Things to do
Waterfalls and rivers
Santa Fé is surrounded by impressive mountains and streams, hence its nickname: the valley of waterfalls. There are numerous rivers and waterfalls within walking distance of the town where one can enjoy a refreshing swim: El Salto, El Bermejo, and Alto de Piedra to name just a few.
Waterfall ´El Salto´
Santa Fe is home to several rivers, most notably the Santa Maria and Rio Bulabá. These rivers are clean and safe to swim. You can find plenty of good swimming holes and walking paths along the river bank. To relax and enjoy the surrounding beauty, rent an inner tube for $5.00, and float down the Rio Bulabá until it joins the Santa Maria. The trip lasts about 75 minutes and passes through a series of rapids, where it ends at a footbridge over the Santa Maria. For inner tube rental, contact William Abrego (tel. 6583 5944). His rental place is about a mile outside of town.
Another company called Veraguas Expeditions organizes whitewater rafting and horseback rides. You can either do half-day or full-day tours with food included for prices between $50 – $80. Contact them by email or by phone at 6714 2094.
Hiking
Close to Santa Fé lies the 70.000 hectares Santa Fé national park. This pristine tropical forest contains all the rare animals and plants to satisfy any nature lover, including the jaguar, harpy eagle and over 300 types of orchids. You can hire a guide in the village and explore the park on horseback or conquer the unknown on your own. This is a literally unexplored wilderness, with very few maps available.
Captive jaguar in Santa Fé ´zoo´.
Fortunately there are plenty of interesting site on the edges of the park for those less adventurous. Consider for instance a trip to Cerro Tute, the highest peak in the area. During this 10 kilometer trip you get to see plenty of tropical flowers, orchid, birds and butterflies, plus an amazing view from the top. The unpaved road that leads you there is well maintained all the way.
Tour guide Cesar (tel. 6792 0571, e-mail: aventurascesamo@hotmail.com) can take you by foot or horseback to this largely untrodden area. César Miranda is one of the most knowledgeable tour guides in Santa Fé, and the only one to have a web page. You can book tours with him directly or leave it up to us during your stay.
4×4
Off-road enthusiasts can rent a serious all terrain vehicle in town and explore the many native communities and natural treasures that lie hidden in the jungle. The most well-known trip is to the village of Calovébora on the Caribbean coast, a 40 mile long off-road challenge, especially during the rainy season. The rewards are unspoiled sandy beaches and surfing waves. We can arrange a 4×4 vehicle for you with or without driver for prices of around $100 per day. A trip to the Caribbean will cost you in the range of $500.
Coffee Tours
Santa Fe is home to the locally produced coffee, Café El Tute, which is run by the local farmer’s cooperative. We brew this rich and flavorfull coffee in our bistro. The tourism cooperative in town offers tours of a local organic coffee farm, followed by a guided tour of the coffee processing plant. Tours cost around $5 per person and can be arranged by contacting the Tourism Cooperative at 954 0737.
