LA_FadeAway

Hi! I'm planning a trip to CR in late August and we would like to include a trip to the Carribean if possible. I am debating between Toutuguero or Bocas del Toro in Panama. I've heard the rain isn't as bad in the Puerto Viejo and Bocas areas in August. Any info or advice about either area would be appreciated. I know they are totally different and we are probably more into snorkling and such.

Suzie2

I would head down to Bocas if you are interested in snorkeling.

LA_FadeAway

Thanks Suzie. I kind of figured that would be the case, but wasn't sure if Tortuguero was a "must see".

Weespxx

Friends of mine stayed on an island (can't remember the name for the life of me) and at a place called Au Natural - it sounds magnificent. They could not rant and rave enough. I cannot find it right now but will look - or you could do a Panama search here too. Good luck

LA_FadeAway

Yeah, I've seen their web site somewhere. It looks really nice. I'm debating between there or Punta Caracol which looks fabulous too.

tbelgian

They do not advise snorkling or playing in the water on the Carribean side at all. Evidently all of the rivers and canals coming off the land attract a lot of sharks. Also, when we were in Tortuguero there were blue bottle jelly fish everywhere on the beach. Tortuguero's pretty cool though and the Mawamba lodge had a nice pool that we played and swam in a lot.

LA_FadeAway

What about snorkeling in Bocas? I've heard it's pretty good there. They don't have a shark problem do they ?!

AndrewGW

Bocas probably has a lot more to offer - better snorkeling etc.
Check out www.bocas.com - quite a good site with info on the area.

Cheers
Andrew

LA_FadeAway

I agree that Bocas sounds more our speed. Thanks for the link.

TideRover

I just got back from Bocas and it is incredible. If you're really into snorkelling, you might want to rent a houseboat and float around to the snorkelling spots. They work with Bocas Watersports for snorkelling equipment rentals and trips to the Zapatillos (a bit south of Bocas). Check out www.bocashouseboats.com. I think the rainy season happens in December. August should be great.

LA_FadeAway

Thanks for the tip. How bad will the weather be in July? It looks like we may have to change our trip from late August to late July. I've read that July can be really raniny on the carribean coast.

TideRover

I understand that the rainy season is high in july and also in December. I was surprised when I was in Bocas in Dec that there weren't mud slides and all sorts of problems. It was not unlike the usual florida weather I'm used to... Beautiful mornings with clouds building to mid afternoon thundershowers. It might have been unusual, or the folks there might just be hyper-sensitive to dialy rains and blow the "rainy season" out of proportion. Not sure.