Into the Highlands II

Well ok lets catch up a little

We left El Valle to travel out further west and to the Pacific coast and hit the surf. After a days drive we made it to the first place the book suggested. A great right handed break onto a rock bottom. Well 1st no surf, can happen to anyone and normally does but in this case you must be mad to surf there. The rock bottom was just a mass of jagged rocks sticking out of the small waves, lethal so break 2 and yes just the same rocks everywhere. Getting disillusioned we travelled further but it was no good the breaks looked horrendous and the villages were non existant except for signs of future development on a huge scale by American developers. We left and decided to come straight up to the highlands and Boquete on the slopes of Volcan Baru not far from the Costa Rican Border.

It is a beautiful place, high in the mountains, flowers everywhere, rain and cloud forest on the doorstep and a fast flowing river through the centre. We found a fantastic hotel (Panamont Inn and Spa, very old and historic with fabulous gardens and booked in for a week.

Since being here the rain has been very bad and although we tried walking the Senderos Lod Quetzales trail in the rain only to find after about an hour andf half walking the bridge had been washed away so was inpassable and no birds let alone Quetzales but we will keep looking.
A day was spent whitewater rafting along the Costa Rican border which was great fun.
Food here is good, Mole featured on one menu!!!! OK Mole in this case is a chocolate sauce but the translation doesnt give you a clue.
Hopefully we may be able to get to the top of Volcan Baru or at least a good way uop if the rain gives up as well as a look round a coffee plantation.

Hiring a car was the best idea as it gives us a lot more freedom to explore.

More soon (we hope)

Mike & Jan