Imagine hiking through a dense, pristine tropical rainforest while massive container ships glide silently just beyond the tree line. That’s what it’s like visiting Smithsonian’s gem in Lake Gatun, Isla Barro Colorado Island. It’s one of the world’s most important biological research hubs, managed by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). If you’re looking to escape Panama City for an unforgettable day immersed in nature, science, and history, this is…
TRAVEL
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THE SWEETEST SECRET IN PTY
Panama is world-famous for its engineering marvels and ultra-premium Geisha coffee, but its rich cacao heritage is one of the country’s most delicious secrets. Centuries before modern chocolatiers began crafting luxury bars, indigenous communities like the Ngäbe-Buglé and Guna were cultivating native cacao in the lush rainforests of Bocas del Toro and Chiriquí. Today, Panama’s bean-to-bar movement is booming—and right in the heart of Panama City, one boutique store turns…
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THE EMBERÁ OF PANAMA: TRULY A WORLD AWAY
Jungle waterfall on Embera tour, Panama
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KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: CERRO CHAME PANAMA
They say the third time is the charm and Cerro Chame did us in twice before we ever made it to the top. Thankfully, that third time was perfection with cool winds, clear skies and epic views for as far as the eye could see. Cerro Chame is one of the most underrated trails in Panama offering a unique ridge-line experience with sweeping vistas of the Pacific, mangroves, and the…
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ADVENTURE TIME IN ALTOS DE CAMPANA
One of the main reasons I moved to Panamá is my love of hiking. Panama trails are so different from any trails I have ever done in the U.S.: jungly, slippery and super-exotic, they are usually well worth the effort. Nowhere is this more true than Sendero La Cruz, in Altos de Campana National Park. A little over an hour from PTY, this first Panamanian national park has everything: cooler…
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SEA TURTLE HATCH IN PANAMA
Lately, I’ve been able to check off a lot of items on my bucket list and for that I feel super-grateful. Most of my bucket list items are about traveling to exotic locations, but a few select nature things make my list as well like seeing a puffin in the wild, spotting a resplendant quetzal or, in this case, seeing baby sea turtles make their way to the ocean. Honestly,…