Location: Panama City, Ancon district
Area: 232 ha
Tel. 232- 5552
Visitor center: Closed Sun
The Metropolitan Natural Park is a protected area located in Panama City. The origins of this park date back to 1974, when the first steps were taken for the proper use of the area near the Panama Canal. Later in 1983, this area was declared as Curundú Recreational Area. Finally, a year later the president of that time, (Jorge Illueca) made a presidential tour and as a result of this tour, a proposal for a Metropolitan natural park (PNM3) was presented, which was created by Law No. 8 of July 5, 1985. The park is located in the district of Panama, corregimiento de Ancón, on Juan Pablo II Avenue.
This park is characterized by being a natural area of 265 hectares, it is located near the limits of Panama City and borders the Panama Canal basin, due to its proximity to it, it is part of the set of protected areas of the Panamanian transistmic region. It is widely visited for educational and recreational purposes.
In the park there are a variety of birds and vertebrate animals typical
of the tropical humid forest, such as: the marmoset monkey, the ñeque,
macaws, squirrels, etc. It also has natural trails from where you can
observe its forests, landscapes and a panoramic view of the capital
city.
Despite the proximity of the Metropolitan National Park to
the capital city, it is the habitat of 227 species of birds, 45 mammals,
36 kinds of snakes and 14 kinds of amphibians.
It is considered
that approximately 75% of the park is covered by tropical Pacific dry
forest, an ecosystem that has almost disappeared in other regions of the
country. Also that there are about 284 plant species in it, including
trees that reach between 30 and 35 meters (100- 115 feet) in height,
among them there are a lot of vines, epiphytes, orchids and mosses that
add color and life to the forest throughout the year.
Los Momotides Trail
It the shortest and one of the easiest
trails in Metropolitan Nature Park. It has a distance of 0.7 km or
about 0.5 miles in length. Los Momotides Trail begins and ends at
the visitor center and takes about 45 minutes to cover it.
Caobos Trail
Caobos Trail is 1.1 km long. It offers great
panoramic view of Panama City that is visible through tree canopy.
Roble Trail
Length 0.5 km. 25 minutes
Mono Titi Road
1.1 km long
Cienaguita Trail
1.1 km long
Metropolitan
Nature Park is characterized by being a natural area of 265
hectares, is located near the limits of the city of Panama and
borders the Panama Canal watershed, because of its proximity to it,
is part of the set of protected areas in the region Panamanian
transistmica. It is very visited for educational and recreational
purposes.
Metropolitan Nature Park is famous for its variety
of birds and vertebrate animals typical of the tropical humid
forest, such as: the marmoset, the ñeque, macaws, squirrels, etc. It
also has natural trails from where you can see its forests,
landscapes and a panoramic view of the capital city.
In spite
of the proximity of the Metropolitan National Park with the capital
city, it is the habitat of 227 species of birds, 45 of mammals, 36
kinds of snakes and 14 kinds of amphibians.
It is considered
that approximately 75% of the park is covered by tropical dry forest
of the Pacific, an ecosystem that has almost disappeared in other
regions of the country. Also in the same there are about 284 plant
species, including trees that reach between 30 and 35 meters (100 to
115 feet) in height, including a large number of vines, epiphytes,
orchids and mosses that add color and life to forest throughout the
year