Nature excursions with hiking trails, peaks and waterfalls are the main attractions around El Cope. When planning, it is worth distinguishing destinations in the national park from waterfall destinations in the El Cope and Barrigón area, and taking the journey into account. This will help you decide whether a named mountain destination, several trails or waterfalls should shape your stay.

Getting there and geographical orientation

From Panama City, a road branches off the Inter-American Highway at the entrance to La Candelaria and heads toward El Cope. The route to the national park then continues north on an unpaved road to the community of Barrigón. Two points are therefore important for orientation: the road toward El Cope and the onward route to the national park as far as Barrigón. Check road conditions before setting out.

National park, primary forest and peaks

Parque Nacional General de División Omar Torrijos Herrera lies north of El Cope and encompasses Cerro Peña Blanca and Cerro Marta. It covers 25,275 hectares of primary forest and is part of Panama’s National System of Protected Areas. The primary forest and the two named peaks give the protected area distinct landscape highlights.

A hiking trail leads to the 1,022-meter summit of Cerro Marta. The park’s trail network also includes Los Helechos, Sendero Marta, Las Ranas and Cuerpo de Paz. Those looking for a single peak destination can use Cerro Marta as a specific point of reference; those considering different trails can be guided by the names in the trail network. Planning an outing to a specific peak differs from planning one around several named trails.

Waterfalls and guided hikes

Visitors can hike, enjoy ecotourism and go birdwatching in the El Cope and Barrigón area. A 2022 ATP report describes “La ruta de las cascadas” as a hiking route to waterfalls such as El Tulí, El Tigrero and Las Yayas. Regional planning thus includes both a route with several named waterfall destinations and a trail to a peak.

Cascada El Tigrero, also called Chorro El Tigrero, is located in the community of Santa Marta, in the El Cope area, within Parque Nacional Omar Torrijos and in Coclé Province. A report dated August 27, 2026, describes access via a hiking trail with rocky sections leading to the waterfall.

In September 2022, the Comité Comunitario de Desarrollo Sostenible Santa Marta offered guided hikes to waterfalls and nearby mountain heights, including Cerro Escobal. Confirm current tour arrangements before visiting.

Planning your stay

Those prioritizing a peak or trails in the protected area can use the national park north of El Cope as their point of reference; those who prefer waterfalls and birdwatching can focus on the El Cope and Barrigón area. It is also important to confirm current arrangements for guided hikes.

Discover more destinations: Membrillo, Ola, Ojo De Agua, Coclé, El Roble, Antón, Juan Diaz, Penonomé

Go to the main travel overview: Coclé.