21-Mar-2004 -- After doing some research on a reforestation project in the province of Los Santos (the site is close to a fantastic beach with a great surf – hmmm!), Bettina and I decided to make a little detour on the way back to Panama City, and to give this confluence a try.

Thanks to Ichi, Chino and Ninell, who were there last October, we knew that it would be close to La Colorada, a little town south of Santiago. Unfortunately we initially could not find the road which goes further south and closer to the confluence from La Colorada (we had no map). So, Bettina stayed behind at the south side of La Colorada at the car with her research equipment, while I headed on by foot, guided by the GPS.

I soon found the road, which I followed until I reached W81.00. From there I headed straight south to the confluence.

I had to crawl through and climb over dozens of cow fences and I met the same itchy ants Ichi and his group encountered (probably ants of the genus Pseudomyrmex which are dwelling in the thorns of the bullhorn acacia). I climbed straight through a very steep creek in a forest and up to the top of a hill. There another cow meadow opened from where the confluence wasn't very far.

The view from the confluence was gorgeous, and even better just a few meters up from a small hilltop. This confluence is probably the easiest to get to in Panama and it is very likely that it has the best view. I quickly celebrated, took some photos and run back. It was a very hot and sunny dry season day so I was glad that a pick up gave me at least a short ride back to La Colorada.