We returned to the Iguana Lodge after two years. Iguana Lodge was our first taste of Costa Rica in 2009. The owners Toby and Lauren were there still working hard at making the Lodge and awesome retreat. New yoga area and spa facilities were finished last year. We spent a few day in town getting provisions for the run to Panama and the next month in the islands along the Pacific coast of Panama.
The kids did a hike with Len and Erin one day when Dawn was under the weather and my broken toe was still on the mend. After a few days of the calm anchorage we sailed South to Panama and a new country in our adventure.

We sailed out of San Diego on our Jeanneau 57 "Perfectwave" in October 2010. We have traveled over 4000 nautical miles and have seen 7 countries over the past 12 months. I thought I would give an update for those that are following our adventure.

Our first 6 months were spent cruising Mexico.
Going to Philos in La Cruz, Puerto Vallarta a couple nights a week was really fun. Every time we went I had the jalapeno pizza. It was so spicy that there was probably smoke coming out of my ears every time.
The CHICKEN MAN was also in La Cruz . Before we would sail out to Punta De Mita to surf for the week, we would walk up the street to the guy with the giant rotisserie stand. I miss the best chicken and taquitos ever!
There were many other highlights lights of Acapulco at night from our boat and all the crazy VW Beetles they used for taxis.
We had whales, dolphins and rays all around the boat as we sailed south.




Our next stop was El Salvador, Bahia Del Sol. A small run down marina up a dirty estuary in El Salvador. Famous for a bar crossing to enter the Estuary. Our trip over the bar was easy but getting out was a different story.
El Salvador was blistering hot and our only relief was the water in the murky pool to swim in. They had a painting class, and Pizza night on Mondays, which I enjoyed.
The boat was in El Salvador for a month, but over all we were there for a week or two.
During our stay we met Jorge, the owner of Tour In EL Salvador. He took us to Copan, Honduras and Antigua, Guatemala. We spent a week doing the Mayan triangle tour.
We also visited Marina Barillas in Southern El Salvador that was clean and very quiet.


We then made our way south to a crazy day of sailing across the Bay of Fonseca to Nicaragua. While crossing the bay we were so embarrassed that are bow thruster was showing! Puesta Del Sol was a cute little marina.
It was up an estuary like Bahia Del Sol but extremely clean.
While we were in Nicaragua we sledded down Volcano Negro practically on a piece of plywood.
The volcano was active; you could even see the steam and sulfur coming out of the crater. If you dug 1 inch into the ground and held the soil in your hand you could feel the warmth of the volcano.
Nicaragua also has the most volcano's in Central America.
Nicaragua was really cool, and the people were very nice.
We were surprised everyone decided to skip it based on rumors. One bad story makes everyone change their minds and skip a whole country

Costa Rica, We're Back! We spent time here in 2009 surfing. This time we arrived by boat and checked in at the magnificent Marina Papagayo.
We went to Tamarindo almost every day the surf was good and school was done.
Tamarindo, a tourist surf destination, that hadn't changed one bit, in the last 2 years. Except the good Pizza place was gone.
We always parked in this one lot and the guard from 2 years ago was still there!
Julian watched our car many times during the hurricane season while we were surfing. The best part was when Julian was off guard he sold snow cones! It was good to be back!





Julian making snow cones!



Panama

We haven't sailed to Panama, but we did take a trip there by land. Panama City was like a mini Miami, but better.
They had great food, the malls were unbelievable, and
We did get to see the Miraflores locks from the visitor center. Just watching the 600ft tankers come into the locks was so cool.
When we go through there we are going to look like a toothpick. We even watched 2 sailboats come in and a 700ft tanker was brought in 30ft behind them!
I can't wait to get to Panama; it is currently only a peninsula away! Right now we are in the Osa in
Golfo Dulce, whatever weather comes in, it seems to always include rain! It is hard to believe that we have been to 7 countries (not including the US) in just one year.

Hope to give everyone an update when we get to the Caribbean after going through the Panama Canal.

Written by: Whitney Wells
Vessel: Perfect Wave / Jeanneau 57!
Location : 08 32'. 676N 083 17'.923W

October
We got tired of sitting on the boat in the marina so we headed to the Annapolis Boat show, and a quick history tour of DC. We got to spend some time with Shawn, (Dawn's brother) Doreen, Jon and Christine.
Annapolis was great we took in a Navy game toured the Academy and love the maritime feel and history of Annapolis.
Next stop, Washington DC, we spent about a week touring museums, riding bikes in the capitol and we even made it out to Mount Vernon.
The highlight was the evening bike tour through the capitol.
Weather in Costa Rica has taken a turn for the worst we here from the Marina. A hurricane off Mexico and some tropical depressions in the Caribbean have sent wind and waves in to the Marina. We are told everyone on board the boats is getting seasick and it has been raining hard for days.
Thus we are postponing are return and taking the train to NYC.
The kids have never been on a train or to the City.
We spent four days, see the city, two Broadway shows 'Adams Family and Wicked" and Dawn and Whitney got the ultimate shopping fix on Fifth Ave.
We worked are way back South another train two planes and we got back to the boat in late October.

We are all ready to get moving towards Panama so are plan is to depart on Halloween. The Lisa Kay is going to stay a bit longer here in Papagayo so the kids will have one last blow out Early Halloween on Sunday the 30th. Lisa and Larry organized a great scavenger hunt for the kids and the Marina is sending off with a dinner party.
We can't say enough good about Dan and his staff at Marina Papagayo.
Everyone form the office to the dock hands we first class and I would be remiss if I did not compliment the Awesome staff of the Marina Dive Bar.
We will miss everyone and it is always difficult to leave but the show must go on and the show is on the Sea not at the dock.
We pushed off from our summer home in Papagayo at 5am on the Halloween 2011.

September
More surfing and getting the boat ready to leave. We are still waiting for the rain to come so far the weather has been good with a few evening showers and lightning.
We are still planning to leave with Lisa Kay so we are standing by as they finish up a few boat projects. More surfing the waves have been good so no one is complaining.
Tommy and I made a quick run to Miami to extend my Costa Rican Visa and took a road trip up to Disney World. Two days in the "Happiest Place on Earth".

AUGUST IN COSTA RICA

We spent time on the boat in Marina Papagayo, after Dawn and the kids got back from Seattle. We did a number of day trips to Tamarindo for surfing, and a few visits to the local hot springs.
The weather was good and we had one two-week trip around Coast Rica, Limon Puerto Viejo, and Manual Antonio.

Panama by Land

We jumped a quick flight to Panama from Costa Rica one hour on Copa airlines to Panama City.
Wow what a city reminded all for us of Miami.
We stayed in the city for a few days the girls got their mall fix then we ventured out to explore the country north of the city.
First stop was the Panama Canal and timing was perfect to watch as ships and a few cruisers came through the Miraflores Locks.
A couple hours at the Canal museum a must see for everyone. The kids, Dawn and I all learned a ton about the Canal.

Next stop was the Pacific coast Playa Bonita. Dawn had the lonely planet guidebook out and I drove. We stayed at a new master plan resort that included the Bristol hotel. Beautiful place still under construction of the golf course and the roads.
Quick fact on Panama, tides here run 12-18 feet everyday. So the beaches are either lots of sand or none depending on the tide you hit. In the city when the tide goes out there is a great smell that goes along with the draining of the mangroves and estuary.

We continued west to Pedasi and Ville Camille. A French man built the lodge 15 years ago just west of the small town of Pedasi. 15 minutes north is Venao Beach, which is the home of the 2011 World Surf Games.
We hung around town for a few days checked out the beaches and Dad started to look seriously at land. The terrain around Pedasi is rolling grass hills that all view or abut the Pacific. Pedasi is 4 hours from the big city but has become a tourist destination and surf is awesome on the 6-7 uncrowned breaks.
More on this place latter.

We were back in the car and headed NW for David the third largest city. The whole country is beautiful mostly undeveloped agriculture land.
The biggest difference between Panama and Cost Rica is the quality of the roads. We travelled down the paved highway at 120km.
David was not much to look at or to do but a good stop over on our way to Bocas Del Toro.

We venture over the mountains 4 hours to the Caribbean. The mountains were fabulous with breath taking views and lots for flora and fauna. At the top of the mountain pass was a reservoir and hydroelectric plant. We stopped at the small information station the guard unlocked the building and the banos. Perfect stop halfway clean restrooms and we learned about hydroelectric power generation.

Bocas Del Toro is touted as one of the most beautiful spots in Panama. The sea is emerald green the islands and mangroves 5 other shades of green and the sky is as blue as it gets.
Then there is the town, were the people forgot to pick up their trash and live in an environmental disaster area. The small town of Almirante is the location of the port and the water taxi to Bocas. This was the worst than anything we saw in our travels through the poor areas of Mexico, El Salvador, or Nicaragua. Which was tough because the rest of the country is very clean. The Caribbean side is know for this we soon learned.
The Eco/ Agua Lodge "Punta Caracol" was cool. Tommy said it like living on the boat but we don't move. A pier connected each cabin; and we sat on pilings over 5 feet of sea. Each cabin had its own deck and ladder so we snorkeled out the back door. We toured the town of Bocas one day or for two hours, it is small, two hours meant we walked it twice.
Two night and three days then back to the car and the road trip south.
We spent the rest of our time back in Panama City and Dad made one trip back to Pedasi to look at land with and broker.

We got back to the boat, it is nice to be home and we are surfing and playing in the Costa Rican sun.