EcotourismThe
Gamboa Tropical Rainforest Reserve and the
Soberania National Park offer good opportunities for learning about tropical fauna and flora. Birdwatching enthusiasts will not be disappointed in Panama: there are about 950 registered species and the country is considered one of the world’s best birdwatching spots. The Antón Valley (
El Valle de Antón), 120km/70 miles west of Panama City, is famous for its orchids and the
El Níspero Botanical Gardens; one activity on offer here is the tree canopy adventure, where participants
are fastened into a harness, pulled up to the tree tops and swung from one platform to another in order to enjoy particularly ‘green’ views. Trips to the famous
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on Barro Colorado Island (which houses a renowned tropical research laboratory) are also possible, although appointments need to be made at least one month in advance.
Boat tripsBoat trips on the Panama Canal are one of Panama’s major tourist attractions and there are various types of tours available. Crocodiles, frigate birds and other animals living along the banks and in the surrounding jungle can be observed. Canal tours often aim to provide visitors with a chance to observe one of the many large vessels moving through the canal locks, usually the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks. Executive yacht tours are available. For further details, contact the Panamanian Institute of Tourism or the Panamanian Embassy (see
Top Things To Do).
WatersportsThere are some excellent locations for diving and snorkeling in Panama, the best of which include
Isla Grande near Portobelo, where there are a number of dive centers offering excursions to the best reefs; the
Bocas del Toro archipelago;
Taboga Island (20km/12 miles south of Panama City); and the
San Blás Islands (off the northeast coast). Whitewater rafting is becoming increasingly popular on the
Chiriquí and
Chiriquí Viejo rivers (not possible during the rainy season, from April to mid-December). Good sites for surfing include
Santa Catalina,
Venado and
Rio Mar in the Pacific and
Isla Grande,
Bluf and
Careneros in the Atlantic; waves can reach 15ft (4.5 meters).
FishingFish are abundant in the Panamanian waters of the Pacific and the Caribbean. Locations include Piñas Bay, Coiba Island, Contadora Island and Taboga on the Pacific side and the San Blas Islands and the Chiriquí Lagoon off the archipelago of Bocas del Toro in the Caribbean. A number of hotels offer deep-sea fishing expeditions.
GolfThere are six golf courses on the isthmus.
Panamá Country Club,
Summit and
Fort Amador’s courses are all open to tourists. Guest cards are needed to play the 18-hole course at
Coronado Beach Country Club. In addition,
Itoroko, the former US golf course, has now opened up.
Horse ridingThis is popular in the mountainous Chiriquí province, whose wild landscapes provide a natural habitat for cattle and horses. There are numerous horse-breeding farms, some of which can be visited. Horse trips to the Baru Volcano are also available.
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