Panama at last! Tuesday & Wednesday, 27th & 28th October

Todays plan was to take the road from Manuel Antonio and cross the border from Costa Rica into Panama. This is the tenth country since starting in June and the last border crossing.

The road to the border was through palm oil plantations and along the shore although there were always trees between the road and the beach so no good shots.

We arrived at the border and had to pay an exit tax. We were directede to the back of a minibus and it looked so dodgy that we walked on by. It turned out that this was a temporary office and would take our $7 and the receipt would prove that we had paid and therefore we could get our exit visa. I handed over my $10 bill and got $2 change so the tax was $7 and a dollar for 'admin' .

Getting into Panama wasn't easy either as we needed to queue for a stamp then complete a customs declaration and the jobs worth official insisted that we complete the form with all the letters inside their respective boxes without any crossings out or mistakes. It took some of us three attempts before our forms passed the test. At last we were on the open road again.

We headed towards the Highlands and Volcan Baru, at 3.475m, Panama's highest point near Boquete in cloud forest and a well known activity centre and a free day.

There was no chance of a lie in the next morning as the local school was practising their band playing and marching ready for independence day at the weekend.

Out hotel was lovely place and I had the day free so I started by taking a few pictures.

The stream at the side of the hotel.  

One of the cabanas on site.

Some members of the group relaxing under a tree.

The activity desk complete with Halloween decorations.

A general view of the hotel and garden.

Communal area.

Not the bat but the communal kitchen with walls made out of bottles recycled as building materials.

A view of the hills around town, partially obscured by clouds.

As Halloween was approaching many of the houses and shops were suitably decorated.

A distinctive bridge in the centre of town. Other than this it was a fairly non descript place, no architectural masterpieces, functional but no old buildings to speak of.