Sixaola

Sixaola, located in the midst of banana plantations, marks the southernmost end of the Caribbean coastal road and functions as a seldom-used border station to Panama. The actual border is formed by the Sixaola River, which is named after one of the Indian tribes of this area. Indian families who lived scattered throughout this region experience the unrelenting pressure of Western civilization. The profit-oriented banana and cacao industries, with their massive use of pesticides and constant expansion, have forced the Indians to give up their traditional way of life. The acculturation process, which is accelerated through constant contact with modern life, is far more rapid than it was in the time of the Spanish conquistadors.