Sleeping Indian
Summit trail.
Adam Jones — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Garrison Gunter from State College, Pa, USA — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ayaita — CC BY 3.0 · Ayaita — CC BY 3.0
A quiet mountain town set inside the crater of an old extinct volcano, one of the largest inhabited craters in the world, at about six hundred metres, so it is cooler and milder than the coast, ringed by green hills, trees and flowers, a weekend escape for people from the capital. Its best-known hill is La India Dormida, the Sleeping Indian, a ridge shaped like a woman lying on her back, tied to the legend of a local princess who died of a broken heart. A trail climbs to its top with views over the whole valley and the town on the crater floor, as far as the coast on clear days. The town has a small market of vegetables, fruit and crafts, a conservation centre for the endangered Panamanian golden frog, the national symbol, simple mud baths and hot springs, and the Piedra Pintada rock with ancient carvings. The area is rich in birds and waterfalls. It rains often from May to November and trails get slippery, so wear suitable shoes.
Summit trail.
Crafts and fruit.
Ancient carvings.
About two hours west of Panama City
The town sits inside an old volcanic crater at about six hundred metres, so it is milder than the coast and the capital.