Places to visit in Panama: Metropolitan Natural Park

One of Panama's many colorful heliconia species

Places to go in Panama

Metropolitan Natural Park
notes by USAID / IRG, archive photos by Eric Jackson

Metropolitan Natural Park, managed by a foundation, is a natural area within Panama City that helps to maintain an equilibrium between the natural environment and the urban habitat, in particular by preventing the spread of pollution and promoting a healthy environment. It's a site with facilities for recreation directed at nature interpretation, environmental education, ecological research and other related scientific and cultural activities.

Principal attractions and assets:
Los Trinos Lookout: At 45 meters above sea level, one can observe the different forest strata from here. Los Caobos Lookout: It's 72 meters above sea level, with a marvelous panoramic view of Panama City. Cerro Cedro Lookout: This is the second-highest point within the city and has two platforms, from which one may see the Miraflores Locks, the Centennial Bridge and the old Clayton Hospital, the old and modern Panama City, the Bridge of the Americas, the Amador Causeway, Taboga Island, the port of Balboa and the Marcos A. Gelabert Airport in Albrook. Along the Mono Titi Road one will find the world's first forest research crane that was installed in 1990 by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute to study the forest canopy and the different species that interact there.

Facilities:
Parking, bathrooms, library, multi-use hall, souvenir store

A turtle surfaces for a breath in one of the park's ponds

Location:
Toward the end of Avenida Juan Pablo II, about 200 meters before it ends near the Reina Torres de Arauz Anthropology Museum, in Panama City's corregimiento of Ancon.

Hours:
Every day from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(Guided tours require prior reservations)
Library, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Souvenir store, every day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Entry fee:
Foreign visitors $2
Panamanian visitors $1
Children 50¢

Information:
Phones: 232-5552, 232-6723 or 232-6713
Email: pnmetrop@cwpanama.net
URL: http://www.parquemetropolitano.org

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