Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Aventuras Cesamo
HORSEBACK RIDING
( 954-0807, 6972-0571;
www.aventurascesamo.blogspot.com
)
Reputable local guide Cesar
Miranda takes visitors on horseback rides using his own horses. He also guides Alto de
Piedra and area walks to waterfalls.
Chong & María
AGROTOURISM
( 6525-4832; half-day tour per person US$5)
To see an organic family farm up close, visit
with Chong & María, hospitable
campesino
(farmer) hosts happy to bring you in and
show you around their very small-scale operation. Though they only speak Spanish, this
lovely couple finds a way to communicate with non-Spanish-speaking visitors that
makes the trip still very worthwhile.
You can also check out their orchids and sample María's homemade cooking over
lunch (US$3). It's excellent for families too, who can take advantage of the country quiet
and a nearby swimming hole. Make sure you book ahead.
Inocencio & Pedra Virola
TOUR
( 6738-9906; per person US$30)
If you are interested in visiting a Ngöbe-Buglé commu-
nity, Inocencio and Pedra Virola offer tours of Río Piedra. They do not speak English but
their daughter may be able to help translate. Part of the fee goes to providing students
with school supplies and improving the local clinic. The tour includes a guide, transport-
ation and lunch.
CAFÉ EL TUTE COFFEE PLANT
tion in a four-decade-old cooperative. Started by Father Héctor Gallego, who was
working in Veraguas in the late 1960s, the original aims of the cooperative were to
wrest power from local coffee barons and to put the profit from the crop back in
the hands of the farmers.
According to the co-op's history, the initial idea came when the priest decided to
purchase a 50kg sack of salt from the lowlands rather than from the company
store in town. By showing the local farmers that he could circumvent the rich and
powerful ruling families, he rallied the necessary support to start the co-op. Al-
though government forces wary of his teachings eventually murdered the priest,
the co-op continues to thrive today.
Café El Tute, the locally grown coffee, is only sold for domestic consumption,
though every step of the growing, harvesting and roasting process is 100% organ-
ic. Stop by for a
tour
(1st person US$15, each additional person US$5)
in Spanish. The same
