Getting to Bocas del Toro
Off on another adventure. This time to Panama and the archipelago of Bocas del Toro, more specifically the island of Bastimentos. Since Fairplay has started to enjoy temps in the low 40s, and Batimentos is enjoying temps between 77F at night and 84F during the day, seemed like a logical decision to us. Now the hard part, remembering how to pack for a 5-week adventure and how to get through all the new Covid requirements to travel.
First, the packing. Funny how quickly you forget how to pack light. Although we still know how to roll & stuff, seems we forgot about having to occasionally carry a suitcase, so it needs to be light. Weighing in at a modest 38#s is the first suitcase. This one won’t be opened until we get to Bastimentos so it has all the things we don’t need during the journey, such as, a pair of long pants, shampoo, cream rinse, 2-lbs of decaf coffee, salt-pepper, spices, etc. Things you know don’t exist in Panama. Well, that’s what the little lady told me so we packed them. Second suitcase was a bit better, 35lbs! Damn, that’s going to be almost 80lbs to carry, plus what’s in my backpack. Good thing Collette has been hitting the weights, shouldn’t be a problem for her to carry it while I scout the way. And, as always, there is nothing in these suitcases of any value. Well, except the coffee.
Next, the Covid-19 requirements. Not too much hassle. We’re both vaccinated so it’s much easier, just complete the Heath Affidavit 72hrs before your flight and if approved, you receive a QR code to enter the country. Sounds easy enough so why not get this out of the way now. Once on the Panamanian website, the form is pretty easy to find, but trying to complete the English version is a bit tricky. For example, there is a pull-down menu for country of origin, simple enough, just look for United States. Hmm, not there. There is no listing for the United States on any of the four main pull-downs, only on the country code for your phone number which shows a US flag and the words, “United States”. After trying to contact someone in Panama via Facebook, Twitter, carrier pigeon, etc. I gave up and called United Airlines to see if they could help.
Sure enough, this marvelous young lady told me to look for Estados Unidos, Spanish for United States. Of course, the English version of this form would still list the United States in Spanish even though the telephone section has it in English.
OK, finished the form and submitted it for our QR codes. All done, ready to fly. Coming back will be different. Regardless of vaccination status, the Estados Unidos requires a PCR test before returning. Fortunately, these are offered at the airport for a mere $50 and the results are back in 30 minutes. Sufficient time to have one last Panama beer before hitting the friendly skies.
Left Denver early in the morning, 5:30am, for Houston-Hobby airport to make our connection on to Panama City, Panama. 51 minutes between flights which turned out to be plenty of time to transit via train to Concourse E from Concourse C. Now on to Panama!
We arrived at Tocumen International airport right on time. Deplaning was quick since there was not many people flying to Panama, about 1/3rd of the seats were empty. So that also means Customs and Immigration was easy. Piece of cake! After being fingerprinted and photographed, out of there in less than 20 minutes, awesome! Grabbed a taxi to our hotel, Riu Plaza, paid the driver $30USD (Panama is on the USD currency), checked in and headed for the pool for a drink, lunch and sun. Time to relax.
Time to Relax!
