides on her 10 footer. We spent 3 hours riding the waves in the 80+ degree water at the deserted beach. Later we met some local Panamanians who lived in simple huts and cooked on open fires and drank water from a natural spring. They had chickens and pigs and grew their own veggies on their little beachfront paradise. At Isla Seca, we did some skin diving and speared a couple of fish for dinner. They tasted pretty good if I do say so myself. Schools of tropical fish swam around the rocks and coral, where visibility was 75 feet or better. We found our next surf spot at Isla Catalina, a world famous wave with a crowd. There were 11 people surfing the overhead peaks that peeled from the reef. The waves gave you long rides, but the bad part was that you had to paddle back out. Anyway, we got our share of good waves, but grew weary of the crowd. Playa Benao was our last surf spot before arriving in the Balboa/Panama City/Panama Canal area. We had fun surfing with the locals there, and even though there was a crowd, there were lots of waves at this beach break. Leaving Benao, we had to face stiff winds, choppy seas and a bad current at Punta Mala to finally make it to Isla San Jose, in the Las Perlas islands. So far, we had visited 7 islands. Each island had some things in common: lush tropical vegetation and white sandy beaches. Some had clear water, some did not. Each island had its own beauty. Running low on supplies, we sailed into Balboa and dropped the hook at Flamenco Island. Flemenco has a marina, an anchorage, fuel and water. When you anchor at this island, your view is of Panama City, with its high-rises. It's a big city and very convenient for doing boat work and provisiong. You see boats of every kind from all over the world here. Panama City was a surprise! We liked it a lot. It's a big city so you can find anything here. The marina area is quite beautiful and reminds me of parts of California.

Isla Taboga's church is the oldest in the West	Isla Parida anchorage