Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
dozens of meters above the jungle floor. You'll ride from one platform to another (there
are four in all), at times gliding over Chorro El Macho.
Bird-Watching
The forests around El Valle offer numerous opportunities for bird-watching, especially if
you're looking for hummingbirds - commonly spotted species include the green hermit,
the violet-headed hummingbird and the white-tailed emerald.
Rates for a bilingual naturalist guide are around US$60 per person per day.
Horseback Riding
Alquiler de Caballos
HORSEBACK RIDING
OFFLINE MAP
( 646-5813; Calle El Hato; horse rental per hr US$12)
The stable here has over 30 horses,
which make for some fine transportation to explore the nearby mountains. Guides speak
Spanish only. Call ahead for free transport from your hotel.
Tours
Panama Explorer Club
ADVENTURE TOUR
OFFLINE MAP
( 983-6939;
www.crater-valley.com
)
Based at Crater Valley Resort, the Panama Explorer
Club is an adventure tourism outfit that offers a wide range of activities. Available tours
billed per person include hiking La India Dormida (US$20, three to four hours), tree
climbing (US$25, two hours), class III river rafting (US$88) and mountain-biking tours
(from US$12.50 per hour). It's kid-friendly, with a ropes course too.
Mario Urriola
ADVENTURE TOUR
( 6569-2676; serpentariomaravillastropicales@hotmail.com)
Mario is a reputable, locally
based naturalist guide specializing in birding and wildlife-watching.
THE HOLY GHOST ORCHID
While hiking though the forests around El Valle, be sure to look for Panama's na-
tional flower, a terrestrial orchid known as theflor del espiritu santo,the 'holy
