Panama Rainforests

Panama Rainforests

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Rainforests are some of the world’s most biologically diverse habitats, so a visit to Panama's rainforests offers you the opportunity to see unique plants and animals you won't find outside of Central America. "Sounds neat, but what specifically can I expect to see?" you wonder. Panama's rainforest animals include monkeys, toucans, anteaters, jaguars, and sloths — all roaming free in their natural habitat.

You'll feel like a proper adventurer when you explore Panama’s rainforest, because these destinations are often in rural areas. Hiking trails extend into the hillsides and forests that surround these towns — for this reason, Panama's rainforests are popular with outdoor enthusiasts, but don't worry, there's plenty of jungle for everyone. Naturalist guides are available to help travelers understand the underlying composition of Panama’s rainforests and are valuable if you're hoping to trek through some of the country's extremely remote areas such as Santa Cruz de Cana, Punta Patiño Nature Reserve, Mogue, and Piñas Bay.

If you're a birdwatcher, this is your chance to see the harpy eagle — Panama's national bird, and the one of the largest and most powerful raptors in the world.

Destinations

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Not sure where you want to go yet? Get inspired and browse the best places to visit in Panama
Isla Bastimentos

Isla Bastimentos

Although best known for its beaches and surrounding islands, Isla Bastimentos has a dense rainforest that covers its untamed inland. On adventures on the island, you’ll see parts of the landscape like the pretty Laguna that provides a home to a sizable population of crocodiles. Near the jungle, you can visit communities like the one near Quebrada de Sal, which is home to the indigenous Ngöbe-Buglé people. After meeting with the villagers, take a hike through the very rainforest that provides them with hunting grounds and medicinal plants.
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Gamboa

Gamboa

Stay in Gamboa and fill your days with hiking and boating trips through the dense forest that surrounds the Gulf of Panama. You can find basic accommodations in the area, although plenty of visitors also choose to visit Gamboa on day trips from Panama City. The Río Chagres flows near the town, offering a fast-moving way to see the local wildlife. On a kayaking tour of Chagres River, you can peer into the surrounding greenery to look for toucans and monkeys among the branches. Gamboa sits on the edge of Lake Gatún, which connects to the Panama Canal. Many visitors choose to see the treetops on an aerial tram, and then visit a butterfly house and an orchid garden. Barro Colorado used to be a hill, but it became an island when the Chagres River was dammed. Take a guided hike here to see some of the exotic birds and other wildlife in the area. Gamboa also serves as the gateway to Soberanía National Park, which is Panama’s foremost birding attraction — over 500 species of bird live here, including a lively cast of characters like toucans, motmots, and trogons.
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Destinations

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Take a look at other fascinating destinations to explore while you visit Panama.

Boquete
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Bahia de Pinas
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Mogue
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Portobello
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Santa Cruz de Cana
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Volcan
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