IL Postcard

Online Now: The Island of Flowers Is so Close and so Affordable

Date: 07/01/2008

July 2, 2008
Panama City, Panama

Dear Panama Enthusiast,

I'm always saying things to make my friends envious…I don’t mean to (or maybe I do it because I have issues, but let's leave that can-o-worms be)…it's just so easy. When they write and send me snapshots from a Bahamian cruise or European jaunt, I tell them how lucky they are. "Oh by the way, here are some photos from my weekend trip to this or that island," I add….and for good measure, I throw in a P.S.—something to hint that my trip was shorter, cheaper, and easier than theirs.

I've sent photos of islands like El Escudo de Veraguas, which is very remote and has been visited by few Panamanians. Three months ago it was Contadora and other islands in the Pearl Archipelago, the kind of hideaway to which the rich and famous quietly escape. Next I plan to return to Bocas del Toro, one of my favorite archipelagos, which I jokingly refer to as Little Jamaica because of the notable Caribbean flavor.

My last foray from the city took me to itsy-bitsy island not far from Panama City. In fact, this place is the topic of this month's "more for less" issue of Panama Insider. It’s about an hour away by ferry, but I usually go when invited to ride on someone's boat…I don’t have a lot of wealthy friends nor do I dislike the ferry…it's just that a lot of people have boats in Panama, so it's not unusual to get an invite.

This time a friend of a friend had just bought a new boat, and this was the perfect destination for an inaugural trip—it's known for its beauty and it's one of the closest islands to the city. We sped away from the dock in Amador that Sunday morning with a cooler full of beer and swimsuits in tow…soon enough the Island of Flowers, as this place is called, came into view.

Here the Pacific ocean is a royal blue that reminds me of the French Riviera. A few speedboats and yachts lined the dock, but the beach was far from crowded. We dove right off the boat into the water and laughed and swam for a couple hours, until hunger began to strike. We put on our caps and an extra layer of sunscreen, and meandered through the little village and up the hill, which was dotted as always with bright flowers—fuchsia, yellow, red, and even purple.

Where to eat? Yet another friend had something new to show off…or rather, her mother did…a new quaint hotel called Vereda Tropical. We were delighted by the island décor and cute little courtyard, and had a great meal at the cheery hotel restaurant overlooking the beach. My friends had fresh seafood, while I enjoyed the thin-crust Northern Italian-style pizza. I spent about $6 on my pizza, the girl next to me spent the same on her fish.

Want to learn more about this special island hideaway? And be sure to read the P.S. to see how you can get Panama Insider for free!

Thanks for reading,

Jessica Ramesch
Editor, Panama Insider

P.S. For a limited time, you can get Panama Insider for FREE! You can learn all about Panama’s idyllic islands (and much, much more) when you join us in Panama for International Living’s Live and Invest in Panama Seminar. It takes place July 31–Aug. 2—just a few weeks away, so please register now. If you are a subscriber to Panama Insider, you get a discount on this event. But in fact, right now…TODAY…we are offering you Panama Insider for FREE when you register for the seminar. Call 1-866-381-8446 (toll-free from the U.S. or Canada) and ask Brigid or Donna for more details.