Since my first visit in 2007 to the Bala Beach Resort site, I have always wanted to explore the waterfront to the west of the construction site. There were no houses as far as the eye could see, only unspoiled tropical coastline.
The Bala Beach Resort is located at the edge of Maria Chiquita. Maria Chiquita is located on a large sandy beach on the caribbean side of Panama in Central Ameerica. The beach forms a gentle "U". At the west end of the beach is the Bala Beach Resort construction site. This is where the homes end and the mostly untouched waterfront continues.
Where the sandy beach ends, a rocky reef begins and extends well out into the water. You will see the waves breaking at the outer edge of the reef. At low tide, some of the reef is exposed but on my visit the tide was in. With good beach sandals or reef shoes you will find this walk to be more safe and more comfortable.
Near the point, you may need to weave your way through some beautiful trees. Although I don't know what they are called in Panama, in the Dominican Republic they are called "Uva de Playa" or Beach Grapes. The fruit, once ripe is delicious.
A couple young men passed me early on the safari. They were from Maria Chiquita and were carrying some swim fins and dive masks and make-shift fishing equipment. I asked them where they were headed and they said they were going to do some diving. They were a little unsure about what they might find but "Pulpo" (octopus) was a possibility according to one of them.
I had decided to walk as far west as I could within the constraints of time and passability. It was easier to walk on land in a couple of places, but mostly wading in shallow water was more comfortable.
At waters edge, some nice flowers were in bloom. Whatever they are, they were beautiful. During my previous visit to the area, I had noticed a native dugout canoe on the shore, but this time it was missing. So on I went, following the two divers who had passed me and were gaining ground.
Next the mouth of a small creek turned the water cool but was no problem to wade past. The brownish waters of the jungle poured lazily into the bay. Miniscule fish darted about as if testing the fresh water.
The shallow reef continued and around the next corner I could see what looked to be a larger bay and possibly the mouth of a larger river. Looking out to the deep water, I could see a large ship waiting it's turn to enter the Panama Canal. Then, further in, a dugout canue turned broadside to me, fishermen working the sea for a meal. The divers were making ready to wade out on the reef to see what they could find. I caught up with them and wished them good luck. As they waded out onto the reef, they called a greeting to the canoe.
A water taxi was taking people to what looked like the mouth of the river. This was as far as I could make it without climbing through mangroves or dealing with the river or whatever it was. What fun to see these three diverse vessels all in one spot!
I watched as the water taxi made 3 attempts to go into the river. Finally it disappeared from sight.
Only 24 minutes into my walk, it was time to return to Bala Beach as the day was warming up and I was ready to cool down. On the return trip, a short cut over land to avoid some trees which had fallen in the water revealed a native hut, probably the home of the canoe folks. It is hidden back from the beach and you could walk by it easily and not see it.
Back at Maria Chiquita, I went to a local market and bought a nice cold drink. Back at the resort construction site, the breeze was picking up just in time to keep things from getting too warm.
By walking near the west end of the beach I could avoid the surf and go for a nice swim in the bath-tub warm tropical waters of the caribbean. Heaven!
If you visit Bala Beach Resort, take a little time to explore. Panama is such a beautiful country with incredible natural beauty and unspoiled places. You won't regret it.
5 comments:
You will sometimes be wading in a few inches up to 2 ft (.75 M) of water so wear shorts.
Great blog, photos and articles. Very informative. Thank you for sharing and keep up the great work. Rick
Wonderful pictures! I will follow up with my own pictures once I manage to unpack. I just got back home from beautiful Panama where I spent three weeks in December.
I went to see Maria Chiquitta. I had bought a 1 bedroom at Bala Beach and I was now curious to see the development. It was Mother's Day, a national break for Panamanians. The site was empty, just a few shacks with materials, a guard with a gun and what seemed like a leveled hill. Nothing much, due to the rainy season the guard said. I wished I went up the hill to see more, but at the time I was anxious to know the entire area.
The natural environment is breathtaking, lush vegetation in hot-humid climate, blue hills rising in the distance. One unexpected data: the fine black sand on the beach. Since then, I read more about black sand and I understand that it is rather precious but that it heats more easily in the sun.
I did not venture farther on the beach. I drove to Portobello, the closest town, to eat. I must say that I was surprised by the poverty level. I understand that with these touristic developments the area will pick up, but as they stand now, the local homes are improvised shacks "eaten" by mold; Portobello itself is definitely not my idea of picturesque either, with mountains of garbage filling its one main street... So, I did not eat in Portobello but I found a nice little restaurant close to Maria Chiquitta, on the way back to Panama City. The entire area is underdeveloped with great potential. The natural environment is unspoiled.
Wonderful pictures! I will follow up with my own pictures once I manage to unpack. I just got back home from beautiful Panama where I spent three weeks in December.
I went to see Maria Chiquitta. I had bought a 1 bedroom at Bala Beach and I was now curious to see the development. It was Mother's Day, a national break for Panamanians. The site was empty, just a few shacks with materials, a guard with a gun and what seemed like a leveled hill. Nothing much, due to the rainy season the guard said. I wished I went up the hill to see more, but at the time I was anxious to know the entire area.
The natural environment is breathtaking, lush vegetation in hot-humid climate, blue hills rising in the distance. One unexpected data: the fine black sand on the beach. Since then, I read more about black sand and I understand that it is rather precious but that it heats more easily in the sun.
I did not venture farther on the beach. I drove to Portobello, the closest town, to eat. I must say that I was surprised by the poverty level. I understand that with these touristic developments the area will pick up, but as they stand now, the local homes are improvised shacks "eaten" by mold; Portobello itself is definitely not my idea of picturesque either, with mountains of garbage filling its one main street... So, I did not eat in Portobello but I found a nice little restaurant close to Maria Chiquitta, on the way back to Panama City. The entire area is underdeveloped with great potential. The natural environment is unspoiled.
Wonderful pictures! I will follow up with my own pictures once I manage to unpack. I just got back home from beautiful Panama where I spent three weeks in December.
I went to see Maria Chiquitta. I had bought a 1 bedroom at Bala Beach and I was now curious to see the development. It was Mother's Day, a national break for Panamanians. The site was empty, just a few shacks with materials, a guard with a gun and what seemed like a leveled hill. Nothing much, due to the rainy season the guard said. I wished I went up the hill to see more, but at the time I was anxious to know the entire area.
The natural environment is breathtaking, lush vegetation in hot-humid climate, blue hills rising in the distance. One unexpected data: the fine black sand on the beach. Since then, I read more about black sand and I understand that it is rather precious but that it heats more easily in the sun.
I did not venture farther on the beach. I drove to Portobello, the closest town, to eat. I must say that I was surprised by the poverty level. I understand that with these touristic developments the area will pick up, but as they stand now, the local homes are improvised shacks "eaten" by mold; Portobello itself is definitely not my idea of picturesque either, with mountains of garbage filling its one main street... So, I did not eat in Portobello but I found a nice little restaurant close to Maria Chiquitta, on the way back to Panama City. The entire area is underdeveloped with great potential. The natural environment is unspoiled.
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