Contadora Island

To say that I have seen more of Panama than I ever thought I would doesn't even begin to cover it! I have been in Panama now for over 4 months and have seen more of it than most Panamanians...  What can I say about Panama? Panama is an enigma.  It's wonderful and wild!  Jungle and animals like I have never seen or experienced in my life. From the highlands in Boquete to the pristine jungle of  the Darien Province...I have seen many kinds of monkeys, sloths, anteaters, coatimundi, agouti, capybara, snakes, iguanas, basilisks, crocodiles, caimans, and the most incredible variety of birds! (Toucans, parrots, motmots, trogans...) But, I have also seen the worst of the worst living conditions in any city or place I have ever been....Panama City has the BEST and the worst food I have ever had.  It has some the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen and the trashiest I have ever seen.  Parts of the city are beautiful and I love walking in those places and parts of the city are so full of trash, dog poop, sewage water, potholes, uneven pavement and other hazards that I won't walk in those places. Panama is a paradox.  So full of natural beauty and wondrous wildlife  yet the cities and towns where people live are SOOOooooo dirty.

The more I explore the natural beauty and wildlife here the more I wish that Panama was more advanced in their conservation efforts because there is so much that needs to be preserved here.

I intend to concentrate on the natural beauty in this blog, however, and I will start with Contadora Island where we spent Christmas 2011.  Contadora Island is part of the Pearl Islands off the coast of Panama on the Pacific side. The water is so blue and clear... The sands are white (except when certain tides wash up trash...) It is sure that the travel agencies do not use photos from those times when the tide brings the trash in.... But, most of the time the beaches are very nice.  The upside of the trash tides is that I find a TON of sea beans as well.

The island is peaceful and only accessible by small plane or ferry.

Huge stingrays can be seen swimming near shore and/or as you de-board the ferry and wade ashore.

Without a doubt you can chill out here, swim, snorkel, sun bathe, whatever...

There are hidden "lagoons" all around the island.

And the only vehicles allowed are the golf carts you can rent so I guess these guys aren't too intimidated by them.

And the sea bean collecting is great!

There are many paths leading down to the beaches.

And many covered pavilions where you can relax and enjoy the beauty.

If you look down below at the exposed rocks when the tide is out you will see many "rock" carvings.

Sea turtle rock carving.

Carving of woman.

You can see many other little islands surrounding Contadora Island.

When the tide is out its cool to explore some of the natural tide pools formed. They hold lots of little fish, crabs, etc.

Dolphin rock carving.

Fish rock carving.

"Unusual" rock carving :~)

The tide is coming in to cover the plateau where the umbrella is.

I found a stranded Yellow-bellied Sea Snake on the beach.  I carefully lifted it with a long stick and tossed it back out into the ocean beyond the breaking waves.  I watched it swim happily away (and didn't go swimming for a while after that!)

 Explore paths/walkways around the island.

This is when we first waded ashore from the ferry.

The more I explore the natural beauty and wildlife here the more I wish that Panama was more advanced in their conservation efforts because there is so much that needs to be preserved here.