{"id":9776,"date":"2025-12-01T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=9776"},"modified":"2025-11-30T22:47:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T03:47:21","slug":"at-80-he-planted-the-panamanian-flag-on-kilimanjaro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/people-opinions\/at-80-he-planted-the-panamanian-flag-on-kilimanjaro\/","title":{"rendered":"At 80 He Planted the Panamanian Flag on Kilimanjaro"},"content":{"rendered":"

Roberto Brenes, a prominent 80-year-old Panamanian businessman and former president of the Panama Stock Exchange, has successfully summited Mount Kilimanjaro<\/a>. Brenes reached the peak of Africa’s highest mountain in late 2024, planting the Panamanian flag at 5,895 meters after a grueling six-day ascent via the Machame route. This extraordinary feat caps a lifetime of athletic pursuits for the Geisha coffee producer and current board chairman of Singular.<\/p>\n

The expedition required meticulous physical and mental preparation, which Brenes described as a return to his adventurous roots in Chiriqu\u00ed province. His journey to the roof of Africa was supported by a team of porters and cooks, with the group facing significant altitude challenges that forced two members to turn back before reaching the summit.<\/p>\n

First you see the clouds below you, which means it rarely rains up there but the wind is very strong. You reach that level with limited oxygen and experience a period where you release enormous amounts of endorphins, as if you had smoked a baseball bat. All of that is a product of the altitude. [Translated from Spanish]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Brenes explained the surreal experience of standing at the summit, where visitors typically remain for only fifteen minutes before beginning their descent. He noted that the descent proved particularly challenging, stating that after a certain age, going down stairs costs much more effort than going up, simply due to the physical toll.<\/p>\n

Lifetime of Preparation for Ultimate Challenge<\/h2>\n

Brenes credits his successful summit to a lifetime of outdoor activities and specific altitude training. Born and raised in Chiriqu\u00ed, he spent his youth hiking hills, swimming in rivers, free diving, and visiting islands. After moving to Panama City, he transitioned to organized sports including running, swimming, and cycling.<\/p>\n

At age 55, Brenes committed to triathlon training, a discipline that pushed him to compete seriously. He completed his final Ironman Triathlon<\/a> in Panama in 2022. In recent years, he returned to climbing Volc\u00e1n Bar\u00fa<\/a>, Panama’s highest peak, and purchased a coffee farm in Piedra Candela, Chiriqu\u00ed, at 1,600 meters elevation, which he regularly walks.<\/p>\n

For Kilimanjaro you need to know how to adapt to the altitude, because Volc\u00e1n Bar\u00fa is at 3,400 meters and Kili reaches almost 6,000 meters. I highly recommend Cerro F\u00e1brega in Bocas del Toro, which I climbed for the first time in my seventies. [Translated from Spanish]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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A post shared by La Prensa Panama\u0301 (@prensacom)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n