Mount Totumas |
Mount
Totumas
Cloud Forest |
As Panama doesn't
really have options
to stay within a
national park, this
place is the closest
to that you can get
as it directly
borders NP La
Amistad
You need
hired transport or a
4WD with high
clearance to master
the final 7 km rough
stony path followed
by a small way
through some gates
to get there but
once you are there,
the views in the
cloud forest (it's
on 2 km altitude)
are amazing.
We
rented the 6 persons
home which has tons
of atmosphere and is
well equipped; cool
at night and warm
but not hot on the
day (January). You
can just spend the
day watching at
least 7 species of
hummingboard feeding
from a feeder and
bushes straight from
your hummock or
chair on the
balcony, but they
offer guided
walking. Reinaldo
took us twice and
seems to hear and
see everything which
lots of 'trained
guides' in other
places may miss. As
a result we saw the
rare spider moneys,
hawler monkeys, a
porcupine killed by
a puma not long ago,
one of the only 3 or
4 splendid quetzals
being there (come
end February to see
many more, almost
certainly) and lots
of birds.
If you dont fancy cooking, their home cooking is great too and they take diet wishes into consideration. We must return for at least a week!