Panama 22 April - 5th May

On our last night in Peru, I finally ate Guinea Pig or Coy in Spanish. We found a restaurant in lima that served it for 35 soles (£9). Guinea Pig is considered a very special dish in Peru, only normally consumed on special occasions due to the cost. So, out it came and honestly, it tasted like a chicken drumstick!! There was hardly any meat on it with both Loretta and I trying to scrape off as much as possible. Verdict: i'm glad I had peru's typical dish, but really it was just a very expensive chicken with not much meat on it. Haha.

The following day we got our flight to Panama City via Bogota. So it's time to say thank you and goodbye to South America. What an incredible 3 months in 3 amazing countries but now it's time to continue the adventure in Central America - first stop Panama.

22nd - 24th April - Panama City

We spent three days in Panama City; on our first day we walked along the (pacific ocean) sea wall to Casco Viejo, the old town. Many of the buildings were crumbling or falling down, so was hard to decipher what was a famous monument or just an old derelict building haha! On our 2nd day we walked along the causeway situated just outside the city - 3 islands connected to the mainland by a road. This was a pretty walk on a very hot day. On our 3rd day we visited the Panama Canal Miraflores lock. A taxi was meant to cost $6 max, but when we tried to find a taxi we were quoted a whole range of prices with the highest at $30. They like to try and rip off 'gringos'. We eventually found a taxi for $7 woo. The locks were very interesting with a short film on how it was made and a museum on the history of the locks. There was a large cruise liner going through the locks when we were there, which had to pay a staggering $400,000 to use the canal. The canal creates $1 billion profit each year, which goes straight to the government. With the support of the nation a third lock is in the process of being built which will only increase the profits.

25th - 28th May: San Blas Islands

Think of a paradise island and then you're thinking of the San blas islands. We stayed on Franklins Island, It was about 60m long and 20m wide, with just wooden huts, palm trees, hammocks & white sand; surrounded by calm turquoise sea. Paradise!!! We spent 3 days sunbathing, swimming, snorkelling and swinging in the hammocks. For just $26 a night, including 3 meals, who said paradise was expensive?! We were very sad to leave on the 4th day - goodbye paradise.

29th May - 1st May: Boquete

Our next stop was a town called Boquete, a 10 hour journey from Panama City. Our main reason for visiting here was to go White Water Rafting (wwr). Due to it being low season we got a deal with the best company for $60 instead of $90 woo!! The next day, Wednesday 1st May we went on the trip. It was about a 90 minute drive and after we arrived we were kitted up and given a safety briefing. We were in a boat with another English couple who like me had never been wwr before!! Ha it was so much fun - going down the rapids, almost falling out of the boat... And then I fell out the boat when it tipped sideways on one rapid; when I floated to the surface, I was under the boat, so I was pushing and pushing above me to try and move it, but it wasn't moving and I was still trapped under the water. And then, after what seemed ages (but in reality was probably only a few seconds) the boat moved and I resurfaced and BREATHED!!! I was then whacked in the face by 2 rapids but remembered to get on my back and I started floating down the river, with the safety kayak guide shouting to me that my boat was in front and then, my guide dragged me in the boat and I was safe!! My body was shaking head to toe though - that was a close call!! (Loretta said afterwards the guide was searching in the water for me and then when he realised I was under the boat, he shouted at them to paddle and move - so lucky we were with the best tour agency!!) We had lunch on the banks of the river shortly after that, which was pretty. Slightly worried that it might happen again, I didn't really enjoy the rest of the ride as I was apprehensive of what could happen if I fell out the boat!! We finished the ride and had another 90 minute journey back to the hostel. What a day!!

2nd - 5th May: Bocas Del Toros

We got a transfer to Bocas Del Toros, a bunch of islands on the Caribbean Sea, which felt more like Jamaica than Panama, with reggae music blaring out and Bob Marley souvenirs everywhere!! Here we visited red frog beach, a beach on Isla Bastimentos, surrounded only by rainforest and blue turquoise sea. The following day we went on a tour, which included seeing wild dolphins, snorkelling in corals, relaxing on a pure deserted island, visiting sloth island and watching star fish in the shallows. There was an afrocaribbean festival on when we were there so we spent the evenings watching the events. On our last night we had cocktails overlooking the Caribbean Sea. A perfect ending to an awesome Panama.

The following day we left Panama and got a transfer to Costa Rica. May the Central American adventure continue!!