Our Day 5 Trip from Mexico to the Pearl Islands, Panama is here! Are you ready to visit the country of pirates full of costly pearls? Then we are setting off.The Archipelago of Las Perlas lies 40 miles southeast of Panama City, in the waters of the Gulf of Panama that is in the Pacific Ocean, and consists of several large islands (San Jose, Pedro Gonzalez, Isla del Rey, Isla Paceco, Sabog, Contador, Chapera , Mogo-Mogo, Kasaya and Viveros) and several dozen smaller islands and reefs (97 islands in general).
For the first time, the Europeans got to know about the archipelago in 1513, when the leader Pankuiako told Vasco Nunez de Balboa about mysterious islands south of the isthmus, abounding with pearls. Since then, pearl mining has become the main source of income on the island.
Once upon a time there was a huge amount of pearls and the most powerful pirates hid from the authorities on these islands. Now this place is a haven of magnificent resorts.
It was right here that the famous 31 carats pearl, known as “Peregrine”, was found. The islands, with its long coast with white sands, turquoise waters and lush vegetation, began to develop as a major resort center. During World War II, military bases guarding the entrance to the Panama Canal were built on the islands of Isla del Rey, Contador, San Jose and Viveros, and the islands themselves came to the attention of US residents, becoming one of the favorite places for spending vacations. In total, there are 83 superb beaches of various sizes here, many small hotels and boarding houses, and Punta Cocos on Isla del Rey is considered one of the most attractive sites in the country for sport fishing.
You can rent a house on the beach here paying only $ 300 per month. An ideal place for voluntary exile.
By the way, three seasons of the series “Staying Alive” were filmed here. So the places here from the point of view of picturesqueness are some of the most impressive on the planet.
Don’t miss Day 6 trip to the Beaches of Agonda, Goa, India.