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Got an extra day in Panama City? Packed with wildlife and fantastic scenery, the choices for day trips can be overwhelming. We’ve highlighted some Tropical Nature Travel favorites for making the most of your extra day.
Panama Canal Transit
A modern wonder of the world—and a marvel of engineering—the Panama Canal stretches for 50 miles across the isthmus of Panama. Set sail on a passenger vessel with a specialized guide to explore the inner workings of the canal first-hand. You’ll see huge cargo ships passing through the locks, dwarfing the surrounding jungle as they make their journey from the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean. You can enjoy a trip through two sets of locks, or journey the entire length of the canal.
Metropolitan Rainforest Exploration
Despite its location next to Panama City, the lovely forests of the Metropolitan Nature Park are filled with a great variety of flora and fauna. It’s forests are drier than some of the surrounding rainforests, so we can see several bird species that aren't readily seen in other areas, including the Rosy Thrush-Tanager and the Lance-tailed Manakin. During migration seasons, you can witness the river of raptors flying right over the park as they head for warmer winters or return to their breeding grounds. If we’re lucky, we might spot a coatimundi or monkey!
People of the Rainforest: The Emberá
The Emberá people are true natives of Panama—they have lived in the rainforest there for centuries. We’ll travel back in time to experience their traditional way of life, learning about these fascinating people along the way.
We’ll head up the Chagres River—on the lookout for herons, toucans and kingfisher in addition to the beautiful scenery—to the Chagres National Park, where the Emberá live. Hosts from the village will meet you, show you around and answer your questions about local culture and how the people live. The Emberá are known for their wood and nut carvings and woven baskets, and you’ll have the opportunity to buy some of these local handicrafts.
The Pirates of the Caribbean
In the days of the conquistadors, Spanish ships loaded with gold and silver passed through Panamanian ports on their way to and from the colonial empire of Peru. To protect these galleons filled with riches, the Fort of San Lorenzo was built at the mouth of the Chagres River, the gateway to Panama City. We’ll drive to the Fort, stopping along the way at Gatun Locks, where you’ll get to see the operations of the Panama Canal first-hand. Then, passing through the San Lorenzo Forest Reserve, we’ll have a chance to look for birds and some of the large groups of coatimundis that roam the region. Then it’s on to the impressive Fortress. Designated a World Heritage site, it is built on a promontory overlooking the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chagres River. Enjoy the sweeping vistas as you roam amongst the old stone walls of the fortress. You can take the return journey to Panama City on the beautifully restored Trans-Continental Railroad, following the route of the canal and enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Soberania National Park
Just 20 miles from Panama City, Soberania’s beautifully preserved wilderness is home to an incredible array of wildlife, including 500 species of birds—the Panama Audubon Society has set world-record bird counts here. After exploring the rainforest of the park, we’ll take a different perspective on them on an aquatic tour. We’ll board our boat and be on the lookout monkeys, crocodiles, turtles, capybara and even sloths.
El Valle de Antón
This full day is packed with wildlife and adventure! The picturesque village of El Valle de Anton is nestled in the crater of a 5-million-year-old extinct volcano. The dramatic scenery includes a steep valley surrounded by jagged peaks and filled with flowers, streams and verdant forests. We'll go birding in the foothills at a private reserve, where, if we're lucky, we might get a glimpse of the Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo.
After lunch, those with daring spirits can experience "The Canopy Adventure," a series of zip lines in the forest canopy. After a short climb to a ridge-top, you are strapped safely into a harness before soaring through the tree-tops from platform to platform. You’ll pass over streams and waterfalls from the heights of the sturdy, cloud-forest trees. Bring your swimsuit — there’s also a swimming hole to cool off in after your adventure.
Pipeline Road
Beautiful, pristine forest surrounds the 17-Km long, world-famous Pipeline Road. Once part of the restricted Canal Zone area, Pipeline Road is considered to be one of the finest places in the world for birding and nature observation. You can see monkeys, frogs, and many kinds of birds, including Motmots and Puffbirds as well as Manakin leks. The rich and diverse habitat changes along the slopes of the Continental Divide, and we'll be on the lookout for ant swarms and their attendant Antbirds, as well as Woodpeckers and Trogons.
Summit Gardens and Harpy Eagle Exhibit
The Summit Gardens Park is managed by the Office of the Panama City Mayor. The Gardens host a small zoo where you can get a better look at some local Panamanian animals, including the King Vulture, Great Curassow, Spider Monkey and Jaguar. A state-of-the art exhibit explores the magnificent Harpy Eagle, the National Bird of Panama, with film footage of nesting and feeding, as well as many artifacts that trace the importance of the Harpy Eagle in Panama's history and culture, dating back to Pre-Columbian times.
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