Just outside of the downtown area of Panama City is a place called the Metropolitan National Park.  This magnificent retreat is the only park in tropical Latin America that offers a natural forest within a metropolitan capital.  Covering some 265 hectares with 192 of those consisting of dry lowland forest, this park is managed by the government, along with various private institutions.  With this, plants and animals that would otherwise be threatened by extinction are now protected.  In addition, the Metropolitan National Park would also be an ideal location for a laboratory in which tropical research could take place.

In this park are three primary trails, which are easy to find and very well maintained.  The most popular of the three trails is called the Sendero Cienequita, which is found close to the administrative office.  Walking a short distance, you will come to a sign pointing you to the trail’s entrance.  When on the trail, you will have the opportunity to walk through a tropical forest that is magnificent with vegetation.  Soon, the trail turns into a dirt road known as the Titi Monkey Road.  As you continue up the road, you will eventually come to the Look Out with two levels that provide a breathtaking view.

As you climb to the top of the Look Out, you will even find chairs where you can just sit and relax while taking in the view.  From this vantage point, you can see Miraflores Locks, the Port of Balboa, the Bay, the Panama Canal, and even Panama City.  The walk up this particular trail will take between one and two hours to complete, depending on how fast you walk. Keep in mind that the trail climbs and descends along the way so you need to be in decent shape and wear good walking shoes.

You can also visit the Sendero Momotides, a smaller trail without the views.  This trail is flat, taking about an hour to complete.  Then you have a third trail called the Sendero Los Caobos, which is similar to the second trail but a little bit longer and not quite as flat.  Although this park features beautiful plants and interesting animals, it does not offer an abundance of wildlife.  Even so, you will see monkeys, deer, iguana, and beautiful birds.  Open from 6:00 a.m. to 5:30 pm. Every day, this makes a wonderful place to escape from hectic schedules without having to travel far.