Chagres National Park

Canoes on the Rìo Chagres

Chagres National Park is a huge protected natural area of dense rainforests, mountains, and rivers in central Panama. The park attracts naturalists (particularly birdwatchers) and adventure travelers who come to explore the jungle trails or to enjoy watersports on the Chagres River or Lake Alajuela.

Understand

The park comprises more than 309,000 acres (129,000 hectares).

History

The park was created in 1986.

Get in

The closest airport to Chagres National Park is Tocumen International Airport (PTY ^IATA) in Panama City.

The best way to get to the park is with a tour guide from Panama City. The park boundary is about 60 km north of Panama City. Roads lead to many towns close to the park's borders. There are no roads into the park and no tourist infrastructure of any kind, though travel with tour guides can be comfortable and safe.

Get around

Hike and/or canoe.

See

• Embera - an indigenous village inside the park boundaries, like stepping into another time and place

Do

• Camino Real: Extreme adventure travelers might want to hike the original route of the Spanish imperialists as they crossed the isthmus of Panama between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. For more than 100 years, this was the way that valuables were transported between the two oceans. It is the route followed by the villainous pirate Henry Morgan to reach Panama City (which he and his band of pirates sacked). About 30 km of the original Camino Real pass through Chagres National Park and it's a very rugged hike that passes through jungles, through rivers, and over mountains as the trail wends its way from the ruined site of Nombre de Dios on the Atlantic coast to the ruins of Panama Viejo outside Panama City on the Pacific coast. In some places you can still see the original paving stones.

• Watersports on Lake Alajuela and the Chagres River include: rafting, kayaking, and fishing.

Sleep

Backcountry

Backcountry camping is allowed. Practice Leave-no-trace camping.

Stay safe

Chagres National Park is an unimproved park with significant challenges for the experienced outdoorsman. It can be an unforgiving environment for neophytes unfamiliar with the rigors of harsh jungle environments. You will likely get rained on, covered in mud, bitten by mosquitos (and perhaps a snake or two). Local guides are advised.

Go next

• Panama City
• Gamboa
• Portobelo