Pipeline Trail Hike

Today Craig and I went on one of the very popular hikes just outside the town of Boquete. Along with half a dozen or so other hikers, we took the trail along The Pipeline.  You walk alongside a river through the jungle, as It winds through the cloud forest and passes through two micro-climates. It has various small wildlife, and is one of the best areas for the chance to see the very beautiful and colorful Quetzal. Although we did not see a quetzal today, another group on the trail who had a professional guide, did in fact see one. We learned that mating season between February and May is the best time to see them. We found the hike fairly easy, many of the others in our group being a bit older than us. The incline was gradual but a bit rocky. Since I broke my foot last December, I am very careful where I step, and watching where I step was first and foremost. There were some “iffy” bridges and water crossings, one being walking along wide metal pipes while holding on to a rail made of a branch. We did not make it all the way up to the waterfall today, but we shall return! The highlight of our hike was seeing a Glasswing butterfly, which has clear transparent wings, as well as the thousand-year-old tree. I was in awe of it. It was a great bunch of people hiking in easy pace enjoying the beauty that surrounded us.

There are various other trails, some easy and some that require a guide with steep terrain. We bumped into a guide along the way who does a Jeep 4×4 excursion to Volcán Barú, leaving at 3:45 AM, driving up 2 hours to see the sun rise, then 2 hours back down. I’m putting that one on my bucket list.