Torio is located in the very tip of the Azuero Peninsula, past Mariato. It has great beaches for surfing (both small and large waves), as well as a lot of solitude and privacy (you can walk for miles on the beach without running into anyone). It took us about 2.5 hours to drive down from Penonome, but we stopped a couple of times to eat and weren't in a big hurry to get there (we had a weak tire situation, so we took it slowly). The road is paved, but there are some spots that do require some maneuvering as they have holes and whatnot. The road down the Azuero Peninsula winds up and down the gorgeous Veraguas mountains, which makes for a very calm, relaxing drive.
While we were there, I got into the habit of going for 6am walks accompanied by Calypso, who spent the entire time frolicking on the beach, sniffing stuff, making under water bubbles, barking, and generally acting like a crazy fool dog that she is. Those 6am walks became an enjoyable part of the getaway (even if at the beginning I was cranky as all hell for being woken up at dawn on my vacation!). It's difficult to stay upset when you're walking along the beach, not a single soul in sight, with a happy dog chasing after seagulls.
My walking partner who prefers pooping on the beach, thankyouverymuch.
to be continued...