Blogs from Cerro Punta, Chiriquí, Panama, Central America Caribbean
The Mountains of Chiriqui.
Published: April 10th 2012Central America Caribbean » Panama » Chiriquí » Cerro Punta
March 26th 2012
Hola It is little wonder that the expression "As delightful as a border post" has never been coined... The Costa Rica - Panama post of Paso Canoas was of course charmless and we had little reason to hang out there. We stayed only long enough to have a dashing glance at our passport stamps and to cherish the fact that this was the last overland border crossing of our trip...Ah! Hola Panama! What a feeling of relief as we rocked up to Cerro Punta and it´s clean, fresh mountain air, beautiful farm land and friendly people. At 1800 metres above sea level, we had forgotten what it was like to feel the cold! Our long sleeves and toques got their use after weeks in the backpacks. Shortly after arriving we heard a voice yelling from a ... read more
Cloud Forest Drifter
Published: February 6th 2010Central America Caribbean » Panama » Chiriquí » Cerro Punta
Llamo Lindo Rocks!
Published: September 20th 2009Central America Caribbean » Panama » Chiriquí » Cerro Punta
September 18th 2009
Got a calling card and talked to Llamo Lindo owner Omar Lopez. Been at Llamo Lindo Hostel for 2 nights now and this place is great. 12 bucks a night, including breakfast. It's far enough away from main traffic noise, but close to Volcan conveniences. Omar is a great host and when word gets around this place will get popular. As popular as a hostel in a non-tourist town can get. Hopefully, this blog exposure will help Senor Lopez drum up some business. The place is huge, at least 8 bedrooms, some very large. One family stayed last night. Other than that it's been me and Omar. (that's him watching TV in the one video) I may just live here. http://www.hostalllanolindo.com/en.html Call Omar at 6514-0094 if you want a nice stay in Volcan. There is a ... read more
September 17th 2009
Volcan is eternal springtime. Upper 70s day, lower 60s night. Either sunny or cloudy with a misty rain. A beautiful view of Panama´s highest peak - Volcan Baru - a volcano that erupted last about 500 AD. It is still classified active. It has national park hiking and is the only place in the world where, on a clear day (rare) you can see both the Atlantic and the Pacific. Farther up the road is Cerro Punta, Panama´s highest town, and my favorite mountain town - gorgeous views. However, I couldn't afford the real estate there, or in Boquete (a gringoized, picturesque, country clubish town on the other side of Baru), so I settled on Volcan. Volcan is what you would have got if Latinos had settled in Montana. Horses, pigs, cows in yards, small fincas, ... read more
On to Volcan
Published: September 18th 2009Central America Caribbean » Panama » Chiriquí » Cerro Punta
September 16th 2009
After an hour or so at the David bus station it was time for the local bus up to the mountains. It's sort of stupid hanging at foreign bus stations with $6500 in cash and $5000 in gold coins, but when they don't accept travelors checks and you can't open a bank account....besides, I'm so cheap and have it stashed in so many different spots, they'd have to kill me and strip me naked to get it all. I highly recommend the money belt and making your own false bottom shoes. I bought a little plot of land almost 3 years ago in Volcan, a town in the mountains with a great view of the highest peak, a volcano. I haven't seen this lot since then, and I'm sure it is an overgrown mess. I hope ... read more
Into the clouds
Published: January 26th 2009Central America Caribbean » Panama » Chiriquí » Cerro Punta
January 11th 2009
We had taken onboard a glowing recommendation from a Swedish couple that we’d met in Boquete to include three nights in Panama’s only cloud forest on our itinerary. A great opportunity to hone our wildlife spotting abilities ahead of Costa Rica and three nights for the price of two had us sold. Hostels can attract some very awkward blends of folk but equally they have an uncanny ability to provide an irresistible concoction of travellers with whom to share a beer or two. Lost & Found our tree house like home dished up the latter. A heavy helping of two very musically talented guitar playing French Canadian’s (Sebastian and Serg); Andrew the Canadian hostel owner; Tania and Katie a couple of Americans on holiday celebrating their 30th birthdays; and last but certainly not least Greg a ... read more
Sendero Los Quazteles
Published: February 8th 2008Central America Caribbean » Panama » Chiriquí » Cerro Punta
February 5th 2008
Well I decided to stay in David one more night because of the carnival insanity. Apparently buses are unreliable and when they do show up, they are jammed packed with people. Also you need to take taxis off of the main highway and most of the taxi drivers are partying anyways so you cant get ride. Im not sure if it would have worked out or not so I decided not to take the chance. Im really not a fan of DaVID. It is insanely hot. Im staying at Hostel called the Purple House aand absolutely everything is purple. The house, the dishes, the furniture, the linens, everything. I stayed in the dorm room and it was the hottest nights I have ever experienced. That is no exaggeration. There were six smelly backpackers in an 8x8 ... read more
Mountain Air and Thoughts of Chickie
Published: June 16th 2007Central America Caribbean » Panama » Chiriquí » Cerro Punta
June 16th 2007
Sitting at 6,000 feet surrounded by rainforest gives your mind clarity and lots of napping time. Fortunately the place where we are staying has awesome comfortable hammocks with views of the surrounding beautiful valley. Check this place out and get here sometime in your life. http://www.losquetzales.com/ We had a morning guided hike in the national park Volcan Baru looking for birds and smelling oxygen. Awesome peace and beauty. We are the only ones here and keep saying how if this place was in Costa Rica there wouldn't be a room open. I can't figure out for the life of me why people don't come to Panama. But it is nice being here before the crowds get clued in on how nice it is. Thoughts on a dog.... Solana I hope you never read this ( ... read more
The hike that never ends
Published: January 28th 2005Central America Caribbean » Panama » Chiriquí » Cerro Punta
January 28th 2005
My word I am so exhausted right now I can scarcely stay sitting up! Yesterday morning Maayan and I took the bus to David and then to Cerro Punta. We quickly realized that we had been missing out on the more beautiful side of the volcano by staying the whole week in Boquete, because Cerro Punta is truly beautiful. It is really hilly and full of neatly manicured little farms and Swiss-style houses, with tons and tons of flowers and streams and waterfalls all over. I wasn't feeling all that great so Maayan took off in search of info once we arrived and found out that there was accommodation available inside the Parque Internacional La Amistad and arranged a taxi to get us there. We hiked the waterfall trail in about two hours and settled into ... read more
