Its Cloudy in a cloud forest

Trip Start Feb 23, 2008

Trip End Aug 23, 2008

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Where I stayed

Lost and Found Ecohostel Chiriqui

Flag of Panama Chiriqui, Panama
Sunday, June 22, 2008

We caught the boat to the mainland the next morning and then a Bus towards David. We had a vague idea where this hostel was and were assured that the driver knew. As it turned out he did and he dropped us off on the side of the road beside a step path leading up to the hostel. I suppose i should have known that a cloud forest would be high up and as such any hostel in the cloud forest would also be high up. After a 30 minute or so uphill walk in the light rain that was falling, we arrived drenched in sweat at Lost and Found Ecolodge. Beds were $10/night in the dorm but they were all huge beds and the bunks were 4 tiers high with the top bunks a good 8 metres of the ground. We were the only people staying here except for 3 post grad biology students (who were camping). We met them just as they euthanised a small gecko (all in the name of science i suppose).
We realised that we hadnt bought any food and there was no conviently close restaurant but luckily the hostel provides basc food and beer for a reasonable price

We Found it

. Also the owners family was up from David and would cook meals for you a very reasonable prices. All in all it was a pretty good place to stay and i was glad i had come. They even had hot water showers which were needed as once over the initial trek in, i realised it was cold.
That evening we hiked out into the forest to see if we could see any wildlife. I suppose you just have to know where to look because we didnt find any except mosquitos. Luckily we got back just before a massive thunderstorm arrived.
The following day we hiked up to a look out where you could on a clear day to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts but unfortunately the cloud forest was living up to its name and it was cloudy. We continued our walk down to a river and spent the afternoon lazying by the cool water (actually the water was bloody cold). On arriving back at the hostel we soon discovered that our peace and quiet had been shattered by the arrival of 10 or so Irish travellers who by the sound of it had started drinking at breakfast time.
The next day we said farewell to an apologetic owner and headed to David. It was here i had a big decision to make