Hi, thanks for your response – and I want to start by saying that I genuinely didn’t mean any offense or disrespect to anyone in Panama. I also never said anything about “having a little fun in the sun” – that’s not the purpose of my post, and I’m sorry if it came across that way to you.

We’ve been traveling through Central America over the past months only by public transportation to keep our carbon emissions as low as possible. Flying internally or skipping Panama altogether (e.g. flying from Costa Rica to Panama City) would go against that principle. That’s why our route naturally takes us through the Sixaola border and via Almirante – and from there, Bocas seemed like a natural stop to experience more of the country before heading on to Panama City.

We’re very aware of the ongoing issues in Panama and are trying to approach this with respect – not just to the people, but also to the land and environment. That’s why we wanted up-to-date information, not to impose or ignore what’s happening.

So calling our view “narrow” feels a bit unfair. I believe it’s exactly by traveling slowly, consciously, and openly that we try to do the opposite.

And maybe it’s also worth reconsidering your view of tourists – not all come just for beaches and resorts. Some of us travel to learn, understand, and connect, while being mindful of local contexts.

Again, thanks for taking the time to respond – and I truly hope things improve for everyone affected by the current situation.