4-Day Trek on the Camino Real

A multi-day trek from the Pacific to the Caribbean along the historic cobblestones of the Camino Real, through the primary rainforest of the Chagres and Portobelo National Parks.

• Dauer: 4 days
• Region: Colón / Caribbean coast

4-Day Trek on the Camino Real

Camino Real hike in Panama – a hike from the Pacific to the Atlantic: along the cobblestones of an old colonial trade route, the trail leads through the primary rainforest of the Chagres & Portobelo National Parks, where endless mule caravans once transported roughly 200 tons of silver from Peru and Bolivia to the trade fair of Portobelo each year. These riches were a magnet for the most famous pirates and privateers of their time, such as Francis Drake.

The Camino Real is the forgotten forerunner of the Panama Canal, where a diverse population of indigenous, Afro-Caribbean and mestizo communities strives for a sustainable way of life and the protection of the surrounding rainforests!

Type of trip: Trekking and Camino Real

Duration: 4 days

Participants: 2-8

Highlights

• A unique trekking tour on the Camino Real
• Hiking through rivers and primary rainforest
• Experience fascinating history!
• Sustainable, with community tourism

Itinerary Overview

1. Day 01 | Excursion to the Camino Real
2. Day 02 | Hike along the Camino Real
3. Day 03 | Through the heart of the Chagres and Portobelo National Parks
4. Day 04 | Hike along the Cascajal River to Portobelo

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01 | Excursion to the Camino Real

In the morning your hiking guide picks you up at your hotel. A day in the rainforest is an extraordinary experience: you can enjoy the wonderful evening and morning atmosphere, bathe in the river, and truly switch off from the bustle of the city and modern life.

Today and tomorrow you explore the Camino Real, the predecessor of the Panama Canal and the gold route of the Spanish conquistadors between the Pacific and the Atlantic. In the morning you hike for about two hours along the Camino Real. The trail leads through hilly terrain, and along the way you learn more about the history of this route: the Spanish conquistadors, the mule caravans, Francis Drake and other pirates, and you repeatedly come across well-preserved colonial cobblestones of the Camino Real.

You then reach the village of Quebrada Ancha, where you enjoy a delicious lunch and get to know the way of life and culture of the Panamanian campesinos. The village has actively contributed to the research work on the Camino Real and has made part of the Camino Real accessible again. With your visit you support a village project to build sustainable tourism. [3 km, 80 m ↑, 80 m ↓, walking time approx. 2 hrs]. The hike can be adapted to your fitness level.

Overnight in a tent in the village of Quebrada Ancha. (For those who prefer a hotel, transport to a hotel and an overnight stay can be arranged.) B/L/D

Day 02 | Hike along the Camino Real

Today you continue to follow the original course of the legendary Camino Real, which was rediscovered by the Austrian Christian Strassnig over many years of research.

First you head uphill for about an hour to the crest of a ridge, where you follow the route of the Camino Real. From the ridge you enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the Chagres National Park. Soon after, you reach a well-preserved section of the Camino Real. You take a break at a small campesino hut. Continuing along the ridge, you then head downhill and, following the Mauro River, reach the village of Santa Librada, which also helped reopen the route. In Santa Librada you have lunch. Afterwards you drive back to Panama City.

Alternatively, on this day you can learn about agriculture in the tropics: on a walk with a small-scale farmer we get to know a wide variety of tropical plants, including coffee, and at the end of the hike there is a coffee tasting. A hike to a nearby waterfall is also possible (2 hours).

[↑ 250 m, ↓ 150 m, 11 km, walking time 5-6 hrs]

Overnight in Panama City (B/L).

Day 03 | Through the heart of the Chagres and Portobelo National Parks

After a hearty breakfast we are ready for the next stage. Today we hike mostly through primary forest along the upper reaches of the Cascajal and Boquerón rivers. We walk beneath giant rainforest trees along the rivers and come across numerous waterfalls. The Cerro Bruja (Witch Mountain), at 979 m, is the highest peak along the Camino Real. We cross this mountain, completely covered in tropical rainforest, at a saddle. In the afternoon we reach the camp on a farm, surrounded by the dense green of the jungle. Beyond its scenic impressions, the Camino Real also offers deep insights into the diversity of the cultures living here. On the shores of Lake Alajuela live mestizos and Emberá indigenous people, and at the end point of our trek we experience the rich cultural heritage of the Afro-Caribbean population. – Overnight in a tent (B/L/D) [↑ 250 m, ↓ 200 m, walking time approx. 7-8 hrs]

Day 04 | Hike along the Cascajal River to Portobelo

Today we hike the final segment of the Camino Real towards the Caribbean. We walk along the Cascajal River in the footsteps of the Camino Real to Portobelo. Portobelo is the Caribbean end point of the Camino Real. The Bay of Portobelo was discovered by Columbus on his fourth voyage. In 1597 the town was founded as the end point of the Camino Real and the site of the famous Portobelo trade fairs, where the Spanish treasure fleet took on the riches of South America. Because of these treasures, the English pirate Sir Francis Drake attacked Portobelo; shortly afterwards he fell ill and was buried at sea in a lead coffin somewhere outside the Bay of Portobelo. The town lies beautifully on a natural harbor. To this day, this UNESCO World Heritage site, with its numerous fortifications, the royal customs house and a museum, bears witness to its former importance. We visit some of the fortifications from the Spanish colonial era, built here to protect against pirates and other attackers.

In the late afternoon we are picked up by a bus that takes us back to Panama City in about 2 hours. – (B/L) [↑ 50 m, ↓ 150 m, walking time approx. 6-7 hrs]

Photos

Services & Hotels

Included services

• Accommodation in comfortable hotels, lodges or resorts of the 3, 4 and 5* category, see accommodation list
• Accommodation in tents in Quebrada Ancha
• All entrance fees included in the program
• Meals as per the program
• Private German-speaking tour guide on days 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15
• Private English-speaking tour guide on days 9, 10

Not included

• International flight to Panama
• Meals not listed in the detailed program
• Drinks
• Optional tips
• Other personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Optional excursions

Hotels

Quebrada Ancha / Camino Real, 1 night

Tent in the community house (with shower and WC)

Overnight in a tent or simple huts in Quebrada Ancha on the Camino Real.

Rainforest camps, 2 nights

Tent or jungle hammock

Notes, Info & FAQ

What are the requirements for this trek?

• Frequent rain and muddy paths
• Numerous river crossings
• Uneven trails, with roots, branches and stones on the ground
• Maximum elevation changes of 250 meters per day
• Good fitness and the ability to adapt to rainforest conditions are required
• You must already have completed multi-day treks

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

The standard vaccinations recommended in Germany provide sufficient protection. The stories of malaria and yellow fever epidemics date back to the construction of the Panama Canal from 1881 and have long been overcome. The last native case of yellow fever in Panama was recorded in 1972.

Weather and climate

• Coastal areas, lowland rainforest and lowlands: 24 – 34 °C

What clothing and equipment do I need for this trip?

• For hiking, breathable lightweight outdoor clothing (e.g. Columbia) appropriate to the days; for higher elevations in Chiriquí you need additional layers (the onion principle) such as a fleece jacket, a rainproof and windproof jacket or rain jacket, which you also need on the flight
• Comfortable ankle-high trekking boots with good tread
• Hiking poles (depending on personal preference you can use hiking poles; if you bring them, please pack only telescopic poles)
• Crocs (ideal for the beach and after the hike), otherwise sandals; flip-flops are only of limited use
• (Sun) hat, sunglasses, possibly cream or remedy for sunburn/sun allergy, camping towel
• Swimwear; you can swim in Bocas del Toro, on the Camino Real and in Portobelo
• Headlamp, camping towel for the stay on the Camino Real
• Suitcase or travel bag for your main luggage
• Daypack for excursions and hikes (ideally a waterproof backpack/drybag, the only kind that keeps things dry in tropical rains)
• A foldable bag or light backpack for the luggage needed on days 4-7 (main luggage is kept at the hotel)
• First-aid kit and your personal regular medication, (blister) plasters
• Sunscreen (high factor, at least 30), insect repellent & ointment for insect bites

Top tips for equipment

• Waterproof daypack
• Ankle-high trekking boots
• Crocs for the stay at the camps

With your booking you receive detailed travel documents, including the corresponding packing list.

Dates & Prices

Please submit an inquiry at least one month before your intended travel date.

Prices