How Not to be a Rainforest Wimp
Part Two
Baru Volcano towers above the clouds
as seen from the Pacific seaboard of Panama
Let’s start out with some basics about your first experience in the rainforests. First of all, do your homework to best appreciate the place that you are visiting. Rainforests and their higher elevation cousins, cloudforests, contain large concentrations of species. Plants and animals abound in particularly large concentrations on the isthmus of the Americas in countries like Panama.
In this very special narrowing of the land masses between North and South America, many species common to both continents can be found. Raccoons live in the same eco-niches as Coatis, their southern kin. Tanagers live next to
Highland Stream Near Volcan Baru
resplendent quetzals and so on. For those of you who wish to experience the biodiversity this place has to offer, why not get your feet wet (so to speak) in Panama’s La Amistad National Park.
Getting started
Most travelers fly into Panama City and then drive or fly into the architecturally uninteresting business hub of Chiriqui Provence, David City. Getting there is easy and convenient and the roads to La Amistad are fairly good. There are many tour operators and private guides who can get you there from David and surrounding towns. So your first excuse as a rainforest wimp has just vaporized. It is easy and convenient to get to La Amistad.
In our next installment, we’ll cover what to bring when planning your hikes.