Our San Blas boat trip ended in the isolated Colombian Caribbean coastal town of Sapzurro. Stepping foot onto solid ground there was a momentous occasion for me, as it meant that I've officially been to all seven continents. Woot! (There are pictures, but I'd just gotten off the second of two bumpy and wet boat rides and I look like a drowned rat, so I'll spare you.)
First order of business in Colombia: peanut ice cream! (Much better than it sounds.)
It's Easter Week in a very Catholic country, and Sapzurro as well as nearby Capurgana--where we planted for a couple of nights to regroup after the boat trip--were overrun with more vacationing Colombians than there could possibly be room for in these sleepy little towns. It was crazy to see so many people after our four days of boating through such quiet islands.
Our arrival involved an extended wait at an immigration office that reminded me in its tone and length of my Africa days.
But once that business was taken care of, we got to enjoy the area, in particular a hike from Capurgana over a high hill ridge back to Sapzurro, along the way enjoying this very helpful picture of our process...
...and an amazing breeze at the top of the ridge, where we could look ahead to Sapzurro...
...as well as behind us to where we started in Capurgana.
Sweet little corner of Sapzurro:
Then we climbed a smaller ridge, the top of which was just wide enough for this little immigration hut and the flags marking the border between Panama and Colombia. Such a little spot that has such big significance: in this picture, I've got my right foot on one continent (Panama/North America) and my left on another (Colombia/South America)! So fun.
By that time we were insanely overheated and sweaty so enjoyed a cooling dip in the ocean at the beach in La Miel, just across the border in Panama...
...before walking back up over the border to return to Sapzurro and then catch a boat the rest of the way back to Capurgana.
From here, we're leaving the Darien to head farther into Colombia. Next stop: Cartagena!
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