The Metropolitan National Park in Panama is a wondrous natural area that’s home to many native species and other wildlife. This is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of Panama City for locals, and should be a must-visit on any tourist’s itinerary. Panama is full of beautiful natural parks that have been preserved thanks to the Panamanians’ steadfast approach to protecting wild, natural areas. Read on to find out more about Metropolitan National Park and other parks in and around Panama City.
Exploring the Metropolitan National Park
The Metropolitan National Park is one of the most popular and prestigious of the Panama national parks.
Located just 15 minutes by car from downtown Panama City, it’s an easy place to visit when you’re in town for a limited time or staying for a while in Panama. The park is technically still in the city limits, and is one of several in Panama City that are sure to take your breath away.
The park is part of the Biological Corridor on the eastern side of the Panama Canal. Other parks in this area include Camino de Cruces and Soberania National Parks. Combined with the massive Changres National Park, this large swath of protected tropical rain-forest allows the Panama Canal to operate efficiently and helps provide residents of the country with clean drinking water.
Panama National Parks and Biodiversity
Home to at least 84 species of trees, 254 species of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and 45 species of mammals, the Metropolitan National Park of Panama is a natural paradise for all living beings. These animals include titi monkeys, anteaters, sloths, deers, iguanas, turtles, tortoises, and more. The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute built a crane in the park to observe the multitude of creatures that live there, and they are even discovering more, previously unknown species.
In 2017, the Butterfly Farm was opened for guests, and you can discover a wide range of beautiful butterflies all in one enclosed space here. To appreciate the scale of the biodiversity in Metropolitan National Park, consider this: in the Butterfly Farm, you can interact with thousands of butterflies from about 30 different species. In the park at large, there are an estimated 1,600 species of butterflies in total.
Metropolitan National Park: A Panama Natural Wonders
Panama’s natural areas are vast and wide-reaching. Keeping the areas near the canal pristine is better for the operation of the dam and the natural resources of everyone living in Panama City and the surrounding area.
If you’re visiting the Metropolitan National Park for the first time, be sure to plan to spend some time there to experience as much of the park as possible. There are four trails and a road through the park that lead to various lookout points and natural features. From the Cedar Hill Lookout Points, you can see wide swaths of thick vegetation all around you, and even catch a glimpse of Panama City in the distance. Take some time to visit the Los Trinos Lookout Point to see if you can spy some of the many species of birds that live in the park.
The site where the park now stands has some significant historical aspects to it. At the entrance of the park, you can see the old concrete structures where aircraft engines were assembled and tested during World War II. In 1989, the park was actually a battlefield where US troops fought against Noriega’s forces.
The Role of Panama National Parks
Panama’s beautiful national parks are part of a larger effort by the country to preserve its vast natural resources. Protecting the Panama Canal is a huge priority for the country’s government. Panamanians realized early on that preserving the natural processes that allow the Canal to function properly is extremely important. Metropolitan National Park and others help preserve this legacy for Panamanians and the rest of the world.
Parks in Panama City for Nature Lovers
Aside from Metropolitan National Park, you can visit several other beautiful areas within Panama City that showcase the wonder of Panama National Parks right in the city.
About 45 minutes from downtown Panama City, Soberania National Park is an excellent natural metropolitan park. This park is near the Panama Canal and surrounds the area where the Chagres River meets the sea. A can’t-miss attraction here is the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center, which draws ecotourists from all over the world to learn about this magical, natural place. You can take a long, spiral staircase to the top of the building to look out over the canopy of the jungle. Be sure to hike around the area and see if you can spot some of the exotic birds that call Soberania home.
Visit Metropolitan National Park
We invite you to explore the Metropolitan National Park, Panama’s treasured natural sanctuary, offering an unparalleled opportunity to witness exotic wildlife and verdant landscapes amidst the backdrop of Panama City’s dynamic skyline. After a day of adventure, relax and rejuvenate in the comfort of our modern apartments, perfectly located to offer you the best of both worlds, strategically located to provide the perfect balance between urban convenience and serene retreat.
Seize this exclusive opportunity to immerse yourself in Panama’s rich biodiversity and cultural vibrancy. Reserve your accommodation with us today and ensure an extraordinary journey into the heart of Panama.
