A Hike in the Cloud Forest

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

A hike in the cloud forest.

Today is our last day on the Panama adventure; we fly home early tomorrow morning.  Before getting to today’s hike, I need to post a photo of something remarkable.  A lighthouse on the road from David to Boquete.  Now this road goes directly inland from the Pacific coast, and there isn’t a level portion on it, it’s all uphill into the mountains.  It takes about 25 or 30 minutes to drive, and we’ve done it a number of times.  Well, almost all the way to Boquete, probably 20 miles inland is this:



Adjacent is a large unfinished building with no work going on.  The most plausible explanation we’ve had is that it was planned to be the signature attraction for an entertainment center or a bar or some such.  In any case, there it sits, far from the sea, looking out over the countryside.

This morning’s activity was a somewhat rigorous hike up into the cloud forest.  Joyce opted to stay back at our beautiful hotel with its lovely gardens.  Oren and I and our guide Christian drove up and up and up into the cloud forest until we reached Sendero los Quetzales (the Quetzals Trail), a hike which goes further up and up and up.  Near the beginning it’s rather open, and there are stands of papyrus:



Then the trail closes in, and the true cloud forest flora and fauna are there in abundance.  Unfortunately we didn’t see a quetzal (we never have), but we did see this plant which resembles a bird of paradise but is not—it’s heliconia:



There are truly giant flies here:



This photo of a glass-winged butterfly was taken by our guide, Christian:



The trail was mostly well-maintained, with wonderful bridges over the adjacent fast-running stream:



But one of the bridges had fallen and had not been replaced.  Instead there was a pair of small-bore pipes to walk on:



We finished our hike shortly after noon, and drove back to the hotel, picked up Joyce, and went into town for lunch.  From there to the David airport and the short flight to Panama City where we are now at the airport Crowne Plaza.  Tomorrow, home, and unless something happens to report on, this will be the last post on the blog.


It’s been a true delight traveling with Oren.  He’s a wonderful young man, and we feel so fortunate to have had this time with him.  

Comments

  1. Rwa442August 30, 2017 at 6:05 PM

    What a wonderful trip with your grandson! It's great to see a youngster so interested in the world around him.

    ReplyDelete
  2. xctravelerAugust 30, 2017 at 6:08 PM

    Nice report and so glad you had such great time with Oren. We do understand the value of time alone with grandsons. Love the pictures of the insects and join you in wondering about the lighthouse. We saw so many active and formerly active lighthouses on our present travels that the thought of one 20 miles inland really does boggle the mind.

    Safe return to home.

    Paul and Carol

    ReplyDelete
  3. MarciaAugust 31, 2017 at 6:05 AM

    Sounds like a fabulous trip. My hat is off to you, Victor, for keeping up with your grandson on such a rigorous trip!

    ReplyDelete
  4. JoyceAugust 31, 2017 at 7:19 PM

    Thanks for your great pictures and commentary, Victor. You really bring the trip alive. It almost makes me want to zip-line when we go in February. Almost!!

    ReplyDelete

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