New Panama Fishing Lodge Opens For Sailfish, Marlin, Wahoo, Tuna, More

Article Date: April 2008

Blue water fishing lodges change hands frequently. But it's not very often that you hear of a brand-new one being built from the ground up. That is what is happening in western Panama, on the Pacific Coast, a stone's throw from the border of Costa Rica. The name of the new lodge is Aqua Adventures Panama. As this is written, the 3,000-square-foot main lodge and 10 outlying cabanas are still being finalized. So are the three custom-made, 35-foot boats that will make up the backbone of the lodge's fleet.

Last month, during a check-out visit, guests were still being housed in a bed and breakfast in the nearby town of Puerto Armuelles. The only large boat in operation was an impressive 33-foot Blackfin, but a 37-foot Striker and two 27-foot Shallow Sports are being readied for action, along with the custom boats mentioned above. Just when the lodge will be fully ready is unclear, but one of the lodge principals, John Kipp, was comfortable saying the rudiments of a blue water operation would be in place sometime this month.

It is hard to come away with a clear idea of a place when you see it still under construction. For one thing, the road leading into the lodge was being readied for paving. Until that has been completed, the ride to the lodge is a bit bumpy and slow. The road passes through a high-security area surrounding an offshore oil-loading facility and pump station devoted to moving oil across Panama from one coast to the other. Passage through the security area takes only a few moments and is worth mentioning only because we had to transit the area daily on the way from the bed and breakfast to the lodge. Once the lodge is open, guests will have t........(continued)

CONTACT DETAILS FOR COMPANIES/INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED IN ARTICLE (if any)

Aqua Adventures Panama. Tel. 888-733-5368. Web: www.aquaadventurespanama.com