How's the hiking and camping in and around Coronado, Panama?

Great hiking can be found just a short 30 minute drive away from Coronado.  El Valle de Anton, one of the most beautiful and tropical places to visit in all of Panama offers amazing hiking trails, waterfalls, petrogliphs and wonderful mountain and valley views.  This 500 million year old ancient volcano crater community is home to some of Panama's most unique birds, flora and fauna.  You will be amazed at the endless opportunities that nature has to offer here.  And...

Great hiking can be found just a short 30 minute drive away from Coronado.  El Valle de Anton, one of the most beautiful and tropical places to visit in all of Panama offers amazing hiking trails, waterfalls, petrogliphs and wonderful mountain and valley views.  This 500 million year old ancient volcano crater community is home to some of Panama's most unique birds, flora and fauna.  You will be amazed at the endless opportunities that nature has to offer here.  And if you are a runner or mountain biker as myself, you can compete in many of the challenging Trail Runs and Bike Competitions that are held in El Valle year round.

Hiking  and  camping.

 

In general, Panamá has not developed the custom of camping, as you would use the term elsewhere.

 

In Panamá, the term "camping" is actually used for what children do during times of vacation, from 1 to 3 weeks, when they usually go to some of the towns with proper installations, mainly churches or schools.   "Camping parks", or large places where...

Hiking  and  camping.

 

In general, Panamá has not developed the custom of camping, as you would use the term elsewhere.

 

In Panamá, the term "camping" is actually used for what children do during times of vacation, from 1 to 3 weeks, when they usually go to some of the towns with proper installations, mainly churches or schools.   "Camping parks", or large places where people can get together and do this, don't exist in Panamá, like they do in other countries.

 

But, on the other hand, Panamá is a great place for hiking and camping, in a different way, especially because the beautiful weather all year round and warm people who welcome you everywhere you go, even if they do not speak your language, but they try to communicate with you somehow.

 

Specifically around Coronado, you can find uncounted hills, mountains, rivers and paths where you can have an unforgettable experience.  Two places in the area suitable for both activities are El Valle de Antón and Campana Hights.   But you´ll have to provide all the equipment needed, unless you hire an outdoor adventure tour operator, who helps you with these items.  You can also contact "ANAM", which is the government institution in charge of all the natural environment. They offer guidance on certain packages and tours, at excellent prices... like the park in Campana, or (8 hours away from Panama City by car) Cerro Volcán , in Chiriquí Province.

Most of the hiking that’s done is near Coronado, Panama, but not inside Coronado, proper.  So, if you wanted to hike, you would most likely be driving anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes to get up in the mountains towards El Valle or Altos del Maria where it’s a cooler climate.  Along these roads, there are several national forests. 

 

Generally, you wouldn’t just stop somewhere and take a hiking trail. There are, however, well-known and...

Most of the hiking that’s done is near Coronado, Panama, but not inside Coronado, proper.  So, if you wanted to hike, you would most likely be driving anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes to get up in the mountains towards El Valle or Altos del Maria where it’s a cooler climate.  Along these roads, there are several national forests. 

 

Generally, you wouldn’t just stop somewhere and take a hiking trail. There are, however, well-known and established hiking trails towards and in the mountains.  Some people will just hike along a dirt road.  (After all, you are in the jungle.)

 

When you get up in the mountains, you can literally experience up to a 14-degree temperature drop.  (The average is from 5 – 7 degrees cooler.)  Once you’ve arrived, a beautiful, pristine jungle with very lush, tropical plants, lots of birds, surrounds you.  You’ll find a little local village here and there, sometimes with small places that are people’s homes where you’ll never believe that 8 people live there without running water or electricity.  They’ll sell you bananas cut right off the tree for 5 cents each that are the best bananas you’ve ever had in your life.   You’re surrounded not only by the natural beauty of the area but also by the beauty of the local Panamanians.

 

It is absolutely 100% safe to hike in these areas.  I have no problems taking my kids.  You may see a wild cat, but that is very rare, because those types of animals don’t want to be seen.  You want to be aware of snakes, wasps and bees, so take a walking stick with you and “walk heavily”.  These are the same precautions you would take anywhere.  Snake bites are very, very rare.

 

Panamanians generally don’t camp, so you don’t see a lot of campgrounds.  (The local Panamanians in these areas are “camping” on a daily basis, which is how they live, and the affluent Panamanians generally don't like to camp.) 

There are excellent hiking trails and even backcountry camping near Coronado. Here are some of the best spots within an hour or so of Playa Coronado:

 

1. El Valle de Anton: the only town in the world inside a volcanic creator. There are amazing viewpoints all around the rim of the extinct volcano. There is great camping and eco-lodges in this area. The best hiking trails are Cerro Cariguana, Sendero Cerro Gaital and India Dormida.

 

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There are excellent hiking trails and even backcountry camping near Coronado. Here are some of the best spots within an hour or so of Playa Coronado:

 

1. El Valle de Anton: the only town in the world inside a volcanic creator. There are amazing viewpoints all around the rim of the extinct volcano. There is great camping and eco-lodges in this area. The best hiking trails are Cerro Cariguana, Sendero Cerro Gaital and India Dormida.

 

2. Altos de Campana National Park: excellent hiking trails high in the mountains with spectacular views of Punta Chame, the Playa Coronado resort area and the islands in the Gulf of Panama. La Cruz Trail is excellent and you will find alpine camping around the national park.

 

3. Sarigua National Park: this was once the site of ancient civilization but deforestation turned it into a desert scrubland. It contains Sarigua, one of the country's most important pre-Columbian sites. This area hosted a fishing village 11,000 years ago and is the site of Panama's earliest-known farming community 1,500 years ago.