Cartagena (Colombia), to Colon (Panama), via the San Blas Islands
With the border between Colombia and Panama totally closed, our only options for transit were boat and plane. After doing some research we decided the boat was more our style. The boat we settled on was a 47 foot yawl with a Norwegian captain and an Italian cook. It wasn't until time came to push off the dock that we met the rest of our family for the next 5 days and 400 nm.
The Black Dragonfly
Departing Cartagena
Caught a Dorado
What a catch! left and right!
Line out!
After Two days of sailing with nothing to look at but horizon we arrived in the San Blas. In the cover of darkness it wasn't until the sun rose that we got our first glimpses of the paradise we were in.
Land Ho!
While Jan the Captain was stamping passports through Panamanian customs we all explored the main San Blas Island. The most inhabited and largest island of the San Blas was able to be fully explored in an hour. The local Kuna were sweet and lived simply.
Molas, the colorful stitched patterns.
Washing clothes
Little boy avoiding bath time.
Father and son returning from fishing
The shoreline with the toilets built out over the water.
After we were all checked into Panama it was then time to explore the many surrounding islands, reefs and wrecks. Setting anchor right next to a perfect sand bar inhabited only by palm trees we jumped into the water to explore a sunken ship.
Please strand us on this island... we only ask one thing...
!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ship Wreck
Snorkel time!
It only took a few minutes to kayak around the island.
When we were all back aboard we hauled anchor and made our way to a slightly larger island for the night. Our Italian cook Martina was busy preparing the dorado and yellow fin tuna we had caught, when the captain asked Amy and I to go ashore and light the fire. Arriving onshore the captain handed us a canister of diesel and a lighter. Turning to walk down the beach to the spot where we were to have our bonfire I looked at Amy "There is no way any west coaster needs diesel to start a fire when you have dry wood!" When the captain arrived at our perfectly sculpted bonfire and saw the canister still full he asked how we did it. ;) Dinner was delicious. We spent the next day enjoying the island with a picnic lunch.
The colour of the water and palm trees didn't feel real.
Grow coconut grow!
Lunch
Shipwreck
Heading out to a few other islands for the afternoon we went to Two Palm Island, then One Palm Island, then No Palm Island!
Two Palm Island!
One Palm Island!
No Palm Island!
Playing on No Palm!
My First Cartwheel!
Found a Turtle shell on One Palm Isle.
Look at what washed up!
Black Dragonfly at anchor.
A more recent wreck on a reef. It was a "backpacker boat" being run illegally and when it crashed ashore the "captain" jumped in the dinghy and drove off leaving the backpackers stranded for the local natives to rescue.
Our final stop was at Isla Grande where Amy and I went looking for the lighthouse designed by Mr Eiffel himself. Stumbling upon it accidentally on a hilltop in the jungle we never imagined it would be unlocked and open. Up the winding stairs we went.
The view was spectacular.
Back down we go.
Our last night on the boat.
The group saying bye in Colon, Panama.
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