CHAGRES NATIONAL PARK, a 129,000-hectare protected area, created in 1984, is situated in the province of Colon. Like others parks, it is best is to contact ANAM (The National Environmental Authority) at 442-8348 before a visit. They will provide a guide and show you the attractive locations in the park that protects the Canal watershed, providing 40% of its water from Alajuela Lake and Chagres River.
Two tracts of pre-mountain forest exist within the boundaries and over 20 species of birds, resident and migratory, inhabit or pass through the park. Toucans are plentiful. Within the park is situated the famous CAMINO REAL used by Spaniards to transport gold and silver from Perú to the Nombre de Dios and Portobelo fairs. Most of its trail has long disappeared but it is possible to reconnoiter the mule trail to both Nombre de Dios and Portobelo though it takes from three to four days for a good walker.
The park is well-known for many historic sites such as RIO BOQUERON and its former manganese mines operated at the beginning of the century. CAPIRILLA, on the highest part of the trail, was the place where, during Drake's last trip to Panama, General Thomas Baskerville was ambushed by Spanish troops in 1595 as he attempted to march to Old Panama and attack the city. You may be disappointed if you look for period relics; it has been quite a long time since a trekker fell over a handful of doubloons. A huge bridge over Río Boqueron is the only reminder of the 16th century and it was reconstructed to accommodate the manganese mine rails. There is an impressive waterfall nearby in which to take a dip.
The park is interesting for animal lovers. It is the haunt of many animals, particularly big cats and endangered jaguars, ocelots and margays, though you may have to spend many hours to catch a glance of one of them coming to drink in riverbeds.
RIO CHAGRES was first named Río de los Lagartos (Crocodile river) by Lupe de Olano in 1502, as the Spaniard found it infested by crocodiles. In 1527 Captain Fernando de La Serna, Pablo Corozo and Miguel de La Cuesta explored the river and presented Spain's King Charles V with a report considered as the first document related to a transisthmian system of communication. The village of Venta de Cruces was established in 1536 on Chagres river, opening navigation to the Atlantic ocean. Centuries later, the Chagres river was to become the bed of the Panama Canal! Each one of the Río Chagres tributaries Río Limpio; Río Esperanza; or Río Piedras are quite different and also a reason to visit the park, where waterfalls and canyons make a landscape of extraordinary beauty. The Chagres National Park is a favorite because of its proximity to the city, its easy access and its fabulous diversity of scenery in deep jungle, making every tour an authentic photography safari.
