Panama is a dream destination for nature lovers because you can go from tropical rainforest to cloud forest, Caribbean islands and Pacific wilderness without traveling huge distances. The country has an amazing variety of ecosystems, with national parks protecting everything from mountains and jungles to coral reefs and remote islands.
Here are some of the best places to experience it.
Coiba National Park
Coiba is arguably Panama's ultimate nature destination. This remote Pacific park combines jungle covered islands with some of the country's richest marine life. Snorkeling and diving can bring encounters with turtles, rays, sharks, dolphins, whales and huge schools of tropical fish.
Best for: Marine life, diving, snorkeling and wild islands.
Soberanía National Park
One of the easiest places to experience genuine rainforest, Soberanía is only about 30 minutes from Panama City. Its forests are packed with birds, monkeys, sloths and other wildlife. Pipeline Road is particularly famous among birdwatchers.
Best for: Rainforest and birdwatching.
Boquete and Volcán Barú
Panama's highlands offer a completely different environment. Around Boquete and Volcán Barú you'll find cool mountain forests, waterfalls, orchids, hummingbirds and some of the country's best opportunities to search for the spectacular resplendent quetzal.
Best for: Cloud forest, hiking, birds and mountain scenery.
Fortuna Forest Reserve
The Fortuna area in Chiriquí is one of Panama's great wildlife regions. Dense rainforest, mountains and rivers provide habitat for an incredible variety of animals. It is also a fantastic place for night walks when creatures that hide during the day begin appearing.
For backpackers, Lost and Found Hostel offers an unusual opportunity to stay right in this kind of environment rather than simply visiting it for a few hours.
Best for: Wildlife, jungle trails, night walks and getting away from the crowds.
Bocas del Toro and Isla Bastimentos
Bocas isn't just about beaches and nightlife. Isla Bastimentos combines thick Caribbean rainforest, mangroves, beaches and marine habitats. You can hike through jungle in the morning and be swimming in turquoise water later the same day.
Best for: Caribbean nature, beaches, jungle and island hopping.
Santa Fe National Park
Santa Fe is an excellent choice for travelers who want mountains, waterfalls and rainforest without the crowds found in some of Panama's better known destinations.
Best for: Waterfalls, hiking and quiet mountain scenery.
Darién National Park
For serious wilderness, it is difficult to beat the Darién. It is one of the largest and wildest protected areas in Central America, containing enormous areas of rainforest and mountains. Wildlife includes monkeys, tapirs, macaws and some of Panama's most elusive predators.
Best for: Remote wilderness and serious wildlife adventures.
Chagres National Park
Close to Panama City but feeling worlds away, Chagres protects huge areas of rainforest and mountain terrain. Rivers, jungle and indigenous communities make this an especially interesting destination for travelers who want nature combined with culture.
Best for: Rainforest, rivers and adventure.
El Valle de Antón
El Valle sits inside the crater of an ancient volcano and is surrounded by mountains and forest. Waterfalls, hiking trails and unusual rock formations make it an easy nature escape from Panama City.
Best for: Hiking, waterfalls and a quick mountain getaway.
The Pacific Coast and Gulf of Chiriquí
Some of Panama's best nature experiences are simply along its Pacific coastline. Around Santa Catalina and the Gulf of Chiriquí, you can find wild beaches, islands, dolphins, sea turtles and seasonal humpback whales. Santa Catalina also provides access to Coiba.
Best for: Beaches, marine wildlife and adventure.
Panama's Greatest Natural Attraction
The best thing about nature in Panama is that you don't have to choose just one type.
You can see rainforest near Panama City, climb into the cloud forests around Boquete, explore the jungle around Fortuna, swim in the Caribbean around Bocas and then head to the Pacific for Coiba.
For a backpacker, a route such as Panama City to Santa Catalina and Coiba, then to Boquete and then Lost and Found and finally Bocas del Toro gives you an incredible variety of Panama's natural world without spending your entire trip on buses.
Panama isn't just a place where you visit nature.
In many parts of the country, nature is what you wake up in.