In the far northwestern part of Panama, there is a cluster of islands, originally inhabited by natives that with the passing of time mingled with Afro-Caribbeans and Hispanic settlers.
The language is also an interesting mix known as Guari-Guari, which is nothing less than a combination of English, Spanish and Native dialects.
The islands, discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502, developed as points of supply and ship repair of the age’s naval industry. This explains certain names such as Bastimentos and Carenero, which mean “supply” and “careen”.
Colon Island, the biggest in the group, is home to the city of Bocas del Toro. Founded in 1826, it became the third most important city in the country until the second decade of the twentieth century.
United Fruit Company, the greatest banana producer of the time and known today as “Chiquita”, was founded here as a result of the competence in exploitation of the banana industry.
Five consulates, three newspapers, a bottling plant and the first lotto in the country are indications of the prosperity which the first inhabitants of the islands enjoyed. Along with bananas, coconuts, sarsaparilla, cocoa beans, ginger, nutmeg and other spices were produced and exported.
Currently, efforts are being made to preserve the charm of its wide streets and its wooden houses, vivid memories of the British architectural influence in the islands.
In 1988 the first marine park in Panama was created: “Parque Nacional Marino Isla Bastimentos”. Its purpose was to preserve its natural environment. Around 13,000 hectares wide, it possesses beautiful sub-aquatic scenery where you can go scuba-diving among magnificent coral reefs and seagrass meadows.
North from Colon Island is Cayo Cisne, a beautiful bird sanctuary, where a great variety of local and migratory birds can be watched.
