Page 217 - The Rough Guide to Panama (Travel Guide)

Península de soná and Isla CoIba Chiriquí and Veraguas 215
inFOrMaTiOn 5
Park permits In theory, independent travellers should fees are paid into their bank account in advance (see box,
buy a park permit ($20/day), in advance at the Santiago p.42) while the other half is settled at the ranger station.
regional MIA office (T998 4387; national park desk T998 Ranger guides You can usually engage a park ranger to
4271); in practice, if you turn up in Coiba, the permit can be accompany you on trips around the island for around $20;
paid for there. However, if you want to spend the night on you’ll need to negotiate the price with them.
Coiba, you need to check availability in advance (the bunks When to visit As there are no limits on visitor numbers to
get fully booked in high season) and currently MIA is the national park, holiday periods and summer weekends
demanding that half the park entry and accommodation should be avoided at all costs.
aCCOMMOdaTiOn and eaTing
Coiba’s accommodation is, in some ways, a great leveller – whether you’re on an exclusive all-in deal or you’ve hitched a
ride with the park wardens, everyone has to stay in the same basic huts, with shared facilities.
MIA cabins Coiba ranger station; independent group/night for the small kitchen, $20 for the large one,
travellers need to book ahead through the Coiba plus you need to supply the gas cylinder. Cabins have
reservations desk at the MIA office in Santiago (see electricity and a/c after 6/7pm though power cuts are
p.207). Forty-odd beds spread dorm-style around five frequent. Other useful items to bring include a mosquito
double cabins with screening and shared bathrooms. net (some screens have holes), a torch, candles – preferably
Independent travellers will need to bring food supplies with citronella to help ward off the bugs – and plenty of
from Santa Catalina, in a cool box supplied by your insect repellent, plus cream to apply to your bites. Limited
boatman; use of the kitchen, including fridge, is $15/ camping spaces available. Camping $10, dorms $20

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