Panama
ESMy trip
Slopes of Barú Volcano with scattered clouds and hills in the foreground.

Panama · Boquete & the Chiriquí Highlands

Waterfalls, hot springs and river

Water in every form: swimmable waterfalls in Bajo Mono, hot pools in Caldera, rafting and the Volcán lakes.

4 places

  1. 1

    WaterOpen

    Lost Waterfalls (Las Tres Cascadas)

    Bajo Mono, Los Naranjos, 20–30 minutes from central Boquete.8.7 km from the centre

    Entry
    $10
    Hours
    Not confirmed
    Booking
    Not needed

    Trail on a private farm in the Bajo Mono valley leading to three waterfalls; you can swim at the second one. It is steep and often wet.

    Source: 11 senderos y cascadas en Boquete – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    US$10 per person, cash only (2025 and 2026 guides). Visit Panamá (2026) gives about US$7 without a guide. Not confirmed by an official source as of the review date.
    Hours
    Daily 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; last entry around 3:00 p.m. (2025–2026 guides).
    Booking
    No guide or booking needed; the trail is signposted.
    Time needed
    2–3.5 hours. PanamaSpot (June 2026) gives 4.4 km round trip from the suspension bridge and about 280 m of climbing; The Visitor (August 2025), about 6 km round trip including the access.

    Tip: From Boquete there are minibuses to Bajo Mono (about US$2.50) and taxis (US$10–12 one way, per PanamaSpot, June 2026). Wear shoes with good grip; the stretch to the third waterfall is the steepest.

    Nearby: Los Quetzales Trail (1.3 km) · Pipeline Trail (Bajo Mono) (2.7 km) · Finca Lérida coffee experiences (3.2 km)

    Sources: 11 senderos y cascadas en Boquete – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Lost Waterfalls Boquete hiking guide – PanamaSpot · The Lost Waterfalls Trail in Boquete – The Visitor Panamá

  2. 2

    WellnessOpen

    Caldera hot springs

    Caldera, Boquete district, about 25 minutes by taxi from town.15.5 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not confirmed
    Booking
    Not needed

    Four natural hot pools on a private cattle farm near Caldera, from 34 °C to over 43 °C. There are no toilets, shop or food.

    Source: Aguas Termales de Caldera 2026 – PanamaSpot · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    US$3–5 per person, cash, at the farm gate (PanamaSpot guide, June 2026). Not confirmed by an official source as of the review date.
    Hours
    No official hours published.
    Booking
    According to a PanamaSpot guide (June 2026), no booking is needed. Several Boquete operators offer the trip as a tour.

    Tip: Taxi from Boquete US$15–20 one way, or a minibus for US$1–2 (PanamaSpot, June 2026). Bring water and snacks.

    Sources: Aguas Termales de Caldera 2026 – PanamaSpot · Boquete Outdoor Adventures (operador)

    Find tours
  3. 3

    AdventureOpen

    Whitewater rafting on Chiriquí rivers

    Chiriquí Viejo River, Salsipuedes section toward Paso Canoas; about 1.5 hours by road from Boquete.45.4 km from the centre

    Entry
    $69.55
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Boquete operators run full-day rafting trips on highland rivers, including the Chiriquí Viejo, which runs near the Costa Rica border.

    Source: Boquete Outdoor Adventures (operador) · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Boquete Outdoor Adventures lists US$69.55 per person; its trips are subject to 7% ITBMS tax and it does not say whether that price includes it (checked October 2026). Adventures Panama: US$85 per person. Visit Panamá gives a range of US$65–75.
    Booking
    Class II–III rapids on the family trip (ages 4+, Boquete Outdoor Adventures); Adventures Panama requires age 9+ (other sources, 12). Visit Panamá lists class 3–5 on the Chiriquí Viejo and Chiriquí.
    Time needed
    Full day; about 2–3 hours on the river depending on water level.

    Tip: Carry your passport or ID: there are immigration checkpoints near the border. Visit Panamá names June to November as the high-water months.

    Sources: Boquete Outdoor Adventures (operador) · Chiriquí Viejo rafting – Adventures Panama · Boquete White Water Rafting – Visit Panamá (ATP)

    Find tours
  4. 4

    WildlifeOpen

    Lagunas de Volcán wetland

    South of Volcán town, past the airstrip, Tierras Altas district.26.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Two highland lakes surrounded by farms, with waterbirds and views of Volcán Barú. MiAmbiente describes it as a site with birding potential.

    Source: 11 senderos en Tierras Altas – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Finca Drácula's page (October 2019) says access is free; not confirmed by an official source as of the review date.
    Time needed
    2.5 km trail, easy (Visit Panamá, 2026).

    Tip: The small lake is private and closed to visitors; the large one is open. According to the same 2019 guide, the inner road needs a 4x4. Do not light fires or leave litter: MiAmbiente is working to regulate visits because of these problems.

    Nearby: Los Llanos trail up Volcán Barú (from Volcán) (10.7 km)

    Sources: 11 senderos en Tierras Altas – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Fortalecen conservación del Humedal Lagunas de Volcán – MiAmbiente · Volcan Lakes (Lagunas de Volcán) – Finca Drácula

More guides for this destination