nature tours in panama

A Panama birding tour is the peak of Central American birding. With the most accessible rainforest in the world and 900+ species of birds, 1,500 species of trees, and 10,000 species of plants, Panama is a tropical paradise for nature lovers. And thanks to the construction of the Panama Canal, large tracts of lowland rainforest were preserved as national parks to protect the watershed. Naturalist Journeys offers Panama nature tours and Panama birding tours many times during year. Contact one of our travel planners to find out which Panama tour or other Central American birding tour is right for you.

Guided Group Tours

Group travel is rewarding and fun! With more eyes you see more species. Travel Planners of Naturalist Journeys and Caligo Ventures have been creating memorable journeys for 40+ years. We offer you small-group birding and nature tours, limited to just 8-10 persons led by expert guides. Learn and explore with like-minded people, enjoy local food and culture, and immerse yourself in birding and nature.

Independent Travel to Panama

Independent Birding Ventures (IBVs) are designed for those interested in more flexible dates, or a shorter or expanded itinerary. An IBV is like a “mini-tour”—with guided birding from delightful, small eco-lodges, meals and transport included. Let us do the work, you pick the dates and set the pace. Click here to learn about our IBV and Relaxing Lodge Stay options.

Conservation Corner

We value conservation – it is at the heart of our work. All Naturalist Journeys’ tours support local conservation projects. Browse the links below to learn more about positive local work to save and conserve the wildlife and landscapes we visit.

Disney Conservation Hero The Disney Conservation Fund recognized Panama Audubon’s Executive Director Rosabel Miro as a 2015 Disney Conservation Hero for her dedicated work to save Bay of Panama Wetlands (a global Important Bird Area and critical habitat for migrating shorebirds), resulting in the area’s designation as a protected wildlife refuge and the establishment of the first Panamanian Ministry of the Environment. Motus Wildlife Tracking System Bird Studies Canada and Panama Audubon have installed a Motus Wildlife Tracking System on the observation deck of Canopy Tower. The first in Central America, the antenna is one of four planned for the Isthmus of Panama, and is part of a hemispheric tracking system listening for radio signals from migratory birds banded in North America to help determine connections between breeding, migrating, and wintering sites. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute operates nine research stations in Panama, providing an unparalleled opportunity for scientists to study the country’s rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. Staff and scientists have made deep contributions to a wide variety of conservation initiatives . Planting Empowerment Planting Empowerment does forestry differently. Working in collaboration with local communities in Panama, this Washington D.C-based, socially responsible forestry company grows tropical hardwoods and promotes sustainable land use. The Canopy Tower family invests in Planting Empowerment.

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Welcome to Tamandúa’s website. We’re a local company dedicated to organizing and guiding the best birding, wildlife and nature tours in Panama.

Panama is one of the most exciting and rewarding birding and nature travel destinations in the Neotropics (the biological region comprising Central and South America, plus the Caribbean islands). With excellent air links to most world major airports, it is also one of Latin America’s safest and most stable countries, with some of the best infrastructures in the region. In spite of its small size, Panama contains a surprisingly varied geography, with habitats ranging from sea-level to more than 3,400 metres in the Chiriquí Highlands. Being closer to the equator than any other Central American country, its biodiversity is stunning, with close to 1,000 bird species, 255 mammals, 275 reptiles and amphibians, 1,500 butterflies…

Bocas del Toro: Caribbean nature experience

Chiriquí: birds of the cloud forest and the western lowlands

Birding Pipeline Road: day tours

Darién: eastern lowlands

Volcán Barú expedition: mountain birds and landscapes

Discover panama's most wanted birds, image of the month.

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Top 10 wild adventures in Panama

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• roughguides.com
• wild-adventures-in-panama

written by Kieran Meeke

updated 14.03.2019

Panama is famous for its canal (of course) and, increasingly, for its Old City. But there is much more to this Central American country than shipping and history – it’s also a tropical paradise to rival neighbouring Costa Rica. Here’s our list of the 10 best wildlife adventures in Panama.

1. Parque Natural Metropolitano

2. miraflores lock, 3. biomuseo, 4. gatun lake, 5. panama rainforest discovery center, 6. san blas islands, 7. la amistad national park, 8. smithsonian tropical research institute, 9. isla bastimentos national marine park, 10. whale watching, gulf of chiriqui, tailor-made travel itineraries for panama, created by local experts.

10 days  / from 1655 USD

Highlights of Panama

Explore Panama's vibrant capital, including the famous Panama Canal before heading out to the tropical rainforest. Nature trails are waiting to be explored before your flight to Bocas del Toro, where you will enjoy a few days kicking back or being active, the islands offer something for everyone.

10 days  / from 2099 USD

Cuisine & Culture of Panama

Explore Panama's culture and cuisine in depth in this itinerary. Learn about the Emberá traditions close to the capital, before heading to Panama's cultural heart. Take a local cooking class and explore the surroundings of Chitre, one of Panama's oldest settlements.

8 days  / from 1882 USD

Thrilling Adventures in Panama

Mountain-biking, river rafting, mangrove tours - Panama has endless opportunities for all adventure-seekers. Enjoy this fast-paced itinerary from Panama City to the highlands of Boquete and ending on the beaches of Boca Chica.

9 days  / from 3966 USD

Luxury Honeymoon

Enjoy the finest Panama has to offer - luxurious hotels, a private gastronomic tour in Panama City, time to discover the highlands of Boquete before heading out to Panama's Pacific coast to spend a few days relaxing on the beach.

You don’t even need to leave Panama City to get back to nature. What other capital can boast of a rainforest inside its limits? The Parque Natural Metropolitano is part of the green belt protecting the watershed of the Panama Canal. It has hiking trails, a forest canopy crane and countless birds, monkeys and other fauna and flora to spot as well as a butterfly house.

Inspired by our list of wild adventures in Panama? Try our new tailor-made travel service and we’ll connect you with a local expert who can organise a fully personalised trip.

You can’t grasp Panama’s ecologic importance without first understanding its canal. Within easy reach of the city centre, this lock has an impressive four-storey Visitor's Centre dedicated to the history and biodiversity of the Panama Canal. Watching a massive ship ease through the lock is part of the experience. Several local tour companies also offer partial or complete transits through the canal, including Miraflores Lock, with guides explaining its environmental footprint.

Looking for inspiration for your trip? See our guide to the best things to do in Panama.

The Panama Canal is surrounded by rainforest © dani3315/Shutterstock

Panama is an isthmus linking North and South America, a meeting place for flora and fauna as well as weather systems from the Atlantic (Caribbean) and Pacific coasts. The result in terms of biodiversity (Panama has more species of birds than the US and Canada combined) is explored through interactive, child-friendly exhibits in Biomuseo , a colourful museum on the Amador Causeway. Designed by Frank Gehry, it’s his only building in Latin America.

The largest man-made lake in the world at the time was made during the construction of the Panama Canal by damming the Chagres River. Some 30km long, its store of water is essential to the operation of the canal’s locks and the success of the lake depends on the preservation of the rainforest around it. Small boat tours are an accessible way to learn about the lake’s ecology and see the varied wildlife, with a stop on Monkey Island to see and hear its many species of primates, including Capuchins, Tamarins and Howler monkeys.

A Striated Heron, one of the many species found along the Chagres River © Brian Lasenby/Shutterstock

Related articles from the blog

This centre is a paradise for birdwatchers, with the chance to spot over 500 species. A 40-meter tower takes you into the forest canopy to see toucans, while a lake attracts species such as herons. It’s on Pipeline Road , a 17.5km dirt track through the primary and secondary rainforest of Parque Nacional Soberanía that makes for a great hike in itself. As well as birds, expect to see everything from monkeys and butterflies to coatis and anteaters.

The San Blas Archipelago on the north (Caribbean) coast of Panama is the domain of the Guna indigenous people. Visitors can fly by small plane, or by ferry after a two-hour drive from Panama City. There are some 380 beautiful islands, of which 50 are inhabited, lying in crystal clear waters. For the full experience, arrange to be dropped off for a few hours on one of the uninhabited ones. Coral reefs abound, so bring your snorkelling gear (scuba diving is banned to help protect the environment).

The Rough Guides to Panama and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

The San Blas Islands – one of the more relaxed adventures in Panama © Stefan Neumann/Shutterstock

This park in the extreme west of Panama runs across the border into an equally remote area of Costa Rica. While technically possible to fly in and out on a day trip from Panama City, it realistically needs a longer stay. Hikes are strenuous, given the humidity and mountainous terrain, but there is a lot to experience in this cloudforest region. Highlights include the many orchid and tree fern species, Barú Volcano and some hair-raising whitewater rapids.

The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute – a study centre on Barro Colorado in Gatun Lake – is a major draw for scientists from all over the world. The island has almost 400 bird species, 500 species of butterflies and 500 species of trees, along with monkeys, birds and many other species. Joining one of the regular group tours is the only way for most visitors to enjoy the island. Experienced guides lead hikes through the forest, and you can even have lunch with the scientists.

Praying mantis photographed on Barro Colorado Island © Ferdy Timmerman/Shutterstock

This reserve on the Caribbean Sea spans environments ranging from coral reefs to mangrove swamps and rainforests. It’s home to dolphins and crocodiles, frogs, sloths and monkeys. Sea turtles nest on Playa Larga from April to September, while Nivida Bat Cave (more of an underground river) is home to fruit bats and spiders. The best way to get around is by boat, but there are also plenty of hikes and you can camp overnight on some of the beaches and more remote islands.

Although Panama City is on the southern coast of Panama, it's actually considered the Pacific side. Between July and October, the Gulf of Chiriqui is visited by humpback whales who have made the incredible journey up the Pacific from the Antarctic and Chile to give birth in and around Parque Nacional Coiba . Other species to spot include pilot whales, Bryde’s and minke whales as well as large numbers of dolphins. There are 25 uninhabited islands, with coral reefs and beaches, so bring your swimsuit.

A whale fluke seen in the Gulf of Chiriqui © Guy Neumann/Shutterstock

Top image: An aerial view of the Panama Canal © dani3315/Shutterstock

Kiera n has lived in 12 countries – including Yemen and Mozambique – and written about countless others, specialising in long-form features that get beneath the surface. This love of exploring the quirky and hidden in every destination saw him run the Secret London website for 15 years, but more recently has taken him on long distance walking and horse-riding adventures. Follow him on Instagram @kieran_meeke .

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Wildlife Holidays in Panama

Panama forms the narrowest part of the Mesoamerican Isthmus, which is not only of huge historical importance linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by rail and canal, but also of considerable biogeographical importance as the land bridge between North and South America.

It is the southernmost country of Central America. It has a tropical climate and inland its most dominant feature is its central spine of mountains.

The customs, language and culture of the Panamanians are mainly Caribbean and Spanish. Many of the country’s musical and artistic traditions reflect a blending of Native American, African and European cultures. It has one unique art form, ‘molas’ – attractive and fascinating embroidered panels made by the Kuna tribe.

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Featured Tours to Panama

Panama - Canopy Tower

Panama - Mammals of the Canopy Tower

The Reptiles & Amphibians of Panama

Panama - Harpy Eagle Special

Panama's Butterflies

Tailormade Holidays in Panama

Our Specialist Recommends

"I recommend our ‘ Panama – Canopy Tower’ for the best of the birding opportunities in the rainforests of Soberania National Park. We stay in the canopy tower, in the centre of the forest and all of the birding is done directly from the Canopy Tower."

Naturetrek Tours to Panama

Naturetrek offers six wildlife holidays to Panama: a bargain bird watching holiday, a bargain mammal tour, a botany tour, a butterfly tour, a Harpy Eagle special and a herpetology tour. These are all based in the rainforests of Soberania National Park and the famous Canopy Tower, where the main observation deck offers superb 360° views over the canopy and a chance to see otherwise elusive species.

What’s special about its wildlife?

Panama offers some of the best bird watching in Central America. It is home to nearly one thousand bird species in an area covering just 80,000 square kilometres! Many South American as well as North American species are found here.

It has prime locations at which to witness spectacular spring and autumn bird migrations. Panama also contains large tracts of avian-rich tropical rainforest, of which the Soberania National Park extends right down to the suburbs of Panama City and the famous Panama Canal.

Panama is home to over 200 species of mammal – from sloths and anteaters to tapirs and Kinkajous.

What wildlife might I see?

• Superb Neotropical bird watching including trogons, motmots, jacamars, puffbirds, manakins, antbirds & tanagers.
• Mammals such as Mantled Howler Monkey, Nine-banded Long-nosed Armadillo, White-nosed Coati, grisons, soledons & bats that make tents!
• Reptiles and Amphibians such as Eyelash Viper, Green-and-Black Poison Frogs and Helmeted Iguana.

Related articles

Harpy Eagles are truly magnificent and highly sought birds. Each Harpy Eagle pair needs several square miles of undisturbed forest to thrive and breed, hunting their established range continuously to feed themselves and offspring. In this article, read recent Harpy Eagle nest updates from Panama and Brazil.

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Panama Nature & Wildlife Tours & Travel Packages 2023-2024

29 panama nature & wildlife trips. compare tour itineraries from 20 tour companies. 35 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating., popular panama nature & wildlife tours.

San Blas Islands & The Guna Indians

• Take a refreshing swim in a waterfall
• Explore the San Blas Islands
• Meet the Guna People

The Great South American Journey: Quito to Rio Adventure

• Mingle with the locals of a small community in the amazon
• Go sandboarding on the dunes of huacachina
• Spot condors at colca canyon
• Conquer the inca trail on the way to machu picchu
• Experience traditional life on lake titicaca

Panama Family Adventure

• Feel the thrill of the Panama Jungle Boat Adventure
• Meet the Embera People
• Visit Salt Creek Village

Multi Sport Adventure

• Feel the thrill of the Jungle Boat Adventure
• Meet Embera Indians Chiriqui Highlands
• Experience Boquete Coffee

Mount Totumas Cloud Forest

• Enjoy a Guided hike in the jungle of Panama
• Visit Baru Volcano National Park
• Discover the wildlife of mount Totumas

The Panama Canal Expansion Tour

• Meet the Embera Indigenous People
• Enjoy a Jungle Boat tour on the Panama Canal
• Visit San Lorenzo National Park & Panama Railway

Best of Panama

• Visit la Amistad International Park & Sugar Cane Farm
• Meet with Embera Indigenous People
• Witness Panama Canal Expansion

One Week Tour Of Panama

• This tour is great for anyone wishing to see the best of Panama
• Enjoy a Panama City tour, Portobelo adventure, Monkey Island and more
• You will get a dose of culture, adventure and interaction with nature on this trip

All Panama Nature & Wildlife , expedition cruises, self guided adventures and vacation packages. Find the best guided and expert planned vacation and holiday packages. Read more about Panama Nature & Wildlife

Small Group Panama Nature & Wildlife Tours

Wonders of Central America - 22 days

• Panama City - visit the famous Panama Canal and explore Central America's most cosmopolitan and wealthy capital
• Boquete - ride in a chicken bus and explore Panama's coffee-growing country
• Bocas del Toro archipelago - discover Panama's pristine islands, with their laid back Caribbean vibe and beautiful beaches
• Sarapiqui - visit some of the wonderful national parks in the area or the Sarapiqui River
• Monteverde National Park - hike through the beautiful cloud forest, shrouded in a canopy of cloud and home to a wonderful array of flora and fauna

Costa Rica - Rainforest Adventure

• Explore Tortuguero National Park and its jungle canals
• Enjoy Arenal and Poas Volcanoes
• Wildlife viewing, tropical forest walk & rafting at Sarapiqui
• Enjoy the world-famous Eco-Termales Hot Water Springs
• Visit a local community untouched by tourism
• Explore Boquete.
• Experience the true Caribbean lifestyle in Bocas Del Toro
• Enjoy the incredible surrounding beaches
• Visit Puerto Viejo , known for the biggest and strongest wave - the Salsa Brava.

Best Panama Nature & Wildlife Tours by Duration

Tours, Cruises & Private Trips

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Panama Nature & Wildlife Attractions & Landmarks Guide

Panama nature & wildlife reviews & ratings, fantastic it was an incredible experience.

The places included on the itinerary were just right. The right places in order to get a feel for the countries we visited. I can't stop telling my family and frien...

Peter Helfenstein

Tour was good

Group was very international and good Not so good: Only one excursion included.

David pronounced Da Veed in Panama

A fantastic week

I can't say enough about this tour. The accommodations, food, transportation, activities, Tour director and driver were all top notch. It was so well coordinated w...

Caravan goes above and beyond

After traveling around the world with a number of tour companies, my wife Fyllis and I assumed we had seen, and experienced, just about everything they have to offer...

Patel Family

My family and I went to Panama with Caravan Tours and Pedro Palma was our host. Panama is a beautiful country and there is so much to enjoy and explore it can get ov...

See all Panama Nature & Wildlife reviews

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Panama 011 (507) 6679-3444 |   [email protected]

About our adventure trips:

 " Aventuras Panamá " or Adventures Panama pioneers adventure travel in Panama city and the country. It offers  soft adventure travel packages that include whitewater rafting , kayaking , mountain biking , hiking , camping , snorkeling , cultural inmersions on rainforest tribes , Panama vacation, Guna Yala , Panama City Panama , and more to turn your vacations in Panamain to unforgettable  memories. Visit Panama !

Panama is a bridge that unites North America with South America, and separates the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in the narrowest area of America. That explain the huge biodiversity that you will encounter. Adventure into Panama Whale Watching , Bird Watching , or into any of our protected areas such as Soberania National Park to be amaze with our wildlife.

What ever your needs are in lodging, transfers, or activities we are here to help. If you can not find online what you are looking for contact us and we will be happy to assist you providing you reliable service.

*** Unique Day & Multi-Day Adventures To Panama’s Pristine Jungles, Rivers & Oceans ***

Servicing panama stopover flights with packages from arrival to departure , custom made • honey moon •family vacation • corporate groups • luxury • camping • national parks • rainforest tribes • nature and wildlife • cultural immersion • lodging • transfers • 1 – 8 day tours, best of panama’s adventure, culture & travel services, certificate of excellence, year after year  , destinations.

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Canopy Tower

Welcome to The Canopy Tower

Awaken to a tropical chorus of motmots, toucans, and fruitcrows…Your bedroom is at treetop level, no more than 40 feet from the birds.

The Canopy Tower is a prime location from which to observe the birds and other wildlife of the forest canopy. Because the birds and mammals are at eye level, it is common to get fantastic views otherwise nearly impossible from the ground, making this one of the best places for birding in Panama, and perhaps the entire world.

You don’t have to leave the Canopy Tower to find birds, you don’t even have to leave your bedroom! Tanagers and Tityras can be seen right from your window, and you don’t have to worry about the rain. The dining area and the roof of the tower are better for finding elusive canopy birds, as well as Mantled Howlers, Geoffroy’s Tamarins and other mammals and birds, as you can scan in all directions.

And all this without having to venture away from the Tower! This really is one of the best birding vacation spots anywhere in the world.

Book Your Stay

The Canopy Tower is located in impressive rainforest atop Semaphore Hill within Soberanía National Park, 35 miles north of Panamá City in the Republic of Panamá right in the center of the New World— and just 2½ hours from Miami! It’s one of best locations for birding lodges in Panama.

Panamá’s shape creates a natural funnel, concentrating migratory birds on a narrow isthmus— land that the birds desperately need for rest and to refuel before continuing their long journey. At peak times of the year, this migration is a spectacle rivaled by none in the World! An incredible 970+ species of birds have been recorded from this country that is not even the size of South Carolina!

Canopy Tower FAQs

What is unique about the canopy tower.

The Canopy Tower is one of the most unique lodges in the world, dedicated to birding and wildlife watching in the heart of central Panama. Located on the banks of the Panama Canal, the Canopy Tower was originally constructed in 1965 by the US Military – a radar station, set in the middle of the vast lowland rainforest. It was used in the protection of the Panama Canal from 1965 to the early 1990s. Left abandoned by the mid-1990s, local Panamanian and nature lover Raul Arias de Para came across the metal structure and immediately saw its potential as a premier birding lodge.

Surrounded by the lowland rainforest of Soberania National Park, the Canopy Tower sits on the highest hill in the region. An observation deck circles around the giant geodesic ball that still sits on top of the Tower, and birders come from all over the world to enjoy the spectacular views from the top over the vast rainforest canopy. Twelve rooms are placed strategically in the floors below, offering great views of the midstory and lower canopy from every room. The third floor lounge and dining room at canopy level invites great wildlife sightings of birds, mammals, lizards and more right outside the windows.

What species can be seen commonly around Canopy Tower?

At dawn on the observation deck, dozens of species can be seen at eye level as they forage in the canopy. Keel-billed Toucan, Golden-hooded Tanager, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Black-breasted Puffbird, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Blue Cotinga, Scaled Pigeon, Mealy Parrot, Red-lored Parrot, Short-tailed Hawk, Gray-headed Kite, Tiny Hawk, Collared Forest-Falcon, Red-capped Manakin, Thick-billed Euphonia, Palm Tanager, White-shouldered Tanager, Slate-colored Grosbeak, King Vulture, Black Hawk-Eagle. At the hummingbird feeders, White-necked Jacobin, White-vented Plumeleteer, Violet-bellied Hummingbird, Long-billed Hermit and Blue-chested Hummingbirds are common. Mammals are commonly seen, including Mantled Howler, Geoffroy’s Tamarin, Brown-throated Three-toed and Hoffmann’s Two-toed sloths, and after dark, Kinkajou, Olingo and Panamanian Night Monkey are regularly seen. Green Iguanas are common visitors to the treetops just outside the dining room windows.

What tour packages include a stay at the Canopy Tower?

Birds of the Canopy Tower; Birds of Central Panama; Birds of Central Panama & Darien Lowlands; Birds and History; Tamarin Tour: Mammal and Birding Adventure; Panama’s Hawk Migration Spectacular; The Birds & Nature of Panama and Trinidad; Panama’s Brilliant Butterflies; Herpetology at the Isthmus; Panama’s Incredible Flora; Introduction to Tropical Biodiversity

For more answers to FAQs, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page .

"Raul and Denise, thank you for our time here at Canopy Lodge. It is an extraordinary place with such lovely people running it. We hope to be back very soon."

Angelina Jolie

"...lovely rooms, excellent food and fascinating wildlife."

Sir David Attenborough

The Canopy Tower is unique in the World and splendid in both its conception and its execution. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology may well break its rules of not "repeating" and return to your wonderful Tower and gracious hospitality."

Ned and Linda Morgens

Chairman, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

"Raul, we have come to believe we have found the soul of Panama in your family and your lovely place. Thank you for the experience."

Global Nomads

"...grand in conception ...superbly realized..."

John Rowlett

Founder, FIELD GUIDES

"... a luxurious living and dining experience with superb birding and, perhaps most important of all, a wonderful lesson in conservation. A few days at Canopy Tower will install an environmental ethic in all who pass through."

Katie and Donal O'Brien

Chairman, National Audubon Society

"Raúl, what you have done here in the Canopy Tower makes me doubly proud of the Torrijos-Carter Treaty and its beneficial and just results. We wish you well as you introduce hundreds of visitors to the beauties of Panamá's natural resources."

Jimmy Carter

39th President of the United States

"...exceeded all expectations ...beautifully done ...everything is first class"

Barry Zimmer

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours

"Raúl, you have a truly wonderful place. I loved coming here during my stay in Panamá; for the solitude and peace of it, for the great food and for your company, always lighthearted."

Jon Lee Andersen

Author and Foreign Correspondent, The New Yorker

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THE 10 BEST Panama Parks & Nature Attractions

Nature & parks in panama.

• Nature & Wildlife Areas
• Budget-friendly
• Good for Kids
• Good for Couples
• Good for Big Groups
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Honeymoon spot
• Adventurous
• Hidden Gems
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• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Gatun Lake

2. San Blas Islands

Recommended Outdoor Activities (269)

3. Monkey Island

4. Metropolitan National Park

5. Soberania National Park

6. Volcan Baru National Park

7. Isla Zapatillas

8. The Lost Waterfalls-Boquete

9. Butterfly Haven

10. Starfish Beach

11. Isla Perro

12. The Sleeping Indian Girl

13. Jungla de Panama Wildlife Refuge

14. Pipeline Trail

15. Panama Rainforest Discovery Center

16. Coiba Island National Park

17. Isla Iguana

18. Playa Santa Clara

19. Parque Nacional Marino Isla Bastimentos

20. Red Frog Beach

21. Punta Culebra Nature Center

22. Playa Venao Beach

23. Playa Ejecutiva

24. Altos De Campana National Park

25. Finca Dracula

26. Raquel's Ark

27. Playa Las Lajas

28. Darien National Park

29. El Chorro Macho

30. Boca del Drago

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Panama city bike tours.

• ** All Panama City Bike Tours
• Amador Causeway Bike Tour
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• ** All Panama Mountain Biking Tours
• Cocoa Plantation Mountain Bike Tour

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Monkey Island + Sloth Sanctuary Panama

• Panama City & Canal Tour

Jungle Land Floating Lodge Panama Canal Tour

• Miraflores Locks Express Tour
• Fort Sherman, San Lorenzo, and Canal Historical Tour
• Panama Canal Partial Transit
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Nature & Eco Tours

• ** All Nature & Eco Tours

Monkey Island Tour

Monkey Island & Indian Village Combo Tour

• Metro Park & Punta Culebra Discovery Eco-Tour

Hiking Metropolitan Natural Park Nature Trails

Bird Watching Metropolitan Natural Park

El Valle de Anton Explorer

Kayaking Lake Gatun, Panama Canal & Monkey Island

Shore Excursions

Public panama shore excursions departing panama city.

• ** All Public Panama Shore Excursions Departing Panama City
• Hop On Hop Off Panama City Sightseeing Tour
• Taboga Island One Day Tour

Express Panama Shore Excursions For Limited Times in Port

• ** All Express Panama Shore Excursions For Limited Times in Port
• Casco Viejo Panama Express Tour
• Panama City Past to Present Combo Tour
• Indian Village Tour
• Private Guided Shore Excursions - Panama City
• Private Guided Shore Excursions - Colon

Private Boat Charters in Panama City

• ** All Private Boat Charters in Panama City
• Panama City Boat Rentals - 27' Proline

Sightseeing Tours

• ** All Sightseeing Tours
• San Blas Islands One Day Explorer
• Panama La Vieja Express Tour
• Customized Private Sightseeing Tours

Water Tours and Activities

Taboga island & pearl island boat tours.

• ** All Taboga Island & Pearl Island Boat Tours
• Panama Catamaran Tour to Taboga Island
• Sonny Island Resort Day Pass in the Pearl Islands
• Pearl Islands Sunday Funday Catamaran Cruise & Beach Break

Panama Canal & Lake Gatun Boat Tours

• ** All Panama Canal & Lake Gatun Boat Tours
• Lake Gatun Kayaking & Horseback Riding Combo

Boat Trips to the San Blas Islands

• ** All Boat Trips to the San Blas Islands
• San Blas Islands Overnight Tour

Private Boat Rentals in Panama

• ** All Private Boat Rentals in Panama
• Pagot 56´ Private Catamaran Charter

Pearl Islands

Taboga & pearl islands beach hopping tours.

• ** All Taboga & Pearl Islands Beach Hopping Tours

Pearl Islands Whale Watching Tours

• ** All Pearl Islands Whale Watching Tours
• Whale Watching Pearl Islands & Isla Bolaños Beach Break
• Pearl Islands Whale Watching & Chapera Island Beach Break

Private Taboga & Pearl Island Excursions

• ** All Private Taboga & Pearl Island Excursions

Scuba Diving & Snorkeling Tours

• ** All Scuba Diving & Snorkeling Tours
• Snorkel and Zip-line Caribbean Adventure
• Caribbean Snorkel & Private Island
• Caribbean Scuba & Private Island
• Caribbean 2 Tank Scuba
• Discover Scuba Resort Course

Whale Watching Tours

• ** All Whale Watching Tours
• Pearl Islands Whale Watching & Contadora Beach Break
• Whale Watching Tour from Contadora Island
• Panama Whale Watching Private Charters

Airport Transportion

• COMING SOON

Ground Transportation

Domestic flights.

• Bocas del Toro to San Jose Costa Rica Shuttle
• Bocas del Toro to Puerto Viejo Costa Rica Shuttle

Panama City Nature Eco Tours

Let us help you plan your trip. you're just a click away, nature eco tours.

Nature meets modernity in Central Panama. Panama City has undergone a dramatic change in its landscape to become the economic and social hub it is today. And yet, just in the city outskirts, you can find nature to its fullest! In the Central Panama region you can find three of the country's national parks: the Soberania, the Metropolitano and the Chagres. The Chagres River is located within city reach and it's considered a true shrine for bird-watching enthusiasts. The Chagres River makes its way to Lake Gatun, which as a result is also found very close to Panama City, featuring beautiful landscapes and the perfect setting for all nature lovers who are looking for a place to experience the country's wilderness and still be back on time to have dinner at a gorgeous restaurant in town! Great beach destinations on both the Pacific and Caribbean sides of the region complete the picture, confirming one more time the region's beauty and convenience. Options are plenty when you stay in the Central Panama and Canal Region. Its urban center being so close to extraordinary natural settings allow for great nature tours and eco-adventures to take place within arm's length from Panama City, making it possible for amazing one-day expeditions to some of Panama's great nature spots! Shut down all electronic devices and get back to nature. Reboot and indulge yourself in the relaxing and positive feeling that only nature can bring -but before you turn off your computer BOOK YOUR NATURE TOURS WITH US!!

If you love nature and wildlife, a trip to Monkey Island should top your bucket list in Panama. In just 4 hours we will pass through the Soberania National Park, take a boat out of Lake Gatun, and traverse the Panama Canal and its smaller chanels seeking out wildlife on our way to Monkey Island where you will find both white-faced capuchin & howler monkeys as well as sloths, crocodiles, lizards and a variety of tropical water fowl.

Retail: $100.00

Real Deal: $90.00

Children (5-10):

Retail: $50.00

Real Deal: $45.00

Monkey Island deposit is $15.00 per Adult and $10.00 per Child. (The balance of $75.00 per Adult and $35.00 per Child must be paid in cash the day of the tour) Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30 AM from most Panama City hotels.

Take one of our most popular wildlife excursions and sprinkle in some history and culture and you have one of the best one day nature tours in Panama. Start the day exloring the Panama Canal on the way to Monkey Island. Mingle with the monkeys, then mingle with the indigenous Embera Wounaan in their village on the shores of Gatun & Chagres River. Culture & nature combine for one amazing day in Panama.

Retail: $120.00

Real Deal: $110.00

Retail: $60.00

Real Deal: $55.00

PLEASE NOTE: At times providers may send a payment link to be paid 24 hours in advance to confirm the spaces due to peak travel season demand or logistical reasons. Taxes and processing fees may not be included in the final balance. Monkey Island / Indian Village deposit is $32.00 per Adult and $6.00 per Child. (The balance of $78.00 per Adult and $49.00 per Child must be paid in cash the day of the tour) Departs Daily at 8:00 AM from Panama City Hotels and Cruise Terminal.

A visit to Monkey Island is pretty much a prerequisite for any wildlife loving family visiting Panama. But throw in a visit to the Sloth Sanctuary at the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve, a butterfly garden, a frog habitat and a gorgeous exhibit of Orchids growing wild in Panama's rainforest too? You have found yourself one of the best nature tours Panama has to offer.

Retail: $109.00

Real Deal: $104.00

Retail: $54.00

Real Deal: $51.00

Monkey Island + Sloth Sanctuary Panama deposit is $16.00 per Adult and $8.00 per Child. (The balance of $87.00 per Adult and $43.00 per Child in cash must be paid the day of the tour) This tour departs Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30 am.

Metro Park & Punta Culebra Discovery Eco-Tour

From wildlife to marine life, the whole family will enjoy this hands-on nature eco- adventure. Length:  4 hours. Includes:  Transportation, Fees, Guided Hike, Naturalist Guide at Punta Culebra Smithsonian Research Institute.

Adult/Children:

Retail: $185.00

Real Deal: $166.00

Metro Park & Punta Culebra Discovery Eco-Tour deposit is $46.00 per person. (The balance of $120.00 in cash or $138.00 in credit card must be paid the day of the tour) Departs 7:00 AM from Panama City Hotels.

Come and explore the jungle and its abundance of wildlife all within Panama City limits. Length:  3 hours. Includes:  Transportation, Fees, Guide.

Retail: $177.00

Contact us for a quote.

Hiking Metropolitan Natural Park Nature Trails deposit is $44.00 per person. (The balance of $115.00 in cash or $133.00 in credit card per person must be paid the day of the tour) --> Departs 7:00 AM from Panama City Hotels and Panama City Cruise Terminal Daily.

Over 250 species of birds, reptiles & amphibians are waiting for you and your binoculars with the help of our expert Birdwatching guides. Length:  3 hours. Includes:  Transportation, Park Fees, Expert Birding Guide.

Bird Watching Metropolitan Natural Park deposit is $44.00 per person. (The balance of $115.00 in cash or $133.00 in credit card per person must be paid the day of the tour) --> Departs 6:00 AM from Panama City Hotels and Panama City Cruise Terminal Daily (Schedule can be altered for cruise passengers, however best viewing times are early in the morning).

Escape the city for one day and seek out what amazing biodiversity nature has hidden in El Valle de Anton on this full day adventure. Length:  9 hours. Includes:  hiking, waterfalls, a small zoo that is dedicated to the conservation of the Golden Frog, and mysterious petroglyphs.

Real Deal: $114.00

El Valle de Anton Panama Explorer deposit is $30.00 per person. (The balance of $84.00 in cash or $90.00 in credit card per person must be paid the day of the tour) Departs only Sunday & Wednesday at 7:00 AM from Panama City Hotels.

There is no better way to connect with nature than to glide in silence on your own kayak listening to tropical wildlife in their natural habitat while navigating through dense jungle canals. Length:  6.5 hours. Includes:  Transportation, Fees, Guided Hike, 4 Hour Kayaking Tour.

Retail: $150.00

Real Deal: $143.00

Children (6-12):

Retail: $81.00

Real Deal: $77.00

TEMPORARILY NOT AVAILABLE

Kayaking Lake Gatun, Panama Canal & Monkey Island deposit is $15.00 per Adult and $8.00 per Child. (The balance of $128.00 per Adult and $69.00 per Child in cash must be paid the day of the tour) Departs Only Wednesdays, Sundays and Mondays at 7:00 AM.

Swimming, kayaking, fishing, and wildlife: departing from the Gamboa Rainforest, we will make our way up the Panama Canal to a unique floating lodge where you can experience it all in this full day tour. Length:  6.5 hours. Includes:  Transportation, Guide, Entrance Fees, Kayaking, lunch.

Retail: $115.00

Real Deal: $109.00

Retail: $59.00

Real Deal: $56.00

The Jungle Land Floating Lodge Panama Canal Tour deposit is $12.00 per Adult and $6.00 per Child (6-12), Children 5 and under free (The balance of $98.00 per Adult and $50.00 per Child in cash must be paid the day of the tour) This tour departs only Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:30am.

The Panama Tours Site

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Nature & Parks in Panamá

Panamá may be best known for its astounding Panama Canal , but the potential to inspire awe doesn’t stop there. What else can be found in this ecological haven? To start, Panamá has more bird species than Europe and North America combined, and more plant diversity than the United States and Canada combined. That’s because Panamá is uniquely located at the point where North America and South America connect, allowing plant and animal life from both continents to merge and flourish over time. This incredibly rich biodiversity—combined with the fact that Panamá is the most forested country in Central America at 63% coverage—has made the tropical rainforests of Panamá the most researched in the world. In fact, the Smithsonian has been studying the tropical biology of the area for over 100 years. And, you can come see it, too!

A visit to Panamá will put you up close and personal with some of the most beautiful natural environments in the world, including 3 Natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the only urban capital with a tropical rainforest within its city limits , and over 1,400 tropical islands featuring stunning beaches that you may have thought only existed in postcards. With a strong cultural emphasis on environmental conservationism, Panamá is the perfect destination for hikers, animal lovers, and nature enthusiasts of all kinds. It’s a top world destination for birding, white water rafting, and snorkeling—and that’s just a handful of the outdoor activities you’ll find in Panamá. 

National Parks

In its natural beauty, its biodiversity and unparalleled landscapes, Panama is incomparable. More...

Panama features over 1,000 islands in both the Pacific and the Caribbean. A few of them are home to...