The west route to Volcan Barú
Starting point
Some rock climbs
Full vegetation trail
The west route to Volcan Baru, begins in the Volcan town, in the village of Cerro Punta. 80 kms from David city.
This is most recommended route for people that they like nature, wild environment, and real adventure.
At difference of Boquete route, this one is much better for many reasons:
-Totally nature environment
-Tiny trail
-Much less people
-Full vegetation area
-Some easy skills to rock climb
-Mountainneers need to be in good fisical condition.
-Is free
-and AWESOME views.
Getting There
By bus or driving.From David city
80 km to the west looking for a village named Volcan, then to Cerro Punta.
from costa rica - panama frontier
from Paso Canoas to the east route to David. 53 kms is the village named Volcan. Take a bus or drive to the north to Cerro Punta – 27 kms.
Ask to the people for the trail to the volcan. Normally by bus they leave you on front a chinese store. Last place to buy food or water.
Route Description
Awesome area
Nice views to the surrounded peaks
Big wall of rocks, entrance to the crater
Take the pavement road, passing few homes, and a greens plantations, 1 mile next reach the uninhabited area, follow straight until reach an abandoned building. (In the past was a payment area to entrance to the volcano park, now is useless)
Take to the left hand path between a low vegetation area. Follow the tiny trail going inside to the mountains.
Some points are a little confusing, cause trail is easy to lost it, if you're not sure, just back and follow the few human signals: footprints, bonfire, sometimes garbage or machete / knife-marks on woods.
After a couple of hours, giants ravines with huges cliffs at side. take to the right hand all over a nice creast. Is the point to start to walking down to the botton. This is the first peak needed to pass to the next area.
On the next area vegetations is less and less, coming the rocky trails with some climbings, not technical challenge just fisical resistance needed. The Path is very steep with hundreds of meters high.
Take care, falling rocks is very often. Is possible to use a very old metal cable fixed to the rocks in the top of the ramp. I recommended use a pair of globes.
Next, the inclined area continues but with less steep.
Entrance with big rocks walls to the both sides is the signal that you're in the crater. Take the left hand path in a rocky trail. In the final rock climbs (easy climb) continues to the left side. And you will find the cross on the summit. 4 or 5 hours depend on your fisical conditions.
Enjoy the views!!
Essential Gear
-Good and comfortable shoes,-Headlamp even if you start early,
-Machete is highly recommended
-Pairs of globes to use the metal cable or just to take care of your hand skin, remember is a volcanic area with very sharp and spiky rocks.
External Links
Volcan BarúImages
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