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Mark Moxon's Travel Writing

Panama: Pedasí

The main square in Pedasí
The main square in Pedasí

The Peninsula de Azuero sticks out of the southern coast of Panama like a panting dog's tongue, and perched at the southeastern tip of this parched peninsula is the pretty town of Pedasí. This oasis of quaint restaurants and little guesthouses is a good base for exploring the many beaches in the area, but there is one big problem with Pedasí: it's been discovered by a small army of North American, European and Israeli ex-pats, and where ex-pats go, ex-pat culture soon follows, and it's rarely a good thing.

The Peninsula de Azuero is a dry part of the world, and the beaches can feel a bit like deserts
The Peninsula de Azuero is a dry part of the world, and the beaches can feel a bit like deserts
Peta getting ready to cycle to the beaches just out of town
Peta getting ready to cycle to the beaches just out of town
The church on the main square in Pedasí
The church on the main square in Pedasí
When we visited Playa El Toro, we were greeted with a smouldering fire on the beach, in true Central American style
When we visited Playa El Toro, we were greeted with a smouldering fire on the beach, in true Central American style
The northern reaches of Playa El Toro are rather more attractive
The northern reaches of Playa El Toro are rather more attractive