Los Cajones de Chame
Los Cajones de chame
Los Cajones de Chame is a canyon formed by the rushing waters of the Chame River. You will find this natural wonder located in the town of El Jobo.
El jobo is about 30 minutes from Coronado, Panama towards the Mountain community of Altos del Maria. Las Cajones is very accessible now that they did the brand new road. You evene have a restaurent now nearby and a parking lot a little fee is mandatory as the lot is private. You might be asked to pay a small fee at the entrance to park your car at the top of the hill as well, it is not mandatory as the land is public, however, you might want to just pay the small fee as these people will also be watching the cars at the entrance.
What to Bring to Las Cajones, Chame
This tourist destinations located in rural areas, Have now some facilities such as bathrooms or drinking water. For children, or people who are not strong swimmers bring life vests. The river current can be strong in the rainy season, and most of the water is deep, aside from a few shallow swimming pools in the craters of the rock formations. Other items to bring include sunblock, hats and a pair of runners for reaching the bottom.
Getting to Las Cajones, Chame
Once you turn off the highway at the entrance to Altos del Maria onto the Bejuco - Sora highway the drive is approximately 20 minutes.
The turn on to the Bejuco-Sora Highway
There are a couple of mini-supers on the road if you want to stop for cold drinks or snacks, the selection is limited so if you’re looking for something special stock up before you exit the highway. There are also no gas stations on the road once you turn off the highway so you should gas up as well.
On the Bejuco - Sora highway you will pass through the towns of Llano Grande before arriving in El Jobo. Las Cajones is located in El Jobo, where the river of Chame passes through
What to expect at Las Cajones
Since this is a natural swimming hole, expect to see some small fish in the cold water, while they might be a bit curious about you if your standing still, they will not bother you! Other creatures like snakes and spiders live here too (after all it is the wild), however since it is a location frequented by people you likely will not encounter one. However, it is always good to keep your eyes open or carry a stick which you can rustle the grass up ahead.
Like any river, the canyon offers deep pools which are deep enough for jumping. The most daring jump from heights up to 8 meters. If you wish to jump, it is best to ask a local where the best place to do it is.
TIP: If you want this natural beauty all to yourself try visiting during the week, or traveling down the road to a river crossing where there is another nice pool for swimming. Weekends usually bring a crowd to Las Cajones.
If you are looking to stay near Las Cajones it is best to stay in Coronado at the best BnB El litoral, the owner will be even happy to prepare you a P icnic Basket for your day at the Cajones de Chame.
( advice 24 h before please.)
Elle Valle de Anton
El Valle de Anton is a small town located in a luscious green valley of an inactive volcano crater – it’s the largest inhabited crater in the world! When the volcano blew its top a casual 3 million years ago, the crater became a lush, green valley surrounded on all sides by the remaining volcanic ridges. The volcano has sat dormant for thousands of years and now is a favorite weekend getaway for Panamanians and visitors looking to escape the city. It’s unique cooler micro-climate, abundance of hiking trails, and many unique environmental and natural attractions make El Valle a popular weekend destination, especially for local Panamanians. It draws adventurous Panama City crowds who want to get out to the “mountains” in only 45 minutes of Coronado .
There isn’t much nightlife or partying here and it’s a small outdoorsy town, so be prepared to have a relaxing and tranquil experience here.
CERRO LA GAITA, BUTTERFLY HOUSE AND CHORRO EL MACHO WATERFALL
After a very good breakfast you could hike Cerro La Gaita and be at the top for some amazing photos. The trailhead is about 20 minutes from El Valle and the hike to the top should take at the most, an hour, so plan accordingly. After you’ve had your fill, head back down the steep but short trail. Going down should take you less than half the time going up.
Next the Butterfly House to get some educational information about the life cycle of butterflies, what makes blue morpho butterflies so shiny, and about the many types of butterflies in Central America and Panama. You can also walk through the greenhouse and watch all the butterflies and even let them land on you. Entrance to the Butterfly House is $5 USD and the house is open from 9 am to 4 pm, with final entrance at 3:30 pm.
Next, it’s off to Chorro el Macho waterfall. Only a 30 minute walk from town, this waterfall is the tallest in the region. It has a pool big enough for swimming at the bottom so bring a bathing suit and towel. It’s $5 USD entrance to the waterfall and an additional $5 if you plan on swimming. Above the waterfall, there is a canopy and zip-line company. You could zip-line overhead and walk along the suspension bridges in the canopy for $53 USD per person. Make sure to give yourself enough time if you plan on doing both activities. The canopy tour lasts an hour and a half. The waterfall is open from 8 am to 5 pm everyday.
After a nice day in the nature you could come back at the BnB El Litoral and relax before your Ultimate culinaire experience and immerse yourself in the relaxed ambiance under the stars of our outdoor BBQ space, surrounded by lush greenery and the soothing sounds of nature with a nice bottle of wine.
(please reserve 24 h before)
Altos de Campana National Park
Altos de Campana is Panama’s oldest national park. Established in 1966, this 4,817-acre (1,950-ha) park is a good place to spot orange-bellied trogons and other avian species. It’s a short drive from Panama City and an easy stop-off point along the Interamerican Highway.
Altos de Campana covers hillsides that rise above the Pacific coast. From Cerro Campana, the park’s 850-meter (2,789-ft) peak, there are dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean, Punta Chame, and on clear days, Isla Taboga. The craggy valley below, partially split by an estuary winding into the foothills, is pleasant and picturesque.
The park’s only developed trail, Sendero La Cruz, runs through several types of terrain, including humid tropical and premontane forests. Remnants from the El Valle de Anton volcano – which erupted some 200,000 years ago – can still be seen in the lava fields and igneous rocks that scatter the park.
Birders are fond of Altos de Campana, as the park is home to species that are threatened in other parts of Central America, including the violet-bellied hummingbird, white-tipped sicklebill, and the bronze-tailed plumeleteer. Other bird species include orange-bellied trogons, rufous motmots, collared aracaris, and the chestnut-capped brush-finch. In total, some 267 species of birds live in or migrate through Altos de Campana.
The park’s 39 mammal species include coati, opossum, two-toed and three-toed sloth, and Geoffroy’s tamarin monkeys. The park also has 62 amphibian and 86 reptile species, including the golden frog, which is fighting extinction. The Altos de Campana National Park is 31 miles (50 km) west of Panama City. The drive from Panama City takes about an hour.
After a nice day in the nature you could come back at the BnB El Litoral and relax before your Ultimate culinaire experience and immerse yourself in the relaxed ambiance under the stars of our outdoor BBQ space, surrounded by lush greenery and the soothing sounds of nature with a nice bottle of wine.
(please reserve 24 h before)
