Boquete Outdoor Adventures

This is a 9 day trip with 7 days of paddling based in the Golfo de Chiriqui off the Pacific coast of the Chiriqui province in western Panama. We will spend 2 nights in hotels at the beginning and end of the trip. The rest of the trip is camping. This trip is designed for experienced paddlers because of remote beach landings, strong currents, short open water crossings and the possibility of waves and wind. Generally, we will not paddle long distances (8 to 10 miles per day) in order to have time to snorkel, hike, fish and relax on the beaches.

We run this trip during the dry season (December to April). During this time, the wind and swells are usually light on the Pacific side of Panama. We can run the trip during the rainy season as a custom trip. During the rainy season, the swell and wind are usually more challenging and we have heavy rains late in the day into the night.

The Parque Nacional Golfo de Chiriqui is a 14,740-hectare marine park that encompasses two dozen islands and their surrounding waters. The park is home to howler monkeys, leatherback and hawksbill turtles and has an abundance of bird life. The park is located off the Pacific coast of the Chiriqui province, not far from the major city of David. Even though the area is not terribly remote, the area is not heavily traveled. Once you are out in the islands, you may see an occasional fishing boat and may some motor boats, but generally we will have the islands to ourselves.

On Saturday, we paddle a short distance to Boca Chica where we will clean and pack our gear and then head back to David for an afternoon flight to Panama City. Your last night will be spent in a hotel in Panama City and we will transport you to the airport on Sunday to catch a flight out of Panama.

General Itinerary

Day 1 (Saturday)

The trip begins with your arrival at the international airport in Panama City. We will meet you at the airport and transport you to a local hotel. Most flights arrive in late in the day. If you arrive early, we would be happy to arrange a tour of the Panama Canal or the ciry.

Day 2 (Sunday)

The next morning, we will fly to the city of David and then drive to the port of Boca Chica (about 1 hour). In Boca Chica, we will pack out our boats and paddle a short distance to our first camp site on Isla Saino.

Day 3 (Monday)

From Saino, we will do our first crossing to Isla San Jose. This island is heavily forested and has good snorkeling off the beach. This is a short paddle day, so we will have a chance to get used to our boats, practice some self rescue, and explore the island.

Day 4 (Tuesday)

Today we head to Isla Bolaños where we will camp for two nights. This island has spectacular beaches and excellent coral reefs close to the beach.

Day 5 (Wednesday)

This is an optional off day – perfect for lying in a hammock on the beach, snorkeling and exploring the island by foot. For those who still want to paddle, we can venture out around Bolaños and to the smaller islands and reefs surrounding the area.

Day 6 (Thursday)

From Bolaños, we head to Isla Gámez, close the largest island in the area (Isla Parida). Gámez is a tiny little island, but it makes up in beauty what it lacks in size! It has one of the best camping sites on the trip. From the camp site, you can throw a stone to the ocean on either side of the island.

Day 7 (Friday)

From Gámez, we will start our trek back towards the mainland. We will camp on a remote part of Isla Boca Brava. Boca Brava has an abundance of wildlife, including howler monkeys.

Day 8 (Saturday)

We finish up our paddling back in Boca Chica. After cleaning gear and packing, we will drive to David (one hour) and catch a flight to Panama City. We will stay in a hotel in Panama City.

Day 9 (Sunday)

We deliver you to the international airport for your flight.