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How to climb the Barú volcano, the highest point in Panama
When they talk to you about Panama, mountains do not come to mind, however this small country has some of the most popular peaks in Central America. The most notable mountain is the Barú volcano with nothing more and nothing less than 3474 meters, only 5 meters lower than the highest peak in the entire Iberian Peninsula. If you like hiking you can't miss this article where I explain how to climb the Barú volcano.
WHERE WE SLEEP TO CLIMB THE BARU VOLCANO
Whether to climb the volcano or spend a few days in a beautiful natural environment, it is best to stay in Boquete. This town is divided into two areas known as Boquete Alto which is a more residential area and Boquete Bajo which is where the market and the most interesting streets of the town are located, in addition to being the closest point to the Barú volcano. The Boquete Bajo area has much more atmosphereMore restaurants, cafes and accommodations, but they are also something more carthe.
Recommended accommodation in Bajo Boquete: Hotel Gaia Lodge
Located in the heart of Boquete Bajo This quiet hotel has a garden, terrace and a kitchen that you can use to prepare something before climbing the Barú Volcano.
HOW TO GET UP VOLCAN BARU FOR FREE
There are two different starting points to begin the ascent. The most popular begins in the famous town of Boquete The alternative route begins in the township of Paso Ancho. This second option involves a shorter distance to the summit, but a much steeper incline and a challenging path with short sections of climbing. Due to the difficulty of reaching the starting point and the more technical nature of the route, it is not recommended.carwe are.
How long does it take to climb the Barú Volcano, is it hard?
The climb can take of 5 to 7 hours depending on your pace. During most of the way the incline is not very steep but the climb is constant, the accumulated difference in altitude is 1800 meters in just over 11km. Keep in mind that by doing the route with enough time, you will be able to regulate the breaks much more to reach the summit at the right time.
The descent is much faster, it will only take you 2 or 3 hours but it is very constant and due to the accumulated fatigue can be quite hard.
The terrain throughout the route is a marked path without possible loss or difficulty, beyond loose stones in some sections.
How to get to the beginning of the route
The best known route It starts in the town of Boquete, where you have to take a taxi to the start of the trail. The price of the taxi ranges from 10 to 30 dollars depending on whether you are staying in Bajo Boquete or Alto Boquete (further away) and you can arrange it the day before with your accommodation or by negotiating with the town's taxi drivers. There is no entrance fee to the park, or at least at night there are no park rangers at the booth at the beginning of the trail.
To return to Boquete You can call the taxi driver who brought you, ask other hikers for rides, or wait for a bus to pass by. carYou can either take a taxi (it's there, but it's not a very busy route) or hitchhike. We opted for the latter; they stopped in just 10 minutes and we got in the back of a pickup truck.
See the sunrise from the top of Barú
If your goal is to see the sunrise from the top of the Baru volcano, you should arrive at the top before 5:30am, which is when it begins to dawn. For this reason, I recommend start the route around 12 at night. If you are in very good physical shape you can still start a little later and if you are not used to such long walks I recommend starting earlier so as not to rush and take all the breaks you need.
Climb the volcano during the day
Alternatively do the entire climb during the afternoon and spend the night about 200 meters from the topin an area designated for tents. The following morning, the camp is taken down, and the remaining few meters to the summit are covered. The downside of this option is that you need to have or rent camping equipment, and you'll have to... cargar all the way.
You can also climb the volcano as a full-day excursion to see the sunset, although they say that there is usually more wind and clouds at that time.
HOW TO CLIMB THE BARÚ VOLCANO WITH 4X4 TOURS
If you don't want to give up seeing the sunrise from the highest point in Panama but you don't feel like walking all night you can climb to the top of the Barú volcano with a 4×4.
This tour is one of the most popular in Boquete and it is normal to see a good line of cars parked near the top each morning. The 4×4 climb lasts approximately 1 hour and is quite hectic due to the poor condition of the road. If you have back pain or get dizzy easily, I would not recommend it.
The tours arrive at an esplanade shortly before dawn and from there you have to climb the last few meters to the top. They give you approximately half an hour to enjoy the views while the guide prepares a good breakfast. After breakfast, the descent begins, which lasts a little less than the ascent and You will be back at your hotel before 9 in the morning.
WHAT TO BRING ON THE ROUTE
The ascent to the Barú volcano is usually done at night and the total height is almost 3500 meters. I think it is clear that it is not a simple walk and that a Minimal physical preparation and adequate equipment.
- Lantern: The trail is not very well maintained and there are many rocks, you will need a flashlight to see where you are walking. Preferably carry a headlampIf you don't have any questions in your accommodation, they may have some or you can even ask other guests. As a last alternative you can use your cell phone flashlight but it will not be comfortable at all.
- Warm clothing: Although it is not typical to bring warm clothing to Central America, you will need it here. Wear your warmest clothes because due to the height and the wind the temperature at the top can be very low.
- Food and water: Due to the long duration of this excursion you need to bring some food and plenty of water with you, there are no points to get.
- Good footwear: Mountain boots are not necessary but it is appropriate to wear some comfortable slippers. If it is with a good sole, the better because there is a lot of loose stone.
I hope that this guide on how to climb the Barú volcano helps you prepare for the excursion and that you can enjoy a great sunrise. Remember that we have other items from Panama that will help you organize your trip. You can also relive and be inspired by our trip through Central America by watching our stories on Instagram.
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