Description: GETTING THERE- Isla Grande is about a two and a half hour drive and a short boat ride away from Panama City. If you are driving, just head to Portobello then follow the signs to La Guaira where you can find a water taxi to take you to the island. Since it might be difficult figuring out what to do with your car if you drive, taking the bus may be a better option. From Panama City’s main bus terminal take a bus to Sabanitas where you can catch a bus to La Guaira, then a water taxi to the island.
The basketball court is a good point of reference when trying to navigate the small island of Isla Grande in Panama. If you stand facing the basketball court and go…
RIGHT- The path leads you past a convenience store, a few open air restaurants and private homes. If you keep following the path you will eventually enter the town square which is comprised of a few concrete benches, a statue of the Virgin Mary, a phone booth and a faded McDonald’s play place that has seen better days. If you continue down the path you may start to feel like turning around as you loose sight of the water and find yourself in a more residential area. Keep going and you will once again catch sight of the clear turquoise waters while passing little eateries. There is one that is particularly inviting, with a sign advertising tea, coffee and confections with little tables set amongst a pretty flower garden. Alas we ran out of time and never had the chance to experience sipping coffee in a flower garden by the sea. If you traverse a bit further you will find yourself on a beautiful stretch of white sand beach surrounded by perfectly still warm waters. Feel free to leave your belongings in the sand, no one will bother them, and spend the afternoon swimming to your heart’s content. If you are thirsty, grab a freshly squeezed lemonade at the little beach shack and slowly sip your cares away while swaying in one of the hammocks under the shaded roof. If you’ve already purchased some snacks and beverages at one of the stores on your way, you can set yourself up in the shade of one of the palm trees, maybe even taking some time out for an afternoon nap, just be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen.
LEFT- The path left will lead you past some charming attention-grabbing outdoor bars/restaurants. One particular bar had swings to sit on instead of stools and although that seemed like a lot of fun, it didn’t look particularly safe for the inebriated. There was also a place (I can’t remember now if it was the same place as the swing bar) with numerous picnic tables made of concrete. Each table had its own design made from shells and/or tiles that were imbedded in the concrete. As no one seemed to be around we were able to exam each table in-depth. If you look out into the ocean you can take note of the large Jesus statue set in the middle of the water. Not too far from the Jesus statue you will pass a bar dedicated to Bob Marley and soon you’ll pass over a little bridge decorated with shells. After passing a few houses you will notice that you are on a cliff overlooking large energetic waves. In front of you a little further up the cliff sits the island’s well known hotel, The Sister Moon Hotel. It is the place to stay if you are a surfer and there were plenty of surfers braving the waves the day were there. Since it’s at the end of the road so to speak, The Sister Moon Hotel’s restaurant makes a great spot to enjoy some lunch or maybe just a couple of beverages while watching the surfers ride the waves.
Isla Grande is a small island off of the coast of Panama. There are no roads and no cars only paths. I believe it the kind of place that you will either love or loath. There is one resort (Banana Resort) located on its own side of the island and several other accommodations including The Sister Moon Hotel and Hotel La Cholita. There isn’t a lot to do besides swimming, surfing, taking leisurely strolls and drinking cervesas or lemonade beside the water. It is a great place to catch up on your reading and to take lots of naps and slow down the pace of life for a while. I thought it was absolute paradise. No one harassed you to buy things, and everyone on the island was friendly, laid back and genuine. My only regret was that we only stayed three days because if you are predisposed to loafing and letting go, you would need a full five days to experience the island properly.
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