Red Frog’s property includes several miles of jungle trails, and Scott has been interested in exploring them since we arrived. He finally decided to up and go…on a fully sunny, 90 plus degree day! After walking the roads that run through the resort property (a nice, uphill warm up), Scott came to the area where the trails began. The path followed along streams and through open areas, and changed from grass, to mud and leaves along the way.
The trail also connected to many of the island’s beaches, offering beautiful views.
As usual, Scott passed many interesting things along the way. There were trees so covered in vines and foliage, that the trunks were barely visible, and others with smooth, soft colored bark. He passed a spot where someone was hand-cutting lumber from freshly cut trees, and came across another tree who’s trunk width was almost more that his height!
Scott walked eight miles of trails in the 94 degree heat, and then made his way back to the boat; clothes soaked through with sweat, and shoes coated in mud.
Panama is home to several types of poisonous frogs, the most popular being the Strawberry poison dart frog. They are very small is size, averaging approximately two inches in length, and vary widely in color.
The name “dart frog” comes from the use of their toxic secretions to poison the tips of blowdarts. Species with the greatest toxicity comes from a diet of ants, mites and termites.
Monique, Jack and Scott spotted some of these tiny frogs on their trip to the bat caves. We’d heard that the best time to see these tiny guys is on a rainy day, but our friend, Lewis (s/v Cirque) told us of his favorite spot for a sure-bet sighting in any weather, along a trail that leads through Red Frog’s spa.
Scott and I decided to try our luck, and made the quick walk up to the spa. Opening the door mark closed, massage in session, we entered and quietly crept past the building just inside. The path up the hill was lush and beautiful, and the sounds of birds and a small waterfall surrounded us.
With no initial luck, we kept on, past another No Entry sign, and continued to peer our eyes along the banks of the path. Scott continued on ahead of me, and almost interrupted a hilltop massage in session. He silently ran back to tell me that we had to turn back.
As luck would have it, on our way back down, we finally saw a tiny flash of color, and Scott successfully captured some photos of the little guys.
They were so tiny!
With our mission a success, we made our way back down the lush path and out the gate.
We’ve only had a chance to scratch the surface of nature in the Bocas del Toro archipelago, but what we’ve seen is beautiful. One could spend months exploring the area, and not get bored. Here are more photos.
“Shells Sink, Dreams Float. Life’s Good On Our Boat!”