Panama Island Tours or Sunset Naviations
If you are looking for an island tour or sunset cruise in Panama City , panamcruise.com.pa is the place to find a wide variety of cruising activities, yachts and boat tours to select from!
As you might have heard, Panama has great number of paradisiacal islands on the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean . While you cruise in a Panama Island tour, you will most likely observe a variety of small villages, birds, wild life, bays, variations of shoreline beaches, river mouths, waterfalls, rocky points, sea mouths, steep drop offs and plenty of sea life which are all perfect for sight seeing, photo safari or a getaway tour.
In this section you will find some of the most important near shore and offshore islands we tend to cruise with our clients.
A) Nearshore Panama Island Boat Tour
If your interest is only a few hours of Panama cruising, we tend to cruise our clients to the following nearshore islands.
Isla Taboga or ( Island of Flowers ): Taboga Island is part of a chain of islands that where inhabited by indigenous people who lived in huts and made a living of panama fishing activities. In 1515 a group of Spanish soldiers reached the island, killed, slaved and took substantial amounts of gold from the Indians. This occurred only two years after Vasco Nuñes de Balboa had first been in Panama and before the first city of Panama was ever built. Now days this old city is called “Panama Viejo”. After this event, a small colony of Spanish people decided to live on Taboga Island and had the island to them selves until 1949, when Panama freed its Indian slaves and a good number chose to make Taboga their home. While the Spanish colony inhabited the Island, Francisco Pizarro and his men used this island to hide the riches taken from Peru and other South American Countries.
Besides from all, Taboga Island is now days one of Panama ’s favorite escapes out of the city or weekend spots to bathe in is beautiful beach, ride Jet Ski’s, speed boats and even blast music. The Island has a charming village with a whitewashed church, a few narrow streets with a few restaurants, payphones, bakery, hotel and great views to Panama City from the top of the Island at approximately 300 meters.
Isla Taboguilla: Toboguilla Island is on the east of Taboga and has a seafood processing plant. Sport fishing and cruising is good around this island.
Isla Otoque: Otoque Island is at 20 miles offshore from Panama City . On this island there are two villages with fishermen. It is very close to Punta Chame.
There are other islands near these three mentioned above such as the Farallon Islet, Isla Uvara right under Taboga Island , Isla Majagual and Isla Chame among others.
Note: Nearshore island tours with panamacruise.com.pa are flexible depending on your interests. In some cases clients might want to go for a full day island tour, a few hours cruise for a marriage proposal, a day of sport fishing charter, an afternoon sunset tour or an evening tour overlooking Panama ’s City glow. If you are interested on any of these please contact us.
B) Offshore Island Boat Tours - The Pearl Islands
The “Archipelago de la Perlas” or Pear Islands is a chain of islands composed of over 100 volcanic islands located in between 64km and 113km southeast of Panama City .
There are about 130 unnamed islets in the Pearl Islands and beautiful scenes that you have probably seen on the travel magazines; turquoise waters, tan- sand beaches, swaying palms, colorful fish, whales and sea turtles. The Pearl Islands have an abundance of oysters of which some of the most famous fine pearls have ever come from. This includes the 31-carat “Peregrina pearl” that has been worn by a Spanish King, an English queen and a French emperor. Today this pearl belongs to famous actress Elizabeth Taylor.
Since these Islands are so pretty, most cruisers heading to the Galapagos stop in the Archipielago de Las Perlas and regret not having planned a longer time to stay here.
The Pear Islands got their name after Spanish conquer Vasco Nuñes de Balboa meets with a local Indian guide who spoke to him about nearby islands rich with pearls. The story says that this occurred within days after the discovery of the Pacific Ocean .
Balboa was anxious to visit these islands and was told that there was a hostile chief who ruled the islands. After he got informed, Balboa postponed his visit to these Islands , names the archipelago “Isla de Las Perlas” and declares it as Spanish Property. Now days if you have luck, there are still chances to get some pearls from the locals at good prices.
If your interest is a few days of Panama cruising, depending on the amount of days, we tend to cruise our clients to or near the following offshore islands;
Isla Pacheca ( Pacheca Island ): This is the northern-most island in the Pear Islands along with a smaller island named “Pachequilla”. The island is inhabited by people but you can still find large colonies of pelicans, frigates, cormorants and sometimes even whales on the northern side. There is also a nice sandy beach in case anyone is interested on bathing.
Isla Bartolome ( Bartolome Island ): This Island is located very close to the famous Contadora and South East from Pacheca and Pachequilla. It has a nice little beach that uncovers on low tide.
Isla Contadora ( Contadora Island ): This Island is the most visited and famous of all Panama islands in the Pearl Islands by far. The CBS Survivor series for Fall 2003 and Winter 2004 took place in Panama 's Pearl Islands . In fact the exotic, nature-rich islands of Panama have been home to three seasons of survivor.
In Contadora you will find some development including mansions, an air strip, hotels, bars, desalination plant, power plant and marina, a small network of paved roads and great snorkeling spots. This island is home for Panama ’s official nude beach (Playa de las Suecas). In some cases we tend to accommodate our clients in one of Contadora’s lodging options.
Snorkeling in Contadora can be quite fascinating. There are five coral fields surrounding the island and within a snorkeling session you can expect to find some damselfish, moray eels, puffer fish, angelfish, parrotfish, white-tip reef sharks and if you are lucky enough even a mermaid.
Isla Chapera en Mogo Mogo: This Island has a sand beach but in some areas is quite rocky on low tide. This is the main island where the survivor show by CBS was held on or where people had to survive.
Isla Viveros: Viveros Island is one of the nicest Islands out there. This island has been bought by an international realty company who is now making a private development with airport, marina and roads similar to Contadora Island . For more information please contact us.
Isla Pedro Gonzales: This Island does not have a flat topography or basically it’s a hilly island. On Isla Pedro Gonzales there are about 500 inhabitants and a small village. This place is famous for its herb plantations.
Isla San Jose : San Jose Island is the second largest after Isla Del Rey in the Pear Islands and it’s privately owned. It extends to 45.3 sq km and you will have the opportunity to explore natural reefs under crystal clear waters, and 14,400 acres of unspoiled virgin rainforest. Besides from this there are accommodations where we suggest our clients to stay on while cruising near this Island . This is a perfect 1st class getaway resort where you will have access to comfortable accommodations, a restaurant, bar, pool table, swimming infinity pool, game room, massage room, cable TV, sauna, diving equipment, four wheel squads, kayaks, jet skis, water skis, mountain bikes, banana boat, bird watching tours and even golf carts. If you have a specific interested on more information or visiting this place please contact us.
Isla Del Rey: The “King’s Island” is the biggest island on the Pear Islands and is currently under strong development plans. However, over 70% of the land is property of the State. You can also contact us for information on this project. Moreover, the west coast of Isla Del Rey is very exposed to swells creating mist that block the views of a great amount of virgin beaches. This is a great opportunity for surfers who might want to explore this area on one of our surf charters. In the southern part of Isla del Rey we will take you to Punta Cocos where there is an old II world war airfield and a couple of abandoned houses with a beautiful beach. Going deeper in the Island there is Esmeralda Village . Here you can find inexpensive seafood and a few basic shops. Besides from the beauty of its beaches, this area is also great for bird watching as there are partially submerged mangroves and plenty of wild life by the Cacique River .
Isla San telmo: San Telmo island is famous for its II world war Japanese submarine that is stranded on the north coast. This is currently a private reserve protected by Ancon. Once you are cruising with panamacruise.com.pa you will have the opportunity to swim or even snorkel around this submarine made from thick Suomitomo steel.
If you are interested on one of your inshore or offshore Island cruising yacht tours please contact us.
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