The most beautiful natural sites to discover Provinces Of Panamá And Colón

You will certainly hear about this destination when you mention Lake Gatún, especially if you travel with your family! The tour begins with a boat ride, not far from the huge ships that ply the channel. The tropical and coastal vegetation reminds you that you are sailing in a true biodiversity sanctuary. Try to organize yourself to leave in the morning, you will have more chances to cross the howler signs and the capuchins in the fresh air! In any case, you should know that you will also meet many tourists...

There is only one beach in the village, at the tip of the island, la punta. Pleasant, with white sand and a view of the green hills of the mainland, but increasingly tiny (it is shrinking). Deserted during the week, crowded on summer weekends. A small hut offers fish dishes and cold beers. Sometimes in the evening there are indeterminate soccer matches between locals. Good level of play, barefoot and friendly jostling! There is a famous surf spot in front of the Sister Moon hotel, and you can go snorkeling in front of the Villa Ensueño hotel.

To reach the beaches on the other side of the bay, motor boats leave from a pontoon next to the customs office, or from another one near Fort Santiago, at the entrance of the village. It is possible to pitch a tent on the beaches. It is a pity that they are not always very clean. Playa Huerta or "playa primera" is the closest. Its calm waters make it a good spot for swimming and snorkeling. A little further away, the same delights at Playa Francés. Playa Blanca, a beautiful white sand beach, is much further away than the previous ones.

This trail is named after the old fuel pipeline that was part of the canal's self-sufficiency plan. Known worldwide as one of the best birdwatching sites, it is an easily accessible and very popular trail. Some agencies offer mountain bike rides, but it is obviously not the best idea to be quiet and watch the birds... The observation tower on the way (for a fee) is managed by the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center.

An interpretive circular trail behind the government shack.

Properly marked, this 800-meter trail goes through the thick rainforest. You won't encounter many wild animals, they hide deeper in the forest. But the route follows the Sardinilla River and leads to a small waterfall and a clear water basin where you can swim and have a good picnic. The walk can be completed by the interpretive trail located behind the government hut, the Sendero Espiritu del bosque, 1.7 km long.

This road, once paved, was built during the construction of the canal to reach the North American farm Las Cascadas, which produced rubber, cocoa and bananas in the 1910s. It was the most important farm in the Canal Zone with some 1,200 hectares. It was bought by the state in 1915, and there was talk of building a cocoa processing unit, but the project was abandoned. Today, the "Camino de plantación" trail is almost 13 km long and leads to the Camino de Cruces (described in the park of the same name).

Declared a protected area in 1980, this park extends over 22,000 hectares in the extension of the Camino de Cruces park. It is one of the most accessible in the country but also one of the richest: 105 species of mammals, 79 reptiles and especially 525 species of birds that attract enthusiasts from around the world! The entrance to the Sendero Natural El Charco and Camino de Plantación trails is located on the edge of the Carretera Gaillard. The entrance to the Camino de Oleoducto is located a little further on, after Gamboa.

Not far from the village quay, La Restinga is considered the island's main swimming spot. Here you can rent sun loungers and parasols for total relaxation. At the tip, the small green island of El Morro will seem more or less remote! Because at high tide, needless to say, the beach becomes much smaller, and the peninsula no longer seems connected to the mainland. At low tide, the spit of sand makes it easily accessible. The only drawback is that not everyone is used to taking their garbage with them.

It is not necessarily easy to find the access to the path because of the vegetation and the little maintenance, but you will be easily informed! It is an accessible walk because it is fast, about 30 minutes walk from the village, but the slope can be considered a bit steep, especially if you start under a bright sun. At 169 m, Cerro la Cruz (169 m) offers a beautiful view of the bay of Panamá. We repeat our recommendation to wear good shoes and to bring your sunscreen.

This walk is accessible, as it is not very steep (around 260 m). The path leads to a World War II bunker that has been converted into a viewpoint. The walk takes around 1 hour 30 minutes. Wear good shoes and don't forget to bring your own water supply. Make sure you watch your step so as not to step on the barely visible blue frogs. On the other hand, close your eyes when you come to a hillside that has been converted into a landfill site. At the summit, at 307 m, the view is unobstructed and the fresh air is invigorating!