Metropolitan Natural Park
The Metropolitan Natural Park is a 573-acre (232-ha) park set squarely in the heart of Panama City. Despite its urban location, this park has good hiking trails and an impressive amount of wildlife.
The Metropolitan Natural Park (Parque Natural Metropolitano) is just a few minutes from downtown Panama City. It’s easy to reach by car or taxi and provides travelers with a good daytime excursion while visiting Panama City.
Dry lowland Pacific forest, which is rare in Central America due to deforestation, makes up much of the park. Incredibly, the park’s forest is home to 284 types of trees. The park also protects all kinds of critters, including 254 species of birds, 45 species of mammals, 36 species of reptiles, and 14 species of amphibians. Geoffroy’s tamarins, two-toed sloths and three-toed sloths live here, although you’ll need luck to see them. You’re more likely to spot birds and reptiles.
The park’s five trails cover some 3 miles (5 km). The Mono Tití Road ascends to the top of Cerro Cedro (Cedar’s Hill) and offers impressive views of Panama City. Sendero La Cienaguita also leads to this lookout, but is a longer and more strenuous hike. Sendero Las Caoboas has steep portions and includes an observational area that looks out over the city and bay. The other two trails, Los Momótides and Roble, are short and flat.
There is a visitor center that has brochures and trail guides. Guided, bilingual tours are sometimes offered, but you must schedule them in advance.
Where to stay in Metropolitan Natural Park
From boutique lodges to luxury resorts, every Metropolitan Natural Park accommodation is hand-picked by our local insiders for location, comfort, and character.
Crowne Plaza Panama
Three minutes on foot from Via Espana, Crowne Plaza Panama holds 149 rooms in the urban center of Panama City, Panama. The hotel sits near local casinos, major commercial avenues, and waterfront parks.
The Saba Hotel
The Saba Hotel is a small, cheerful hotel in Panama City’s El Cangrejo neighborhood. The hotel has an upbeat aesthetic and comfortable accommodations.
Hampton by Hilton
Staying at Hampton by Hilton hotel you’ll get to be in the midst of busy downtown Panama City. This hotel offers a good spread of amenities in addition to clean, comfortable rooms.
Bristol Panama
Bristol Panama is located in downtown Panama City. This modern hotel has comfortable rooms and awesome facilities, including a swimming pool, restaurant and spa.
Panama Marriott Hotel
The Panama Marriott Hotel is an elegant hotel in Panama City. Set within the financial district, this hotel has high-class rooms and wonderful facilities.
Intercontinental Miramar Panama
Guests at Intercontinental Miramar Panama can step from the grounds directly onto the Cinta Costera promenade. The 186-room hotel sits centrally in Panama City, Panama, placing coastal pathways and urban avenues side by side.
Le Meridien
Stepping outside Le Meridien brings the waterfront promenade of Cinta Costera into view 0.2 kilometers away. The 111-room hotel sits just off Avenida Balboa in Panama City, Panama, within a short walk of Uruguay Street and Calle 50. The property operates on a card-only basis and does not take cash.
Wyndham Garden
Wyndham Garden is a luxurious hotel located in the heart of Panama City. The hotel is polished and professional. Its ample amenities and convenient location make it perfect for both business and vacation travelers.
Las Clementinas
Las Clementinas is a small boutique hotel located in Panama City’s Casco Viejo neighborhood. Set within a beautifully restored apartment building from the 1930s, Las Clementinas has a classic European feel. The suites are spacious and come with a nice range of amenities.
American Trade Hotel
Stay at this turn-of-the-century masterpiece in Casco Viejo for a quintessentially Panamanian holiday. American Trade Hotel is a luxury hotel not far from some of the best of the city’s most interesting shopping destinations. This old part of town is known for its beautiful European architecture and superb dining options.
Magnolia Inn
The Magnolia Inn is located in the heart of Panama City’s Casco Viejo neighborhood. The hotel is set in a restored French colonial mansion. Its rooms have a historic character and come with a nice range of amenities.
Holiday Inn at Panama Canal
Miraflores Locks sit ten minutes by car from Holiday Inn at Panama Canal, a 137-room hotel built in a rural pocket of Panama City, Panama. The setting keeps the property close to the waterway while separating it from the central urban core.
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