The following Article is one of a series written by a Dutch woman who came to Panama to be an Au Pair for a Dutch family. She met and fell in love with a Panamanian, and hasn`t looked back.....
Pedasi offers a variety of activities. Whether you like adventure, surfing, fishing, nature or you just want to relax on one of the beaches...for young and old there is much to do and to explore.
Isla Canas is especially worth a visit. During the day you can spend time on the beach, hike along the island trails and, of course, surf.
On the island there is a little fishing village with simple little houses and a few stores. There is one local restaurant where you most likely can get patacones [
fried plantains] and corvina, a delicious local white fish.
In the period between August and November, you can go to the island at night and see the turtles nesting. Well, they come almost all year-round, but this period is the high season and when you will find the most turtles. Saying that, sometimes you are just very unlucky as the turtles don t show up on time!
I went there last year in July, one month before the high season. We walked the 13 km beach as at that time there was no transportation available. Nowadays you can get a cart which is pulled by a horse and holds around seven people. That time we walked for almost four hours and we did not see one turtle. You can imagine the disappointment. Even though we did not see turtles, it was quite amazing to hike the beach in the middle of the night under a sky full of stars.
But the adventure of coming to the island, that is something else. It all depends on how the tide is. There are boat taxis to go from the mainland to the island. But if the tide is low you might as well take off your shoes and start walking because you can forget about your ride. If you are scared of the dark, walking and sinking in mud above your ankles, or strange noises coming from the dark mangroves... you might as well stay home. Well it s not that bad - it s an adventure!
Make sure you have a guide who can arrange contacts on the island. And if you have your heart set on seeing turtles, here is another tip: Ask about the current movement of the turtles before you decide to go to the island. That way you lessen the risk of not seeing any.
Make sure you bring along your bug repellent as the mangroves and the island are home for many "chitras" [
biting gnats] and mosquitoes. Shoes and long pants are not recommended. Just wear sandals or thongs [
flip flops], as you might get dirty in the mud.
For the surfers among us, Pedasi is a surfing paradise. Playa Venado is considered the second best surf spot in Panama with Santa Catalina, Veraguas taking first place. There are almost always good swells and the local surfers hang out there, so you are never alone.
At Playa Venado, there is always a nice, laid-back atmosphere. In the big cantina bar, people can sit and hide from the sun, while drinking a nice, cool beer and just chill out. On crowded days, like weekends or holidays, you find people camping - free of charge. The cantina offers a couple of showers out in the open and a bathroom in the back. They serve simple food but it is very well prepared. You can even bring your own hammock and hang it up near the cantina. Sit, swing, and enjoy the show.
Pedasi has fantastic offshore fishing and its waters are great for diving. Pedasi is also known as the "Tuna Coast" because of the infamous schools of Yellowfin tuna .They reproduce here in the dry season. Along with the the Yellowfin you can find: Skip Jack, Black Skip Jack, Stripped Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Wahoo, Rooster Fish, and many more. There are around 726 species of oceanic wildlife in the Peninsula s waters.
The best time of the year for diving is from April to December. From January to March the waters are affected by strong, northerly winds and upswelling currents coming out of the south from Peru. This doesn t mean you can´t dive here year-round. However, conditions can change dramatically day to day during this time.
During these trips it is common to see the whales, dolphins, turtles, whale sharks and much more. Make sure you bring your camera along to capture all this beauty.
Think Panama!
For your questions or needs about Pedasi and surrounding areas, contact
Douglas M. Choy at
ThinkPanama.com. They will provide any guidance and information you may need.
