For our third day (day 1 being the hike in, day 2 was Mooney/Beaver Falls) we decided to head upstream from Havasupai Campground to explore the other big three -- Fifty Foot Falls, Navajo Falls, and Havasu Falls. Among other things I really wanted to go swimming at the base of one of the falls and had been disappointed that Beaver Falls seemed a bit too risky for my liking. With luck one of the falls today would be amenable.Rather than simply...
The hike to Havasupai Campground begins and ends at Hilltop at the end of Indian Road 18. It's a long way from anywhere. We left our Airbnb about 5 AM for the two hour drive from Kingman Arizona. Leaving this early provided a great opportunity to see the sunrise over the desert, note that the temperature dipped into the high 20s, and arrive at Hilltop before the vast majority of hikers arrived.It's 10 miles from Hilltop to Havasupai Campground....
We were very excited at the start of 2024 about two major experiences. One was Ecuador and the other was the possibility of getting permits to hike Havasu Falls. Barely a month into the new year and there are major updates to share. Ecuador is out and Havasu Falls is a go! /*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 30-04-2024 */
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I'm long delinquent in writing this post -- it's now just after Thanksgiving, three months after returning from Panama. I suppose Thanksgiving may actually be the perfect symbolic time to do so? As we contemplate a month in Ecuador next summer, it's worth reflecting on our trip to Panama. All in all, we had a great time, but its complicated. We learned a ton, broadened our world view just a bit more, and saw America from another perspective....
After three weeks in Panama we decided to change course by visiting Gamboa. Why? Because it's roughly the halfway point of the Panama Canal, home to maintenance operations for the canal, and home to a number of "eco" experiences. When planning our trip, we figured we could do a lot of hiking, visit the Rainforest Discovery Center, see the Sloth Sanctuary, and go zip-lining. Little did we know. /*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 08-11-2023...
The Panama Canal is truly one of those man made wonders that you must see in your life time. Its history is so bizarre it almost seems unreal. We would recommend you read The Path Between Seas: The History of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914 by David McCullough to really see the egos, personalities, politics and everyday people that made the canal possible. You will also get a great appreciation for the power of the mosquito and its influence over...
Let's set the record straight up front. We're tea people. We've owned a tea company for the better part of 10 years and regularly import tea by air and ship from Asia. We also import rooibos and honeybush from South Africa. So we understand variations in taste, quality, growing, and labor conditions that impact agricultural products. We are not coffee people. Or, at least we weren't before visiting Panama. A number of our wholesale (coffee shop)...
Regardless of your own beliefs, churches/religious structures should always go on a travel itinerary, especially when headed to places that have had humans for a long time. These structures are home to beautiful art and architecture that give you a view into the history, experiences and culture of a location. Now, as a tourist, please remember these building are still active places of worship, so always treat them with respect and follow their...
Our second coffee plantation visit in Boquete was to the Finca Dos Jefes, home to the roasted coffee brand of Cafés de la Luna. Amy was our passionate host for the two hour visit to this farm. A visit that included learning a ton more about what makes great coffee, the coffee industry, the coffee price crash, and so much more. Amy came to the plantation from Panama City a number of years ago and appears to have fallen in love with it. As she...
