Every single thing about this place is simply magnificent, starting with its location. Situated along Darien’s Pacific Coast or on the southern shore of the Golfo de San Miguel, it is Panama’s largest private reserve. It spreads across 74,132 acres (30,000 hectares), which includes huge swathes of primary and secondary forests. The forest has interesting trails to follow, which give one the feel of being in a thriller movie. Since the entire area is covered with thick forests, biodiversity is found in abundance here. For nature-loving souls, this is the perfect getaway. The place sees few visitors so the only sounds that can be heard here are those of nature!
How To Get There?
Since Punta Patino is a comparatively isolated place, this is a major question that usually pops up in the minds of travelers. However, transport is very easy. The reserve is located 25 kilometers from La Palma. All the necessary facilities for travel are available from there. Mostly, tourists prefer taking the scenic boat ride from La Palma till, to enjoy the journey as well. Alternatively, one can also directly fly to Punta Patino since the reserve has a private airstrip. Guides are available from La Palma, and hiring one is highly recommended.
Details of the Reserve
Punta Patino’s natural reserve is owned by the Panamanian environmental non-profit organization ANCON. Management is run by the profit extension of the organization, Ancon Expeditions.
Major Attractions
The reserve is primarily known for its wealth of members from the bird kingdom. The most famous here is the Harpy Eagle. It is the national bird of Panama and the most powerful bird of prey in the world. The Harpy Eagle can grow up to one meter long and has a wingspan twice its length. However, it is presently endangered. Other species of bird include tanagers, common black hawks, brown pelicans, frigates, terns, American oystercatchers, Amazon kingfishers, blue herons, boat-billed herons, black-tailed trogons, woodpeckers and spotted sandpipers. The birds occupy the reserve’s trees, mangroves, and waterways.
In addition to the birds, the forests are abundant with animals of various kinds. A famous one here is the capybaras, which is the largest rodent in the world. Another commonly found animal here is the gray fox. Many other local mammals are also spotted here. These include Geoffroy’s tamarins, collared peccaries, night monkeys, jaguars, three-toed sloth, and tayras. Frequently spotted water animals found in the mangroves and swamps are the iguana and caiman, sipping away while lounging around. Other water animals include humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins and pilot dolphins, which are sometimes seen in the Gulf of San Miguel.
Adventure awaits!
As mentioned earlier, there are many trails in the forest. There are night tours and hikes in the forest. Guides are available. One such famous trail is the Sendero Piedra de Candela, which means ‘the Flintstone trail’. It is a 4-kilometers (2.5 miles), long-looped trail. It is named so because of the reddish quartz stone that is seen in parts throughout the trail. The Sendero Piedra is a flat trail, and it runs along the coast and into the secondary forests. There are various other trails that run deeper into the reserve and through primary lowland forests.
Another major attraction here is the black sand beaches. Punta Patino is one of those rare places with black sand beaches. Tourists who are less interested in hiking and mountaineering can lounge back and relax on these scenic beaches.
Boat expeditions through the mangroves of Punta Patino are also highly recommended. There are boats and guides available for these tours. One can view the high biodiversity in the mangroves through boat rides.
Accommodation
ANCON, the organization that owns and manages the reserve, also has a hotel in the area. It offers a comfortable stay during the entire course of your vacation. The hotel provides a magnificent view of the famous San Miguel. Another option for the more adventurous people is the Punta Patino lodge, which offers wooden cabins.
These cabins are replete with all the necessary amenities like air conditioning, comfortable mattresses, and private cold water showers. The staff is hospitable and full of warmth. Fresh meals are prepared and served for all guests. The view from this lodge cannot be compared with any other view since the lodge is located on top of a ridge with the most scenic gulf panoramas.
Nearby Places
Many places are near Punta Patino, which can be visited from there.
Forestal Canglon Reserve
It is a protected area in the Darien Province of Panama. It can be accessed by the Yaviza Highway and it is located between the Canglon and Tuira rivers. The main attraction is a lowland tropical forest. The primary objective of the natives of this area is to preserve the biodiversity within the reserve. A separate governing body looks after this task; as a result, the reserve is plush with all its natural richness of plants, herbs, shrubs, animals, and birds. Additionally, mangroves are found in the Matusaragati area.
La Palma
The provincial capital of the Darien Province is a one-street town in the district of Chepigana, set at the conflux of the Tuira and the Golfo de San Miguel. Despite having a population of less than 5000, this town has all the necessary services like shops, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, banks and the like. The town is littered with pretty pastel stilt houses. The ruins of the seventeenth-century Spanish forts can be seen here. It caters to all kinds of tourists, right the party lovers to history enthusiasts.
Conclusion
Abundant natural beauty is what makes Punta Patino a must-go destination for tourists. It is especially recommended for city residents who would like to take a break from their fast life and enjoy the little pleasures of living!
What’s Nearby?
