PHOTO FRIDAY: SLEEPING IN THE JUNGLE

The rain forest cabana where we slept for two nights at Playa Venao.

If ever you wanted to wake up to the sound of howling monkeys, chirping crickets and exotic bird calls, Playa Venao is for you. 

In addition to being home to one of Panama's best beach surf breaks, Venao is surrounded by shrinking swath of lush jungle irrigated by streams that gurgle just outside the door of your hut. Thanks to increasing development, the forest is disappearing, but a few conservation-minded folks, particularly from the jungle lodge at Eco Venao, are doing what they can to protect what's left, including providing visitors the opportunity to spend hours swinging in their private hammock (that's ours above!) surrounded by the soundtrack of the rain forest. Not a bad way to spend a few days, particularly as the end of our trip nears...