Wildlife in the Middle of the City

Metropolitan Natural Park:

The Metropolitan Natural Park, situated just outside of downtown Panama City, Panama, is known as the "lung of the city" and serves as a wonderful retreat for those interested in an easy escape from the neighboring city.

The Metropolitan Natural Park is the only park in Tropical Latin America that has a natural forest located within a metropolitan capital. The Metropolitan Park shelters plants and animals threatened by extinction. Furthermore, the MNP serves as an ideal laboratory for tropical research, for which it is often used by local universities and the Smithsonian Institute.

The park has three main trails, all of which are well maintained and easy to find. The longer and most popular trail is named "Sendero Cienequita." Another trail, beginning just across the street from the administrative office, is called "Sendero Momotides," a much shorter trail which offers no vistas. This relatively flat, oval shaped trail can be completed in around one hour. The "Sendero Los Caobos" starts from behind the administrative office and is similar to "Sendero Memotides," but it is longer in length and the terrain not as flat.

Summit Nature Park:

Located just twenty minutes outside of Panama City, Summit Nature Park in Panama is a center of recreation, education, conservation and investigation dedicated to enhancing the Panama tropical and cultural diversity. Summit Gardens provides visitors with an opportunity to view many interesting animal species found in Panama, as well as others native to the Central and South American region. It can be argued that as far as city zoos go, Summit Nature Park doesn't approach world class. The most cursory comparisons with, say, the zoological parks of San Diego, Detroit or Washington DC, would show how very far the park is yet to progress.

Summit's true grandeur becomes apparent when it is considered with regard to its flora. There is no arboretum anywhere with a better selection of palm trees. Summit's standing in the world of botanical gardens would be enhanced by a greenhouse or two that would allow the cultivation and display of exotic species that can't grow outdoors in the Panama's climate, but from the plant perspective the park is world class and has been since long before it came into the city's hands.