Panama Adventure Tours - Inshore day tours
Area
Our inshore day tours will be focused on the Gulf of Chiriqui National Marine Park area. This park encompasses over 25 islands , extensive coral reefs and boasts a wealth and variety of attractions including - excellent inshore fishing , snorkeling on coral reefs, and numerous white sand beaches - nestled into coconut palms and lush green forests. Residents ashore include howler monkeys, iguanas and a handful of Homo Sapiens on the largest island
The tour
Trip to the dock
You will be picked up at your lodgings (depending on the distance from our dock in David) at sometime between 6.30 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. Guests, arriving directly from Panama City on the eaely morning flight, will only be a 10 minute ride from our dock - from where Grand Illusion will depart at 7.30 a.m. A generous breakfast buffet will be laid out - for the late risers who missed breakfast at the lodge - and for those who might just fancy a second one - or, at least, a second cup of coffee and a pastry.
Down the estuary leg
While you are enjoying this repast, we will be quietly and effortlessly cruising down the Pedregal Estuary - heading for the Gulf of Chiriqui. A great amount of effort has gone into ensuring that Grand Illusion is an extremely quiet, "green machine". So you can take in all the sights and sounds as the residents of this pristine estuary awake to a new day - undisturbed by Grand Illusion quietly swishing by.
Estuary entrance to Chiriqui Marine Park leg
After the, ofttimes quite exciting, ride over the bar at the entrance to the estuary (by about 8.15 a.m.) we will "hang a left" and pick up our speed to around 15 knots - for the trip down the coast to the park. You will enjoy wonderful panoramic views of Panama from coast to mountain peak. - as Grand Illusion effortlessly and quietly speeds by - hardly disturbing the glassy calm sea - which is the norm at this hour of the morning.
On this leg we will be trolling a wide spread of high speed lures to attract ocean sprinters such as king fish, dorado, wahoo and even the occasional sailfish. Any of these will definitely provide some morning calisthenics - for a few of our guests and a few of the takers may contribute to the lunch menu.
Deep Reef fishing
On reaching the edge of the park area at about 9.15, we will anchor or drift (depending on current conditions) over one of our favorite inshore fishing spots. Here, everyone of all ages and all levels of experience may enjoy a bit of fishing for an incredible variety of surface, midwater and bottom feeding, fish. By 10.30 a.m, it will be time to drag our guests away from their fishing rods, and move to a shallower reef within the park.
Shallow Reef Snorkeling
Here, everyone will have the opportunity to be greeted by the amazing variety of marine inhabitants of this area - plus the occasional marine fellow visitors such as dolphins, turtles and a variety of pelagic fish. Again, by 11.30 we will have to coax everyone out of the water and pick our way through the myriads of small cays in this amazing Archipelago - to the beach we have chosen for our lunch stop. This choice will change regularly in accordance with whim and weather.
Lunch stop
By 12.00 noon, we should be anchored off our chosen beach, where we will offload the kayaks and other beach and water toys - which those who care to may enjoy - while the crew set to work preparing lunch. Lunch will be served at1.00 p.m. - following which, it is probably a fairly safe bet that some of our guests may opt for a short siesta - whether in the the lounge chairs on the shaded top deck - or in hammocks under a palm tree on the beach. Those with a bit more energy may use this time for further exploration of the area by foot, kayak or with mask and snorkel.
Park to estuary entrance leg
At 2.30 p.m. it will be time to bid farewell to our island paradise and start heading back to David. If the wind has picked up by this time, we will hoist the sails to give us an added kick and provide a delightful ambience on this return leg. Again, we will be trolling some high speed lures - hoping for the screaming of a fishing reel to wake those still in an after lunch torpor. If a fish doesn't provide the adrenalin rush, there is a good chance that conditions at the entrance bar to the estuary will - when, in the right conditions, Grand Illusion is transformed into 76 ft speeding surfboard.
Up the estuary leg
Once back in the estuary at about 3.45 p.m., it will be time to celebrate the English colonial tradition of afternoon tea - assuming someone has remembered to put the kettle on - and put the "crumpets" in the oven. A new river scene will unfold before us as we enjoy our "tea and crumpets" and wend our way peacefully back up the estuary - arriving at our dock at 4.30 pm.
Back to your lodging - or wherever
At the dock, your vehicle will be waiting to take you back to your lodgings - in plenty of time to enjoy a couple of cocktails before dinner - as the sun casts a golden light over your mountain paradise. Those, who have joined us, just for the day, from Panama City, will probably have time for a cocktail or two at the airport - before catching the last flight back to the city.
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Inshore day tours
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Family "fun fishing" adventures
"The Top Pick of Panama Adventures"
Private charters
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* Rupert Holmes - "Escape" - better known as "The Piña Colada Song".
Panama Adventure Tours is not yet open for business.
Projected start up - Nov. 2010. This web site is currently just a rough draft.
However, "If you like Piña Coladas - - - and you have half a brain"*
- plus a nodding acquaintance with the English language,
you may find the current content interesting and remarkably rewarding - - - approximately 100% rewarding.
This particularly applies to those who live, work, play and / or own / operate a tourism related business in:
Chiriqui, Panama - or Panama City, Panama - or San Jose, Costa Rica - or would like to.
"The Perfect Escape"
Escape the mundane clamor - a surprising, new adventure getaway is just over the horizon!
Catamaran adventure tours - day tours & multi day camping cruises
To a lush, Pristine Pacific Archipelago - drifting lazily through time - "far from the madding crowds".
Extraordinary Tours - on an Extraordinary Catamaran - in an Extraordinary Area!
We offer: Family fun fishing and other "laid back" Panama adventures.
Fishing - Kayaking - Snorkeling - Free diving - Beach camping - Coastal catamaran cruises.
We do not offer: Surfing (on our scheduled tours) but, there is excellent surfing in our area.
Likewise for scuba diving.
Nor do we offer :"Extreme Adventure Tours".
The only "Extreme" s which apply to our Adventure Tours are:
"Extreme" ly low levels of environmental impact,
"Extreme" ly high levels of enjoyment and satisfaction -
and (for those who can handle it)
"Extreme Hammocking".
You may call our tours - "Adventure tours" - "Play Tours" - "Fun Tours" - "Eco Tours" - whatever.
Our aim is, quite simply, to provide "The Perfect Escape".
We are confident that:
All who subscribe to "Variety being the spice of life" will judge our tours:
The Top Pick of "Panama tours" and "Adventure tours" - period!
