Hiking in Panamá

Rich in tropical flora, diverse wildlife, and picture-worthy sights, Panamá trails offer something for every hiker, from easy and scenic excursions with city views to challenging and secluded trails around extinct volcanoes, islands, and lush rainforests.

A short car ride from Panama City is Metropolitan Natural Park. As you hike one of the seven marked trails that range from easy to moderate, perfect for families, you’ll feel far from civilization in the 573-acre (or 232 hectares). El Roble Trail is a 0.7 km (0.4 mi) flat pathway that connects to the visitor's center. The Caobos trail is a more challenging hike 0.9 km (0.4 mi); the Cieneguita is longer, 1.1 km (0.7 mi), and the Mono Titi Road wider 1.1 km (0.7 mi). The park is home to one of the most spectacular Panamá city skyline views at the Cerro Cedro Lookout Point.

North of Metropolitan Natural Park, you’ll find more views, wildlife, and even history, at the 3642 hectare (9,000-acre) Camino de Cruces National Park. The Camino de Cruces Trail originated in 1527 and was used by the Spanish to link Old Panama City to the Venta de Cruces and transport goods like textiles, spices, silver, and gold back to the homeland. The 8-14 km (5.9-miles) trail (point-to-point), classified as moderately challenging, takes over three hours to complete. This park offers no facilities, and we highly recommend hiking with a partner and bringing water.

Right above Cruces is Soberania National Park, the most expansive rainforest in this area at 22.257 hectare (55,000 acres), near the banks of the famous Panama Canal and with the Chagres River running through it. Some of the top hiking trails include Pipeline Road, a 6-8 km (4.5-mile) round trip hike that takes nearly two hours to complete, and Plantation Road, an over three-hour hike and a 11-13 km (7.8-mile) hike round trip.

The park is situated in western Panama within the Chiriqui Province and is the highest point in Panamá at 3,474 meters (11.398 ft) high – the 12th highest peak found in Central America. 

The extinct volcano separates Volcan and Cerro Punta, both in the Tierras Altas district, from Boquete. Trails vary in difficulty from easy to challenging. Both sides have access to hiking trails. Tierras Altas is shorter but challenging, Boquete trail is longer and of moderate difficulty while the Volcan side it's extremely hard but with amazing views . It’s the only place in the world where, on the clearest of days, you can see the Atlantic and Pacific oceans at the same time. 

Other memorable hikes in the area include the Los Quetzales Trail, which weaves through the national park and connects Cerro Punta and Boquete. It typically takes four hours to hike one way. Another must-see hiking spot is La Amistad International Park in Tierras Altas, named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983. You don’t want to miss the park’s Panama Verde Trail, an easy 0.6 km circuit that takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to complete. 

Another stunning trail outside of Boquete is The Lost Waterfalls Trail. During your visit, you'll find hanging vines, lush trees with gigantic leaves accompanied by melodies of birds, and a natural water show.

In Boquete, you’ll find the El Pianista Trail, which features a narrow canyon path. Just four kilometers outside of town, it takes approximately three hours at an elevation of 609m (2,000 feet) to hike, and much of it is among the clouds.