Panama Master Thread

[saw50st8]

Can we take a vote between day trip to San Blas or Pearl Island. Which is nicer, less tiring and all in all more worthwile?

I have only been to San Blas. It is far and the ride is really bumpy. If anyone in your group has motion sickness, don't do it. It was worth it but that's because we stayed overnight. It was definitely paradise.

Everyone that I know who went to Pearl Island for the day loved it.

[saw50st8]

We are planning on going to Shevet Ahim for davening. When did you show them your passports in order to get in, since there is no eruv?

We stopped by during the week with our passports. They made copies and we were good to go for shabbos.

[Kobe Bryant]

I've only been to San Blass. you would have to wake up early (pickup is aprox. 530 AM)  and ride is a bit bumpy (especially last 10 minutes or so)but it was well worth it , it is truly paradise and rivels any island (we went for a day trip, and wouldn't stay overnight).

Make sure people that are voting have been to both for day trips.

[Denverite]

Can we take a vote between day trip to San Blas or Pearl Island. Which is nicer, less tiring and all in all more worthwile?

I personally MUCH preferred the Pearl Islands. Zero driving (although you catch a 7:30am ferry) and if you have a larger group much more cost effective because the ferry cost is reasonable and then the tour guide (or directly booking a boatman if you are really adventurous and speak some Spanish) is just on a per hour basis for like up to 8 people. Also in San Blas it feels a bit like Mexico where it has been commercialized and you have a certain amount of time at each island “stop” on the route. Pearl Islands you totally control everything, which means you can have them drop you at an uninhabited island for TRUE family swimming with no one else on the beach, you can throw a line in the water for the chance for real sports fishing, huge fish, and also in the summer you get the added bonus of whale watching (really close to them in small boats) which was something really unique and fun for my family.   Hands-down Pearl islands. 

[Divora M]

I personally MUCH preferred the Pearl Islands. Zero driving (although you catch a 7:30am ferry) and if you have a larger group much more cost effective because the ferry cost is reasonable and then the tour guide (or directly booking a boatman if you are really adventurous and speak some Spanish) is just on a per hour basis for like up to 8 people. Also in San Blas it feels a bit like Mexico where it has been commercialized and you have a certain amount of time at each island “stop” on the route. Pearl Islands you totally control everything, which means you can have them drop you at an uninhabited island for TRUE family swimming with no one else on the beach, you can throw a line in the water for the chance for real sports fishing, huge fish, and also in the summer you get the added bonus of whale watching (really close to them in small boats) which was something really unique and fun for my family.   Hands-down Pearl islands. 

How do the beaches compare to each other?

[saw50st8]

I personally MUCH preferred the Pearl Islands. Zero driving (although you catch a 7:30am ferry) and if you have a larger group much more cost effective because the ferry cost is reasonable and then the tour guide (or directly booking a boatman if you are really adventurous and speak some Spanish) is just on a per hour basis for like up to 8 people. Also in San Blas it feels a bit like Mexico where it has been commercialized and you have a certain amount of time at each island “stop” on the route. Pearl Islands you totally control everything, which means you can have them drop you at an uninhabited island for TRUE family swimming with no one else on the beach, you can throw a line in the water for the chance for real sports fishing, huge fish, and also in the summer you get the added bonus of whale watching (really close to them in small boats) which was something really unique and fun for my family.   Hands-down Pearl islands. 

I don't know where you went in San Blas, but I stayed in "luxury accommodations" that amounted to a light bulb and very basic water pressure.  It was completely non-commercial and we definitely went to deserted islands.  Maybe that's daytrip vs overnight trip.

[cgr]

Also in San Blas it feels a bit like Mexico where it has been commercialized and you have a certain amount of time at each island “stop” on the route. Pearl Islands you totally control everything, which means you can have them drop you at an uninhabited island for TRUE family swimming with no one else on the beach, you can throw a line in the water for the chance for real sports fishing, huge fish, and also in the summer you get the added bonus of whale watching (really close to them in small boats) which was something really unique and fun for my family.   Hands-down Pearl islands. 

I had a very different experience. Nothing commercial about it. We had our boatman take us to his home village to show us around, then we asked for some private time and he took us to a private island, then we asked to see some turtles so he took us to a spot for that etc. This was a day trip.

[Denverite]

I don’t mean commercial like nice accommodations...they were horrible...lol...I meant like if you want a private tour it’s prohibitively expensive, there were lots of other boats and people around, it was set up by the indigenous tribes as a money making system (which is great, Yashar Koach to them). Maybe because it was a Sunday but each step was crowded and we had a certain island route and couldn’t deviate. Also, I speak Spanish and so we were fine but if people who don’t speak it want to go, I think it would be hard to communicate.  Also one of the kids was really sick and we had to stop on the way back because of car sickness from the drive. Again, maybe it was just timing and luck (I also have high standards and have been to the Maldives and many beautiful islands) but even though it was a very nice day, I just didn’t feel it was in any way worth the money we spent or lived up to the hype.  Other good friends of mine who have also been to Panama twice, done San Blas, Los Portobello Islands and Las Perlas, also said the Pearl Islands were totally the highlight of both their trips.  I’m not belittling San Blas, I was just answering the question of which I thought was better. @zow did you go to both? Wanna weigh in here?

[Dan]

Panama eruv:

[zow]

I don’t mean commercial like nice accommodations...they were horrible...lol...I meant like if you want a private tour it’s prohibitively expensive, there were lots of other boats and people around, it was set up by the indigenous tribes as a money making system (which is great, Yashar Koach to them). Maybe because it was a Sunday but each step was crowded and we had a certain island route and couldn’t deviate. Also, I speak Spanish and so we were fine but if people who don’t speak it want to go, I think it would be hard to communicate.  Also one of the kids was really sick and we had to stop on the way back because of car sickness from the drive. Again, maybe it was just timing and luck (I also have high standards and have been to the Maldives and many beautiful islands) but even though it was a very nice day, I just didn’t feel it was in any way worth the money we spent or lived up to the hype.  Other good friends of mine who have also been to Panama twice, done San Blas, Los Portobello Islands and Las Perlas, also said the Pearl Islands were totally the highlight of both their trips.  I’m not belittling San Blas, I was just answering the question of which I thought was better. @zow did you go to both? Wanna weigh in here?

We enjoyed Las Perlas and would do it again. We did not go to San Blas.

[RebTuvia]

We did Las Perlas (Pearls Islands) with a 10 month old, our tour guide Elene was great! The islands are splendid! Would definitely recommend for a great day trip from Panama city.. DDF’ers implied that San Blas is a rough ordeal specifically with Toddlers.

[BrooklynCPA]

So it seems the consensus is to go with Pearl Island even now that it not whale season!

[yuneeq]

I loved Pearl Islands as a full day trip, I mentioned previously that I flew to Contadora in the morning and took the ferry back in the evening. I think San blas is longer travel time, if so I don’t think there’s enough time to make a nice day trip out of it.

[Kobe Bryant]

I loved Pearl Islands as a full day trip, I mentioned previously that I flew to Contadora in the morning and took the ferry back in the evening. I think San blas is longer travel time, if so I don’t think there’s enough time to make a nice day trip out of it.

We went on a day trip, it was worth every minute of travel.

[Divora M]

Does anyone know which (if any) dairy restaurants are cholov yisrael?

[cgr]

Does anyone know which (if any) dairy restaurants are cholov yisrael?

In my experience all dairy restaurants are mostly CY. When I was there I asked if they had any menu items that weren't, and they'd usually point out one or two items. The overall menu in most eateries was CY, as far as I can remember.

[Kobe Bryant]

Does anyone know which (if any) dairy restaurants are cholov yisrael?

You can ask for CY in most restaurants , but Kelim wouldn't be CY.
Other then pizza @ Jeffrey's bakery which is 100% CY.

[Divora M]

You can ask for CY in most restaurants , but Kelim wouldn't be CY.
Other then pizza @ Jeffrey's bakery which is 100% CY.

Yes, it would need to CY kelim. Is everything at Jeffreys CY?

[Kobe Bryant]

Yes, it would need to CY kelim. Is everything at Jeffreys CY?

from my understanding only the pizza.

[Ploni3]

Check with the local Chabad or Rav. I was told that only Jefferies can be considered CY.