Panama - San Blas Islands, Cocos Banderos

 Leaving East Lemon Cays, we sailed east to Cocos Banderos. We stopped at two different anchorages, one in the western side and one in the eastern side.

We found the western side to be more beautiful, idyllic, and we were the only yacht anchored within a pond surrounded by bommies

Ashore on one of the islands, this beautiful flower, I’ve taken a bulb and hopefully it’ll grow in a pot aboard Meshugga

The smallest of islands, you could run around it in a minute or two.

He’s the King of the Castle and I’m the dirty rascal……

Back aboard its Hamburger night, and no bakery anywhere close, it’s baking buns

PNama - San Blas Islands, East Lemon Cays

Leaving Dog Island we motored a few miles to East Lemon Cays, a group of 5 or 6 islands 

We sent ashore at the various islands taking photos and staying out of the way of those that were inhabited

Excellent idea for keeping Conch live, and growing

We bought a couple of Lobster from a local

Here they’re leaving Meshugga under sail

A local came to sell us Mokas, which are intricate fabric hand sewn and embroidered by the local women

Ashore, at the Only Restuarant /Bar that we’ve found, we had a couple of Balboas beers

Back on Meshugga, me cleaning Lobster and Crab

The Bars, well painted sign

A Fish swam into the ‘pool’ at the restaurant and the local dog went mad, barking at it

Jenny doing what she does best, suntanning

At the restaurant, drinking Balboas

Later in the day, we had a local on the island next to us, come ask for Fresh Drinking Water

Walking around the island with the Restuarant 

Crab I bought, yum

Hammocks over the water

Dinner of Lobster

Crab bought from the local fishermen

The rest of his catch

Photo of their ‘ulu’ a wooden boat, this time with a motor on the stern

Cooked Crab

The Crab, prior to cooking, had been trying to escape my bucket

Panama - San Blas, Dog Island

We motored 2 miles south to Dog Island as we’d read that a cool wreck of a cargo ship, sunk here in the 1950’s, was lying in 3-6 meters of water and an easy snorkel. Home to reef fish and corals growing on the wreck. 

The ship was apparently passing through the San Blas islands and got a leak to big for the pumps to cope and was slowly sinking. So the Captain beached the ship at full power to salvage the cargo - which was mostly rum!

View of Dog Island, the ship wreck to the right of the photo 

Panama - San Blas Islands, Cayos Chichime

We left Linton Bay Marina and sailed east about 40 miles. Unfortunately the wind was on the nose and we tacked out to sea and back in, eventually giving up when the wind went very light and we motored the final 15 miles. 

We entered the Chichime anchorage late afternoon, but with still enough light to see the reefs which fringe the entrance.

The anchorage was rather full, and we luckily found a hole big enough with swing rooms for Meshugga. 

We had a Pirate Boat, a charter yacht with about 15 youngsters on it. The had a ball diving off the yacht and swimming the short distance to shore. 

A stunning evening. Idyllic. 

Next day we did a recce of the Chichime islands fringing the anchorage