Every year locals and visitors alike take to the waters off the Pacific coast of Panama in search of the magnificent humpback whale. Even though it tends to fly under the travel radar, Panama is one of the most reliable, least crowded whale watching destinations in the world. Panama’s western shores offer calm water, warm temperatures, and an extensive viewing season between the sheltered bays of the Gulf of Chiriquí,…
biodiversity
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SMITHSONIAN’S GEM IN LAKE GATUN
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…
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KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: ISLA COIBA, PANAMA
Did you know that before Isla Coiba was designated a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the island was home to a prison? It wasn’t just any prison, it was the one where the most violent criminals and political prisoners were sent to disappear. What was once a hell on earth, has transformed into a literal paradise, hosting some of the most pristine coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean…
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ESCUDO DE VERAGUAS: PANAMA’S HIDDEN PARADISE
Escudo de Veraguas is the crown jewel of all the hidden gems waiting to be discovered here. It is several different experiences all rolled into one: dramatic caves and coves, pristine beaches, extensive coral reefs and mangroves that shelter some fascinating creatures on the brink of extinction like the pygmy three-toed sloth.