Page 132 - The Rough Guide to Panama (Travel Guide)

130 Central Panama Parque NacioNal altos de camPaNa
day-trip, and its dramatic and singular landscape of craggy tors and lava fields hosts a
surprising range of species.
Although the denuded lower western and southern slopes have suffered from
deforestation, elsewhere peaks are cloaked in pre-montane and tropical forest. Of the park’s
39 mammal species, the black-eared opossum is the most numerous, though it’ll be tucked
up in its den during the day. More likely sightings include two- and three-toed sloths,
coatis and Geoffroy’s tamarin monkeys. Colourful birds also abound, including the
striking orange-bellied trogon, rufous motmot and collared aracari. Above all, though, the
fifty square kilometres of park is renowned for its 62 amphibian and 86 reptile species,
including the near-extinct golden frog (see box, p.136) in the area’s western fringes.
If you’ve time after exploring the park, head for the village of CHICÁ, a few kilometres
along the road at the end of the bus route. It makes a pleasant postscript, with
bougainvillea-filled gardens and several fondas serving traditional food.
The trails
3 The park’s network of five interconnecting trails is concentrated in the southeastern
section. Easily accessible and relatively well demarcated, most are shady strolls, with
one a moderately strenuous hike through scenic forest.
Sendero Panamá
The main trail, the flattish Sendero Panamá (1.5km), leads to the other trails: first to the
moderately strenuous Sendero La Cruz, then senderos Rana Dorada and Zamora – both
are only a few hundred metres long. The slightly longer Sendero Podocarpus is the next

HIGHlIGHtS
Parque Nacional Altos de Campana Parque Nacional Omar Torrijos
Punta Chame El Caño
El Valle Natá PANAMÁ
La Chorrera
COLÓN
Caimito Panama City (30km)
Río Uracillo
San Miguel Cerro Trinidad
COCLÉ Centro (975m) Capira
PARQUE NACIONAL
OMAR TORRIJOS EL COPÉ Cerro Marta San Pedro PARQUE NACIONAL Cerro Campana
(1046m) Chiguirí Arriba ALTOS DE CAMPANA (1207m)
Cerro Peña Blanca Barrigón Chica
(1314m) Cerro Gaital
Churuquita (1185m) Bejuco
El Copé
La Grande El Valle Chame
Punta
Pintada Chame
Río Grande
Cerro Cenizo Penonomé Playa
Río Antón San Carlos Playa Coronado
(1626m) IN TERAMERI CA NA Gorgona
Scarlett Las Uvas Playa Río Mar
Playa El Palmar
Martínez
VERAGUAS el Caño Antón Río Hato Playa Santa Clara N
International
Santa
Airport
Playa Corona
Clara
Farallón
Natá
Playa
Blanca
Aguadulce Bahía de
Parita
Ingenio INTERAMERICANA PACIFIC 0 20
Santa OCEAN kilometres
rosa Playa
Divisa HERRERA El Salado Central Panama
Santiago (35km) & David (210km)
126-149_Panama_3_Ch3.indd 130 30/06/17 11:50 am