Anchorage· Isla Bastimentos· Other Caribbean
Salt Creek (Quebrada Sal) Landing & Anchorage
9° 17.3′ N · 82° 6.2′ W · approximate
Off the mouth of Salt Creek on Bastimentos' south-east shore, the landing for Quebrada Sal — one of the largest Ngäbe-Buglé villages in the archipelago — and the trail to Playa Larga's turtle beach.
Practical
Coordinate is derived and approximate: set about 230 m off the OpenStreetMap coastline at the Salt Creek stream mouth (stream way 747446030; coast at about 9.2906, -82.1036). The village itself (OSM hamlet 9.29947, -82.10152; GeoNames 'Sal Creek') is about 1 km inland up the creek, so go in by dinghy at slack conditions or arrange a local boat. Our sources give no depths or holding; sound in carefully. Visit Panama: Salt Creek, near Bahía Honda, offers hiking, birdwatching, cave exploration and traditional canoe paddling, and community women run workshops on cuisine, dress and customs through the Timorogo group. Casa Cayuco lodge puts the village at about 900 residents. Frommer's notes the Playa Larga trail starts in Salt Creek at Old Point, and that snorkeling here is hard work with poor visibility when the sea is choppy. The water off this shore sits inside Bastimentos National Marine Park — follow park rules. Ask permission before walking into the village.
Best for
Ngäbe village visit and the Playa Larga walk
Nearby
- Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park (permits & rules)2.2 NM away
- Sea Turtle Nesting Season (Bocas)2.2 NM away
- Bocas Weather Windows (dry Jan–Apr & Sep–Oct)3.2 NM away
- Fishing Rules & Closed Seasons (Bocas del Toro)3.2 NM away
- Zapatilla Shallows Snorkel (Cayo Zapatilla No. 1)3.2 NM away
- Coral Cay Snorkel Gardens3.3 NM away
- Bahía Honda Anchorage (Isla Bastimentos)3.4 NM away
- Crawl Cay (Cayo Coral) Over-Water Restaurants3.4 NM away