The warmly cool, clear, ringing, perfumed, overflowing, redundant days, were as crystal goblets of Persian sherbet, heaped up – flaked up, with rose-water snow. — Herman Melville
Haley came to stay and play about a month before her sibs joined us for the passage. Poor girl, she arrived right before her 25th birthday and her folks were so consumed with the logistics of securing our long stay visas for French Polynesia, that it won’t go down as the very best celebration. We took the opportunity to break away from the vortex of ‘to do’ lists, and turned toward the Las Perlas Islands, to the south of Panama City, a day’s sail away.
Got traffic?!Sea Cloud going East through the CanalNew PanamaOld PanamaThey looked like Disney employees!The Casco Viejo area of Panama has become super gentrifiedNice to see these environmentally (more) friendly carsThe Las Brisas anchorage was full of working barges25 candles for Haley March 9thBirthday fudge!
Bright Lights, Big CityWe have pretty excellent cruising guides for this area; not so everywhereThe Las Perlas Archipelago is a real playground within 50nm of Panama CityLots of reading aboard Allora
Look who’s here?!Secret Beach, Punta Matadero (near Isla Espiritu Santo), Las PerlasSmooth operator.This photographer’s playground.Our beloved Oru Kakaks
black sand art
Punta Matadero (near Isla Espiritu Santo), Las PerlasWe got silly on this black sand sweet spot.Kayaking in Punta Matadero (south), Las PerlasLast light giddinessOur zany photographer!
Drone director, Haley
I can’t be the only one that loves stuff like this, right?!The crabs make this pattern in the wet sand with each new tideSunset in Las Perlas
We’ve been having so much fun exploring in Panama that we haven’t taken the time to embellish these images with words – sorry, but if you look at these pics, you’ll get it! At present moment, we are ‘on the hook’ at Ensenada Benao (famous surf spot) in Panama, awaiting a weather window to round Punta Mala (aptly named, in my mind at this point) into the Gulf of Panama. On the 7th of March, we have an appointment at the French Embassy to obtain a long stay visa for French Polynesia, and Haley’s coming in from NY. Feeling pretty lucky to get to celebrate her 25th birthday together on the 9th! Pretty soon, all 3 of our crew members will be gathering to prep Allora first for the passage to the Galapagos and then beyond to the Marquesas.
An evening ritual; we sit up on deck to take in the sunset.Ensenada del Veradero, Isla Parida, Panama – It took a series of these gorgeous islands for us to get over the sadness of our mamas being gone.
Mackerela (Sierra)First Roosterfish!Fishing boats with a piraty edge!We think a gazillion of these were making the most haunting sound in the jungle at night – like a cicada on steroids!On some of these islands in western Panama we’d even see/hear monkeys!
Isla Montuosa. Allora’s anchored offshore.
Ha, no, he’s not casting for dolphin, but they do often accompany the fish!
Isla Jicaron, northern anchorage, Coiba National Park
These kayak excursions are pure bliss.
Isla Jicaron, northern anchorage
Let’s see what’s ON this beach?!Spot the Male Ringed Kingfisher? Isla Jicaron, Panama
This made the most incredible massage/tickler!Wilson?!Fishing patrol.Male Great Tailed GrackleLush greens of the jungle.
Capuchin monkey companySpot the Capuchin?
Pargo (red snapper) for dinner.
This scarlet bird was mesmerizing!
Isla Jicarita, PanamaThese fishermen pulled up and dropped anchor for a few hours next to us. They laughed a bunch – great energy.
Isla Jicaron, as seen from our anchorage on Isla Jicarita
First storm since Puerto Vallarta, over Granita de Oro, Panama
OUTRAGEOUS snorkeling around this little islet!
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Enroute Granita de Oro to Isla Santa Catalina. Sweet Assymetrical Spinnaker day on the water.
Geoff (Pajaro Loco) and Jose, surfer extraordinaire. I got a wild ride to town with Captain Ron, I mean Geoff.A sweet home was set back in the trees here, with kids and horses and puppies and howler monkeys – lots of great acoustics in this sweet location.Our anchor alarm app on the iPhone! Yeah, our boat was rockin!’
