Paige917

Hello all!

I have done a bit of research for a Panama trip mid-September and am looking for some suggestions. I was considering San Blas or Boquete but was scared off due to the rainy season.

I am thinking of doing the following:

Land in PC - stay 2 nights.
-Any recommendations on lodging or must-do activities?

From there go to Bocas and Contadora.
-Which one should we hit first?
- What is the best way to split up 8 days between the 2 spots?
-Is La Loma in Bocas a good pick for lodging?
-Any lodging recommendations in Contadora?

Overnight in PC prior to returning home.

I appreciate any and all suggestions. The forums have been a great help!!!!
Thanks!!!!

skipperdee

I cannot reply to all of your questions but must tell you that we had a great trip to Bocas last year and La Loma was fantastic. Truly a Jungle Lodge with wonderful hosts, great food, attentive staff. We also stayed at Casa Cayuco on that trip and the 2 really complimented each other- La Loma for the jungle, bat cave/ other excursions, access to Bocas Town. Casa Cayuco again has terrific hosts, food and lodgings with a wonderful beach with snorkeling, hikes and excursions. I would suggest at least 3 nights stay anywhere- otherwise you are always packing/moving on. Four nights at each of 3 different lodgings has been a terrific formula for us on trips throughout Central America. Don't try and do an entire country on one visit. Have a great trip!

qwovadis

www.isla-contadora.com best weather wise

lots of rain usually at Bocas too then

www.bocastesoroescondido.com my fav there

Paige917

Thanks for all the great input!
I am going to check out Casa Cayuco - it sounds great!

Is Bocas too rainy in September? I had read that Sept/Oct historically were some of the least rainy months...is this not the case?

Thanks again!!

Continental_Drifter

We were in Bocas del Toro in August last summer. It only rained a couple of nights and cleared up during the day. Once it rained while we were at dinner and cleared up for the walk home.

I've heard that it can be even rainier and some travelers have posted complaining about this.

We loved it and had a fabulous trip!

raulpanama

Hi there:
September in Panama is the rainy season, it doesn't mean that rains all day long but it rains almost every day, usually during the late afternoon and not for long.
The Caribbean tends to be more rainy, I have been to Bocas many times on the rainy season and still been able to do the activities I wanted to do.
Casa Cayuco is a great place. Captain Livingston is the best, safest, must fun captain on the archipielago.
Panama City 3 top recommended activities:
1_Must do Panama Canal, either a partial transit of the Panama Canal or a visit to the Miraflores locks visitor center.
2_Embera indians on the Chagres river, beautiful experience.
3_ Nature walk on Soberania National Park. (best with a good guide)
Good tour operators out of Panama City:
Ancon Expeditions of Panama
Sendero Panama
Ecocircuitos

Have fun

jamamac

Can only help you with Isle Contadora. Just got back last week. Stayed at Punta Galeon. Was apprehensive about the place after reading many of the reviews, but I was perfectly happy there because of the beautiful little beach and the convenience of the location (next to the airfield, markets, dive/snorkel shop, good restaurant (Gerard's). Little English is spoken there, some knowledge of Spanish is helpful. TV reception was terrible, safe and hairdryer did not work, service in restaurant was a little slow, but the positives I mentioned earlier outweighed the negatives. All the other inns I noticed were out of the way though Villa Romantica looked nice. As far as airline, Aeroperlos seemed much more efficient than Air Panama

panamalife

September is DRY season for Bocas.
Bluff Beach on Isla Colon and any of the beach on Bastimentos will be wonderful that time of year