First Ride, First Crisis: Roadblocks & Resilience in Panama - EP.368
6 Video Views·Apr 18, 2026
Panama greeted me with widespread protests and demanding roadblocks in the Boca del Toro region, forcing me to think on my feet. Come along for the unfiltered journey as I navigate the chaos and when plans go completely awry. Welcome to Panama... things will get better soon, I promise!
Welcome to Panama! Border crossing took me two hours. It was a little bit
confusing but we're in. So first I had to pay $8, then I have to pay $1, then I
have to pay $10, then I have to pay $30 for the insurance. So there was a bit of
yeah I'm not sure what happened but people were here very helpful and there
was no line so still took me two hours because I had to see so many people and
make copies and this and that. All of that. Anyway we're in. Welcome to Panama.
Okay sorry I'm not sure which way to go. Maybe let's go this way. Oh Chile we're in.
So yeah so this is our last country in North America. So yeah I've been here for
three years. Yeah on this continent and prior to that I was three years in
Africa. So I tend to stay three years per continent lately and I'm sure I'll be
three years in South America because just so much to explore. Wow a lot of
cyclists I must say. It's a thing here. Okay let's pay attention to our fresh
start. I love this moment. I love it like when you cross the border and they just
look around and how they build houses. A bit different than Costa Rica. Oh oh no so you have to
say you have to know something. This is our first closure. There are a lot of
protests in Panama at the moment. Let's go this way. So I think native people are
on strike. Lucky we're on the bike. So I know some overlanders in the car they
were like standing in this line for like 10 hours. Sometimes you stay overnight.
It's serious but lucky. We are on the bike and Chile can do it. We just like
swerve around. That was very lucky. I hope all of them will be like this. I have to
investigate what exactly they're fighting for. But my first impression well I am
impressed. Look at the pavement. It's so good. The roads in Panama are known to be
very good. I agree. The roads are very good. So the thing here is. Where's the
speedo? Okay so 40 kph. Okay we're gonna go 40 kph because you know
apparently in Panama you have raiders everywhere. Police everywhere and they do
stop you and they do find you. We have to be very careful Chile here because
knowing our luck we're gonna get caught. But let's just not jinx it. Touch wood.
You go first. I don't know what's the speed limit here. I mean I'm just gonna
follow him. Yeah let's do that. He knows what he's doing. He's a local. Wow so much is
going on. I'm not sure. There's a train. Gracias. Muchas gracias. Wow that was lucky.
Wow so yeah imagine you're in the car. You can't go. I wonder what's going on.
I'm looking for an ATM. I need to take some cash out. Maybe I should like stop
and see where it is before we head further. So strange. I didn't get local currency. I got
American dollars. I think I pressed something wrong. So I think you just can
pay with American dollars here. Easily. So my plan was to get to Colón Island
today but ain't happening because it took us too long at the border and now
all the ferries are already gone. So we're gonna go to this town. 30 km
from here. We're gonna stay there for the night and tomorrow we're gonna catch the
ferry. That's the plan. Keep going Julie. It's getting late.
So these cars just stopped because I was lost. My Google is a little bit confused
where to go and I'm just following them. They're gonna guide me to the road
on which I should be. So they're very nice. Okay this way now. Interesting.
Yeah. They're gonna tell me.
And here we have a roadblock. This is crazy. It truly is. Are we gonna approach
it Julie? I'm just gonna go through here I guess. That really worked. Good.
The roadblock and we made it through. Yay! Gracias. And we are going. That's fine. We can go.
Right. And here we have a bridge. Clearly there is a blockage there.
Is there a way for us? Yes there is. Let's go this way. I just don't ask. I just go.
Before they manage to react and say something that's not okay. Okay here we
have a chain. Okay hold on, hold on. We can go on there. Muchas gracias. Gracias.
Oh it's raining there. But what a beautiful river. And the cows and all and
the mountains in the background. Wow this is pretty. So here as you can see we only
have cyclists. That is crazy. It's getting difficult. Well this way. That's good Julie.
This is everything. Okay now we have to go across the chain. Like here. Okay and now this way Julie.
High five! Right. We are out of here. Wow. I don't know. I'll stop counting how many
roadblocks I already went through in the last literally 15 kilometers. That is crazy.
I don't know. I really don't know how people in the cars travel through Panama these days.
I reckon you just need to be very patient and it's gonna take you a long time.
Here. Looks blocked. Here. How does it look? Oh Julie. We'll be on the edge.
Haha. And we are out of here. Alright. Well. What do we have here?
Hola. Buenas. Buenas. Aha. Gracias. Muchas gracias. Gracias. This way. Gracias. Gracias.
We are out of there. How many more? Oh my god. Is this how it's gonna be?
Like every 4 kilometers there is a block but because of those roadblocks there's no cars.
See? The road is clear and there's no cops because why would the cops be here?
There's no cars. No one goes anywhere. Okay. We have made it to our final destination.
And now we have to look for a hotel. Oh. What a day. I'm so tired.
We found a perfect place. I booked this apartment for 30 bucks. Bargain.
Chili's Park under the shelter. Shelter. Shelter. There's shelter.
It was a long day, Chili, wasn't it? Although we only did 80 kilometers in total.
So this is my beautiful apartment. I'm here at the back. I'll show you.
And apparently I'm able to do laundry in this washing machine. I have to work it out.
So here we are. Welcome to my apartment. Bargain. 30 bucks.
So I managed to find out what's going on with all these roadblocks.
Apparently these people are protesting against new laws in regards to superannuation.
Like the retirement fund. Something like that. And it's been on like that for the last 5 weeks.
So the whole Caribbean region is affected here in Panama. There's no tourism. There's nothing.
People can't bring goods. It's terrible for the region. But it is what it is.
There's nothing I could do about that. Right? So the only way to travel here now is only on a motorcycle.
Forget about the car. Don't come here in a car when the roadblocks are here.
Because you're going to be here forever doing 40 kilometers. That's it.
End of the commentary for today. I am exhausted. I need to do the laundry.
I need to eat something. And go to bed. And tomorrow, hopefully, there will be a ferry to the island.
Because I may not get on the ferry because maybe there are no ferries.
Because there's no people going there.
Anyhow. End of commentary for today.
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