Cerro Hoya National Park

Parque Nacional Cerro Hoya

A remote and rugged national park protecting the peninsula's highest peaks, cloud forest and pristine coastline. Its rich endemic wildlife and difficult access make it a rewarding destination for adventurous nature lovers.

Things to do

• Summit Cerro Hoya — Trek to the park's namesake peak at over 1,500 meters through dense cloud forest, a demanding multi-day expedition requiring a local guide.
• Birdwatch for endemics — Look for the rare Azuero parakeet and Azuero spider monkey, both endemic subspecies found only in this corner of the peninsula.
• Explore Cloud Forest Trails — Hike through misty highland forest rich in orchids, ferns, and endemic flora on the park's higher slopes.
• Visit Restingue coastline — Reach the park's remote Pacific shoreline where forest meets pristine, undeveloped beaches often accessed by boat.
• Boat access from Cambutal — Charter a panga from the fishing village of Cambutal to reach the park's isolated coastal boundary.
• Wildlife spotting for big cats — With patience and a guide, track signs of jaguar, puma, and other elusive mammals that roam this protected wilderness.
• River and waterfall swimming — Cool off in the clear streams and cascades that descend from the park's forested peaks.

Food to try

• Fresh grilled fish — Local fishermen in nearby villages like Cambutal serve the day's catch, often corvina or snapper, simply grilled.
• Sancocho — Panama's hearty chicken and root-vegetable soup seasoned with culantro, a staple comfort meal in the countryside.
• Patacones — Twice-fried green plantain rounds served crispy as a side to nearly every rural Panamanian dish.
• Bollo — Boiled cornmeal dough wrapped in a leaf, a filling traditional snack found in Azuero towns.
• Ceviche de corvina — Sea bass cured in lime with onion and pepper, a refreshing coastal favorite in Los Santos province.

Local customs & good to know

• Hire a local guide — Access is genuinely difficult and trails are unmarked, so arranging a ranger or community guide from Cambutal or Tonosi is essential.
• Bring supplies from town — There are no shops or services inside the park, so stock food, water, and fuel in Tonosi or Cambutal beforehand.
• Respect Azuero rural hospitality — The Azuero Peninsula is the heartland of Panamanian folklore and campesino tradition, so greet villagers warmly and ask permission before crossing private land.
• Plan around the dry season — Visit between December and April when trails are more passable, as heavy rains make the rugged terrain treacherous.

Nearby

• Playa Venao — 50 km
• Las Tablas — 63 km
• Guararé — 68 km
• Pedasí — 70 km