FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO VISIT CORAL LODGE? 
For both diving and most water sports we recommend July through October, even though it is part of the rainy season.  During these months the winds are lighter and visibility is generally good.  Our dive sites are not affected by rain run off.  If you are looking for less rain and more sun then January through April are best although the winds can be quite strong.

WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE?
Panama NEVER gets hit by hurricanes. On Panama’s Caribbean coastline expect warm weather with highs in the 80’s and 90’s and lows 70’s.  It rarely rains from the middle of December to the end of April. This is the summer/dry season (verano) and excellent sunny weather can be guaranteed. It is also when winds are strongest.  The diving is good but more challenging because of the winds.  In most of Panama the peak periods of rainfall occur during May to June and September to November. This is known as the rainy/green season (invierno).  The "green season" is probably the best time to be in Panama for a real tropical rain forest experience.  Outdoor activities and work do not stop and you don't get cold. The general pattern is for it to rain 3 - 4 times a week, most likely in the afternoon and at night. The days are evenly distributed between partly cloudy or overcast.  It can mist or give you 8 inches an hour. If it rains that hard, you’ll want to be here. It's incredible.   Part of June, July and August are usually a mini-dry season.    This is a great time of the year. It rains some but is mostly sunny and the conditions for diving are great.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET TO THE LODGE? 
We recommend flying to the San Blas Island of Porvenir from Panama City (a 25 min. hop) where the lodge’s boat will  pick you up for the 40 min. ride to the lodge. Since flights to San Blas arrive at 6:30 am and check in isn’t until 2 pm, we highly recommend the half day tour of San Blas with snorkeling and a gourmet picnic lunch on an un-inhabited island instead of going straight to the lodge.  This will give you a chance to enjoy the beauty of the archipelago at a reduced rate.  Also, due to the early departures from San Blas to Panama City,  we recommend returning to by boat (40 min.) and land (3 hr drive) on your return trip.  This will allow you to leave the lodge at noon and the drive back includes a tour of Portobello, Spain’s first fortified settlement on the mainland.

IS THE LODGE ACTUALLY ON AN ISLAND IN SAN BLAS?
No, the lodge is located on the mainland right next to the boarder of the San Blas reserve (Kuna Yala).  Because of Kuna traditions, no hotel like Coral Lodge exist in the archipelago.   Our location has a number of advantages over the island because we can offer more activities and amenities and the diving is actually better.  We do offer a number of island tours.

I THOUGHT DIVING IN SAN BLAS WAS NOT ALLOWED, HOW IS IT YOU CAN OFFER DIVING THERE?
Diving isn’t allowed in San Blas.  We dive the reef structure that is part of the archipelago but just outside of the boundary. Actually our dive locations are better than what you would find in San Blas since the reefs near the islands have been over fished for many years.

CAN WE SWIM AND SNORKEL FROM OUR BUNGALOW’S SUNDECK?
Yes it is possible to swim and snorkel (not jump or dive) off the sundecks of the water villas.  The water is plenty deep and over head but there are some spots with coral which is why jumping off the decks is not allowed.

WHAT SHOULD I PACK?
Knowing what to pack is always difficult.   Guests are encouraged to bring only lightweight, casual clothing, sunscreen, insect repellant, a bathing suit, sturdy shoes and/or hiking boots and a good pair of water shoes.  Coral Lodge is very tropical so you will get wet and sweaty. More T-shirts and shorts are always a good idea.   Dress code: informal to barefoot elegance.  Shirts are only requested in the formal indoor Bohio Restaurant.  It can be cool in the evenings so a light-weight long sleeve shirt is a good idea.  Keep in mind that the airplanes that service San Blas are small and there is a 25 lb. (12 kg.) limit on checked baggage per person and a 6 lb. (2.5 kg.) limit on carry on bags.  The charge for excess weight is minimal but there is no guarantee they will have the weight capacity to accept it.

WHAT TIME IS CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT?
CHECK-IN TIME is : 2:00 PM            CHECK-OUT TIME is:   11:00 AM  

CAN YOU BOOK SAILING IN THE SAN BLAS ISLANDS?
Yes, we represent a number of yacht operators. The cost per day is approximately $1350 including meals, crew, etc. depending on the number of guests and days.   In high season the minimum number of days is 4.

CAN WE ARRIVE BY YACHT?
Yes, our location offers several ideal locations for anchorage. 

WHAT ABOUT BUGS?
The Western Caribbean coast of Central America is famous for sand flies or “no seeums”.   Our location has a lower level of infestation and normally,  with a little wind,  there is little to no problem with either mosquitoes or sand flies.    We have 7 commercial mosquito magnets which also attract and kill sand flies (“chitras” in local idiom) and we also fumigate on a regular basis. If the wind dies down completely then you will have to use a repellent but the best defense it to keep in a breezy area or near a fan.  The bungalows are air-conditioned and can be closed to keep bugs out.   

HOW DOES THE LODGE HELP PROTECT THE ENVIORNMENT?
Every aspect of the lodge has been designed to protect the environment. The toilets discharge into a state of the art 3 stage system for treating waste water which includes hi-rate bio media, aeration and catalytic oxidation with ozone and UV radiation all of which are environmentally safe.  We use ozone instead of detergents in the laundry and ozone (RO) instead of chlorine to purify the drinking water and the swimming pool.     You will notice a number of smaller measures during your stay. 

DO YOU OFFER TOURS ON HORSE BACK?
Yes, this tour would involve a small boat ride to a near by beach and a 2 hour ride into the nearby hills to cool mountain stream with a great swim hole for a picnic lunch before returning.