Page 271 - The Rough Guide to Panama (Travel Guide)

The easTern isles Guna Yala 269
snorkelling trips can be organized to the lovely Playa Blanca at La Miel, by the
Colombian border.
Turtle watching
Armila is one of the world’s most important nesting sites for leatherback turtles, with
several thousand nests protected by the community. The visitor community fee ($6)
goes towards the conservation and monitoring project. Nesting occurs between
February and August, peaking between late April/May and July. There’s a major turtle
festival during the third week in May, involving traditional music and dancing, during
which a three-night package deal is usually offered, and camping is permitted.

aRRIVal anD DEPaRTuRE aRMIla
By boat Although Armila is just a 20min boat ride up the On foot When conditions are too rough to travel by boat,
coast from Puerto Obaldía, landing on the beach (there is you will need to make a moderately strenuous uphill hike
no jetty) is frequently impossible due to rough waves (1hr 30min–2hr) to reach Armila from Puerto Obaldía,
(especially Dec–Feb and sometimes July and Aug), or water accompanied by a guide. 7
spilling out of the river-mouths following torrential rain.
aCCOMMODaTIOn
★ Cabañas Ibedi T6127 6298, Wnaky-armila (in the season). Food, tours and transfer from Puerto
.wixsite.com/ibedialnatural. Run by Ignacio Crespo, Obaldía are included in the rates. Cheaper deals, in more
known as “Nacho”, an engaging, trained multilingual rudimentary accommodation, can sometimes be negotiated
biologist and conservationist. Simple, tidy raised cabins of for budget travellers. Minimum two-night stay. $106
varying sizes with private porches sit among trees and a Yaug Galu cabaña T333 2060 (public phone).
lovely hibiscus garden. Basic toilet/shower facilities are Community cabaña attached to the turtle conservation
shared and there’s solar-powered electricity at night. Food is foundation, Fundación Yaug Galu (Wyauggalu.org). Eight
tasty and activities varied, including river kayaking, guided beds are available to tourists in a dorm when it’s not hosting
hikes, a snorkelling beach excursion and turtle observation visiting researchers. $53

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