Chagres Challenge Overnight - 2 Days Jungle Expedition in Chagres National Park
4.5

Chagres Challenge Overnight - 2 Days Jungle Expedition in Chagres National Park

By Adventures Panama
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The pristine jungles of upper Chagres National Park, the gorgeous Chagres River, and the Embera Indigenous met through an itinerary full of activities that starts and ends in Panama City is a memorable expedition.
Lowest price guaranteeFree cancellation

Ages 18-65, max of 12 per group
Duration: 2 days
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Spanish
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Highlights

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Breakfast
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Rafting Gear
  • Camping Gear
  • Entry/Admission - Panama City

Start:Traveller pickup offered.
    Pickup details
    • We pickup in all hotels with out charge within Panama City. Also outside Panama City with an extra charge
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        • Not wheelchair accessible
        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 34942P13

        • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
        • Not recommended for travellers with back problems
        • Not recommended for pregnant travellers
        • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
        • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
        • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
        • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travellers

        • If you cancel at least 7 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
        • If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.
        • If you cancel within 2 days of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 34942P13

        From
        £549.01
        per adult (price varies by group size)
        Select date and travellers
        Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

        Similar experiences

        Itinerary
        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • Adventures Panama
          4.8 of 5 bubbles311
          Panama City, Panama
          Joined in November 2010
        • paulafZ9891KQ
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing Panamanian River-Jungle Immersion
          Perfect day trip. Combination of exercise, excitement, nature, relaxation. Very knowledgeable guides and crew. Crystal clear water all the way and beautiful jungle. Lots of yellow butterflies along the river bank.
          Written 13 January 2025
        • familiaf889
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing experience
          Amazing experience. Incredibly organized. You can tell the years of experience because everything was thouroughly thought of ahead of time. The Rafting was easy enough, the 2.5hr hike was not too tiresome and had beautiful sights.
          Written 13 January 2025
        • 224sarahc
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Magical Experience!
          This tour was spectacular! I highly recommend it. The cave itself was gorgeous w/ many interesting formations and shapes, and there were multiple pools where you could swim. There were many dark parts where you used a headlamp and also areas where there were holes and natural sunlight came through-I enjoyed the juxtaposition. There are also lots of bats at a certain part of the cave but they do their own thing. It felt truly magical. It's also not super challenging, but does make you work a little which sweetens the experience. Before you get to the cave, you take a boat across Bayano Lake which was also beautiful. At the end of the cave tour, you get some delicious homemade fish and platonos! Don't miss this tour!
          Written 12 January 2025
        • Doug D
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great outing!
          We had a great evening out. Great guide and experience! It was a bit rainy but nice and warm. Tour was about an hour and seemed about right amount if time.
          Written 5 December 2024
        • katiehK471QJ
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Don’t miss this experience in Panama!
          Phenomenal day! It really is a challenge, but we loved it all. Started at 5am with pick up from our hotel, and enjoyed a delicious breakfast before switching to a 4x4 for the drive into the jungle. Led by Alberto, we hiked for about 2 hours to the river - it was steep and muddy, but great fun, so good hiking-water shoes are essential. We managed to beat the horses bringing the equipment to the river, so we relaxed until the raft was ready. Fabian and Alberto guided the raft and made sure we all had a fantastic and informative (and safe) time. We saw some amazing wildlife such as a huge iguana and many birds. We did not see a single person from the beginning of the hike til the end at the Embera village - it was sublimely peaceful and beautiful on the river with the rainforest all around us. The rapids were exhilarating and so much fun! You will definitely end the day soaking wet! Lunch was simple but perfect, at a convenient stony beach on the river. We ended at an Embera village and we were taken back to the van by a motor canoe, which was a lovely end to an exhausting but amazing day. Cannot recommend this highly enough. Our children aged 13 and 11 thought it was amazing. Thank you so much to Javier and the team!
          Written 28 November 2024
        • jeffcL4223UP
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing Mamoni River-Just Book it!
          The trip was everything we were hoping for and more. Javier is an excellent guide and a wealth of knowledge all things Panama and adventure. We saw and heard three separate troops of monkeys along the river, iguanas, bats, and lots of birds. The white water was incredible and had the adrenaline pumping through all the waves, drops, and maneuvers!!
          Written 22 October 2024
        • pascalpD1266WN
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Bayano Cayoning
          This was one of the best experience of my life. The guide, Javier was amazing and I really recommend other people to try it!
          Written 19 October 2024
        • Stay17408653149
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Family Chagres Challenge!
          This was an amazing experience! We were visiting Panama with our three teenage daughters, and were looking for a tour that allowed us a genuine experience of the jungle as well as adventure and adrenaline, and this certainly ticked all the boxes! The trip starts with a 5am pick-up by mini-bus at your accommodation. We then had the most spectacular 1-hour drive through torrential rain, lightning and thunder (very unusual at this time of day!) high up into the scenic mountains. The weather miraculously cleared as the sun rose and we stopped for the most delicious breakfast (eggs, a local fried bread, coffee and drinks of our choice - all included!) at a truly 'local' roadside restaurant. We were lucky to see toucans high up and hear howler monkeys before taking a short drive to where the SUV's picked us up. When I say we went 'off road' I mean it - we bumped and skidded along the steepest, bumpiest road ever down the mountain. The driver was highly experienced, though, and the views were spectacular, as we passed remote houses with the clouds sitting on the valley below. Once we get to the start of the hike two mules, one horse, and 3 guides were waiting to receive the rafting equipment, water, food and supplies that would be accompanying us on the hike. The 4-hour hike that followed was definitely not a ‘walk in the park’ but also not an absolute killer. There is a lot of up and down, and a lot of care required when going downhill, especially as it had been raining. Our guide, Javier, has been doing this for 30 years. He is passionate about the area, hiking, and rafting. We had regular short stops where he would allow us a breather and point out certain trees, plants and landmarks, and share information about the area and its history. Many of the narrow paths we hiked along, as well as the ‘road’ we drove down were established by him years ago. He always walked ahead of us, making sure we did not stumble upon any sleeping snakes, as well as to make sure that we minimised damage to the area by sticking to the established path. We passed some very remote landholds, which had been established before the area was declared a national park, which added to the interest. Oh, did I mention the river crossings? These are regular, with some currents stronger than other, so watch your step and as Javier will suggest do not step on the big, slippery rocks or you will swim! We were excited to get to the rafts, ready and inflated, waiting for us at the pick-up point. After one last river wade we made it to our start point, where after a very comprehensive safety briefing (safety is definitely Javier’s number one priority!) we got in the raft to learn the commands and practice this in calm waters. With 6 of us in the boat, and Javier steering at the back, we made a good team! The first few rapids were a bit scary, with a lot of tossing and turning of the boat due to the rapids and rocks in the river, but by about the third rapid we were taking them like pros, with Javier expertly determining our best route, shouting commands and steering the boat from the back. Another guide was always ahead of us, in a single raft, providing back-up safety. After about 2 hours we had the most delicious cold cuts lunch on a pebbly river bank before setting off again. We knew we had reached the trickier part of the river when Javier stopped for an extra safety briefing and we headed for the rapid that included a 3-foot drop. Much to the girls’ amusement, mom as well as our fellow passenger flew out of the raft and had to be quickly hauled back into boat before we reached the next rapid. They are still howling with laughter! We then continued for about another 3 hours of rafting through rapids, beautiful stretches of jungle, and a gorgeous canyon. We even got to jump out of the raft for a nice, refreshing swim alongside the boat. After about 5 hours we reached the Embera Drun village, where we engaged with some friendly Embera indians that were on the river with their kids and dogs as we waited for the motorized Embera canoe to pick us up. I have to say we felt like participants on ‘Naked and Afraid’ getting extracted after their adventure - tired but so proud of our 9-hour accomplishment! After 45 minutes of again the most beautiful, scenic river and jungle scenery we docked at a small village, and were met by our mini van. After a cold beer/soft drink and a welcome change into our dry clothes we were on our way back home. What an amazing memory!! TIPS: Javier said to ‘only take what you will need on the hike and raft’. Being a mom I totally overpacked, taking water, rash guards, sunscreen, snacks and windbreakers. I should have listened to him - all you really need is your phone, if you want to risk it, in a waterproof pouch, and a rain jacket that you can wrap around your waist for the hike. Apply bug spray and sunscreen before you leave the mini van, and make sure you have towels, dry clothes, snacks etc for the drive home as you can keep these safely in the van during the expedition. I also wish we had brought cash tips for the driver and assistant guide, as they were amazing.
          Written 1 August 2024
        • tessaalliker1974
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Incredible expedition!
          Honestly, the most fun and exciting expedition i have been on, from 5am until 7pm! I saw another part of Panama I didn’t know existed however all in a days trip from PC. A big thank you to Javier for his expertise and incredible organisation skills.
          Written 28 July 2024
        • Sightsee41157326867
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Best tour in Panama!
          We went on the Bayano Canyoning tour with Javier and his companion. It was the best tour I've been on in a while. How often do you get to walk through a water cave with thousands of bats flying over you? Javier and his companion were very experienced. We felt perfectly safe throughout the whole tour. The hike wasn't to bad. It took us about 1 hour to get to the other side of the cave and only 30 mins to get back. I highly recommend to wear good hiking boots. Because it's dark and slippery in thr cave. After the hike we got to enjoy a delicious meal made by the local villagers. I'm definitely coming back for another tour next time I'm visiting Panama!
          Written 17 February 2024
        • 62kurto
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Fantastic way to spend the day in nature.
          The trip was amazing. Javier did a great job planning and executing on every aspect of the day. There was not a moment that was not interesting,l ans beautiful and it was always challenging without being too challenging. Highly recommend.
          Written 28 January 2024
        • CarlG1504
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          I checked a "Bucket List" box
          Javier and his team were spectacular! It is a challenging hike, and the rafting was the perfect complement for the day. The scenery was awe inspiring, and the power canoe ride at the end gave the experience a very authentic flair. I would highly recommend this tour for families, team building or a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
          Written 28 January 2024
        • U3179VZyvetter
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Beautiful experience
          Javier was a wonderful guide. He takes safety measures seriously. The hike was physically challenging but it was well worth it. It is every bit of a 14 hour day. The rapids were not as scary as I thought they would be. The virgen jungle and river were spectacular. It was the highlight of my tweens’ Panama trip. They will remember it forever. It was the whole jungle experience in one day.
          Written 5 August 2023
        • benjohansson777
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          THE BEST!
          Adventures Panama is everything we hoped and more! We had a wonderful experience with them climbing chame, seeing beautiful views, learning some history of Panama, and seeing lots of wildlife! Our tour guide was very informative and friendly and went above and beyond to make sure we were having the best time. We are going to do the sunset kayaking with them tomorrow and definitely will book with them again! If you are looking to really experience Panama and all that it has to offer, these are the people you want to book with!
          Written 8 April 2023
        • V4620VDbriank
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Bayano Canyoning Mar 2023
          We went on the Bayano Cavern trip with Javier. Javier was very responsive and flexible with our needs. The whole trip was very smooth, well organized and safe. Both the lake and the caves are an amazing place to visit. On the boat trip to the caves, we got great views of the lake and lots of birds including cormorants and ospreys. Entering the cavern, we waded through the river and saw the beautiful formations inside. Walking in the water over the slippery rocks takes some care and getting used to, but is not particularly difficult for people used to hiking. Hiking boots are a good idea, and the water temperature is cool. We saw lots of wildlife including frogs, fish and many bats inside the cave. In some places it is dark and requires headlamps, in other places the light passes through the tops illuminating the cave with cool light. At the end of the cavern we swam in the clear water of the lagoon, where we also saw a toucan and hummingbirds. We returned to the entrance on the same route, and then ate a delicious lunch before getting back on the boat to return to the car, change clothes (and watch some monkeys), then drive back. The caverns are a unique and beautiful place and there's great opportunities to see wildlife. Javier is experienced and responsible and knows the area very well. Overall the trip was a great experience.
          Written 30 March 2023
        See all 311 reviews
        These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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        Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


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        4.5
        4.5 of 5 bubbles2 reviews
        Excellent
        1
        Very good
        1
        Average
        0
        Poor
        0
        Terrible
        0

        Chris B
        10 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Feb 2022 • Friends
        Raft the Chagres with Javier and his crew and you will not be disappointed.

        A beautiful river, an experienced guiding team, and plenty of great food along the way. You’ll have the river to yourself and camp under the stars each night. Most importantly, you’ll see firsthand how Adventures Panamá has worked with local communities for the past 30 years of responsible operation.

        Thanks, Javier!
        Written 14 February 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you very much for your Excellent Review on our Chagres Challenge. I enjoyed very much sharing it with you, and I hope to see you back !
        Written 12 July 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Lydia I
        3 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Aug 2019 • Solo
        The most I liked was the conversations with the people from village. I also liked that we could have an overnight, because that's not usual.

        For the hike in the jungle you need good shoes which can get wet, because you'll have to walk through mood and water. Also I would recommand to take a second pair of shoes for the evening.

        The river rafting itself was fun. What I didn't like was Javier's attitude, because he can be a very effervescent guide. So I didn't feel comfortable when he was shouting to us during the rafting.
        Written 28 August 2019
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you very much for your Very Good Review on our Chagres Challenge Overnight. As a river guide I definitely shout commands to paddlers when I believe it does make a difference on taking a rapid, specially when the white water current noise creates interference. If safety is an issue (by my sole criteria) I will rather have people feeling uncomfortable than hurt. I apologize for any inconvenience. I hope you did enjoy the experience overall. It is one of my favorite adventure and I love sharing it.
        Written 29 August 2019
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
        *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

        Chagres Challenge Overnight - 2 Days Jungle Expedition in Chagres National Park provided by Adventures Panama

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