This Wednesday, we set out to find Charco Cascada. Two of us had a GPS App both failed during the hike but, only one recouped and continued mapping the trail.
We, began this hike from Represa La Estrella (reservoir) up in the La Estrella/ Lucero area parking near the represa. If you have never visited this area it is worth a visit. Waterfowl are in the area and horses grazing freely throughout this old seldom used country road. A water channel runs alongside a path making it a beautiful hike or walk for as long or as short as you want to make it.
On Wednesday the plan was to find a waterfall and knowing it would not be easy since, in Boquete many important trails or attractive places are not marked nor on a map.
It was truly our lucky day the clouds were covering the sun making the day a very good hiking day since, not much shade is along the route, very few trees dot this road. Did, I say "lucky day" - yes indeed- we did not get rained on!
Seasons: It's always best to hiked roads on a downward incline two different times during the year, at the beginning of the rainy season or at the end of the rainy season. During the dry season gravel roads are loaded with small stones that roll due to the light ashy texture of the soil. Panama has clay soil in most areas so in the middle of the rainy season these are not areas that are comfortable to hike/walk on especially going downward. Slip and slide is the order of the day while hiking and I do not relish it so, I stay away from those areas during that time. These are so many others areas to hike on that by the time one has hiked on those it's time for these.
I, asked a guard at one of hydroelectric companies if, we were close Cascada Charco, he answered yes, we were. He mentioned, "it's by the bridge about 300 meters after, you go through a door many people go there". The waterfall was not as close as, I had thought it would, and so, we walk and we walk and we walk on asphalt. Mind you, I do not like to hike on asphalt since it is hard, hot, and not very appealing not at all, my style of hiking. But, today, I tried to ignore the asphalt as much as, I possibly could due to the fact that, we were was on a mission to find Cascada Charco.
After much wondering down the asphalt road, we finally saw the bridge, then the river. A fellow hiker in the group had some business to attend to and when returning asked if some would see if the waterfall was below. One mentioned she had a whistle and would single us if the came across it. Yes! We heard the whistle and the hidden waterfall was found and it truly is hidden as it is surrounded by trees, huge boulders and bushes. We rested taking photos, we were in our glory, some soaking there tired feet. we rested for a long while until, I realized, we had to find and get to another destination the sleepy village of Caldera to have lunch. We forced ourselves get up continuing our hike in search of lunch at Restaurante Melissa. Finally arriving between 1 and 1:30p, ahhh, we could sit down and enjoy "la sopa del dia" for $2.00 a bowl of hen soup and of course a cerveza, Panama style. Explore Dream Discover