Along with another lady we met on the Ziplining tour who needed a ride to Bocas, we left Boquete at about 2.30pm and made our way.
A couple of hours later, we came to a standstill with behind a huge line up of cars. Not knowing what happened, we parked our car in the queue and was told that there was a blockade by the local indigeneous people (Indians).
Being curious, we locked the car up and made our way to the front of the blockade and saw 2 huge tree trunks spread across the road, each about 100m apart, thus stopping traffic on both sides of the road.
A banner was placed on one side of the blockade.
Not knowing reasons of the blockade, Niklaus approached some of the Indians, who subsequently shared with him that they were protesting against the government´s decision of giving mining rights to a Canadian mining company, as well as the building of 3 hydrodams, that will ultimately destroy the lands which the Indians currently resides in.
No one could give us any information how long we have to wait before the blockade opens up, so we headed back to our car and ate some of the crackers and fruits we had bought earlier to appease some of our hunger pangs.
Finally after about 2 hours of wait, the blockade was open at 7pm and cars were seen zooming by quickly in both directions.
We were no different as we tried to gain back on lost time, hoping to reach Bocas tonight.
Unfortunately we had to change our plans as it was already dark and boat service to the islands had already ended for the day. So we found a hotel in Almirante (closest town where one catches the boat to Bocas) to spend the night and hopefully catch one of the earliest boats to Bocas tomorrow morning.
A couple of hours later, we came to a standstill with behind a huge line up of cars. Not knowing what happened, we parked our car in the queue and was told that there was a blockade by the local indigeneous people (Indians).
Being curious, we locked the car up and made our way to the front of the blockade and saw 2 huge tree trunks spread across the road, each about 100m apart, thus stopping traffic on both sides of the road. A banner was placed on one side of the blockade.
Not knowing reasons of the blockade, Niklaus approached some of the Indians, who subsequently shared with him that they were protesting against the government´s decision of giving mining rights to a Canadian mining company, as well as the building of 3 hydrodams, that will ultimately destroy the lands which the Indians currently resides in.
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| Protest banner |
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| Indians explaining situation to Niklaus |
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| Indian carrying Panama flag |
No one could give us any information how long we have to wait before the blockade opens up, so we headed back to our car and ate some of the crackers and fruits we had bought earlier to appease some of our hunger pangs.
Finally after about 2 hours of wait, the blockade was open at 7pm and cars were seen zooming by quickly in both directions.
We were no different as we tried to gain back on lost time, hoping to reach Bocas tonight.
Unfortunately we had to change our plans as it was already dark and boat service to the islands had already ended for the day. So we found a hotel in Almirante (closest town where one catches the boat to Bocas) to spend the night and hopefully catch one of the earliest boats to Bocas tomorrow morning.
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