Despite recommendations for us to visit Bocas Del Toro (Panama's principle tourist draw to some of the most beautiful beaches) we decided to continue to seek out the quieter more remote mountainous areas, and so found ourselves in 'El Valle de Anton' elevation 2000 ft, nestled in the crater of a giant extinct volcano, last active some three million years ago! To be fair it is a popular, second home 'weekend get away' for the folk who live in Panama City, approx 2 hr drive away. Our lodging has been a modest hotel with the big attraction of having a large covered roof patio, hammocks, comfortable bamboo furniture, great views of the mountains/creater rim, along with warm breezes, so when we want to read, relax, or enjoy our breakfast of fresh fruit this is the spot to be. (Speaking of fruit....huge local pineapples for $1...perfectly ripe and juicy....what a treat!)
The charm here is once again the cooler climate, the lush scenery and clean air - though one finds 'pockets' of smoldering trash which is not so pleasant - a frequent occurance throughout Panama it seems. And the reason we are not at the coastline at this time of the year..... the comfortable 70 degree temps. Like Boquete, this is a popular place for hiking.....we did over extend ourselves a bit on a 3 hr strenuous and challenging walk one day with our legs feeling like jelly at the end, but we enjoyed ourselves and slept well.
Another shorter and kinder walk for our legs boasted of it's unique square trees along with their square growth rings. - We read that saplings from these trees were being grown in FL to see if they retain their squareness in a different environment, however, it is believed that the shape is probably due to some unknown but purely local condition.
Other attractions include horseback riding and warm thermal pools with the added attraction of indulging in a mud bath with supposed curitive properties all located in a remote forested area.....we restrained ourselves and just did a facial!
El Valley de Anton is pristine, quiet, and lacks a town center, however there is no evidence of trash, shacks (or worse) dwellings for the poor, for this is not an area where the indigenous people live. What does strike one as being unusual here is the number of bicyles due to the extensive flatness of the crater. However the cyclists could benefit from a couple of safety tips, such as, don't ride down the center of the roads at night without a flashlight or any kind of reflector on your bike, and the preferred dark clothing only makes you blend into the inky blackness of the night.
At times clouds DO tend to roll on down the mountain sides, almost reaching the town, feels a bit like being wrapped up in cotton wool, then the warm breeze becomes a little cooler and chases us indoors for a while. Several times today we heard a vehicle drive by with a loud booming megaphone making what we thought was some important announcement..... such as to the impending eruption of the volcano maybe? ... only later to learn it was a truck full of watermelons that someone was trying to sell!..... that's the problem of having an over active imagination.
There is an extensive choice of places to eat, from a road side stand that prepares the most delicious chicken or beef tacos $1.50 to a fancy Irish pub, that looks more like a country estate with it's stone walls, and upscale landscaping, where one can purchase fish/chips or sheperds pie for less than $10 and a beers $1.
Tomorrow (28th) we exchange our peace and quiet for Panama City.... better get the ear plugs out.
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