Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Interamericana to Yaviza
Agua Fría No. 1
, a place easily missed were it not for the police checkpoint, marks the entry
into Darién province. From here, traffic tends to speed along the remaining 110km of virtu-
ally straight (predominantly tarred) road past pastureland, the odd settlement and occasional
teak plantation to the end of the tarmac at Yaviza, spelling the end of the Interamericana.
Puerto Lara
Five kilometres downriver from the important agricultural community of
Santa Fé
lies
Puerto Lara
. One of the few communities to receive plenty of technical support and funding,
this Wounaan village of around six hundred people has a functioning fishing association and a
computer centre, and produces high-quality crafts (see
puertolara.com
). Though both Em-
berá and Wounaan are renowned for their
basketry
and
carving
, it is the Wounaan who his-
torically have been artists and have the greater reputation; many pieces from Puerto Lara are
sent straight to Panama City for sale, but some can still be perused in the village, where work-
shops in
artesanía
are also held. Tagua carving and basketry are the main crafts practised.
Beyond the village,
boat trips
to various destinations,
guided hikes
(within a small patch of
forest of modest appeal), fishing and traditional dances can all be arranged by contacting the
president of the tourism committee (see
Village accommodation
).
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: PUERTO LARA
TO/FROM METETÍ OR PANAMA CITY
By bus and boat
Buses between Metetí and Panama City stop at Santa Fé (every 30min;
40min from Metetí and roughly 4hr 30min from Panama City). From Santa Fé, take a bus
or
colectivo
taxi a few kilometres to Puerto La Cantera. You will need to have contacted the
tourist coordinator in advance to arrange for a
piragua
($10) to meet you. Boats can only land
at La Cantera when the tide is high. From Puerto La Cantera it is a 10-15min boat ride to
Puerto Lara.
By bus and 4WD
Buses between Metetí and Panama City can drop you at the turn-off to
Puerto Lara on the Interamericana. Enquire at the house at the junction for a 4WD taxi, which
costs around $12 for the 11km dirt road to Puerto Lara, which is in appalling condition. Oc-
casional
colectivos
leave the village ($2) for the Interamericana, from where you can catch a
bus. In the rainy season (May-Dec) the road is sometimes impassable.
TO/FROM PUERTO QUIMBA
By boat
Occasional boats leave for Puerto Quimba ($10/person). Boat hire for a special trip
is around $60-80 for the boat.
