Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARRIVAL AND ACCOMMODATION: RESERVA FORESTAL EL
MONTUOSO
By bus
Buses run from Chitré bus terminal to Las Minas (every 30min, 6am-6pm; 1hr),
though the remaining 11km to the reserve requires a 4WD taxi in the rainy season, or a ride
in the sporadic
chiva
bound for Chepo.
ANAM bunkhouse
The park bunkhouse, a 5min walk from the road at Tres Puntas, has two
comfortable dormitories and use of a shared kitchen and a camping area. You'll need to stock
up with food before you reach the limited shop
pin
g options
of
Las Minas and note that alco-
hol is prohibited at this particular park. Dorms
$15
, camping
$5
/person
The road to Las Tablas
Just south of Chitré, the Carretera Nacional crosses the Río La Villa, the peninsula's longest
river, which marks the provincial boundary between Herrera and Los Santos, and continues
southeast, running parallel to the coast, a few kilometres inland. After skirting the diminutive
yet historically important town of
La Villa de Los Santos
, whose small museum and im-
pressive church interior merit a detour, the road bypasses tiny
Guararé
, host to the country's
largest folkloric festival, before arriving in the provincial capital,
Las Tablas
, about halfway
down the peninsula.
La Villa de Los Santos
LA VILLA DE LOS SANTOS
is famous for the vibrant costume-clad celebrations of Cor-
pus Christi, an historic rebellion against Spanish colonial rule, and the
Feria Internacional
de Azuero
, the peninsula's annual five-day agricultural jamboree in April. If you arrive out-
side party time, though, it's easy to be disappointed. “Los Santos”, or “La Villa” as the town
is usually called, is much smaller and quieter than neighbouring Chitré, and not as spruced
up or as vibrant as La Tablas.
You'll need little more than an hour to check out La Villa's two main attractions, the church
and museum, both on the
central plaza
, aptly named after the great Latin American liberator
Simón Bolívar
to whom the town's influential citizens addressed a letter on November 10,
1821, asking to join his revolutionary movement against Spain, in what was called the
Primer
Grito de la Independencia
(
First Cry for Independence
). This unilateral declaration started
the domino effect that led to national independence from Spain eighteen days later and is cel-
ebrated annually with the customary flag-waving parades of marching bands, traditional folk
costumes, speeches and fireworks.
