In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Panama
Cerro Punta
Half a day to one night: see the orchid garden Finca Drácula, then hike in La Amistad International Park. Not a base — stay in Boquete or David for longer trips.
Cerro Punta is a highland village (about 1,800 m) in western Panama, near the Costa Rican border. It is a quiet stop for Finca Drácula's orchid collection and the Panamanian side of La Amistad International Park. Most travellers pass through on the way between David and Boquete or as a short detour from Volcán.
- Country
- Panama
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
- Avoid
- May–Nov (rainy season, trails muddy)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PAB
- Money
- Currency is the balboa (PAB), fixed 1 to 1 with the US dollar; US dollar notes are the paper money in use, with Panamanian coins.
- Daily spend
- Budget $25–40 excl. bed · Mid $40–70 excl. bed · High $70+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Más Móvil, Tigo and Digicel SIMs at Tocumen and in malls; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police 104 · Fire 103 · General emergency 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% if not added.; Guides and boat crews: US$5–10 per person.; Hotel porters: US$1–2 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Panama City and most towns; drink bottled on the islands and in Bocas.
- Toilets
- Western toilets; basic outhouses on San Blas islands.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $1–2 |
| Local meal (set lunch) | $5–8 |
| Bus David–Cerro Punta | $4.30 |
| Finca Drácula entry | $20 |
| La Amistad park entry (foreigner) | $5 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DAV · Enrique Malek International Airport (David)
- About 1.5 h by bus or car; frequent buses from David to Cerro Punta.
Typical fares
- Bus David → Cerro Punta
- about $4.30, 1.5 h (check)
- Shared 4x4 to La Amistad ranger station
- about $5 per person, 30 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walking covers the village and Finca Drácula. For La Amistad park, you need a 4x4 taxi from Cerro Punta or Volcán; shared 4x4 taxis run to the ranger station (about $5 per person, 30 min).
See and do
Known for
- Finca Drácula orchid garden
- La Amistad International Park trails
- Cool highland climate
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Boquete | 4x4 taxi to the ranger station, then 8 km (5 mi) hike (5 h) or drive via Volcán (about 1 h by car)4x4 taxi to the ranger station, then 5 mi (8 km) hike (5 h) or drive via Volcán (about 1 h by car) | About 1.5 h by car; 5–6 h by hike |
| Volcán | Bus or taxi, about 15 min | 20 min |
| David | Bus from Cerro Punta, about 1.5 h | 1.5–2 h |
Sleep
- Cerro Punta village centre
- Basic lodges and B&Bs; closest to Finca Drácula and park access.
- Bambito area
- Between Volcán and Cerro Punta; Hotel Bambito and a few upscale options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Holaoh-lah |
| Thank you | Graciasgrah-see-ahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwahn-toh kwes-tah |
| Where is the bus stop? | ¿Dónde está la parada de autobús?don-deh es-tah la pah-rah-dah day ow-toh-boos |
| I would like a room | Quisiera una habitaciónkee-syeh-rah oo-nah ah-bee-tah-see-ohn |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'buenos días'; avoid: Skipping greetings in shops
- Dress: Long trousers in offices and churches; avoid: Beachwear in the city
- Guna communities: Ask before photos, pay the fee; avoid: Walking into homes or ceremonies
Scams and watch-outs
- La Amistad park trails are not marked in detail; hire a guide or go with a local driver.
- Rainy season (May–Nov) makes the 8 km trail to Boquete dangerous: do not attempt it.
- Finca Drácula requires advance booking; capacity is limited.
Safe village; watch for muddy roads and unmarked trails. The main risk is weather: rain can cut access to La Amistad park.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Cerro Punta yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Finca Drácula orchid garden
- La Amistad International Park trails
- Cool highland climate
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Finca Drácula official site: fincadracula.com/
- Wikivoyage: Cerro Punta, revision 5282257 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5282257
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/cerro-punta). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.