On the way to El Valle de Anton

As we made our way to El Valle de Anton, we took a detour to a charming spot known as
"Birding Paradise," located on the lower slopes of Volcán Barú in western Panama. This
picturesque property, nestled in the countryside alongside a rushing river, boasts lush
gardens and forests that are home to a diverse array of bird species. The community,
aptly named Paraíso, is situated in the District of Boquerón within the Province of
Chiriquí. While cattle grazing dominates the landscape in Boquerón, many landowners
have preserved significant stretches of gallery forest. At an elevation of around
900 meters, Birding Paradise serves as a convergence point for both lowland and
lower montane bird species, including several regional endemics that barely cross
the border from the Pacific lowlands of Costa Rica. Mishael Rivera, the local
contact for Birding Paradise, has documented over 300 bird species on the property,
with an impressive eBird tally of 334 species.

After our tour, we returned to Highway #1 and stopped for lunch at "El Fogon," a
familiar spot from our earlier journey to Boquete. However, our progress was halted
by a traffic jam caused by protestors who had blocked the highway with large rocks
and felled trees. We later learned that the demonstration was in response to the 
Panamanian president's decision to allow the U.S. to occupy military bases in Panama.

Once we navigated past the obstruction, we veered off onto Highway 71. As evening
approached, the road became narrow and winding, requiring Diana to stop at some
corners to make the turns safely. In addition, people were walkign alone the road.
During this challenging drive, she recalled that the hotel office closed at 8 PM.
We arrived at 8:05 PM, and although the office was still open, we were charged
for an additional night, mistakenly believing it was just a security deposit.
Fortunately, we were able to get that amount refunded once we returned home.