What was there to do on these two paradise islands? Other than swim, snorkel, walk their perimeter and relax on the beach... not very much! What a beautifully unfussy life! No one was in a hurry or clutching a mobile phone. There was no TV or radio blaring.

I'm asking myself why should I choose the Pacific coast when I can get a taste of Mexico in Cancun, with Mayan ruins thrown in as extras? I decide it's the stunning coastline, mountains tumbling down to the sea, and the joy of discovering unspoilt Mexico.

If you think that the only thing to see in Panama is its canal, then you'd be wrong. Off the Caribbean coast are hundreds of delightful coral islands, nestling in an idyllic turquoise sea.