Square Trees Nature Trail Arboles Cuadrados
Square Trees Nature Trail Arboles Cuadrados
Square Trees Nature Trail Arboles Cuadrados
3.5
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Lovely 1.6km loop trail, traversing through a lush Panamanian rain forest. This trail is family friendly (including your pets) and is a wonderful place to see biodiversity up close and personal. The namesake of the trail, the Square Trees, are one of the many highlights to experience on this trail. Come for the square trees and stay for the birds, butterflies, insects and sloths. Since November 2019, this trail is managed by the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center Foundation (EVACC Foundation), a non-profit dedicated to saving 8 of Panama's most endangered species of amphibians, including the famous Panamanian golden frog. Proceeds go towards EVACC Foundation's ex situ breeding facility. "In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught" Baba Dioum. Salva lo que amas!
Duration: < 1 hour
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
108 reviews
Excellent
26
Very good
27
Average
33
Poor
11
Terrible
11
Kevin B
1 contribution
Nov 2019
It is a relatively easy hike though the forest with plenty to experience besides the square trees. Lots of native wildlife to spot on the stream adjacent path up to the trees.
The real gem of this trip is the opportunity to see the symbolic golden frog and talk to the amazing people working at the EVACC Foundation to save the golden frog and other amphibians.
I was able to visit twice in 2019 and the EVACC folks were making great and continued improvements to the Tree Trail, as well as tremendous progress on their conservation efforts.
Great things are happening in El Valle!
The real gem of this trip is the opportunity to see the symbolic golden frog and talk to the amazing people working at the EVACC Foundation to save the golden frog and other amphibians.
I was able to visit twice in 2019 and the EVACC folks were making great and continued improvements to the Tree Trail, as well as tremendous progress on their conservation efforts.
Great things are happening in El Valle!
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marky M.
Detroit, MI4 contributions
Feb 2020
This Trail is by far one of my favorite quick hikes in El Valle. There is always great opportunities to photograph all of the unique animal and plant life that makes El Valle and Panama very special!
I am even more inspired by the incredible work of the EVACC Foundation (these folks manage the trail) and their inspiring work with Panama's endangered amphibians.
I highly recommend visiting this hot spot!
I am even more inspired by the incredible work of the EVACC Foundation (these folks manage the trail) and their inspiring work with Panama's endangered amphibians.
I highly recommend visiting this hot spot!
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sophie J
18 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
We paid $4 each to see the "square trees". They are not square. Not at all. There's signs next to the "square" ones. Maybe they used to be when they were growing, but now they're just regular trees. I wouldn't recommend, although if you're looking for a short walk, this could be for you.
We also went to see the golden frog conservation which we much preferred - it was lovely to see the frogs. Although there was a lizard in a tank on its own too that looked desperate to escape (climbing the walls) and was not an endangered species in need of conservation.
We also went to see the golden frog conservation which we much preferred - it was lovely to see the frogs. Although there was a lizard in a tank on its own too that looked desperate to escape (climbing the walls) and was not an endangered species in need of conservation.
Written October 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Derek
Omaha, NE2 contributions
Sep 2019
During my time spent in El Valle, I frequented the Arbol Cuadrados Trail with staggering times through the day to observe many different species of animals. Everything from glass frogs, mot mots, toucanettes, agouti, bats, basilisks, and in between can be seen regularly on this trail. For an easy to hike trail with many stream crossings, this area is truly incredible as it resides at the foot of the cloud forest.
To top all of this off, the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center is at the trail head and offers a rare opportunity to see the majestic Panamanian Golden Frog and their corresponding conservation work to return this incredible animal to it's former wild glory.
I wouldn't hesitate to return to this trail when in Panama again and would wake up every morning and wonder what I could see on the trail this time?
To top all of this off, the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center is at the trail head and offers a rare opportunity to see the majestic Panamanian Golden Frog and their corresponding conservation work to return this incredible animal to it's former wild glory.
I wouldn't hesitate to return to this trail when in Panama again and would wake up every morning and wonder what I could see on the trail this time?
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amanda Seidler
3 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
This is such a great experience! We decided to check out EVACC and hike the square trees trail and we are so happy that we did. The center was so cool to check out the golden frogs and the people are so passionate about conservation. The trail is so peaceful and there is a lot to check out on it. It was a nice hike that can be for all ages
Written February 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Navigate783986
Panama City, Panama3 contributions
Feb 2020
The nature trail is filled with large trees and a variety of local plants. With an occasional butterfly seen in passing! It is a wonderful experience to be walking this trail under a beautifully shaded tree canopy. I found the walk/hike to be very comfortable as it is well maintained and has a very nice lookout point viewing the Gaitel Mountain, one of the many in the range of the extinct volcano of El Valle. I highly recommend for anyone who loves nature. I will certainly return.
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
davidefiedler
Geneva, Switzerland182 contributions
Jan 2017 • Solo
3$ for a 30-45 minute walk through the forest, over a short hanging bridge, to see two (2!) trees that have somewhat of a square trunk. OK, but not really worth the money.
Written February 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dennis Wenthold
El Valle de Anton, Panama132 contributions
Aug 2015 • Friends
The square trees are located in the NE corner of El Valle on the property of Hotel Campestre. You pay a small fee in the office and the distance to the square trees is about 440 yards or 400 meters. The trail is flat and very lushes. The trunk of the trees are square because of the volcanic make up of the soil in this location.
Written October 26, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ashley C
Lincoln, NE7 contributions
After reading so many negative reviews, I had marked this off my list, but I'm glad that I didn't. It was a beautiful walk from town through a quiet neighborhood to get to the hotel. I only paid 2$, but I was told that it could have been free if I booked it through my hostel. As long as you don't go in expecting massive groves of perfectly square trees, you'll enjoy a pleasant, easy, beautiful hike through a lovely grotto near a stream. There's a small lookout point, and the "arboles cuadrados" are some cool looking trees. I went in knowing some people were disappointed, and I was pleasantly surprised. Go in with the right attitude, and you'll be treated to a beautiful walk (took me about 40 min and I took my time) through a peaceful bit of El Valle nature on the grounds of a historic hotel. I felt it was well worth $2, and am glad I went. Might be good for families with small kids or folks that aren't up for long hikes, or of you just need a short quiet activity to round out your day.
Written February 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Larry C
Gleneden Beach, OR39 contributions
Mar 2014 • Friends
We had a nice jungle walk along a beautiful stream, and saw a number of square trees. I had been here about 60 years ago, and there were more square trees, but it was still a good visit. We saw some young tress along the trail, and quite a few about 2/3s of the way with signs. They have rounded corners, but after all they are trees. One was absolutely spectacular, with all four sides about the same size (about 12 inches). We also got to see a lot of leaf cutter ants in action moving leaves from tree to next along their well-traveled highway. The Hotel Campestra (where you pay a modest amount for your tree walk) has a nice covered restaurant where we had delicious fruit drinks. The dinner menu looked good, but we didn't have time to stay for dinner. I recommend this attraction in El Valle, but don't expect to see sharp-edged square trees; this is nature, not a construction site with precisely cut 12 x 12 posts in the ground.
Written March 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is this a forest is square trees?
Written January 3, 2019
Not the whole forest, but there are some trees of a species that ranges throughout Central America that only grow square shaped at this particular location for some strange reason. They are definitely something you don't see everyday, and they are marked/labeled along a nice, easy hike accessible for the average person (i.e. you don't have to climb a steep mountain to see something rare and unusual).
Written February 22, 2020
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