Panama has diverse natural attractions that have made thousands of nationals and foreigners visit every nook and cranny of this tropical country. Volcano Baru also known as the Volcano of Chiriqui is one of the most impressive places. With an altitude of 3.475 meters above sea level, the Volcano Baru is the highest elevation in Panama, and the highest volcano in the south of Central America.

Characteristics of the Volcano Baru

The Volcano Baru is located in the best of the province of Chiriquí, surrounded by the fertile area of the highlands with the splendor of the Chiriqui and Caldera rivers. To the west of the Volcano Baru we find the cities of Volcan and Cerro Punta, while Boquete is to the east, these areas are the most coveted by the foreign visitors due to its climate, flora and fauna.

A Real Adventure

There are two routs to go up the Volcano Baru, one is through a path from the township of Volcan and the other is by road from the district of Boquete, the trip can last 12 hours. During the first part of the trip you will have to cross the Tertiary forest where birds abound. Then, passing by the spring you will arrive to a place known as “el filo” (the edge), a place to rest and appreciate the lovely view.

In a few meters, the forest disappears and you can appreciate an almost lunar landscape, full of precipices with sharp rocks and the path starts to incline to between 70˚ and 80˚. You can stop on a plane to drink something hot, since temperatures start to drop. Once on the summit you can see the fog slowly dissipating, leaving an open sky and beautiful cloak of clouds.

If you wish to climb the Volcano Baru you can go individually or in a group. It is possible to observe the city of Santiago of Veraguas, in a clear day you can even see the city of Puerto Armuelles on the Costa Rican – Panamanian boarder.

It is worth mentioning that the most relevant eruption of the Volcano Baru took place around the year 500. There are also reports and evidence of a minor eruption around the year 1550. There have also been reports of occasional snowing on the summit of the Volcano, where the minimum temperature is lower than 0˚C and where the formation of frost is frequent.