Isla Brincanco

Isla Brincanco is an uninhabited islet north of Coiba, Panama. Coiba is a protected island with unique flora, fauna and wildlife. It is very expensive to anchor at Coiba as they are attempting to protect the reefs from boat anchors. So we picked this islet to anchor near for 3 nights after sailing friends told us of it's beauty. The bay was pristine with visibility in the water under our boat to 35-40 feet. There are 2 areas of robust reefs with hundreds of different kinds of fish, eels, sting rays, scallops and more. We snorkeled for 3 afternoons amongst this big variety of underwater creatures, but not one picture will be had as our underwater camera decided to break. Even out of the water it refuses to cooperate in it's task to capture the sights. Before swimming with it we did get a couple of shots of the beautiful bay we anchored in.

The reef was in front of these rocks.

Bahia Honda, Panama

Sailing 24 hours from Golfito, Costa Rica landed us at Bahia Honda in Panama. It is a quaint little village with dugout canoes used for transportation as there is no road on the mainland to this Bay. We bartered with the local people for fish, lobsters, fruit and vegetables. We gave a bag of school supplies to the school and exchanged language with an interesting young man with exceptional skill at learning English.

Steve on S/V Saben climbed his mast and took some pictures

sharing English words with Felipe and friends

Domingo provided us with fresh veggies and fruit

Domingo's grandsons brought fish and lobsters

Little island in Bahia Honda covered with Egrets

Smiles came selling his hand carving from mahogany and teak.

Smiles in his dug out canoe

Ando, age 9,  is letting the line in and out on Smiles boat while his dad and friend free dive to clean our bottom of barnacles. It was the best bottom cleaning we ever had done. Ando was pleased with a bag of marbles, coke and candy for his hard work.

Smiles brought his family back to see us in the evening.

Smiles and family in his bigger boat made of fiberglass over wood.

walking through the village

Sailing from Costa Rica to Panama

Seven hours of great sailing in 15 knot winds took us around the point where Costa Rica and Panama borders touch and into the waters of Western Panama. Western Panama Shoreline is essentially uninhabited except for a few small fishing villages. There is no place for provisions or fuel for long stretches along the coastline, but it is beautiful.

Robert and Catherine Wilson Botanical Gardens  has over 1000 species and 200 different plant families.  It is at 3,900 ft above sea level along the Fila Cruces coastal mountains. It is converted from abandoned coffee plantations on land that was also used for cattle pasture. There are many types of Palm trees and the bromeliad garden is huge. We spotted birds and many butterflies amongst the flowering plants on the 25 acres of trails.

multiple orchids grow on every tree

the roots from the orchids extend down the length of the tree

this flower twists and opens into fruit

the fruit stage of flower on the left

This blossom is a contrast to the spiny fruit on this plant

Palm tree with above ground root system.

the greenhouses had  many specimens of Staghorn Ferns

Amaryllis grows in the garden

Giant Bamboo

The view coming down the mountain

View of Golfo Dulce and the Pacific Ocean from the restaurant where we ate lunch

We went hiking up on the ridge above the harbor, with Pierre a fellow sailor,. The views were stunning. I enjoyed the flowering foliage as we walked through this tropical rain forest. The caretaker of a ranch let us onto the property and gave us mangoes from the tree. We stopped at the fish market on the way home and got a fillet of yellow fin tuna for only $3.50/lb. It made wonderful sushi.

Do I look hot? 90 degrees and high humidity on a 30% incline.

Our friend Pierre

Golfito town down below

Plants that we grow indoors at higher latitudes climb the trees here.

We saw 4 parrots

view from the ranch

Rick and Pierre at Rancho Relampago (ranch of lightening)