Posts tagged Caribbean Coast
Costa Rica – The Sportfishing Mecca
Oct 20th
No matter what your preference, salt water or freshwater, conventional or fly, offshore or river fishing, Costa Rica has a fishing destination for you. Costa Rica is bordered by the Pacific on the West and the Caribbean on the East. There are too many rivers to count flowing in between. If you prefer to fish lakes, there are freshwater lakes of all sizes within the borders and even creating the border with Nicaragua. There are also canals, mangroves, and estuaries, in additional to offshore islands.
This abundance and variety of fishing venues has led to several game fish records being set in the relatively small country. Costa Rica currently holds 89 International Game Fish Association records including a 162 pound blue marlin, and a sailfish caught on the fly.
It is not just the abundance of fish that should make an angler choose Costa Rica, it is also the country’s eye towards game fish conservation. Circle hooks have long been required and the Costa Rican government, working with the Billfish Foundation has recently enacted new rules for both sports fishermen and commercial fishermen aimed at reducing the number of billfish killed as a result of long lining and poor fishing practices.
Whether you want to fish in the Pacific, the Caribbean, both, or somewhere in between, you will have no trouble finding the perfect fishing lodge or day charter.
The Caribbean coast, is the place for unparalleled world class tarpon fishing. This side of the country can be more remote than the Pacific. Here, you can find all inclusive lodges that include lodging, meals and fishing for tarpon, snook, snapper, and guapote.
Up and down the Pacific coast you will find everything from fishing villages, to beach resort towns, to world class marinas, to middle of nowhere lodges. When choosing to fish in the Pacific you need to do a little research. Although marlin, sailfish, snapper, tuna, dorado, amberjack, wahoo, roosterfish and snook are all common catches, the season for each fish varies depending on your location in Costa Rica.
It is not just the fishing seasons that vary the atmosphere in different locations can be completely different as well. In the north the beaches are popular, the condos are tall, and the wind makes the fishing season a bit shorter than further south. In Herradura, the Marina is world class, you can golf, the fishing is incredible three hundred days a year, but you might miss some of the Costa Rican experience. In Quepos, the fleet is large and experienced, the fishing is great nearly year round, and you can visit Costa Rica’s most popular National Park, Manuel Antonio. Further south on the Osa Peninsula you will find Golfito and Puerto Jimenez. The fishing is great year round depending on the species you are after, the locations are remote and you get to experience the natural beauty of Costa Rica.
Before you come to Costa Rica you need to decide what type of angler and what type of traveler you are. Are you coming for relaxation or do you want a place with night life? Do you like to feel like you have never left home or do you want to experience Costa Rican life and culture? Do you want luxury or economy? Are you just coming to fish or do you want to participate in other adventure activities? Are you traveling with your family, with your wife, or with a group of guys? Your answer to these questions will effect where you want to fish. What you want to catch and where you want to fish may effect when you want to fish.
Rest assured that you will have a great time fishing in Costa Rica. The fishing is world class due not only to the great number and variety of big fish, but also due to the number of days you can fish per year, the quality of the country’s conservation programs, the quality of the boats to be chartered and the experience and professionalism of the captains and crews.
Tourism in Panama
Oct 18th
Panama is blessed with some of the most immaculate beaches, diverse jungles, and clear waters in all of Central America, and because the country is small (about the size of South Carolina) all of its bounty is easily accessible from its capital: Panama City. Some of Panama’s tour operators are already venturing into the country’s mysterious and untamed rainforest in the South–the Darien. With such biodiversity and rich cultural heritage, Panama is making a name for itself as the ultimate eco-tourism hub.
The country’s Caribbean coast is known for spectacular snorkeling and scuba diving, perhaps best exhibited in the northern archipelago of Bocas del Toro. Bocas first became a spot on the radar for military purposes and now boasts some of the best outdoor activities–such as sport fishing and island hopping–that the country has to offer.
Also on the Caribbean coast sits the San Blas archipelago: a stunning group of over 360 islands owned by the Kuna Indians. This region, or comarca as its referred to, retains strict laws for development and tourism, therefore, keeping its old-world charm and seemingly timeless virgin appeal. Trips to San Blas are a cultural experience of a lifetime, living with, eating alongside, and becoming friends with a tribe who has fought off nearly 500 years of colonial confrontation.
The Chiriqi province, and most notably its leader in tourism Boquete, have attracted a strong following as well–appealing to eco-tourists, nature lovers, and adventurers who are always in search of something a little different. Boquete boasts perhaps the fastest rise in real estate and is home to numerous developments and tour companies looking to cater to your every need.
Panama City is a living history book, every corner you turn offering a peak into the past, the way past, and sometimes even the future. The Panama Canal is easily the most recognizable of these attractions, and with its beautiful museum, observatory area, and information booths, it seems like its not letting up anytime soon. Casco Viejo, which used to be the city’s center still thrives today as this unique historic look into an earlier period.
Walk down the cobblestone streets, or eat lunch on a breezy afternoon in one of its open plazas, surrounded by rich Spanish architecture and feel what can only be described as a blast from the past. Panama City’s Amador Causeway, again originally of military purpose, now plays host to a bunch of trendy nightlife spots, zesty restaurants, and boutique shops for browsing. Panama also boasts, that its one of the few world capitals with a rainforest in its city limits.
From Panama City you can take an easy boat trip out to the Pearl Islands, known for their lush tropical rainforest and perfect beaches. Because domestic flights in Panama are so reasonable and safe, it seems that almost any attraction in this country is an option. Perhaps have coffee on the Caribbean coast then swing on over to the Pacific for some waffles. Where else can you say you’ve done that before?
Until recently, Panama has been a secret among world travelers. A secret no one really wanted to let out. But now that it has gotten out of the bag, more and more people are experiencing what life is like…in a country known once for its canal, and now for a whole lot more.
