Pearl Islands of Panama are a Beach Bum’s Paradise

I was thinking that maybe I should sue CNN (not really) for using my domain name in a recent story about the Pearl Islands in Panama. CNN called them a Beach Bum’s Paradise. Huh. Pretty close, don’t you think?

Anyway, the Pearl Islands, or Archipiélago de las Perlas are off the southern Pacific coast of Panama. Yes, it is also where Survivor was filmed, but who really cares about that. According to the articles author, Kim Segal, the Pearl Islands had some of the best snorkeling she’s seen anywhere in the world.

Here is a piece from the article:

Niño took us to Mogo Mogo, one of many uninhabited islands just off the shore of Contadora. As the island’s white sandy beaches came into sight, we noticed a clearing where people were putting finishing touches on what looked like a game for contestants. Our boat captain told us it was for “Desafío” (“Challenge”), a Colombian version of the popular reality show.

The word on Contadora was that a few countries (Bulgaria, Serbia and Israel, to name a few) were either finishing filming “Survivor”-type shows or starting new seasons. A representative for the Panamanian Institute of Tourism told me the government had limited information on the filming and could not confirm the word on the street.

We jumped out of the boat, waded through the clear, warm blue water and onto Mogo Mogo, unacknowledged as work continued on the wooden set. Noticing a well-worn path, we decided to check out the rest of the island. We thought we were alone when we reached the beach on the other side. But as we walked down what we thought was a deserted beach, we spotted an orange flag in the sand.

Some of her tips were,

• Aeroperlas has two flights a day from Panama City’s domestic airport. Roundtrip tickets cost us about $120 each to Contadora Island.

• We stayed at the Perla Real Inn in a room for three people, including breakfast, for approximately $100 a night. The rooms are basic but clean and comfortable.

• I recommend renting a golf cart to get around the island. You can walk, but the carts are faster and fun. Golf cart rentals are half-price, $35 a day, for guests of the Perla Real Inn.

• Mogo Mogo is uninhabited, so bring your own water and food if you plan to visit.

Map of the Pearl Islands and Panama.

Posted on September 9, 2008 - Filed Under Beach Vacations, Beaches to go See, Recommended Beaches and Places

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