Favorite Walks: Plantation Road, Parque Nacional Soberanía, Panamá

The oso hormiguero

One of my favorite aspects of living in Panama City is the proximity to fabulous beaches and forests. Last weekend, my husband, some friends and I hopped in a car and headed to the Plantation Road Trail (about a 28km drive from downtown Panama City). After paying our entrance fee (US$3 for Panamanians, US$5 for foreigners) to the representative from the Ministry of the Environment, we set off on the trail.
 
The path was clearly marked and well defined, yet the towering trees that grew thicker and larger as we progressed made us feel as though we were venturing into the deep jungle. The screeches of monkeys, the joyful calls of birds, and the plethora blue butterflies fluttering along made the experience all the more exciting. A highlight was our encounter with a furry anteater, an “oso hormiguero,” along the trail. Very cool!

Several folks were out on the trail for a run or a mountain bike ride but for the most part we felt like we were exploring an area far removed from civilization.
 
The Plantation Road Trail is an easy out and back walk (about 6km each way) and connects to the Camino de Cruces. If you’re planning on hiking the Camino de Cruces it may be worthwhile to hire a guide as we’ve heard the trail is still a bit rough/difficult to follow in areas.
 
Happy Walking!
 
Plantation Road is located off Avenida Omar Torrijos Herrera. Google Map: ​https://goo.gl/XxCdeU 

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