Epic Hikes in Panama – A Guide to the Country’s Best Trails
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If you´re planning to visit Panama as a nature lover and hiking enthusiast, make sure to add some of these epic hikes in Panama to your list!
Hike through magical cloud forests, over grassy hills with incredible views or make your way to some incredible hidden waterfalls – there’s trails for every level and taste here! iking is one of the best things to do in Panama, so don’t miss out.
1. Cerro La Silla, El Valle de Anton
2. Lost waterfalls hike, Boquete
3. Cerro Cara Iguana, El Valle de Anton
5. Other great hikes in Panama
1. Cerro La Silla, El Valle de Anton
Starting out with a real hidden gem in El Valle de Anton and one of the most epic hikes in Panama. Back when I visited in 2023, the trail was free to use but according to my research now in 2026, there might be small fee collected near the trailhead now (3-5 USD). You don’t need a guide to do this trail, so you can just head out and explore it by yourself.
Compared to the more popular “La India Dormida” trail in El Valle, Cerro La Silla is much less visited and you can have it all to yourself, especially if you head there early. It´s a very easy and short trail with only slight incline, but with the most amazing views over grassy hills. I suggest doing this hike for sunrise, it´s magical! If you want to do a sunrise hike but don’t want to go by yourself, check out this guided sunrise hike of Cerro La Silla.
If you have a 4×4 or high clearance car, you can drive all the way up to the first antennas and park there, then head by foot along the dirt road that gets bumpier with every meter. But you can also walk from the town center, which will add another 40 minutes or so each way. Alternatively, hire a driver from town for a few dollars.
After a couple of hundred meters, you take a turn to the right and follow the path to the next antennas.
From there you just follow the trail over the grassy hills and enjoy the view!
Hike details:
- Difficulty: Easy, only the last few meters to the cross on the hill are steep
- Distance: Around 4 km (2.5 miles) roundtrip from the parking at the first antennas
- Duration: 1.5-2 hours round trip with stops along the way.
- Google Maps location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FvpV2a2T3zQRLngd6
- Cost: 3-5 USD maintenance fee
Where to stay in El Valle de Anton?
El Valle de Anton absolutely needs to be on your Panama itinerary! Here are some well-rated places to stay for every budget:
Low budget stays & hostels:
Mid budget stays & hotels:
Luxury lodges & hotels:
2. Lost waterfalls trail, Boquete
This epic hike in Panama is one of my very favourites and leads you to a total of 3 beautiful waterfalls. It’s located in Boquete, one of my favourite places in Panama – it is a MUST stop on your Panama itinerary.
The trail and waterfalls are located on private property, so you have to pay in order to use the trails. The cost is 10 USD per person to enter. (this was the price when I visited in 2023 and it seems to still be accurate in 2026, but might increase in the future)
The hike is pretty steep and also gets pretty muddy in parts especially in rainy seasonl Make sure to wear proper shoes for the hike and to bring enough water.
If you arrive by car, you can park at the closest road and then walk about 15 minutes to the entrance. There are also small, local busses (Colectivos) running every now and then.
The waterfalls are all very different from each other and very beautiful. The first one can only be viewed from a platform and not directly accessed. Waterfall number 2 and 3 can be accessed as well and have a lovely pool. On hot days, you could also have a dip there to cool off.
A lot of people skip the 3rd waterfall, but it was my favorite and I highly recommend making the effort to get there.
This last part mostly is quite muddy and you have to hold onto some ropes and climb over steep rocks to get up. But, if you´re in a somewhat fit condition, you can easily do it.
Hike details:
- Difficulty: Intermediate, mostly uphill and muddy in parts
- Distance: Around 3.5 km (2 miles)
- Duration: 2-3 hours round trip
- Google Maps location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7rr4Z9f9PLBHCLzR9
- Cost: 10 USD per person (at the time of updating this in 2026)
Where to stay in Boquete?
Low budget stays & hostels:
Mid budget stays & hotels:
Luxury lodges & hotels:
3. Cerro Cara Iguana, El Valle de Anton
Another great and easy trail in El Valle de Anton – one of my favourite hidden gems in Panama.
At least it’s easy, if you drive up to the trailhead. If you walk from town instead, it´s gets intermediate, as the start of the trail is pretty high up a steep road.
Once at the trailhead though, the hike is very easy and short. Towards the end you will enjoy the most amazing views over El Valle de Anton. There are a couple of parts where the trail splits, you can take any direction pretty much and just wander around the grassy hills and enjoy the views.
This hike wasn´t busy at all and I didn´t meet anybody along the way when I visited on a random afternoon. I would recommend going either for sunrise or sunset but even in the middle of the day it’s great. Here’s a guided sunset tour to Cerro Cara Iguana, if you prefer not going by yourself.
Hike details:
- Difficulty: Easy, if you start at trailhead up the mountain / intermediate, if you start from town
- Distance: Around 2 km (1.3 miles), if you start from the trailhead or almost 8 km (5 miles), if you start from town
- Duration: 1 hour round trip, if you start from trailhead or 3 hours, if you start from town
- Google Maps location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Zg2XRDwy643JM6wR8
- Cost: Free & no guide required
Where to stay in El Valle de Anton?
Click here to jump to the section further update in this article or use the search bar to find more stays in El Valle de Anton:
4. Pipeline Trail, Boquete
A lovely trail through a lush cloud forest in Boquete. The special thing about this epic hike in Panama: you have high chances to see the national bird of Guatemala, the Quetzal. It´s a majestic creature and you should definitely try to see one during your visit to Boquete.
The trail is navigating along pipelines, which is how it got it´s name.
Another plus of this trail is that there`s a waterfall at the very end of it. Once you reach the small stream and the path is leading into it, cross it and continue the small path until you can´t see a path anymore, just follow the stream (you can do it without getting wet (at least in dry season). At the very end of it, there´s a very high waterfall (with little water when I visited), definitely worth the extra 15 minutes ish.
Along the trail, try to look up in the trees as much as you can, to spot the beautiful Quetzal. I was lucky enough to watch a male and female together for 15+ minutes. Gorgeous creatues.
This trail is generally easy and a bit longer. Mostly uphill but with only a little incline. It´s located on private property and you have to pay for the entrance but you can do this epic hike in Panama without a guide.
If you prefer to go with a guide and group instead, you can check out this tour here.
hike details:
- Difficulty: Easy, slightly uphill
- Distance: Around 7 km (4.3 miles) round trip
- Duration: 2-3 hours
- Google Maps location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/h77nqMieTXG44JrY6
- Cost: 5 USD per person (at the time of updating this post in 2026)
Where to stay in Boquete?
Click here to jump to the section further update in this article.
5. Other epic hikes in Panama
- La India Dormida, El Valle de Anton (guided tour available)
- Cascada Cabello de Angel, Chiriqui
- Volcan Baru ( or book a 4×4 tour instead of the strenous hike)
- Sendero Piedra de Lino, Boquete
- Cerro Tute, Santa Fé
- Sendero El Pianista, Boquete (read reviews about not easy to navigate and not safest, if going by yourself. Do some additional research and think about hiring a guide.)
- Metropolitan Natural Park, Panama City
- Cerro Ancón, Panama City
If you are wanting to do a longer trail with a guide or don’t feel comfortable hiking by yourself, you can check out some hiking tours around Boquete here:
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