4. Boquete - in the Highlands of Panama

We started again very punctually, just before eight we started towards Boquete. Again, it went quite curvy through the Shire (Look-a-like), the taxi driver decided to drive beside it because of the really bad roads. But about 1.5 hours and a cow drive later, we were on the highway and made good progress.

Too fast, because we were already in Boquete around 2 p.m., and after some slight difficulties finding the address on Google, Manuel welcomed us to our accommodation. Or not. Because he thought we were coming by bus and we would only arrive around half past four. Well, we had some time to kill. We went to a Fonda for lunch. It's like a canteen, with several dishes to choose from. At affordable prices, about €4 per portion, you can really eat very well here. It's just not really suitable for vegetarians.

Boquete is located in a valley along a river, not really big. In ten minutes, you can check the city map and know where the supermarkets are. Due to the mild temperatures, many expats live here (many Americans) and it's amazing what you can buy in the supermarket here. Hazelnut oil and medieval Brie? No problem at all. Amazing.

Our cabin was definitely great and a few hours later, we had acclimatized very well. We ended up at a very nice little Peruvian restaurant and had a good meal.

Day 2 started early because we wanted to be on the hiking trails before everyone else. And the booked tours start at 8:30 a.m. So after a short taxi ride, we found ourselves ready at the Pipelinetrail at half past seven. A little confusion about where the path was, but then full enthusiasm due to the wonderful forest that opened up to us at the beginning of this day. The trail is very easy to walk, long stretches along a river. Many birds want to be discovered and the many great hummingbirds make it impossible for us to make quick progress. But the trail is not long, about 3 kilometers in one direction, and after a quick bite into the packed butter sandwich, we decide to walk another kilometer to the Three-Waterfalls-Trail and have breakfast there directly.

The beginning is somewhat strenuous, there is a lot of uphill, and we are already at about 1800 meters in altitude. The obligatory reception post (someone has to collect the money) shows us a sketch, quick, quick, quick, three waterfalls, that's where you have to go, easy peasy.

Well, not at all. Constant uphill, downhill, slippery sliding, climbing, accompanied by Uli's complaining.... But nature is spectacular. Waterfalls are really great, beautiful bird sightings, plants in full bloom, fragrant jungle. Top. But on the way back, our legs were shaking quite a bit from exertion, and we were glad that a Norwegian couple took us almost all the way back to Boquete by car. We took the minibus for the rest, they are responsible for transportation here.

Actually, we wanted to do the next trail the next morning. But when the alarm clock rang, everything hurt. And so, we also took a day off. That can also be good in a vacation like this.

We wanted to do the Quetzaltrail, which has actually been closed for two years, but we had read that individual travelers have still walked a short distance. So, we took a taxi again to the waterfall trail and walked the rest. That was really exhausting, constant uphill, up to the mountaintop, we were certainly at 2000 meters. Unfortunately, we were not allowed through. Sascha pouted for ten minutes and after someone fortunately took us back, we just did the Pipelinetrail again. This time, unfortunately, without the many hummingbirds, but we saw howler monkeys and a snake.

We really liked it here, but we struggled with the altitude, sleeping was really difficult in general, and headaches were frequent as well. The considerable temperature fluctuations between day and night were also not easy to cope with, and that's why we are also glad to go to the Caribbean part of the vacation tomorrow - off to Bocas del Toro.

And Boquete doesn't smell like bananas, more like flowers and blossoms and gentle rain.