The Panama Canal Rainforest
The Panama Canal rainforests are some of the most accessible nature-rich rainforests in the world. With over 50,000 acres of pristine rainforest, this natural gem
hosts an incredible 105 species of mammals, 525 species of birds and 124 species of reptiles and amphibians.
Journalist Saw More Nature in Soberania National Park Near Panama City than in Two Weeks in the Amazon
An experienced travel writer who visited Panama told us that she saw more nature in a visit to the rainforests surrounding the Panama Canal, than she saw in a trip to Brazil's Amazon. To reach the Amazon she had to travel for two days from the capital in a small plane and later boat, and then she spend two weeks traveling by canoe. In Panama, she got to her eco-lodge in a one hour car drive from Panama's international airport near Panama City.
One excellent way of enjoying nature close to Panama City is to take a Monkey Island day-tour in Gatun Lake, part of the Panama Canal water complex. On this trip you'll see at least three species of monkeys cavorting in the trees as well as crocodiles, iguanas and many species of tropical birds. Ancon Expeditions and Jungle Explorer offer these day trips.
Having such a nature-rich area so close to the metropolitan capital is feature unique to Panama. The Panama Canal, just 30 minutes away from Panama City, requires a vast rainforest watershed to feed water to its lock system which uses millions of gallons each day. For this reason the Canal Zone has had to actively preserve its circumvent natural resources, making for plentiful green areas.
How To Get There
Summit Zoo: Rent a car or grab a cab to get here.
Summit Golf Resort: You can arrange transportation by calling the resort directly or asking for help at your hotel. You can also rent a car.
Gamboa Rainforest Resort and Canopy Tower: These hotels offer to pick up guests at the airport.
Where To Stay
The Gamboa Rainforest Resort is a 5 star hotel set on the Chagres River in lush rainforest . You can enjoy the various amenities and take day trips to experience the tropical nature. The resort is popular for conventions and family vacations.
Canopy Tower is Panama's most critically acclaimed ecolodge, called by Travel and Leisure and many other publications one of the top ecolodges in the world. Popular with birders, but we recommend it for everyone who wants a dramatic, upclose experience with nature. You will see any number of colorful tropical birds and not just birds, but monkeys, sloths and other tropical animals. It is an architectural gem - a restored radar station where the rooms, social area and outlook areas are at tree top in the rainforest canopy.
The Sol Melia Hotel on the Colon side of the Panama Canal Rainforest is a beautiful hotel in very lush settings on the banks of Lake Gatun.
Where To Eat
Los Lagartos Restaurant at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort
For thrilling day-trip from Panama City, have lunch alongside the Chagres River in Gamboa. As you dine, you'll see huge ships navigating their way across the Panama Canal. If you ask the waiters, they'll give you bread to throw in the river below and you'll be witness to an authentic tropical wildlife food fight (cocodriles, fish, turtles and colorful water birds all vying for the prized crumbs). We will let you find out who, surprisingly,almost always wins the fight.
What To Do
Birding
Soberania has two of the world's best birding locations: Pipeline Road near Panama City and Achiote Road near Colon. The Discovery Center in the Panama Canal Rainforest is open every day from 6AM to 4PM. Here you'll find a 40m Observation Tower with breathtaking views above the forest canopy and hiking trails in Pipeline Road—world famous for birding.
See Tour Operators.
Fishing
Gatun Lake, created as part of the Panama Canal and once the world's largest man-made lake, offers excellent lake fishing. It's normal to catch a couple dozen fish.
Kayaking and Rafting Day Tours
Aventuras Panama offers an exciting one day Class II rafting trip on the Chagres River and two kayaking day tours in the Panama Canal Rainforest. On one you paddle the Chagres River through lush rainforest and the other from Gatun Lake to the historic Fort San Lorenzo on the Atlantic Coast.
Barro Colorado Island Tours
A lush jungle island where the Smithsonian Institute for Tropical Research has an outdoor tropical laboratory in Gatun Lake, part of the Panama Canal waterway. A tour will include a boat ride in the Panama Canal and a rainforest hike with a naturalist on the island. Make your reservations with a tour operator well in advance as tourists are limited to protect the islands' numerous scientific research projects.
Jungle Boat Day Tours in Gatun Lake
Considered the best day tour by many- this tour takes you into the lakes of the Panama Canal system where you'll observe rainforest life upclose including several types of monkeys. This is a must and a sure family hit. Jungle Explorer and Ancon Expeditions offer this trip.
Summit Golf Club
Just twenty minutes from downtown Panama City, the Summit Golf Club and Resort has a championship course designed by Jeffrey Myers with 18 holes, par 72, 6626 yards and sand based Bermuda-Tidway grass as well as a beautiful new Radisson Hotel. The course is set in lush tropical scenery. It has the only computerized GPS system in Central America, 100 golf carts, outstanding practice facilities and a beautiful club house.
The Harpy Eagle is the world's largest predatory bird.
Summit Botanical Gardens and Zoo
About 40 minutes from downtown Panama City, is a vast tropical botanical garden with a tropical zoo of species common to Panama. It is a bit rundown but it is being renovated and is the best place to see tropical animals and vegetation. Two exhibits are worth the visit by themselves- the Harpy Eagle compound where you can see a Harpy Eagle, the world's largest predator bird and the tropical jaguar compound.
Founded by the Americans in 1923, these gardens are home to over 15,000 tropical plants. You can only see a Harpy Eagle at Summit. This magnificent bird lives only in Panama and is close to extinction. It is a fearsome dignified bird about about three feet tall. A local branch of the Peregrine Foundation is breeding the bird and hopes to save it.
Admission is just $2.
Gamboa Rainforest Resort Day Packages
The resort has seasonal day packages where you can take their aerial tram, visit the butterfly farm and serpentarium and dine at Los Lagartos Restaurant on the Chagres River. Call 206.8800