July 27, 2013
Departed Santa Catalina on the 25th and rode up to Santa Fe, a small mountain village. It's a bit cooler and there are some nice roads in the area to explore. Very nice town, everyone is very friendly and helpful.

Hotel Santa Fe.
From Panama 2013

Went for a ride out to Rio Luis, its along the road that goes to the east coast. Absolutely a must ride if you're in Panama. Power poles end four miles out of Santa Fe and from then on out it's just mountains, streams and jungle. The road turns to dirt in Rio Luis and from what I saw it would be difficult on a big bike to go any further. The rocks would tear up the tires and I'm not sure about the river crossings and hills that would need to be navigated. It's actually only 14 miles of paved road but it's a great ride.

Road to Rio Luis:
From Panama 2013

From Panama 2013

Walked out a few hundred meters, it's jungle:
From Panama 2013

Rio Luis super market. Refrigerator runs on propane:
From Panama 2013

When I got back to Santa Fe, a woman, Ceciela, whom I had meet the first day, was in the road hacking at some small branches with a machete. She stopped me and said she needed me to give her a ride to her house. She got on the moto along with a metal sign, machete and branches and off we went back on the road I came from. Come to find out, about five miles out she had a small cinder block building, a house, that she had built and was trying to rent it. I helped her hang a for rent sign and then she put me to work planting the branches. She had about a dozen and had specific spots for each one to be planted. She was sure proud of that block house, asking $50 a month rent. It was right next to the road and a bridge. She explained that the building could be used for sleeping and everything else could be done under the bridge. Cooking, hanging a hammock to relax, washing and laundry in the creek along with using it as a toilet. She explained that the place had everything you could ever need. After all, who needs electricity, a stove, frig, inside plumbing and protection from mosquitos when you have a river and a bridge.
She's a very nice person and I had a lot of fun joking around and helping her.

Waiting for me to hang the, For Rent, sign in the window:
From Panama 2013

Here she comes with the machete and more branches for me to plant:
From Panama 2013

Not sure when I'm departing Santa Fe. It's been overcast and raining so I haven't been able to enjoy the area as much as I'd hoped. If it clears up a little it will be a great place for some photo's.