Cerro Gaital is a tough hike and you’ll need both stamina and upper body strength to reach the summit. However, the challenge is worth it for the great views of the Anton Valley.
Many of the hikes in El Valle de Anton (Anton Valley) are tame and can be considered more like steep walks. Cerro Gaital, on the other hand, is not like this.
The hike is a technical challenge and getting to the top requires decent fitness but also being comfortable with a bit of danger.
The further you climb the mountain, the more technical things become, ending in a steep rocky climb where you need to use ropes that’ve been fixed in place. But, if you like a demanding trail and a dose of adrenaline, then this is the hike to do.
In this quick guide, I cover everything you need to know to hike Cerro Gaital in the Anton Valley starting at La Mesa. Read on to learn about getting to the trailhead, the route conditions and when to do the hike.
Where is Cerro Gaital?
The mountain sits at the north-eastern edge of the Anton Valley overlooking an extensive farming area. I believe it’s 1 huge farm called Finca Avícola Bienestar, but it could be several.
As the trailhead lies on the far side of the mountain, the journey here is a bit cumbersome. You need to drive pretty much to either end of the valley before looping up and around to the far side of Cerro Gaital.
Getting to the trailhead
With your own car you can drive to the trailhead from the town centre in around 30 mins. On Google Maps this appears as ‘Sendero Cerro Gaital’ or Cerro Gaital Trail. At the trailhead there’s space for a few vehicles.
There’s also a bus that drops you right at the trailhead. You need to get the bus towards La Mesa and this leaves from the corner opposite the Delta gas station in the town centre. Tell the driver you want to go to Cerro Gaital.
The journey costs 1 PAB ($1 US) each way and takes around 45 mins, and buses leave roughly every 40 min. I recommend getting to the departure point at least 20 min before the hour. To come back by bus, you just need to wait at the La Mesa trailhead.
Cerro Gaital trail conditions
Overall, this hike is tough and it gets harder the closer to the summit you come. You start along a stoney but easy trail which becomes muddier the higher you climb.
After reaching the viewing platform, the trail becomes highly technical as you continue towards the summit. There are steep rock faces you need to climb using installed ropes.
I do not recommend going beyond the viewing platform if conditions are wet. The final section is a little dangerous even when dry so, in the rain, you’d be taking a big risk.
- Distance: 2. 5 km
- Duration: 2 h
- Elevation Gain: 355 m
- Difficulty: moderate (to first viewpoint) hard (final section)
The hike from La Mesa starts at the gated trail entrance. Here there’s a guardhouse but it’s usually unoccupied. I was told there was previously an entrance fee, but this is no longer the case. The gate will likely be closed, but don’t worry as the trail leads around it to the side.
Pass the guardhouse and you join a stoney path. The path leads into the forest and you’re surrounded by beautiful birdsong and all kinds of colourful plants.
Not long after leaving the guardhouse behind you’ll come to a fork in the trail. At this point you can choose to go left and take a longer more looping path to the viewpoint, or you can bear right along a steeper but more direct path.
I chose to head right on the way up and descended later on in the day via the other route. Whichever option you pick, the trail is well signposted so you’ll always know which way you’re heading.
Cerro Gaital viewing platform
If you head right, then you’ll come to the first viewpoint, a viewing platform, about 20 min later. If you head left, then I’d tack on another 15 min or so.
There’s space for quite a few people to stand on the platform and take in the Anton Valley views. Granted, the views from this point are slightly restricted by the nearby mountainside. However, 1 of the nearby features you can clearly see is Cerro La Silla.
If conditions are wet, and I mean even just a little bit of rain, then don’t go further than this point. The final section of trail between here and the summit is highly technical and when wet would be really dangerous.
Getting to Cerro Gaital summit
However, if the weather is on your side, then this last part of the hike is where the fun really begins.
The trail becomes steep and, in parts, you have to clamber through tree tunnels and walk along precariously narrow ledges. There’s also a couple of sections which you’ll need to scramble up and maybe scoot down on your bum during the descent.
The most difficult part of this final section are the steep walls you need to climb using ropes that’ve been fixed in place. You don’t need to be really strong to climb these, but you do need some upper body strength to pull yourself up.
The summit
At the top of Cerro Gaital you’ll find a small, derelict stone building. You can stand atop the structure to make the most of the panoramic views.
The scenes at the summit are much better than what you see from the viewing platform. Also, if you’re lucky, you might spot vultures and other birds which hang around the trees here.
Thick bushes grow all around the edge of the summit. These obscure the mountainside, but I’m pretty sure that if the bushes weren’t there, then it would be a sheer drop all the way round. Therefore, stick to the solid, grassy underfoot.
When to hike Cerro Gaital in El Valle de Anton
The dry season in Panamá typically runs from mid-December to mid-April and is the ideal time for hiking. During this period skies are clearer and trails are in better condition.
The rainy season in Panamá typically runs from late April to early December. During this period, it usually begins raining around early-afternoon in the Anton Valley.
Even though I hiked to the summit of Cerro Gaital during the rainy season, I do not recommend going beyond the viewing platform outside of the dry season.
While it wasn’t raining during my hike, the trail was still wet from the previous shower and I had a couple of close calls with the edge of the mountain after slipping on wet rocks.
Farm Pass trailhead
There’s another route to hike Cerro Gaital called Farm Pass. This route is around twice the length of the route starting at La Mesa, so a better option if you want a longer challenge. Also, you can walk to the trailhead from Anton town centre, which adds on roughly another 3 km ach way.
What to bring for the Cerro Gaital hike
For this hike I would bring plenty of water, at least 2 L and a couple of snacks. It’s not a long adventure but the humid forest and challenging final section sap your energy. I’d also have a rain jacket with you and wear sturdy shoes to support you during the steep climbs.
More Panamá adventure travel guides on A World Over
You can’t miss hiking Cerro Gaital if you’re in the Anton Valley and are looking for an outdoor challenge leading to great views. For a half day hike, then start at La Mesa. But for a full day, take the Farm Pass route and walk to the trailhead from Anton town.
Do you know about the Cerro La Silla, Mirador La gaita and La India Dormida hikes? These are 3 other great routes in the Anton Valley. And you can check out the Panama blog section for all my travel guides to this Central American country.