Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
cleverly inserted into the religious scenes - some atop the bodies of cherubs. One large
carving also includes items that had special meaning for the natives - an eagle piercing
its own heart with its beak, three large dice, a Spanish sword, a lantern and a human
skull.
The original bell tower survived until 1942, when it suddenly collapsed without warn-
ing. It had also served the Spanish as a lookout tower to monitor the movements of local
people and slaves.
To reach the church, head 16km north on the San Francisco turnoff from the In-
teramericana, until you reach the police substation near a stop sign. Veer right, proceed
400m, and then turn right again at the Supermercado Juan XXIII de San Francisco.
Another 100m on, you'll see the church on the left.
A bus leaves the Santiago terminal for San Francisco (US$1, 30 minutes, every 30
minutes from 7am to 6pm). An alternative is to hire a taxi in Santiago (US$16 round
trip).
Near the church,
El Chorro del Spiritu Santo
(Holy Spirit Waterfall) has a fine swim-
ming hole. Follow the road as it winds around the church, and then take the road just be-
hind the church. After a few hundred meters, take the first right; after another several
hundred meters the road will bring you to the small cascades.
San Francisco has no lodgings, though it's convenient to Santiago or Santa Fé.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Santa Fé
POP 3000
This tiny mountain town lies in the shadow of the Continental Divide about 52km north
of Santiago. At an altitude of 500m, Santa Fé is cooler than the lowlands, and much of
the surrounding forests remain as they did when the Spaniards founded the town in 1557.
Like Boquete, Santa Fé has fresh clean air and bucolic surroundings, yet it sees fewer
foreign visitors, though the real-estate frenzy is starting to creep here too. With lush
mountainsides, waterfalls and mountain streams right outside the town, Santa Fé is an
ideal destination for hikers, bird- watchers and those simply wanting to soak up the
beauty of the highlands.
Sights
