Nicolas returned to Spain for Christmas, and Muriel and I travelled south to Panama. We stuck to the Pacific coast, which was having fine weather. We visited the hill towns of Guadalupe (near Cerro Punta) and Boquete, which were both relaxing escapes from the heat and humidity on the coast.
Peaceful Guadalupe with its verdant gardens and abundant fruit and vegetables was a real highlight. Muriel bought a cheese fondue from Switzerland and so we had a little Christmas celebration.
In Boquete, we made interesting trips to some natural hotsprings and a working coffee plantation and roastery.
Back down at the coast we made our way to the surfer town if Santa Catalina, from where we organised an overnight trip to Isla Coiba. This was a tropical island paradise, with great snorkelling perfect white sand beaches and jungle. Back in Santa Catalina we rang in the new year 2015 with a delicious meal and a few drinks with travelling friends at the beach.
Panama City with its impressive skyline was a huge contrast to everything we'd seen in Central America thus far. We stuck mostly to Casco Viejo, the old part of town, which is where many of the main sights are. We made some interesting side trips as well. To the Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal, to Isla Taboga in the harbour and a great trainride along the canal to Fuerte San Lorenzo on the Carribean coast. It guards the entrance to the Chagres River. Now just ruins, it once stored the gold that Spain had plundered from Peru prior to it being shipped back to Spain. As such, it was a juicy target for pirates such as Captain Henry Morgan.
Sadly, the Central American part of my journey is over. It was a fun trip with two cool friends. See you guys back in Switzerland!
Just outside Guadalupe with Volcan Baru in the clouds.
Hummingbirds on the balcony of Los Quetzales Lodge in Guadalupe.
Another beach perfect beach.
