Bayano Lake, reservoir in Panama
Bayano Lake is a large artificial reservoir in western Darién created in 1976 by damming the Bayano River. The lake spans a wide area with limestone caves along one side, forested shorelines, and abundant wildlife including bats, birds, and aquatic animals.
The dam was completed in 1976 and became Panama's second largest power source. Its construction forced indigenous Guna and Emberá communities to leave their ancestral lands, an event that remains central to local history and ongoing discussions about land rights.
The lake sits in an area home to Guna and Emberá communities whose history is tied to the dam's construction. Local people use the water daily for their livelihood, and you often see small boats moving across the surface in the early morning.
The drive from Panama City takes about an hour and a half through countryside roads to a quiet boat launch. From there you board a wooden boat to reach the caves, so wear water-friendly shoes and bring a waterproof bag for your belongings and extra water.
The main cave called Río Seco extends for about 2 kilometers underground and holds a large bat colony hanging from the ceiling. When water levels are low you wade over slick rocks, but during high water you can travel part of the way by boat deep inside the cave.
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