Panama Blog #15 - Puerto Mutis, Veraguas - Gateway to Coiba National Park Islands - My Experiences and Perspective here

• I've been hanging around Puerto Mutis almost since I came to Panama. It's just a short trip down the road from my Wife's Family home.

Puerto Mutis was once a major fishing port for large shrimp boats and others selling their product for exportation and a large dilapidated building stands testament to days gone by as you enter the small town.
The main dock where fishing boats unload, harbor tours are offered or just about anything can be negotiated

• A very busy dock indeed. All port services are offered here now, Including Immigration & Customs.

A large elevated dock is above, that just now got a roofed area for shade.
Only 25 Kilometers from Santiago on good roads makes it an easy tourist trip to the ocean ( tidal water anyway ).
Montijo Bay is immense and to get to open Ocean from here is a long trip by boat. It is possible to get closer to Coiba & Cebaco Islands by road at various ports but a much longer and usually not so pleasant drive.

The Red areas are considered the District of Montijo

• I will do many blogs from the port outbound as I lived and worked here for several years and will explain Various trips that are offered out of this port.

Today I'll explain the port itself. As you enter coming down the hill is where the cheaper bars and restaurants are found and where the fishermen and dockmen hang out ( Me also ).

Coming down the hill into town, on your right is the Hadarix Resturant & Bar

• You will find the roughest & Drunkest characters in town at Hadarix bar, The restaurant is separate and cheap to eat at.

The bar is dark and without much air flow, The music so loud you can't hear yourself think. When I drink there I sit right in the far doorway 1/2 & 1/2 so half of me can smoke legally and half can drink legally as the police station is in visual range of here
Below is where I spend 95% of my time on your left coming into town

My nephew Steven

• The best seafood chowder I know of and reasonable prices for everything. Everyone welcome as it's licensed Resaurant & Bar.

From the far right corner is a view of the water the kitchen to the right and to the left, The bar and a very tired pool table and a juke box. The whole place is built up on pilings over the mangrove swamp.
A popular bar for Drunk Fishermen as well so best to get a feel of whats happening there before you settle in :-)
It's never dangerous, but you might get pestered a bit by overly friendly clients LOL

• As you travel down the hill more, Everything is on the left, Another middle of the road restaurant, A small Mini supremarket (the only 1) the Police station and the port authority.

Next is the loading dock, gas station, and the boat ramp. The Immigration and Customs office above the ramp. Followed by...
The Pacific view restaurant is fine dining with a nice water view

• Lidia the owner is a very nice lady and has spent years in the States, Speaks good English and knows how to cook American style & charges accordingly. She also rents small AC rooms for the night. ( The only place in town ).

If premium prices for excellent food is your thing I would suggest eating here.
Next, We find the old commercial loading dock and the only dock for larger boats, then the Ice house and the only other fuel dock plus Montijo's Bay Restaurant & Bar.

• This is a very nice place to eat and drink but nothing is cheap. And your paying for the view plus quality service food and imported brew. ( not a issue for out of country tourists ).

They also offer their private dock to anyone taking tours by boat, with a seperate shelter to meet Immigration for out of country trips and to meet and get organized to take launches to larger Yaghts near by.

• And right at the very end of the road is the Naval Station who coordinate with Police to catch Drug boats along the coast.

Now is Saturday here and I'm going drinking with my Brother In-law today and try to do a little business maybe :-)
Might be worth a Blog later?

I'll leave you with a final photo of a rock painting in progress across from the Police station

• Hope you enjoyed my Tour of Puerto Mutis, All the clicking you do is appreciated :-)

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