Local Shopping Revisited - Maria Chiquita Has It!

At first, I thought that only the most basic of supplies could be had in the village of Maria Chiquita. If you get hungry, you must go at least to Sabanitas to find food. If you want prepared food, you must at least travel to Portobelo. NOT SO! There is a surprising variety of foods and supplies available in Maria Chiquita. A special thank you to my neighbor in building one who has explored and found some very useful local resources.

If you are needing some ready-to-eat food, how about a tasty rotisserie chicken? Try this small shop located to your left if coming from Sabanitas, just before the turn into town:

A note: next to this shop, just before it, there is a small business where furniture is repaired. I inquired about buying some wood from them, but prices were quite high.

There are three shops where you can buy food and basic supplies. The closest two face the small plaza. From Bala Beach Resort, walk east along the beach or the entrance road until you come to the small plaza in the center of town. There are two small shops here. They are both pretty basic, but you can walk to them and get a cold drink, a snack, basic household supplies. Check them out:

These shops are basic, but close. Maybe the one should be called "Micro-Mini Not-So-Super"?

The most extensive selection of food, supplies, even including some fruits, vegetables and meats is located at the entrance to Maria Chiquita. When you turn to enter town, it is on your right on the corner:

I have been to all of the above shops. Super 99 and El Rey in Sabanitas are nice, but these local shops are convenient and the more we can support the local community, the better.

March 2014 Visit: A Nature Walk and the New Neighbors

I have had a few days staying in my own condo at Bala Beach Resort. For me, it has been perfect. If you enjoy peace and quiet, nature, a swim in a nice clean pool and a place to explore, come enjoy Bala Beach Resort.

Speaking of exploring, I went for a walk with one of the other owner-residents on the trail and along the beach to the west of the resort. One of the first posts on this blog was from a walk I took along this same route. When the tide is out, often, villagers go to this area to find seafood (octopus, squid, lobster etc.) on the extensive reefs. There are a couple of nice places to swim with a sandy beach and clear water. The reef keeps these areas calm, when the tide is out, and this walk is much easier when the tide is out (low).


A Big Surprise at Trail's End
When this trek was originally done, you came to a spot where mangroves prevent further progress and a small river empties into the bay. On the other side, dense jungle and mangroves made a beautiful site. Now, the land on the west side of this bay has been prepared for a large scale resort development. "Prepared" is a nice way of saying stripped clean of most all vegetation. Palms have been left or planted, and it looks like sand was brought in for a swimming beach.


As an owner here at the resort, I have mixed feelings about these new neighbors. It will be years before anything is actually constructed, and, while I would welcome the possible upside effect on the value of my investment here at Bala, the loss of that beautiful wild coastline is a real loss for the environment. In the meantime the natural coastline and beaches between Bala and the mega development can continue to provide many hours of enjoyment.


I hope you enjoy these pictures from the recent hike on the west trail.

The trail is visible below the restaurant just above the waterline. Look back after you have started down the path and you will see Bala Beach Resort.

It is a nice walk and easy to see where to go. You will always be on the beach or very close to it.

Beach walk looking back toward Maria Chiquita

Many interesting things to see.

Clear water. Perfect for a swim or snorkel.

When you can't go much further you are looking across a bay to the next big development.

There is a white sand beach just visible at the right side of this image. When I first saw this area it was mangroves. It was beautiful. More about our new neighbors later. This walk on the west trail is not overly difficult and it doesn't take long to get to the point where you can not easily go further. It is most easily done at low tide and very low tides make the walk even more interesting. Take your swim suit and enjoy one of the nice swimming spots along the way.  Bring a plastic bag to bring back some trash that has washed up on the beach to make it even more beautiful for the next explorer.

A New Website for Owners at Bala Beach Resort

If you have purchased your apartment at Bala Beach Resort, have a look at this new forum, managed by an owner, for owners:

www.balabeachowners.org

It is a good place to get in touch with other owners who are working on the details of ownership. A recent facility for photos has just been added. I highly recommend it as the site allows for the easy sharing of information. You must be a legitimate owner to join.

Next Visit Coming Soon

I will be visiting Bala Beach Resort for just a few days later this month (March, 2014). Look for more pictures and information on life at Bala following the site visit.