- When I was on my way to Boquete, my main goal was to hike up Barú volcano. It is a night hike to see sunrise, and I arrived in the morning, so I had the afternoon free. I studied the various things to do, and decided to hike the Lost Waterfalls trail. So I leave some stuff in my room in Boquete, and head to the street corner from where the vans leave from. The minivan is almost empty, but we leave anyway, and it takes a little under half an hour to reach the trailhead. I walk across a rickety iron suspension bridge across the Caldera river, and follow the trail. It directly goes up, on an easy trail with some views on the right. After a while, I pay a hefty $10 entrance fee. There are some views of the hills on the other side of the valley, and I see coffee plantations. This region is well known for its coffee, and locals claim it is the best coffee of the country.
- It takes some more hiking before I reach a turnoff. The descent is steep and a little muddy. There are even some ropes installed, but they are not really necessary. I can already see the top of the waterfall before I reach the small viewing platform from where I have an unobstructed view of a slender waterfall coming down the cliff face. It is an elegant waterfall, in the shade of a narrow opening in the mountains. I see the water splash on boulders below, before it makes its way further down the valley, on the way to the Caldera river I crossed before. After taking a few pictures, I am on my way up again. Some steep sections through the forest bring me to a flatter section. I can hear the second waterfall in the distance, and walk to the creek. There, I see the waterfall from a distance through the foliage.
- A short walk on the trail brings me to a small pond at the foot of the waterfall. It is wider and lower than the first, a true curtain of water. I see people right at the top, and after a short climb, I walk to the edge of the waterfall. At my feet, the water tumbles deep down below. and a little further away, I have an unobstructed view over the lush forest. Behind the trees, I see a much higher mountain, and realize that that is the back of Barú volcano which is waiting for me later that night. I hike up the last section of the trail, and follow the boulders in the creek when I get close to the third waterfall. I have to go cautiously because they are very slippery. Then, the last waterfall appears before my eyes. I walk around bigger boulders, and find a good viewpoint a little higher up. I wait until the sun pierces through the thick foliage above, giving the waterfall a much better appearance, creating a rainbow at its feet. It was an easy walk, and going down is even easier. I am back in time for a short break and some hours of sleep before I set off for the hike I came for: up Barú volcano.
