Many memories ride on this catamaran. Remember to bring sunscreen.
©2007 Marcell Schmitt, Special to WhozHereNow.com

The catamaran in question is the roomy 42-foot Movida (Spanish for Movement) made by Fountaine Pajots, the world’s No. 1 builder of cruising catamarans. She has crossed the Atlantic three times, attesting to her seaworthiness, and she's a veritable pleasure craft in Bocas as she glides from one bewitching snorkeling site to another.


Her very likeable and capable co-captains, the Bavarian Marcell Schmitt and the Panamanian Bolívar André, take pride in running ecologically friendly tours, using sails all day, operating the motor sparingly, and approaching dolphins in such a gentle manner as to attract them to the boat. And, yes, you can swim with Flipper if you wish. You’d like to take the helm or raise sails or navigate? That’s OK, too.

In addition to probable encounters with dolphins, all of the tours give guests the opportunity to snorkel over some captivating coral and swim inside a mangrove forest and perhaps spy a sleeping nurse shark (they look fearsome, but in character they are more nurse than shark).

The all-day tour costs $30 per person and includes lunch, snorkel gear and fishing rods for trolling. Marcell and Bolívar occasionally offer extended tours, but their all-day tour is so popular that they aren't able to offer many multiday tours. When they do, overnight excursions run $300/day for up to four people ($75 for each additional person).

Reservations ain't needed. Just show up at the catamaran's berth (look for the sign) at 9:15 a.m.—15 minutes before the Movida makes her move. Bring a bathing suit and sunscreen but remember WhozHereNow Rule 37: Beautiful people must sunbathe naked.

Location

Avenida Sur, beside the Hotel Dos Palmas

Bocas Town

Isla Colón, Bocas del Toro

Panama