metropolitan natural park panama city panama
The Metropolitan Natural Park, situated just outside of downtown Panama City, serves as a beautiful retreat for those wanting to escape from the neighboring city; it is the only park in Latin America with a natural forest located within a metropolitan capital.
Encompassing approximately 655 acres—474 of which consist of dry lowland Pacific forests—the Metropolitan Natural Park was declared a national park in 1985. Managed by an array of governmental and private institutions, including the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, the Metropolitan Park also shelters plants and animals threatened by extinction.
The park has four trails that are well-maintained and easy to hike. If you follow the main trail to its end, several look-out points offer sweeping views of Panama City, Panama Bay, and the surrounding area. While the park is home to various animal species, including monkeys, deer, and iguanas, this is not the place to go expecting to see animals. I've never had much luck spotting wildlife.
No public buses pass by the park, so you will need to take a taxi.