Things to Do in the Pearl Islands

Depending on budget the choices range from fishing with local islanders in their covered “cayucos” to chartering a yacht. These waters are rich in nutrients making the archipelago one of the premier places for fishing in Panama. The warmer near shore water brings species such as mahi mahi, pargo, grouper and rooster fish. Further off shore, the colder waters attract marlin, sail fish, tuna and swordfish among others. Many world record catches are recorded from these waters.

During Humpback whale season, in addition to dolphins that often frolic alongside the ferry, whales are seen throughout the Pearl Islands. From July through October the warm waters become home to approximately 200– 300 Humpback whales who migrate from the north to breed and give birth.  It’s the experience of a lifetime to lie in the waters listening to the whale’s songs.

With calm protected waters, kayaking from island to island, exploring deserted beaches and bays, or on-shore fishing, kayaking in the Pearl Islands is a dream come true. Or, paddle to a local fishing village and buy some fresh lobster, oysters or octopus to cook up for supper!

Coral Dreams is a PADI certified diving center on Contadora. They offer certifications for divers and diving trips. The water is warm almost the entire year except during the months of February and March when a light wetsuit may be needed. The diving sites are relatively close to the island and there is always a large variety of sea life.

Many spectacular birds make their homes in the Pearl Island including the Magnificent Frigate (Frigata Magnifico,) Hummingbirds (Colibri,) Blue-Foot Boobies (Bobo de Patas Azules), Yellow-crowned Amazons, lots of Pelicans and various herons.

See the night sky as you’ve never seen it before. With zero light pollution, the stars seem close enough to touch, and the Milky Way looks almost like clouds overhead! 

Other than the occasional nesting sea turtle or local fisherman, you will likely be the only one walking on the beach on any given day. And if you are thirsty, grab one of the hundreds of coconuts that line the beaches for a quick refreshing drink. When was the last time you did that?

From nesting sea turtles to iguanas, to mango, cashew and coconut trees, papaya and banana plants, medicinal plants, magnificent buttressed-root rainforest trees… all yours to discover in an island environment safe from any dangerous snakes or wildlife!

There are several isolated artisanal fishing villages in the Pearl Islands. The inhabitants, decendents of early enslaved pearl divers, now make their living much as they have done for generations, fishing, diving for pearl oysters and lobsters, and growing bananas, avacados, rice, corn, and pineapples.  

The Pearl Islands are only recently being discovered by the world. There are some high-end resorts springing up on a few of the islands – the upscale Ritz Carlton, the Viveros Beach Club, the rustic elegance of Hacienda Del Mar, or on the vacation island of Contadora. The food and drinks are usually locally sourced and spectacular!

With a mix of local island fishermen from the nearby communities, and some Guna and Embera indians, fresh lobster, fish, oysters and octopus are almost always available if you don’t want to catch your own!

This IS the Pearl Islands after all! The locals frequently find natural pearls in the oysters they retrieve from the crystal clear waters. In fact, one of the most famous pearls in the world – La Peregrina- came from here. It was owned by several Spanish monarchs and eventually ended up on the neck of Elizabeth Taylor.  One other little secret… there are a few sunken Spanish galleons in the archipelago, so occasionally gold and silver coins are found and sold to those interested.