For many years, I Heard about Sarigua National Park (Parque Nacional Sarigua), I have not visited it. I had always thought that it is a desert and in the last years it has been recovered. It never was a desert, it is a salt lake with a big land.
The park is in Parita District, Herrera Province, it has an extension of 8,000 hectares.
The indigenous people of Sarigua
Sarigua is the oldest known fishing indegenous in the country, some 11,000 years old and an agricultural village from 3,000 BC to 500 A.D.
The indigenous of Sarigua were poor, they lived near the sea, since before a large part of the Salt Lake was covered by water.
You can see remains of ceramics and the tools they used to cut. Furthermore, the soil is part land and part sand.
Sarigua Today
Sarigua has lost land because of the erosion, it is approximately 3 meters’ height. There are some parts of the land with the original height.
While you hike at the Sarigua National Park you can appreciate a big amount of quartz and some places with salt. Also, there are volcanic rocks.
The temperature used to be very high in the day, especially on April, it can be up to 45Cº, it has broken several rocks.
Because of the Shrimp, Sarigua have recovered their vegetation, they have helped to stop the salty dust and prevent deforestation, the project that started in 1997.
Fauna
Among the fauna that can be found are lizards, armadillo and coyotes.
You can also see cows, belonging to nearby farms that sometimes escape and arrive at the park.
Advices
- Do not touch anything that the guide does not authorize, there are venomous plants,
- Do not take and leave anything,
- Using sunscreen,
- Bring gap or hat,
- Sunglasses,
- Fresh clothes,
- Sneakers.
Hours
- Monday to Sunday
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Prices
- $2.00 adults.
- $1:00 seniors.
The entrance includes a guide
It is allowed to camp.
Note
- Due to the situation of the Coronavirus, the entrance fee is not being charged.
- At the moment, only hiking is allowed.
- You can only go with a booking: write to parquesarigua@miambiente.gob.pa
Information to give to make the booking
- Do it with a minimum of 72 hours in advance,
- You must put in the subject: Reserva área protegida,
- Date of the visit,
- Number of people visiting (in case of groups, only up to 8 people are allowed),
- Name and telephone number of the person who is booking,
- Names, surnames, ages, nationalities and identity card or passport number of the visitors.
Maximum capacity
• 100 people per day.
Regulations of the National Parks
- No pets,
- Forbidden to feed the fauna,
- Do not bring alcoholic drinks,
- No Smoking,
- Do not carry or take out, species of fauna and flora or parts and sub-parts of these,
How to get to Sarigua National Park?
Do not use any apps to arrive, it could take you to Las Cienagas, (I took this one), in that place, the way is not in good condition and it is very far, it is a mistake on the apps, they have not been able to fit.
Take the entrance in Parita, on the street to Limon and Sarigua, there is signposted.
Continue until to find a Signposting to the park, turn left.
The street is in good condition, also some part without pavement, less the last kilometer.
Now, if it does not rain and you drive slowly, you can arrive by any car, but preferable to get to the end in 4X4 car.
If you go by bus, you must take one that goes through Chitre and get off at the entrance to Limón and Sarigua, however, the rest would be to hike, approximately 6 kilometers.
Update: 2021.
Other places that you may like
- Herrera History in a Museum
- Iguana Island and its Spectacular White Sand
- Exciting Whale Watching Tour in Pedasí
- Cañas Island Between Mangrove Swamps and Turtles
