Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro can refer either to the northwestern province of Panama, the entire archipelago, or the capital town on Isla Colon, the main island. (This seems to be a pattern here...Panama City is in Panama Province in the country Panama!) To get to the Bocas del Toro archipelago, you must take a water taxi from the town of Almirante on the mainland. Although the town itself isn't very interesting or inspiring, the port has all these houses built out over the water.

The town of Bocas is pretty small. Here's the main road...

And it's very touristy. It's been the only place in Panama where I've had to convince people that no, I didn't want to buy anything, and I knew where I was going, thank you very much.

The surroundings, though, are gorgeous...

This pretty Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) was nesting in the pond outside our classroom in the STRI facility...

Here's a view from the boat of one of the beaches Chhaya, Wenley, and I went to over spring break. It's called Playa Estrella or Starfish Beach. There were large starfish (say...salad plate sized?) scattered along a whole stretch of beach.

And, of course, we spent lots of time snorkeling--exploring the reefs for a couple days, and then doing an independent project.

Queen Angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris).
Picture taken cooperatively with Chhaya.