Panama Canal

Panama City

Sited at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, Panama City encompasses a modern city centre, old colonial streets in Casco Viejo and the extensive ruins of Panama la Vieja, the original city sacked by Sir Henry Morgan in 1671. Subsequently rebuilt as Casco Viejo, the renovated colonial buildings house a plethora of chic bars, restaurants and small hotels, making this historical spot well worth a visit.

The Panama Canal

A visit to Panama would be incomplete without witnessing this incredible engineering feat, usually by visiting Miraflores Lock with its excellent historical display. Boats transiting the 80 kilometres of the canal pass through three sets of locks into Lake Gatun – once the largest man-made lake in the world. The lake and its intact rainforests play host to a surprising amount of easily-observable wildlife, including spider monkey, white-faced capuchin, squirrel monkey, endemic red-naped tamarin, two- and three-toed sloth, spectacled caiman, osprey, snail kite and keel-billed toucan.

Summit Botanical Gardens

A tropical botanical garden with paved trails and a small zoo with a collection of mammals, birds and reptiles found in Panama. A highlight is the harpy eagle enclosure (Panama's national bird) where the most powerful raptor in the world is captively bred. There is also an aviary with toucans, parrots, macaws and hawks and a tapir enclosure. A great introduction to Panama's rainforests and wildlife, and ideal for families who cannot venture into more rigorous terrain.

Soberanía National Park

Lying on the eastern banks of the Canal, Soberanía’s 293,000 acres contain 525 species of birds, 105 of mammals including jaguar, tamandua and the cotton-topped tamarin monkey, 79 species of reptile, 55 amphibians and 59 endemic plant species. Within the park is the Pipeline Road, famous amongst birders and nature lovers for high wildlife diversity, including rarities such as yellow-eared toucanet, slatey-winged foliage cleaner and crimson-bellied woodpecker, and there have been sightings of the national bird of Panama, the harpy eagle.

Pipeline Road

Part of Soberanía and built originally during the second world war to pipe oil to the north coast in case of Japanese attack, the road is now one of the most prolific in the world for birdwatching. Many colourful species such as blue crowned motmot can be observed, as well as mammals such as anteater, howler monkey, white-faced capuchin, Geoffroy’s tamarin, green iguana, agouti, coatimundi and sloth. There are both primary and secondary rainforest to explore.

Gamboa Rainforest Resort
A medium-sized modern hotel perfectly situated within lush rainforest on the Chagres River where it meets the Panama Canal, with a huge swimming pool and spa. Complimentary on-site activities include day and night time nature walks, and riding bicycles. A perfect base from which to explore the Canal Zone.

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Subsequently rebuilt as Casco Viejo, the renovated colonial buildings house a plethora of chic bars, restaurants and small hotels, making this historical spot well worth a visit. The Panama Canal A visit to Panama would be incomplete without witnessing this incredible engineering feat, usually by visiting Miraflores Lock with its excellent historical display. Boats transiting the 80 kilometres of the canal pass through three sets of locks into Lake Gatun – once the largest man-made lake in the world. The lake and its intact rainforests play host to a surprising amount of easily-observable wildlife, including spider monkey, white-faced capuchin, squirrel monkey, endemic red-naped tamarin, two- and three-toed sloth, spectacled caiman, osprey, snail kite and keel-billed toucan. Summit Botanical Gardens A tropical botanical garden with paved trails and a small zoo with a collection of mammals, birds and reptiles found in Panama. A highlight is the harpy eagle enclosure (Panama's national bird) where the most powerful raptor in the world is captively bred. There is also an aviary with toucans, parrots, macaws and hawks and a tapir enclosure. A great introduction to Panama's rainforests and wildlife, and ideal for families who cannot venture into more rigorous terrain. Soberanía National Park Lying on the eastern banks of the Canal, Soberanía’s 293,000 acres contain 525 species of birds, 105 of mammals including jaguar, tamandua and the cotton-topped tamarin monkey, 79 species of reptile, 55 amphibians and 59 endemic plant species. Within the park is the Pipeline Road, famous amongst birders and nature lovers for high wildlife diversity, including rarities such as yellow-eared toucanet, slatey-winged foliage cleaner and crimson-bellied woodpecker, and there have been sightings of the national bird of Panama, the harpy eagle. Pipeline Road Part of Soberanía and built originally during the second world war to pipe oil to the north coast in case of Japanese attack, the road is now one of the most prolific in the world for birdwatching. Many colourful species such as blue crowned motmot can be observed, as well as mammals such as anteater, howler monkey, white-faced capuchin, Geoffroy’s tamarin, green iguana, agouti, coatimundi and sloth. There are both primary and secondary rainforest to explore. Gamboa Rainforest Resort A medium-sized modern hotel perfectly situated within lush rainforest on the Chagres River where it meets the Panama Canal, with a huge swimming pool and spa. Complimentary on-site activities include day and night time nature walks, and riding bicycles. A perfect base from which to explore the Canal Zone.	Panama For Families: Rainforest Wildlife and Two Coasts A marvellously varied itinerary for families of all ages, combining the abundant wildlife found in the verdant canal rainforests, an idyllic island set in a Caribbean marine park, and the beautiful sandy beaches of the Pacific coast, and offering a wealth of activities and other possibilities for your family’s full enjoyment. A really relaxing and stimulating tour, with the emphasis on marine enjoyment but with plenty of jungle wildlife. Find out more... A Fabulous Family Wildlife Adventure in Panama More suited to families with older children, this comprehensive itinerary has it all. Spot numerous monkeys and birds in the canal zone and learn about one of the world’s engineering wonders at the lock. See plenty of wildlife at close quarters and visit an Embera Amerindian village. Venture into verdant cloud forests for fantastic birdlife, zip-lining through the canopy and the story of coffee. Finally, relax or take part in plenty of activities at a lovely boutique resort on a stunningly wild Pacific island, home to a multitude of terrestrial and marine species. You and your family will return home full of the wonders of Panama. Find out more...	For us this was a naturalist tour and covered everything, birds, insects, reptiles, mammals, plants and fungi…Panama is a wonderful country and we would recommend it to anyone with a love of nature. Mrs L C, Devon.
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