Parque Nacional Volcán Barú

It's a challenging hike to go up to the top of Volcán Barú, especially for the start from midnight for a sunrise view, taking about 12 hours in average for round trip. The road would be totally muddy if it rains. The weather changes a lot in the mountain, and it might be a combination of sunny, rainy and super windy or foggy on the top, subject to lucks. With luck, Pacific ocean, Atlántico ocean and sunrise would be available, but it might also be nothing if it's under a bad weather. However, it's a very unique experience and still worth a try.

We took the jeep up as we didnt want to face into 10h hike. The ride is very turbulent, the road is not a dirt track but resembles more a river bed making it a very rough journey. The views up the top are great but is it worth 125$ for a few photos? Probably money not well spent.. we did have a good time up there and the driver was excellent negotiating all the boulders and ravines but the journey was a torture.

I struggle to believe many of the people reviewing here have hiked up... This is a brutal hike. It took two young fit people about five and a half hours to make the climb, starting at midnight in order to reach the top for sunrise. The roads are in a dreadful state in places, thick mud everywhere. It's all uphill, becoming incredibly steep in places, especially towards the end. The peak is basically an industrial estate for telecommunication equipment, trash everywhere. It was bitterly cold and windy and there is nowhere for the visitor to hide out of the elements. The views were spectacular (in the dark), but as sunrise broke a huge bank of fog rolled in and sat there for two hours, consequently we saw nothing. The hike back down is just as brutal on the knees and took about four hours. In essence, don't bother the hike for sunrise unless it's dry season. The weather is so bad and unpredictable in the rainy season there's a good chance you won't see anything and if you hike that's about 10 hours for nothing... Pay the money and take a tour in a 4x4, the park opens at 3am and you can make the sunrise for then easily by car. Also not sure what the entrance fee goes towards as there are zero facilities anywhere, the summit is full of trash and the roads are in a terrible state.

A life time experience and difficult place to hike. You can pay to get a ride directly to the top but hiking yourself is completely another thing. The roads are steep and rocky which make the journey difficult, not because of the distance.

Tough hike up, we started at 1.30 and had to keep a fairly high pace to make it up for sunrise. It is a tough hike in places so maybe give yourself some more time if you don't want to really rush up but be warned that it is cold and windy up top so be prepared as you will freeze if you're still wearing your sweaty clothes at the summit while waiting. Worth the hike as the sunrise is amazing, you can see both Pacific and Atlantic oceans from the top and even if its cloudy it looks cool. We waited a bit for clouds to move around and it was worth it. We got a $5 transfer from Bambuda Castle to the starting point and a bus comes by the gate at the start periodically on the way back.

I went during the daytime, around 9am. There are not so many people climbing during the daytime so make sure not to get lost or climb too late. I just met 1-2 groups It was free entry and you can climb alone. You need to register yourself before departure. I took a yellow cab from Boquete and he charged me $5 for myself to this point. Because I started in the daytime, the weather was not that cold but still the peak area was pretty cold. You can begin with shorts and t shirts and then put your jacket on later. Camping can be a good idea but would be super cold so be ready. Make sure to prepare water or beverages at least 3L. Sometimes if you’re lucky the police officers help you get some water at the top but if they are not there.. nobody is selling any beverage. Personally 4x4 jeep car didn’t look that comfortable because the road is very bumpy and rocky. It was one of the hardest hiking in my life. Thigh and knee hurts so bad. Most of the routes are quite steep and rocky. Eventually it took me 6 hours to the top and 3.5 hours to the bottom. These days the weather is foggy and misty so it would be kinda difficult for you to have a clear view. Personally I didn’t see any of them, but at least felt some achievement.

Nice sunset. It’s possible to walk up there during the night, camp at the top or take a really expensive car driving up. Either way the view is amazing. The hike is kind of boring.

We had a local guide drive us to the top. It took about 2 hours to drive. You cannot do this in a normal vehicle. We left at 3:45am and made it with plenty of time to climb up to the cross for sunset. It was cold, bring a coat. We considered hiking instead, but we heard estimates of 5-7 hours to hike it. You basically hike up the road with dense brush on both sides. Between that and starting the hike at 11pm, it made hitching a ride well worth it. However you choose to do this, make sure you get to top of volcan baru.