The decision to visit Taboga Island, a 30 min ferry ride from Panama City, was made on a whim. I had considered this day trip before coming, but ended up putting it down as back-up. Not that anything failed. I just had time to spare. If you find yourself in my shoes, don’t put it on the B list, move it on up. Just make sure you visit outside of weekends and holidays, as this tiny place will be unbearable when overcrowded. Now it was super quiet, following the Separation Day long weekend. After arriving at the dock most people headed right, for the beach. Me on the other hand, had decided I wanted to try to hike up to the cross on one of the island’s hilltops. Turning left, my search for the trail (Camino de la Cruz) took me through the small, cosy village, and further off the grid. The path wasn’t the easiest to find, and when I finally found it, my only thought was h*** no! First of all, I didn’t have the shoes for it, and second, there was no way I was about to walk into that overgrown rainforest tunnel, keeping spiders and what not company. Just no way!! A bit bummed I turned around, got back into town, explored a little more, said hi to a family cleaning their catch of the day, and then headed back out the other way, over to the small beach for some RnR before having to board the ferry back to the mainland. After leaving the peaceful island behind, we once again sailed by the ships waiting in line to pass through the Panama Canal, before we ended it all with a superb Panama City skyline view. No doubt, a nice day out!
There are two ferry companies that shuttle you to Taboga Island. Taboga Express fit my schedule the best. It departs from Amador Causeway. If I remember correctly it said somewhere something about showing up at the dock an hour before departure, but when I arrived there, as ferry was about to leave, they just put me on that one, and asked when I wanted to return. Put it all on my wristband, and I was good to go.