Montuzuma

We finally tore ourselves away from Samara and travelled down the Nicoya peninsula to the beach side town of Montezuma. The "road" to Montezuma was more of a farm track and we were glad of our four by four taxi as we crossed several rivers and at one point the road disappeared and we drove along the beach. That said it was worth going `off road` as we glimpsed abundant wildlife including a tribe of black monkeys who happily posed as we took pictures not more that a few metres away. Montezuma is a more touristy town than Samara and we took full advantage of the 2 4 1 cocktails and ended up meeting a lovely French Canadian couple who we partied with until the early hours in the local disco.

The next day the couple we met took us to three beautiful waterfalls but the path to get to them was extremely treacherous and before setting out we passed a sign that warned that several people have died there! We both wondered whether to turn back several times as we scaled shear cliffs but diving into the cool clear pool when we arrived and sitting under the waterfalls made it all worth while. You could even jump off the second waterfall and there was a tarzan swing which we both tried. The next day we walked along a nature trail that dipped in and out of several coves of deserted beached bordered by tropical palms, it was so beautiful, we even saw brown boobies nesting on the beach (really that's what they`re are called).

We left Montezuma on Wednesday intending to travel to the eastern coast of Panama but stopped at the boarder town of Perto Viejo and couldn't resist staying a day as the Caribbean beaches were even more beautiful than the Pacific ones and the water was so clear. We hired some bikes and road around from cove to cove. To save money we have been eating at sodas which are local cafe type places where you can get rice, beans, plantains, eggs, salad and meat for about 2 pounds and after a bit of splurging in the first week are currently on budget - we are hoping Panama will be even cheaper!!

love Holland and Becky xx