So with just over 3 months of travelling we are nearing the end of Central America and the start of (the significantly larger) South America. The last leg of Central was the San Blas Islands which we hopped along to reach Colombia on our 'San Blas Adventures' tour. Our travel from Guatemala City to Panama City has covered 7 countries, 6,000Km (1,900Km would have been the shortest route down the Interamericana highway), 72 buses and given Katy 12 sloth sightings. ...

How would you imagine a paradise island? White sand, palm trees, a clear blue sea, drinking from coconuts? You´ve just imagined our trip to the San Blas islands- minus the blue skies- taking us across the Darien gap. The Darien gap (deep jungle inhabited by drug runners between Panama and Colombia) can only be crossed by flying or sailing as there are no roads. We chose to sail because it gave us the chance to see the San Blas islands and the indigenous Kuna peo...

Not the most pleasant of journeys to get to Panama City, sat on an eight hour bus with both of us having slightly dodgy tummies! But we made it in one piece and successfully negotiated the new and air-conditioned metro line to our hostel. It must be heavily subsidised as it only costs 35 cents (US) per journey so we've taken advantage of this and used it every day. I've noticed that they were kind enough to pre-empt my visit and name a station after my birthday; ...

After speaking to a few other travellers/holiday makers on Boca Brava we decided to change our plans and go to the nearby mountain town of Boquete. Boquete is rated as one of the best places to retire in the world due to its perfect climate and wonderful mountains and therefore it is full of Americans - just going to a bakery to people watch is an attraction on its own! We were given a lift some of the way to Boquete by a German couple, on their honeymoon, who h...

On the 8th August we crossed from Panama's North coast to its southern coast and to an undeveloped archipelago which included the island Boca Brava where we stayed. The location was beautiful and quiet and was very different to Bocas del Toro with its parties and mass tourism. When we set off we thought we might have to get a taxi part of the way but were relieved to find that local transport (2 boats and 4 buses) took us the whole way in a comfortable 7 hours. ...