Local Activities

         Diving

We are incredibly lucky to have an excellent dive school 200m from our hostel which offers PADI courses of all levels in the beautiful waters around the local Islands.

They also offer non-certified diving options, skin diving and snorkeling. Please email us at info@hostelwunderbar.com for further details and to make a booking.

          Kayaking

Wind your way through the amazing mangroves and stop off at Panamarina for a glass of wine or some excellent French cuisine. Continue to Isla Marmay before heading back in these superior ocean kayaks. Kayak availability is limited so please let us know as soon as possible if you want to hire these.

          Snorkeling

There is great snorkeling around the coral reefs and mangroves off the local Islands of Isla Marmay and Isla Grande. Rent a kayak or catch a water taxi to get you there. (See the ‘Island’ section for details on how to do this.) You can also take your mask down to the bay close by and jump straight in!If you need to rent snorkel equipment, please drop us an email at info@hostelwunderbar.com and we can reserve this for you.

          Surfing

There are some great (and almost deserted) surf spots at Cacique and Isla Grande. Cacique breaks left on a not too shallow reef bordering a small Island close to the main land and is usually deserted. Isla Grande is very fun due to its strong medium sized waves. It has 3 different peaks, 1 left peak, 1 left or right and 1 right peak all on crystal clear water where you can see the reef while you surf. This wave is recommended for intermediate to experienced surfers. There is no option to hire surf boards here so please bring them with you. We can store them at the hostel for you.

          Local Nature Walks

Our beautiful hostel has several very easy and accessible walks close by.

Coastal/jungle walk – 10km (or until you get tired and turn round!)

This beautiful walk starts less than 200 meters from the hostel and will take you toalong a flat, unpaved road which runs alongside the sea and through the jungle to the
authentic village of Cacique. You’re likely to see a wealth of birds, butterflies, geckos and monkeys. Turn right out of the hostel, right again onto the dirt road and right where the track forks.

 Nature walk in the hills – 6km (but hilly)

With breathtaking panoramas of the bays below, this walk is definitely one where you will need your camera! The abundance of plant life here is wonderful and you will see many plants used for local foods and medicines.

 Guided Tour to deserted Playa Blanca – (5 hrs, includes lunch, low season special $20 per person)

Get off the tourist trail with this unique experience that will take you rock hopping down the beautiful Caribbean coast, through coconut plantations and up to breath taking vistas before reaching the deserted white sandy beach of Playa Blanca where we swim in the crystal clear lagoon and eat lunch before heading back.

          Zip Lining

Panama outdoor adventures who have offices in Rio Piedra in the provinces of Colon offer various types of outdoor adventure activity including zip lining and river tubing.
9 cables are offered at this exciting and beautiful venue. Call on (+507) 6605-8171(+507) 6605-8171 for further details.

          Pony Trekking

Our beautiful jungle surroundings can also be explored by horse back where prices start from $35. Please email us at info@hostelwunderbar.com for further details.

          Isla Marmey

Isla Marmay is a beautiful Caribbean Island with beautiful snorkeling and some good surfing between November and May. Place your towels on the green grassy area lined with palm trees or bring a hammock and chill in the sun. There are no restaurants on Marmay so please bring enough food, drink and suncream for your visit. Water taxis can be taken from Puerto Lindo for around $6 per person ($3 one way).

           Isla Grande

Very popular with Panamanians on the weekend, this beautiful Island has 1 public and 1 hotel (pay for entry) beach and plenty of restaurants and bars for you to relax in. Take a boat from Puerto Lindo for $5 per person one way or catch the bus the 6km to La Guaira and catch a taxi boat from there for around $2.50 one way.

          Isla Linton

If you have time and a piece of fruit leftover, ask your driver to bring you back from Isla Grande via Isla Linton which is full of monkeys who will be grateful for the food! Stay in the water to your ankles and do not go ashore – they have been known to bite once you run out of food! (Please do not give monkeys junk or other human food)

          Portobelo

Today Portobelo is a small port town (you can see everything in a couple of hours), but its history is rich with pirates, plunder and adventure and the ruins here are a legacy of its dark past. Portobelo was christened by Christopher Columbus in 1502 and means ‘beautiful port’ in Italian. When Francis Drake died he was dumped in the sea at Drakes Rock in a lead coffin. While here you should visit the forts of Santiago and Geronimo, the customs house and the Black Christ Church and museum.

          Nombre de Dios

This beautiful town has a river winding through it on its way to the ocean. It also boasts one of the quietest (and therefore usually cleanest) black beaches in the area. This town also has a rich history of exploration, conquest and settlement. Peruvian silver was taken to Nombre de Dios for shipment to Havana making it an irresistible target for pirates. In 1572 Francis Drake sacked the town and ambushed the silver train. He captured the town again in 1595, but with less success and missed the 5 million pesos which was waiting off the Pacific side of Panama.

          Local Cooking

We are incredibly lucky to have some excellent (and cheap) local woman who create delicious home made dishes and serve them straight from their kitchens. Options include fresh seafood, soups, roast chicken, burgers and traditional Caribbean dishes.

          Casa X

This Colombian kitchen serves excellent seafood, meat and vegetarian options and is about 300 meters away from the hostel overlooking the bay of Puerto Lindo. Perfect for watching the sail boats come and go.

          Panamarina

You can reach this delicious French restaurant from the water or the dirt road in the direction of Cacique. Rent the kayak and go through the mangroves or take a gentle walk, hire our bikes or drive the 4km.

          Adriana’s

5km in the direction of La Guaira, Adriana’s offers excellent fresh seafood. Turn left just before you reach La Guaira.

          El Perezosso

Italian restaurant, 2 km in the direction of Portobelo on the left side.
They can usually pick you up if you want a glass of wine!