Summit Municipal Park, Wildlife rescue and botanical garden in Ancón, Panama.
Summit Municipal Park is a wildlife and botanical garden in Ancón featuring around 300 different animal species and extensive plant collections. The grounds include walking trails, viewing areas, and enclosures that recreate various habitats.
The Panama Canal Company established this location in 1923 as Experimental Farm Summit to study how different plant species would adapt to Panama's tropical climate. Those early research plantings eventually evolved into a public conservation area.
The park maintains a dedicated section for the harpy eagle, Panama's national bird, where visitors can observe this species. This focus helps people connect with and learn about the local avifauna.
The park sits about one hour from Panama City and is accessible by various means of transportation. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since pathways through the grounds are partly unpaved and the tropical climate can be demanding.
Through its research program, the grounds introduced teak trees to the American continent, where they later took root in many tropical regions. This botanical achievement is often overlooked by visitors today, though it shaped the forestry of the region.
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