After getting settled at Lost and Found hostel, I was ready to consider what adventures I might pursue over the course of my two-day stay.

In a purely serendipitous moment, I met two other hostel guests from Italy who were interested in going to a nearby canyon the following afternoon.

“What kind of canyon?” I responded.

Regardless of the answer, I knew I was game to join since geological features are always one of my top interests while traveling.

It turns out that the nearby canyon was rather miniature – a narrow slice of rock about 100 feet in length hemming in a pretty deep river. The photos online showed smiling people jumping off of the cliffs into the aquamarine water below. I was ready to play!

We took the bus 20 minutes down the mountain from the hostel to a small town, Gualaca. There was a tiny roadside restaurant right where we disembarked. My fellow travelers and I were torn between heading directly to the canyon or stopping for a bite to eat, but the delicious smells of frying meat ended up luring us in for lunch. For less than $4 USD, I had a plate of rice, beans, slaw, and tender chicken. I tried not to eat too much, knowing full well that I would be swimming shortly, but it was hard not savor as many bites as I could.

Afterwards, we ambled slowly down the road towards the river. I could hear a few other visitors shouting jubilantly as we neared.

The water was beautiful. The canyon rock was interesting. I could see how scaling the sides of the rock from the water below would be a challenge. I figured if I failed to haul myself up, I could let the river take me a ways downstream to clamber out at a more friendly bank.

After my layer of sunscreen soaked into my skin, I plunged right in.

The water was deliciously refreshing; I was expecting freezing temperatures, but it was just chilly enough to provide a bliss relief from the hot summer sun.

I gave up trying to climb out after a few minutes. My poor feet didn’t know how to grip the rock without my usual climbing shoes. I lay back, feet first and floated to the end of the rocky portion.

I laughed out loud, so happy to be in a playful natural place.

The next hour I jumped, paddled, swam, slid, and finally mastered the art of climbing out of Gualaca Canyon. One of my Italian friends took to some elaborate diving, earning a few rounds of applause from others.

It was such a beautiful place full of merriment and joy. I could have spent hours there, but my body was wearing out, politely reminding me that I had to save energy for the hike back to the hostel.

As I lay in the sun, I wiggled my toes and sighed. It’s amazing how contentment meets me during vacation times. There’s something about opening myself up to new experiences, new cultures, and new people.

I enjoyed my mini canyon experience immensely.

If You Decide to Go

1. Weekends will be busy! Try to go midweek to avoid the crowds.

2. Know your swimming strengths and limits. The water is deep and the current is surprisingly strong.

3. Wear sunscreen, even if it’s overcast. Being close to the equator can result in some nasty burns.

4. Eat at Fonda Tipica Lili before or after you go. They’ll offer you some tasty grub and then point you in the direction of the canyon.

5. I suggest staying at Lost and Found, but you could also take the bus from David, the second largest city in Panama (about 40 minutes away).