Those of us who live in Panama City love our mini-vacations. Weekend or quick holidays get-aways are easy here, because we have some pretty decent small destinations within close proximity to the City. Places like San Blas, Contadora, Coronado-Río Hato, El Valle, Pedasí-Venao, Santa Catalina or Boquete-Volcán, and lots of lessor-known favorite spots in between. Panama has some truly amazing and beautiful green spaces and places to enjoy the outdoors. We are also just a very short flight away from places like Bocas del Toro, Medellín, Bogotá or Cartagena.
But thankfully even hidden in and around the urban jungle of Panama City, there are a handful of nice green spaces that are worth checking out. In my opinion these places are a necessity for living in the City, which is where my work as an attorney keeps during the week most of the time. And they are also good places to have on your radar for when friends and family come to visit. So I point my clients toward these spots pretty often.
Here is a quick table of contents of the places I’ll tell you about, in case you’d like to jump around:
- Metropolitan Natural Park
- Parque Omar
- Ancon Hill
- Casco Community Garden
- Summit Nature Park
- Gamboa Rainforest Reserve (and Resort)
- Cinta Costera
These are so easily accessible that they don´t even require a day trip (more like an afternoon trip). And they definitely contribute to the overall livability of Panama City. Enjoy!
Metropolitan Natural Park
The Metropolitan Natural Park is a tropical rainforest spanning over 232 hectares right in the middle of Panama City. It boasts a fairly extensive network of hiking trails, but nothing too advanced. It offers visitors an opportunity to connect with nature and to observe wildlife such as toucans and sloths.
And as you hike through its trails, you’ll be treated to sweeping views of the modern city skyline, the Pacific Ocean, and even glimpses of the Panama Canal.
Parque Omar
Named after the former president, Omar Torrijos Herrera, this 252 km2 urban park seamlessly merges recreational facilities with green spaces.
Parque Omar has it all: jogging tracks, sports fields, playground equipment, small concert venues and picnic areas surrounded by beautiful trees and gardens. You’ll see people flying kites, practicing yoga, lazing around in the shade with a book and anything and everything in between. The other day I noticed that people were setting up to play ultimate frisbee. This is like Panama City’s “Central Park”, and a lot of City residents really love spending time here.
Parque Omar frequently hosts cultural events and outdoor activities, making it a vibrant hub for community gatherings. It’s really nice and very well done!
Cerro Ancón (Ancon Hill)
Rising nearly 200 meters high, Ancon Hill is an iconic natural landmark nestled within the heart of Panama City. It was once a strategic military location, and there are still rumors of old bunkers hidden throughout the hill. Today, it is now a protected area and accessible to the public.
A hike to the summit rewards you with breathtaking panoramic views of Casco Viejo, the modern city skyline and the Panama Canal. This is a great place to take visitors to Panama. From up here, you can still hear the distant traffic down below, but you can also really see how the City is laid out. It also offers a nice, free workout.
There are 2 ways to the top:
The Quarry Heights Entrance – The longer, more scenic route is to walk the winding road up from Quarry Heights. I believe they lock the gate at 4:00pm.
Mi Pueblito Entrance – Alternatively, there is a long stairway that takes you from Mi Pueblito directly up to the top.
Casco Community Garden
The Casco Community Garden sits on an approx. 720 m2 lot right in front of the busy Plaza Herrera in Casco Viejo. The Garden offers a lush assortment of plants, trees and flowers native to Panama – and a refreshing shade during a hot afternoon exploring the City’s historic district. Periodically, school groups will visit the Garden to learn about plants and insects that inhabit it.
This is a very small green space compared to the others in this list. But I added it for 2 reasons:
First, because there is a nice story behind this green space. The land belongs to a real estate development group (Dekel Holdings), which collaborated with Casco Viejo’s Residents Association (AVACA) to create a community garden until the land will eventually be developed. The members of the Casco community literally came together to clean the land and to create this green space right in the heart of the historic district.
The second reason I included it is because I think this is a cool experiment that can be replicated in other neighborhoods. Members of the community regularly get together to maintain the Garden, compost, use and enjoy this tiny piece of paradise. It would be cool to see this sort of project in other urban neighborhoods in Panama where people could even grow their own plants or different types of produce.
Summit Nature Park
Just a short drive from the City, Summit Nature Park features a network of trails that wind through lush vegetation. It’s a haven of biodiversity and also a prime spot for birdwatching (with more than 200 species recorded). They have a handful of hiking trails (read about them here), and none of them are too intense. If you are looking for a bit more serious hike, there are several options within an hour or two of the City. And there are some even more advanced hikes if you go to Chiriquí.
There is also a small zoo at Summit, and they have an inexpensive entry fee. Actually, we have mixed feelings about these small zoos, but if you have small children then they will probably enjoy it. Also check out the Butterfly House, which is kind of cool.
Summit Nature Park is located within just a few minutes of Gamboa. So if you are planning to spend the night at Gamboa’s resort, then Summit is a nice stop along the way.
Gamboa Rainforest Reserve (and Resort)
The Gamboa Rainforest Reserve (and Resort) sits just a few minutes drive past Summit, and right on the banks of the Chagres River. You’ll cross the River on a small bridge to get here, and then drive through a small neighbourhood of old duplex housing left over from the US military occupation to get to the area with the hotel and outdoor activities.
The resort is all-inclusive, and it exhibits most of the positive and negative connotations of an all-inclusive hotel. The hotel is a bit dated, but it makes for a nice little family weekend. They have a big pool area and a handful of restaurants to choose from in and around the hotel. And they offer access to nice menu of outdoor activities.
Gamboa offers several cool activities and opportunities for families to experience the surrounding pristine rainforest. For example, they have a cable-car canopy tour, guided nature walks, a zipline, mountain bike trails, a sloth sanctuary, a butterfly garden and frog exhibit.
And Gamboa is close enough to the City that you absolutely don’t have to make an over-night trip out of it. It is a good, family-friendly place to spend the day.
Cinta Costera
The Cinta Costera promenade stretches along the waterfront from Punta Paitilla to the Panama City Fish Market, then around Casco Viejo and along-side El Chorrillo. This is where the City meets the sea, and given its location this public space is pretty seamlessly integrated into a lot residents’ day-to-day lives.
It offers a jogging path marked by kilometer winding past tennis and basketball courts, workout and playground equipment, public plazas, art installations and manicured gardens. It is the perfect place for a bike ride, a run or a leisurely stroll, and from here you can appreciate the architecture of the City’s skyscrapers in a way that is lost when you are when you are driving through the city by car.
In the early evening time, you´ll see people stopping to feed and take pictures with wild racoons that live among the rocks of the water break. Residents and racoons living together in perfect harmony… how beautiful is that?
Bottom Line?
Just do a quick search online, and you’ll find tons of articles about all the benefits that green spaces bring to an urban environment and its residents. Nevertheless, green spaces are not always maintained as a priority in urban areas – especially within the context of sharply rising real estate prices like we have seen in Panama City over the last couple of decades.
Thankfully, we have access to several really nice green spaces in and around Panama City. Whether you live here or you are just visiting, then these offer a great way of experiencing our City.
Did I miss your favorite green space that you think should have been on the list? Send me an email with your feedback: tamara@theindependentlawyer.com. And be sure to check out some of my other articles at the Legalese Blog.
