I want a nature vacation. Where should I go in Panama?

Panama’s best outdoor areas include mountain towns like Boquete and El Valle, coastal areas like Bocas del Toro and the Gulf of Chiriquí, and places along the Panama Canal, including Barro Colorado and the Soberanía National Park. Panama’s central mountain range has thick forests and a good sampling of birds and other creatures. Coastal areas offer travelers the opportunity to explore mangroves, estuaries and coral reef systems. Barro Colorado is an island in the Panama Canal and is one of the country’s most biologically diverse areas. It’s also close to the Soberanía National Park, which is a birder’s paradise and only an hour from Panama City.