Puerto Armuelles

There is a narrow, long (40 Miles) peninsula that juts into the Pacific and is shared by Panama and Costa Rica, split down the middle, the long way.

At the base, on the Panama side, is Puerto Armuelles. This was a banana town. And like so many banana towns, it is no longer a banana town. These towns are abandon by the international banana companies for many reasons...blight, labor problems, etc.

There is a petroleum depot south of Armuelles about 5 miles. This is the start of a pipeline that goes across Panama to the Caribbean Sea. This is a MAJOR pipeline, transporting enormous quantities of oil.

The Pacific is very deep just off shore, allowing super tankers to dock a couple of hundred yards out.

South of the pipeline about 30 minutes is a small fishing village, Los Limones (The Lemons). This is the access to the beach.

We drove down the beach about a mile to the house where we were staying. The house is only accessible during low tide for about 2 hours. After that, the beach disappears, under the surf.

Needless to say, it was remote...and beautiful...and rustic.

Come to think of it, rustic is not sufficient to describe the condition of the house.

The caretaker opened the first room and the ladies said, "we don't need the garage." But it wasn't the garage but the kitchen.

It went down hill from there.

We stayed the first night, then moved to a friends house at Armuelles for the second night. This was a modern, beautiful house on the beach. Great beach, great water for surfing and warm...safe too.

I am amazed at all the remote corners of Panama that seem to be endless.

This particular corner had the distinction of the sun rising over the Pacific from the EAST.

I know, it sounds ridiculous.

First and foremost, Panama is a east to west country, not a north to south country like it should be. Look at a globe and this will make perfect sense.

The peninsula juts south to southeast from the mainland. Thus, the sun rises from the east over the Pacific.

I hope that all made sense.

I loved this part of the country. Pure Panama with only a handful of gringos.

The trip was great for a guy but not so great for a woman. I was traveling with 3 women.

Not good.

They were good sports about the whole thing so it was a satisfactory trip.

Good to be back home!

Rain every afternoon now. Probably through June, then much less rain for June, July and August. I do like this time of year.