Although we’ve been able to do some hiking around Boquete, Panama, none of these hikes have been a “proper” trail hike in the strictest sense.
There are quite a few excellent trails around here. But many are long and go through remote areas. Or they are potentially hazardous in rainy weather.
This is a real problem when you are visiting Boquete during the rainy season!
But thankfully there is a very nice rainforest trail that is accessible by local transportation, is less than 1 hour away, and can be completed before the normal afternoon rains begin.
It has a good reputation for wildlife sightings at the right time of year, including monkeys and quetzals. And the cherry on top is that there is a beautiful hidden waterfall at the end!
This trail is locally known as the Pipeline Trail, and having just completed it we give it two thumbs up!
Let us show you what we did and how we did it.
If you are in the Boquete area hopefully our experience will inspire you to hike the trail as well!
The Pipeline Trail – What You Need to Know
The Pipeline Trail is an excellent local trail to see for anyone interested in getting into the rainforests blanketing the mountains of the Bajo Mono region of Boquete.
There is a lot to see along this trail.
The trail snakes up through the rainforests of one of the local mountains, following a stream that is tapped as a water source. There are multiple footbridge crossings, an opportunity to see rare quetzals, a 1000-year-old tree, and a hidden waterfall!
At ~3.8 miles (6.1 km) round trip, it isn’t too long. And although it is a steady incline all the way to the far end of the trail, the elevation gain is manageable. And you get to look forward to a gradual downhill hike on the return trip!
The trail itself is well-managed. Much of it is gravel paved. And even when the gravel portion ends the rest of the path is well drained.
A good pair of sneakers should be good enough for this trail, presuming you don’t hike it immediately after a rainstorm!
The trail is on private property, so the owners collect a $5 USD per person entry fee at the trailhead. Considering how well-maintained the trail is and the cool things you see along the way, the entrance fee is definitely justified.
Getting There
The Pipeline Trail is accessible by car or collectivo.
Getting there by car is straightforward. The road to the trailhead is paved and there is an area to park your car. Just be aware that the locals may charge a fee to park.
Getting there by collectivo is much more fun!
All you need to do is get to the Parada de Buses Pequenos in Boquete, and find a van that goes to “El Bajo” or “Bajo Mono“. Van destinations are printed on the windshields.
Just confirm with the driver that the van goes to the Pipeline Trail before you get on!
In our experience, the collectivos cost from $2 – $2.50 USD per person one way. And they deliver you to the bus stop next to the property where the trailhead is located.
These collectivos return to the trailhead bus stop every 40 minutes or so. And the bus stop is sheltered so you have seating and protection from the elements.
Two Travel Turtles Hike The Pipeline Trail!
The morning we hiked the Pipeline Trail we made sure to check the skies before we committed. As is usually the case, we saw blue skies and a few clouds, which usually means we have until about 2 pm to finish up our outdoor activities before the rains come!
We made our way into Boquete by collectivo ($0.60 USD per person) at around 8:30 am and walked to the Parada de Buses Pequenos to find our ride.
We asked around and were directed to the “El Bajo” collectivo. We confirmed with the driver that he went to the Pipeline Trail and, once we collected a couple more passengers, were whisked away to the mountains of northern Boquete!
The ride was really pretty, taking us through some beautiful mountainous terrain!
And after a 20-minute ride, we were dropped off at the bus stop next to the trailhead property. The driver pointed us in the right direction up a dirt road and then sped off.
At the bus stop. You can see the path to the trailhead on the left.
The trailhead is straight ahead. But you’ll register (and pay) with the locals at the driveway off to the left.
We hiked up the road and were met by the property owners that help manage the trail. We paid the $5 USD per person entrance fee, signed a registration book so they can keep track of lost hikers, and were on our way!
The hike started off on an unshaded gravel road that followed the local stream.
As we walked, the trail became more shaded.
And by the time we reached the first bridge crossing, the gravel road pretty much ended and became a proper footpath.
The path continued upward into the rainforest. Benches were occasionally provided so hikers could rest.
And there were multiple additional stream crossings.
Note the everpresent pipeline, after which the trail is named.
The trail at this point was very secluded! And if you take your time to listen, you can hear wildlife all around you.
We eventually reached an area officially designated as quetzal habitat.
Continuing up the path we reached the 1000-year-old tree.
So big!
Helping to provide scale.
And we continued onwards toward the end of the trail, where the hidden waterfall was located.
To get to the hidden waterfall, you had to climb up some steep terrain. But there was good footing along the way, so it didn’t really feel dangerous.
This isn’t the waterfall. It’s where the climb begins!
Another stream crossing here.
A dragonfly decided to pose for Rhonda.
And after a short stretch, the hidden waterfall came into view!
Getting close!
Gorgeous.
We spent about 15 minutes at the waterfall enjoying the view and then headed back the way we came.
Thankfully all downhill!
And it was a good thing we came back when we did. Halfway down the trail we saw rain clouds creeping over the mountains behind us!
The weather changed VERY quickly here.
The clouds continued to accumulate on our way down, but there were no problems. We eventually made it back to the registration point where we signed out, and made our way to the bus stop to pick up the next collectivo.
After about a 20-minute wait, it finally came.
And it was just in time. Because on our ride home the heavens opened up!
When we got back to Boquete we took shelter in a nearby restaurant for lunch and waited for a break in the weather before we returned to our Airbnb in Alto Boquete.
Thankfully we made it back without getting soaked!
Closing Thoughts
It was a great day!
We had ideal hiking weather when we needed it. We had no problems at all getting collectivos. And we even were able to take a well-timed lunch break in town to wait out the rain.
It’s nice when everything comes together.
We hope you enjoyed reading about our exploits! May you find this information useful for your own travels.
Check out our guide series of posts to see how we made other day trips possible!
Until next time…
Thanks for reading!
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Nice job on this story. Actual real people telling a real story. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that with all the b. S websites out there when you’re trying to find something real like you guys. I’m in Boquete right now and we’ll be hiking this today.
3 thoughts on “How To Hike the Pipeline Trail in Boquete Panama”
Fascinating!!
Nice job on this story. Actual real people telling a real story. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that with all the b. S websites out there when you’re trying to find something real like you guys. I’m in Boquete right now and we’ll be hiking this today.
Thank you so much for the kind words. And enjoy your hike! But watch the weather if you are there during the rainy season!