Cabañas Demar Achudup

The ocean breezes blow through the sides of the thatched huts, so there is no need for air conditioning. You fall asleep to the sound of the waves lapping against the shore, just several steps away from your hut. The palm trees glisten in the sun and rustle in the breeze. A hammock between two palm trees in front of your hut is a great place to take a nap or read a book or enjoy the scenery. Luis was a great host, and took care to accommodate our requests. He arranged for us to have fresh lobster, even though there was a big Christmas meal already planned. That was the best lobster I have ever had in my life! And I grew up with fresh lobster in Florida. My family of adult children enjoyed the entire atmosphere of the island. The Kuna people who skipper the boats and cook the meals, are dignified and quiet. They share their island and way of life with you. The women are beautifully dressed and will sell you some of their exquisite molas they have on display, if you ask. There is no sense of commercialism whatsoever. How refreshing! My family enjoyed snorkeling. There are some live coral patches right off the island, where we found eels, squid, shrimp and crabs and tropical fish. On our day trip we were dropped off on an island with a big sandy beach, that one group had requested. We snorkeled off shore and found a wonderful coral reef with eagle rays, eels, stingrays, tropical fish and starfish. (Remember: don't touch or stand on the coral, because it can cause it to die) The food is very simple and basic. On the plus side, there is fresh fish when the fishing is good. (Not as good when it is windy) You can pay more for fresh lobster. Many meals have rice and fried bananas, fresh cucumber, carrots, and tomatoes. We assumed we were eating like the Kuna, and went with the experience. People who like a lot of variety and large quantities, may want to bring their own snacks. Definitely bring as much of your own water as you can. We are big campers so we brought our own water filter, which came in handy. You can buy bottled water on the island if you need to. Our visit to Cabanas Demar Achudup was the best part of our trip to Panama!