Camino de Cruces Hike

DURATION

6 hrs. approx.

HIGHLIGHTS

Historic trail
Rainforest
Flora & Fauna

INCLUDES

Private Bilingual Guide
Private Transportation
Entrance fee
Lunch

BRING

Comfortable clothes and shoes

DESCRIPTION

Embark on an Unforgettable Journey Through Time and Jungle
Your adventure begins early in the morning when our expert guide picks you up from your hotel lobby. From there, we’ll drive approximately 45 minutes to the legendary Camino de Cruces trailhead, tucked deep within the lush embrace of Soberanía National Park.

Get ready to hike a 6-mile stretch of this historic trail, winding through more than 10,000 acres of vibrant tropical rainforest. Over the course of roughly five hours, you’ll traverse terrain once walked by conquistadors, pirates, and gold rush dreamers—all while immersed in a paradise alive with exotic birds, monkeys, towering trees, and a rich symphony of jungle sounds.

The full Camino de Cruces is an 8-mile path that connects Soberanía National Park to Metropolitan Natural Park. Originally built in 1527 by the Spanish, this cobblestone trail served as a vital artery in one of the world’s most important trade routes. Goods like gold, silver, textiles, and spices from South America were hauled across this very jungle—by mule caravans bound for ships sailing to Spain.
But this trail tells even darker, more thrilling tales…

In 1671, the infamous pirate Henry Morgan stormed the fortress of San Lorenzo at the mouth of the Chagres River. From there, he led his ruthless band of pirates through the jungle along the Camino de Cruces, ultimately raiding Panama La Vieja—the original Panama City on the Pacific coast. Later, in 1848, the same path became a vital shortcut for California Gold Rush hopefuls, making their way from the East Coast of the U.S. to the West, long before the transcontinental railway existed.

As your hike concludes, you’ll reach the mysterious ruins of Venta de Cruces—an abandoned river village and once-thriving trade post. Here, echoes of pirate battles and colonial ambition linger in the crumbling stones. From this historic site, you’ll board a boat for a scenic ride along the Chagres River to the public dock at Gamboa, where your jungle odyssey ends.

Step into history and nature on this unforgettable rainforest challenge!