Camino Real Excursion

Camino Real Excursion

The Camino Real is a narrow path through the Panamanian rainforest, forgotten for centuries. Caribbean pirates and incredible riches once passed along it. A research project rediscovered the trail a few years ago, and now you can hike it for yourself alongside the smallholder farmers who live there. The tour supports the sustainable development of these villages and the protection of the rainforest.

The man behind the project and his team join you on this excursion.

Type of trip: Day excursion

Duration: 8 hours

Participants: 2-16

Price: €105 - 230 per person

Highlights

• A 2-hour hike along the Camino Real
• Dugout canoe ride in Chagres National Park
• Visit to a village of Panamanian campesinos

Itinerary

Time	Program
08:00	Meeting point at the hotel
08:15	Departure for Chagres National Park
09:30	Boat ride into Chagres National Park
10:00	Hike along the Camino Real
12:30	Arrival in the village and lunch
13:30	Walk around the village
14:30	Boat ride back to the jetty
15:00	Return to Panama
16:15	Arrival at the hotel

For the 9:00 a.m. departure from the port of Amador, the schedule is adjusted accordingly.

Detailed Description

We meet you at your hotel in the morning. The man who launched the research project to rediscover the Camino Real often comes along on this excursion, which is really a journey back into Panama’s history. Even on the drive to Lake Alajuela we hear about the adventures and misdeeds of Columbus and the Spanish explorers and conquerors here in Panama.

We travel by bus to Lake Alajuela in Chagres National Park, halfway between Panama City and Colón. The lake was built between 1932 and 1935 to supply water for the Panama Canal during the dry season, but rather than turning into a sterile reservoir, it grew into a natural paradise. We take in the rainforest-clad shores and mountains and watch the many bird species along the water’s edge. At the jetty the members of the local tourism committee give us a warm welcome, and we set off straight away by dugout canoe into the stunning landscape of Chagres National Park.

After roughly half an hour in the dugout, depending on the lake’s water level, we reach the start of our hike on the shore of Lake Alajuela. From there we follow the original route of the Camino Real through tropical dry forest, secondary forest and land used as cattle pasture. The Camino Real, the “grandfather” of the Panama Canal, was the route the Spanish conquistadors took from 1519 to cross from the Caribbean coast to the city of Panama on the Pacific. After the conquest of Peru, the gold of the Inca ruler Atahualpa traveled this way to Spain, and once the silver mines of Potosí were discovered, incredible riches came along it to the port of Portobelo every year.

Chroniclers of the day described the route as 20 miles of toil and hardship between the two oceans. Don’t worry, though: we walk only an easy 3-kilometer stretch through the hills. Once the railway and the Panama Canal were built, the route was forgotten and the rainforest reclaimed it. It wasn’t until 2008 that Christian Strassnig rediscovered it on research expeditions. He covered more than 600 kilometers in the rainforests of the Chagres and Portobelo National Parks and opened the Camino Real back up to hikers.

After about two hours on the trail we reach the village of Quebrada Ancha, where a group of residents, inspired by the rediscovery of the Camino Real, have come together to welcome visitors. We sit down to a traditional Panamanian meal. Fortified by lunch, we take a short walk through the village and see another stretch of the Camino Real that runs right through it. Then we set off once more, returning to the jetty by dugout canoe and continuing by bus toward Panama City.

Services

Included services

• Travel in air-conditioned buses
• English-speaking tour guide
• Hike along the Camino Real
• Lunch in the village of Quebrada Ancha and drinks

Not included

• Tips

Notes, Info & FAQ

Do I need a yellow fever vaccination, and which vaccinations do I generally need for Panama?

The standard vaccinations recommended in Germany are enough to keep you protected. There are no dangerous mosquitoes in Chagres National Park or on the Camino Real hike. The tales of malaria and yellow fever epidemics go back to the building of the Panama Canal from 1881 and are long behind us. Panama’s last locally acquired case of yellow fever was recorded in 1972.

More information on health, tropical diseases and vaccinations can be found here.

Weather and clothing

Wear light, comfortable summer or hiking clothing (shorts and a short-sleeved shirt). For the hike you’ll want shoes with a sturdy, well-treaded sole.

Panama’s rainy season runs from mid-April to mid-December. The heaviest showers come at the end of it, in October and November, so through mid-December we’d bring along an umbrella or rain jacket, though a heavy downpour can happen in the dry season too. From December to April it barely rains, the sun is strong all day, and around midday the temperature climbs to about 34 degrees Celsius, so sun protection and plenty of water are essential. Be sure to pack sunscreen, a hat or cap, and sunglasses.

Currency

The country’s official currency is the Panamanian balboa, but in practice the US dollar is what circulates. To be exact, only dollar bills are used, while the coins are a mix of US dollar coins and balboa coins, both minted for Panama in the USA.

Many restaurants and shops happily take credit cards. A tip on cash: skip the large bills for souvenir shops and the like; four 5-dollar bills plus the rest in 20s works best.

General country and travel information for Panama

Follow this link to read detailed country and travel information for Panama.

Dates & Prices

The price depends on the number of participants. Panama sees fewer tourists from May to November, while December to April is high season, when groups tend to be larger.

This excursion runs any day of the week, and we ask that you book early. Any remaining spots can still be reserved the evening before. In the booking form, please give your date and the name of your hotel. If you’re coming from the port of Amador, please add the name of your ship and its docking time.

Prices

Number of participants	Price p.p.
2 participants	EUR 230
3 participants	EUR 175
4-5 participants	EUR 135
6-7 participants	EUR 115
8-16 participants	EUR 105

Discount for children: USD 20 up to age 6, USD 10 up to age 11.

You’re welcome to pay in cash in US dollars on the day of the tour in Panama, or to transfer the amount in advance in EUR (please note the excursion date and name in the reference). Panama uses the US dollar, which you can also withdraw from an ATM in Panama City.