Right on the Colombia/Panama Border is the town of Sapzurro in a large open bay. A long way the water is deep then reef can be seen. Head in and take a left towards a power pylon behind a beach and anchor behind the jutting out reef with a line to the shore. In the tranquil water, you can watch the Coastguard cutter rolling about in the middle of the bay.

This is a safe place as all the authorities are here. We stayed a fortnight. The only danger we had was after a delightful walk/climb to the town further up the coast in Colombia, and after too many beers, we caught the taxi back through the rough open ocean. The taxi was a dugout with an outboard and two bailers. We were scared. The taxi after us broke in two slamming down on the waves and, amazingly, all the passengers made it back to shore as the two halves immediately sank.

We crossed into Colombia over the mountain ridge to a tiny resort town. Sapzurro was a Guerilla haven but both countries have combined and driven them out so residents, those who escaped with their lives only a couple of years ago are now returning and building homes.

Highly recommended the BEST of the San Blas is only 10 miles further into Colombia. It took us 3 months to travel 50 miles as we bushwalked far into the mainland each day.

Bernie and Yvonne Katchor

sailing yacht “Australia31”

October 2004