After our bike trip last week we stopped off at a local soda (locals cafe) for a hearty serving of Caribbean chicken with rice and beans. It's amazing how we've had this combination of food countless times during our trip, but each time the flavours are different and the accompaniments vary, but always equally as tasty and cheap! Although some Central Americans have the habit of serving beer over ice, which we find really strange and unnecessary! Why waste a good beer (or in Costa Rica's case... Make a bad beer worse!!)
The next morning we got a shuttle bus to Bocas del Toro, Panama, but for a nice change we arose at a more civilised hour to get on the bus at 8.00am. We stayed on the main island, Isla Colon a busy touristy town with brightly coloured buildings and a Happy Hour around every corner!
Isla Colon
On our first full day we took a bus to the other side of the main island to Starfish Beach, a beach famed for, you guessed it, a plethora of resident starfish....
Starfish beach (playa del drogo)
One said Starfish
The next day we decided to explore one of the neighbouring islands, Isla Bastimentos and we're so glad we did. The main island was really fun but we felt that it has been a little spoilt by tourism, Bastimentos felt much quieter and cleaner. When we got off the water taxi we hiked up through the hills on the most amazing walk.
Getting a little lost in the forest
All the way up there were signs to a cafe called 'Up In The Hill' which promised organic coffee and chocolate when we arrived. And it did not disappoint! After a steep and very hot hike through amazing green rainforest, we came across this sign...
Victorious!!
A little further on we reached our destination...
'Up In The Hill' is owned by a couple who built it from scratch and have been extending and perfecting it for the past 17 years, they were currently installing solar panels when we arrived! Nestled in the lush green forest on the top of the hill, what was probably originally a small wooden hut now stands a fully functioning family home over two floors. As well as making organic trinkets, home remedies and other goods, the couple farm cacao and serve a local coffee which of course we had to sample.....
Organic brownie, Americano and Mocha made with coconut milk
View out over the forest from the cafe
Feeling refreshed and very relaxed we carried on our trek down the other side of the hill towards 'Wizard Beach' a very secluded very beautiful beach...
Our next stop was Boquete, a small and sleepy town in central Panama where the clouds hung low over the surrounding mountains....
Whilst here we tried rock climbing, very enjoyable but leaving us very achy for the next couple of days... Lisa is definitely more cut out for this than me... But trying is the main thing, right?! The geek in me also loved the way the volcanic rock had folded... But I shan't bore you with that...
We are now in Santa Fe, a small very peaceful village, when we arrived we wandered down to the river for a picnic...
Tomorrow we will head to Panama City ahead of our flight to Peru on Friday.
The weeks highlights:
Best view: The view over Bocas while trekking up the hill...
Best food: Organic treats 'Up on the hill' and an amazing breakfast in Santa Fe with a sweet bread called hojadres..
Lesson learnt: Rock climb using your leg muscles more than your arm muscles... Aching for days after and with backpacks to throw up to the tops of buses... Ouch!
Love Monday Funday: Today we took in the sights of the sleepy village of Santa Fe. Time seems to stand still here and you're more likely to see a local on horseback instead of in a car. We ended up at the river, where Rachel went for a very cooling dip!!
Borders crossed: 1
Number of hours on buses: 13
Number of Mosquito bites: too many to count
Have a great week everyone.
Big love Lisa and Rach xx
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