Post - Everyday Travel Guides

by Rebecca Hollman
updated April 9, 2019

Volcán Barú Summit Hike - Boquete, Panama

Boquete is one of the most beautiful areas of Panama, known for its lush jungles, waterfalls, coffee farms and hiking trails. Some of the most accessible trails are the Lost Waterfalls trail, the Pipeline trail, and the Quetzales trail. The most famous and popular hike in the area, and in all of Panama, is the Volcán Barú summit. It leads to the top of the highest point in Panama and gives views to both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans on either side of the country.

Table of Contents

About The Hike

The sunrise summit of Volcán Barú is one of the most popular hikes in all of Panama. The hike starts around 11PM - 12AM (depending on your fitness level) and you reach the summit right as the sun is rising. You get to watch the color change and the sun come up over the ocean of clouds. The peak of Volcán Barú is so high that you are siginificantly above the cloud coverage and it really does look like your looking over an ocean of clouds. If you’re lucky, the clouds will blow off as the sun rises, letting you see the landscape of Panama in all directions. From the peak you can see both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. People also hike the trail during other hours of the day, but the most popular option is to be at the top for sunrise.

The trail is 14 kilometers from the base of the volcano to the summit. If you want to see the sunrise, you really need to start at 11PM. I highly suggest napping the day before so you feel refreshed when you start. You will be walking in the pitch black the entire way up the volcano, so make sure to bring headlamps/flashlights. It is also drastically colder on the volcano than in Boquete. You NEED to bring appropriate clothing!!! I can’t stress this enough - multiple layers, gloves, and a legitimate cold weather jacket. I also advise bringing multiple cotton under layer shirts that you change out of every time you get sweaty. If you keep on a wet shirt, you will be in a serious situation. This is no joke, so be prepared. Over prepared is always better than underprepared. Also, don’t forget to bring A LOT of water and at least snacks, if not a full packed meal. We arrived at the top right as the sun was rising, so it took us 6 hours to go up the trail. Other people go faster, but most go slower so make sure you give yourself AT LEAST 6 hours to get to the top. You don’t want to do all that work and then miss the sunrise. At the peak, there is a camp site where the police/national park guards sell water/Gatorade/coffee/snacks, etc. If you get to the top and need something, you can at least get something small here. The trail also continues to an even higher peak, marked with a cross, where you can have a slightly higher lookout point then the first summit.

After spending your fill at the summit, you will head back down the same trail. It is another 14 kilometers, or 6 hours, back down. You don’t go much faster down than you do going up. I personally thought going down was harder because it seems like it goes forever and at this point you are very exhausted and very sleepy.

This trail is roughly 30 kilometers, or 19 miles, in total. It is not terribly steep, but a steady moderate incline for 6 hours straight. This trail is rated DIFFICULT because of the length and circumstantial conditions (weather, lack of sleep, etc.). Please only attempt this hike if you are in good shape and are well prepared with clothing, food and water.

More About Volcán Barú

Volcán Barú is an active stratovolcano and the tallest point in all of Panama. The volcano is surrounded by very fertile areas of cool highlands. The towns of Cerro Punta and Volcan are on the western side of the volcano and Boquete is on the eastern side. The weather is drastically cooler on the summit, with chances of it reaching below zero (below 32 degrees F). It is common for the summit to be covered in frost. The volcano and the surrounding area was created into Volcán Barú National Park in 1976. It is over 35,000 acres and protects over 250 species of birds, as well as all 5 species of wild cats. The park protects humid montane forests, low humid montane forests, and montane rainforests.

Solo vs Tour

There are multiple options on how to reach the summit of Volcán Barú including hiking the trail on your own, hiking the trail with a tour group or taking a 4x4 car to the top of the summit. The trail is very obvious so hiking it on your own is very easy, as long as you are prepared. Some people opt to go with a tour to make sure they have a guide. This is a good option for people who don’t feel confident hiking or people who don’t have the proper gear as most tours let you borrow gloves/jackets/etc. The last option is for people who want to see the sunrise at the top, but don’t want to work for it. The car tours go up around 4AM and take you pretty much all the way to the top. You then hop out, watch the sunrise, and then get back in the car and go back down. I highly suggest against doing the car tour, as the beauty of this hike comes mostly from the effort you have to put in. If you want to do it solo or on a guided tour is really just personal preference and how much you want to spend.

Doing it solo will cost you $5 USD (for the entrance fee). The national park entrance hut will be closed when you start the hike late at night but will be open when you leave. Usually they make you pay the fee when you leave. However, when I did the trail they just made me sign out of the visitor log book but not pay the fee. Doing a guided tour will cost you between $30-$50 per person depending on how many are in the group. Taking a car to the top is $90-100 per person.

**IMPORTANT TO NOTE: There are a lot of people that take the car tours to the top. The cars drive up the same road that is the trail you will be walking on. They come up the road in the dark so be careful when you are walking. There are probably about 30 cars that go up each morning. This also means that they are A TON of people at the top. Luckily the summit is big and there’s lots of room to spread out.

Trail Info

The trail is 13.5 kilometers each way, for 27 kilometers in total. However my step tracker had me more around 32 kilometers. The trail takes between 5 to 8 hours up, and the same coming back down. Temperatures at the summit can be below freezing. This trail is rated difficult, and it really is no joke. Please bring the appropriate gear when attempting this trail.

What to Bring With You

Winter jacket - Doesn’t have to be a down puffer jacket, but you really need an outer layer that is insulating.
Multiple cotton bottom layers - Each time your shirt gets wet from sweat, stop and take it off! Put on a dry shirt from your bag and put away your wet one. Your body wastes lots of energy trying to warm you up if you’re slightly damp and cold.
Gloves/beanie/etc. - Having other cold weather layers will always help. My hands and ears were especially cold.
Hiking boots/shoes - You really need appropriate footwear as this is a long day and lots of miles.
Water - Theres no water source on the hike (not even at the summit). Bring plenty of water!!! I brought 6 water bottles just for myself.
Food - You NEED to have some food. You might even want to make a pre-made sandwich/full meal. Otherwise, at least bring snacks like granola bars and fruit. Again, this is a long day and lots of miles.
Camera - For the views from the top!
Tent (?) - I have heard of some people who hiked up in time for sunrise, slept at the summit all day, woke up in time to watch the sunset and hiked back down. This could be a very interesting option to maximize time on the summit.

Getting to the Trail

The entrance to the trail is at the end of Via El Salto/Calle 2a Norte. From Boquete, turn left on Calle 2a Norte right after RetroGusto restaurant. Follow this all the way past Finca dos Jefes until the road ends at the park entrance hut. Right before the park entrance, there is a gravel road to the left. You can park along this road. The gravel road is right at the dropped pin on the map below. Walk up Calle 2a Norte past the park entrance hut until the road is technically called Camino Volcán Barú. This will be the trail you follow all the way to the top. Once you reach the summit, there is actually a continuation of the trail that leads to a second smaller peak with a cross on the top.