The Beautiful Bluff Beach

el-cr (64)in #life • 6 years ago (edited)

The Beautiful Bluff Beach in Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Sometimes we are very busy with our life, work, daily errands and days pass by and we don't have opportunity to connect with nature. Obviously it’s harder for those that live in big cities and are surrounded by concrete, noise and pollution. In my case, I feel very lucky to live in a Caribbean Island part of a huge archipiélago called Bocas del Toro Panama.

So this post is to tell you a little bit about a beautiful beach called Bluff, and if you ever have the opportunity to come to Panama during your vacation, do not ever forget that you can always count with me for any advice, or help you may need.

About Bluff Beach...

This extensive beach has around 8,996 kms of earth surface, very exposed to the open sea with strong waves most of the time, very famous for surfing. When you visit you have to always be careful if you are going to swim, so before getting into the water see if the swell is less than 2 or 3 feet. When is a good time to swim and swell is perfect for it, tide pools are formed on the beach.

Side Note: If you are by yourself, do not go into the water during surfing season if you are not a surfer (from November to April and from June to August).

If you are surfer, this beach break will make you happy.

This is a pictures of a friend of mine in town, one of the best surfers here:

It is easy to rent a bike in town and bike all the way to this beach, it will take you around 1 hour. Although since you can stop for swim on the way, or stop to take nice pictures or even grab a coconut from a palm tree, this journey will take more than an hour. The road is flat most of the time, so biking will be very enjoyable. There a few restaurants on the way so make sure to bring a bit of cash for a nice lunch break.

In the following map of Colon Island, you will be able to see good information and where to Bluff Beach is located:

Important about Bluf Beach before your visit:

In February 17th of 1997, it was declared by the Municipality as a Municipal Natural Reserve in order to protect marine turtles and the incredible vegetation that grows in the coast.
There are 3 important types of turtles that nest on this beach since 1996, the Baula Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) and Carey (Eretmochelys imbricata) these are in critical danger of extinction, and then we have the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the Big Head Turtle (Caretta caretta) which are in danger of extinction as well but not critic.

Regardless of their level of extinction, a lot of citizens and expats give their help to keep their protection, although I see two different threats to these animals, cultural and tourism.
Many locals, as a cultural behavior, they tend to take the eggs to eat them and even catch turtles to prepare meals. Nowadays it’s illegal but they still do. On the other side, there are tourists that rent ATVs and even though they are told no to go on the beach, they do. I really don't like ATV rentals, nor I promote them, I hate the pollution, is not eco friendly, the noise scare animals but the worst is that they destroy the turtles nests.

Little by little things are changing and more control will be implemented, with the help of the social civil groups and authorities. But when you come to Bocas for vacation, please support by not renting these and if you do, do it responsibly.