Where the horses run wild
Uprooting yourself from where you have grown up is a romantic idea, but one that comes with it’s unique challenges. Can you build a life that you want, would it feel like home, find what you are looking for.. ? I love meeting people who leave behind everything they know, and start anew.
Boca Brava – locals’ recommendation
When I was in Panama, one of my German hosts in Boquete recommended going to this horse riding retreat overlooking a beautiful bay on the Boca Brava island in the gulf of Chiriquí. I wasn’t quite sure to expect, but I was intrigued. After a 2 hrs drive from Boquete to Boca Chica, I parked my car at a local’s house for a small fee, and hopped on a short ferry across the bay. On the other side, I was greeted by Mike, my host, and his teenager son Paul. Some 15 minutes of rickety ride and broken German later I was overlooking a breathtaking landscape. Yes, Panama’s beautiful weather and nature, and relaxed lifestyle has attracted a lot of expats over the years.
Swimming, horseback riding and relaxing
A French couple had originally built this beautiful property and lived in for a number of years before deciding to move elsewhere. Mike and his wife Katjia took over in the summer of 2019 and made it their home. Nothing gets my heart racing faster than the thought of wild horses running wild. Well, may be other than actually galloping on one. When I visited, they were taking care of 6 horses. After a day of swimming and and exploring the bay on a kayak, I got to do some great riding around the island, climbing up and down the hills for some breathtaking views, and of course finding a deserted beach and letting it loose. I hadn’t done any riding whatsoever in the last couple of years after a riding accident in the Caucasus mountains in Georgia, so this felt very liberating.
Other than Mike’s family, the island in inhabited by a few native families and from my brief visit, it seemed there is harmonious co-existence. From tending to horses, ferrying guests, catching fish for the guests – visitors help the local economy. If you are in the area, and looking for a relaxing retreat, give this place a try.
Mike, Katjia and their children seemed to have found their home – what they aptly call Boca Brava Paradise
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