6 days
(5 nights)
$1,690+
Price per person
Based on group size
Join this expedition that takes you to the most western edge of the Mamoní Valley Preserve, or as we call it, the wild, wild west.
Here, at the headwaters of the Mamoní river, the Preserve, along with its Guna and Embera neighbours, protect the highest point of the region—Cerro Brewster. The peak stands at over 900m with mythical-like biodiversity in its elfin forest.
Being one of the most unexplored regions of the Valley, the region guards pristine forests. With elevation, these untouched areas turn into elfin cloud forests, loaded with rare orchids and hundreds of epiphytes, alongside many yet-to-be-discovered species.
Contact us to get a more detailed itinerary & options, and description of locations!
Expedition overview:
Expedition Details
- Fitness Level: Healthy lifestyle and a good level of general fitness
- Season availability: All year
- Total duration: Min 3 days, max 5 days
- Physical activity duration: 6 hrs /day
- Distance: 16.7 km / 10.4 miles
- Common hazards: Snakes, spiky palms, extreme slopes, slippery rocks, streams
- Modes of transportation: Trekking, 4×4
- Natural environment: Primary cloud forest, young and old secondary forest, pioneer succession, pasture, agriculture, river, environment at risk, icon species
- Learning content (optional/typical): Conservation, Indigenous territories, cloud forest, elfin forest, rare species, continental divide
- Lodging: Hammock, lodge
FAQ
The Trek
This lollipop loop trail starts at a neighbour’s cattle pasture, which is a 2-hour 4×4 drive to the west from our Science and Leadership Center, Centro Mamoní and fording the Mamoní river many times.
The pasture trail follows the ridge up towards the continental divide as the landscape transitions into newly regenerated forest. Much of the expedition follows a main ridge that eventually leads you to the continental divide.
As you follow the easter ridge of the loop, you’ll enter properties within the Mamoní Valley Preserve, which offer old growth secondary and primary forest. The most unique elfin cloud forest regions in the Mamoní Valley live along this trail, which eventually leads to the ridge top that has panoramic views of the Mamoní Valley and its Guna neighbour to the north.
After spending two cool nights near 1,000m/3,333ft elevation on the continental ridge and exploring the elfin forest in search of its mythical like biodiversity, you will loop back down a westerly ridge that takes you back down into the cattle pastures where our 4×4 awaits.
Why This Experience is for You
This is our only expedition offering that takes trekkers into the elfin cloud forests of the Mamoní Valley. It is perfect for those seeking some of the more rare and unique species like orchids and amphibians that can be found in the tropical rainforest. It is common to see signs of recent Jaguar movements along these trails.
The Itinerary Outline
Day 1: 4x4x Transport to Centro Mamoní Lodge. Gear check
Day 2: 4×4 Transport to expedition starting point. Trekking the ecoregion and overnighting in expedition hammocks
Day 3: Trekking the ecoregion and reaching the Cerro Brewster highpoint at over 900m/3,000ft. Overnighting in expedition hammocks
Day 4: Trekking down back to the starting point to take 4×4 back to Centro Mamoní lodge
Day 5: 4×4 ride back to Panama City
Fitness Requirements
This expedition is for anyone with a healthy lifestyle and a good level of general fitness. Trekkers need to be comfortable covering lots of ground in a day and walking over slippery steep sections.
Participants should be willing to be part of a team working together to enjoy a safe, fun, and meaningful experience.
Arriving unprepared and/or without meeting the minimum fitness requirements can jeopardise your health and the overall expedition experience, so take training seriously.
Get in touch with any fitness, health, training or packing questions that you might have. Our certified wilderness guides prefer to have video conversation with participants in advance to ensure that fitness expectations and packing needs are met.
Additionally, you should expect the following:
- Carry up to 15kg/33lbs per person in your expedition pack.
- Trekking as much as 6-8 hours on some days and covering up to 10km or more per day.
- Anticipate wet, dense tropical rainforest with steep terrain on rustic paths and frequent river or stream crossings.
- Climate is hot and humid and below 1,000m/3,333ft elevation.
- Being comfortable around water is essential for this expedition.
- Age minimum is 16+
Geoversity Guarantees
- In-country transport as outlined in the itinerary
- Horses during the first and last day of the trek to help carrying gear
- Certified wilderness guides and wilderness first aid trained with medical kit and sat phone
- Specialist guides and instructors for on route interpretation
- Three meals per day, snacks, water, tea, coffee, and natural drinks
- Accommodation throughout; beds, expedition hammocks
- Expedition hammock with mosquito netting and rain cover
- Cooking gear, eating utensils, mug, cup, and ingredients for cooking
- Special permits and permissions
Optional Add Ons
- Return travel to City from the Mamoní Valley Preserve by chartered helicopter, including mandatory carbon offset agreement for the benefit of the Mamoní Valley Preserve.
- Extra days and nights at Centro Mamoní in the Mamoní Valley Preserve
- Alcoholic beverages
- Bag porter
Not Included
- International air transportation to and from Panama City (for USD 150, Geoversity offers a 5-year carbon offset opportunity in the Mamoní Valley Preserve)
- Insurance of any kind
- Alcoholic beverages not provided by hosts with meals
- Additional hotel days/nights in Panama, Centro Mamoní or in the jungle
- Personal equipment according to personal needs and preferences (list of mandatory items and recommendations will be provided upon registration)
- Tips to local support guides; discretionary but anticipated by the local guides. Your trip leader can help advise on how much
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