Panama - San Blas Islands, Cayo Holendes

After an unappealing visit to the local town, we sailed north to Cayo Holendes. Our first overnight stop was at the fabled BBQ Island. No sooner than our anchor was down, a Ulu came with 3 men aboard wanting and Anchorage Fee, of $20. I asked to see his receipt book, which he grudgingly showed me. All the other yachts had paid $10, but he indicated our size and that we must pay $20, which was valid for a month. No-where else in San Blas were we asked to pay to anchor, including other anchorages in Holendes!

On one of the islands, the owner told Jenny that he lives/sleeps aboard this house to escape the mosquitos 

BBQ island

Beautiful clear water

We went ashore for a Cruisers BBQ, and was amazed that nothing was organized by boats that had been here at anchor for a couple of months. They waited for the locals to bring wood, light a fire, bring a BBQ grid. By this time the Cruisers had piled into the ‘shared’ dishes. Not sure if they brought meat to BBQ or not. After 3 hours, we returned to Meshugga to have our own BBQ 

Onto west Holendes Islands………looking for the best anchorage/depth/reefs

Ashore, a chap lived with his animals

We took bananas for the monkey, and gave them to the chap who fed him

Jenny with the monkey

Nicholas was taking photos and put his glass of Mango Juice on the sand. Quick as a flash the monkey picked it up and ran away with it …..

And Up a Tree ….

Where he drank the whole lot!

At least he threw the glass down afterwards, which we retrieved and then bleached it well, just incase of ….

Nicholas with the dinghy

The other island had this Welcome sign, so Jenny and I went to look.

Nothing much, a inhabited island with a family, a couple of boats which the owner told us had been donated to him by Cruising Yachts

A pig

Interesting local dog that seemed interested in catching his own fish

Back aboard Meshugga, this Ulu came round to see if we wanted fish. We bought their largest fish (dont remember what type), and I made pickled fish with it

Our solitary anchorage had two more yachts come anchor close to us

Next morning , on our way out, you can clearly see the two islands. We were anchored in the middle of the two.