Metropolitan Natural Park

Metropolitan Natural Park

Metropolitan Natural Park (Parque Natural Metropolitano) is a protected natural area that is entirely within Panama City, the capital of Panama. It is the only national park in Latin America that is within a major city. The park is small, but teeming with life with a large number of mammals and reptiles and more than 250 species of birds.

Understand

The park covers an area of 265 hectares.

History

The park traces its roots to 1975 when President Jorge Illueca toured the area and subsequently put forth a proposal for it to be declared a park. In 1983, it was declared as a recreational ares and then as a national park. The park formally opened as Parque Natural Metropolitan in June 1988. It is part of the Panama national parks system.

Landscape

The park is on the eastern bank of the Panama Canal at its terminus at the Pacific Ocean. The park consists mostly of tropical dry forest (about 75%).

Flora and fauna

Deer in Parque Natural Metropolitano

Although the park lies close to urban areas of the Panamanian capital, it is home to a diverse range of plant and animal life. Birdwatchers have cataloged more than 280 species of birds in the park, about half migratory and half full-time residents. There are 69 species of mammals, including at least two species of deer as well as coatis, tapirs, bats and some smaller jungle cats. 21 amphibian species have been seen in the park along with 39 kinds of snake and other reptiles.

Get in

The easiest way to get to the park is to simply take a taxi. The park is in the city limits and at least 2 major roads pass through it. No need to mess with complicated local bus routes.

Various city buses pass near the park, including ones marked Allbrook - Bahia A. From Allbrook, various buses can get you to the park. Inquire locally for specific buses and times.

Fees and permits

Panamanian adults pay US$1 to enter the park. Foreign adults pay US$4.

The park entrance is open daily from 07:00 to 16:30.

The park has an official web site with additional information, including tours and night tours that may interest travelers.

Get around

Hike or ride a bike.

See

• Butterfly House - see butterflies emerging from their cocoons to gently flit around the controlled environment, alighting on heads, shoulders and arms of delighted visitors

Do

• Canopy Crane: The park has a 59-meter-high crane that lifts tourists, school groups, and researchers in an enclosed wire basket through the canopy layers for a monkeys-eye then birds-eye view of the park ecosystem.

• Hike: the park has 6 marked trails through the forest
  • Dorothy Wilson Trail - easy, flat trail that's ideal for families with small kids and senior citizens, at just 0.3 km, it's a very short walk in the woods
  • Los Momotides Trail - named for the Whooping momot (which you are likely to see on the trail), this 1 km trail is fairly easy
  • Los Guayacanos Trail
  • El Roble Trail - good place to spot the Rosy trumpet tree, the short 0.7 km trail connects several other trails and provides access to the park ranger station
  • Los Caobos Trail - 1-km trail with many Honduran mahogany trees, leads to a mirador with views of the Pacific Ocean
  • La Cienaguita Trail- 1.1-km trail that gets its name from the lagoon (cienega) that forms during the wet season, several large trees are on this route, which connects to other trails

Eat

There are no restaurants in the park, but because it is in the city, dining options are not far off.

Drink

Water is available at the ranger station, but careful travelers often prefer to bring their own bottled water.

Sleep

See the main article for Panama City for individual hotel listings. The closest hotel to the park is the Central Park Hotel, Casino and Spa.

Go next

• Panama City
• Gamboa
• Taboga