{"id":13400,"date":"2026-05-18T11:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=13400"},"modified":"2026-05-17T10:07:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T15:07:12","slug":"campana-national-park-reopens-cerro-de-la-cruz-trail-after-renovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/travel-tourism\/campana-national-park-reopens-cerro-de-la-cruz-trail-after-renovation\/","title":{"rendered":"Campana National Park Reopens Cerro de la Cruz Trail After Renovation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Panama\u2019s Ministry of Environment has officially reopened the iconic Cerro de la Cruz Trail in Altos de Campana National Park<\/strong><\/a>. The announcement came on Saturday, May 16, 2026, following eight months of intensive rehabilitation work. Officials confirmed the trail is now safer and more accessible for visitors.<\/p>\n

The project focused on strengthening infrastructure and enhancing the overall visitor experience. Located in the Panama Oeste province, this trail is one of the park’s most popular attractions. The renovation is part of a larger initiative funded by the Inter-American Development Bank project Panama<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That initiative, titled “Support for the Conservation and Management of Cultural and Natural Heritage,” carries a total budget of 2.5 million balboas. It targets improvements across five national parks, including Altos de Campana, Camino de Cruces, Soberan\u00eda, Portobelo, and San Lorenzo. The goal is to bolster conservation while providing safe public infrastructure.<\/p>\n

\"Cerro
Cerro de La Cruz del Parque Nacional Altos de Campana by MiAmbiente<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Eight Months of Intensive Renovation Work<\/h2>\n

Construction on the Cerro de la Cruz Trail began in September 2025 and finished in late April 2026. The contractor PANAMERICAN BC handled the work through a public bidding process with support from the Inter-American Development Bank. Crews performed a complete cleanup of the entire route.<\/p>\n

Workers removed old, deteriorated handrails and replaced them with new, sturdy structures. They built concrete steps, crossings, and bridges over difficult and muddy sections. New signage now marks the entire trail, guiding hikers safely through the forest.<\/p>\n

A major highlight is the new stainless steel staircase. It leads to modern observation platforms made of plastic wood and steel. These platforms offer sweeping views from the highest point of Cerro de la Cruz. The area previously had steep slopes and difficult access.<\/p>\n

Officials also installed informational and interpretive signs at strategic points along the trail. A site map helps visitors orient themselves. The centerpiece of the renovation is a two-level observation deck equipped with binoculars. Hikers can now see the panoramic view of Chame Bay in stunning detail.<\/p>\n

\"Cerro
Cerro de La Cruz del Parque Nacional Altos de Campana by MiAmbiente<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Minister Highlights Conservation and Sustainable Tourism<\/h2>\n

Environment Minister Juan Carlos Navarro led the final inspection tour and reopening ceremony on Saturday. He stressed the government’s commitment to natural heritage. Navarro framed the project within the broader strategic plan of President Jos\u00e9 Ra\u00fal Mulino.<\/p>\n

“The conservation and enhancement of our natural heritage is a key part of the strategic government plan of President Jos\u00e9 Ra\u00fal Mulino. Not only are we revitalizing our national parks and protected areas, but we are also training and strengthening our park ranger force to safeguard our biodiversity, which is unique in the world.” [Translated from Spanish]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Navarro directly addressed the public during the event. He highlighted the park’s proximity to Panama City and its critical role in water supply. The park protects forests and rivers that provide drinking water to the population and the Panama Canal.<\/p>\n

“Today we are improving the visitor experience and creating sustainable tourism opportunities in Campana. I invite all Panamanians to explore this spectacular natural reserve, just 45 minutes from the capital. It protects imposing forests and important rivers that supply drinking water to the Panamanian people and the Panama Canal. At the same time, I ask you to help us conserve Altos de Campana National Park<\/strong> by following the visitor regulations of this important protected area in Panama Oeste.” [Translated from Spanish]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Regional Director Invites Ecotourism Enthusiasts<\/h2>\n

Katherine Hurley, the regional director of MiAmbiente in Panama Oeste, also spoke at the event. She described the reopening as a major step forward for ecological tourism. Hurley extended a special invitation to hiking lovers, schools, and government officials.<\/p>\n

She urged them to consider Campana National Park<\/strong> as a top destination for their activities. The park offers a unique opportunity to experience Panama’s rich biodiversity up close. Hurley emphasized the importance of balancing recreation with conservation.<\/p>\n

The Cerro de la Cruz Trail is one of the most popular in the park. It attracts students, researchers, scientists, and nature lovers. During the hike, visitors can observe a wide variety of flora and fauna. This includes birds like tanagers, as well as squirrels, peccaries, and monkeys living in the forest.<\/p>\n

The complete hike takes approximately three hours. It presents a high level of difficulty due to steep slopes and wet areas. This makes it a challenge suitable only for those who enjoy advanced hiking in direct contact with nature. Officials remind all visitors that they enter national parks and protected areas at their own risk.<\/p>\n

Altos de Campana National Park<\/strong> remains open during its regular hours. Visitors must access the MiAmbiente website to complete the digital payment process. This fee partially covers the invaluable ecosystem services the protected area provides.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Panama\u2019s Ministry of Environment has officially reopened the iconic Cerro de la Cruz Trail in Altos de Campana National Park. The announcement came on Saturday, May 16, 2026, following eight months of intensive rehabilitation work. Officials confirmed the trail is now safer and more accessible for visitors. The project focused on strengthening infrastructure and enhancing<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13397,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[1734,4354,161],"class_list":{"0":"post-13400","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel-tourism","8":"tag-campana-national-park","9":"tag-cerro-de-la-cruz-trail","10":"tag-panama-travel"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13400"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13401,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13400\/revisions\/13401"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13397"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}