On
the way from Holandes to Dog Island I re-read the Bauhaus guide and
discovered Dog island is only recommended for a day anchorage. Plan
B. Pull in to the larger lagoon at the East Lemmons close to another
Banedup island. It was busy, but still room for us on the western
side.
Once
the anchor was down and set and the captain OK'd all was well we
could sit down and survey the boats around us. What became clear as
we looked at the many catamarans with many young people on board was
we'd landed in Backpacker Hell. I was once a backpacker so I
shouldn't be dismissive. The affordable charter business has grown
exponentially over the last few years. The Guna Yala has tried to
limit the impact of charter boats with new rules, but a business
person will find a way to continue making money.
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| East Lemmons |
The
East Lemmons are also within reach of day trippers coming from
mainland Panama in fast pangas. East Lemmons has three small
islands each with coconut trees swaying in the breeze, a spit of
beach, a bar selling beer and a souvenir shop. During the day it's
busy, at night it's party time.
I
took the kayak and visited each island, checked out the reefs and had
a walk around the easternmost island, the largest of the three and
the one with the nicest beach. Two nights and one day was enough to
say we've been here before heading north to Chichime.
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| Polly in the dinghy |
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