Metropolitan Natural Park, Natural park in northern downtown Panama City, Panama.
The Metropolitan Natural Park is a 265-hectare protected area near downtown Panama City featuring extensive tropical forest crossed by walking trails. A 150-meter lookout tower offers views across the city and the Panama Canal.
The site saw combat during the late 1980s military intervention to remove Manuel Noriega from power. Following these events, the land was protected and later established as a nature park.
The park serves as a place where locals connect with the rainforest and learn about its importance to Panama's environment and way of life. Families and school groups visit to observe wildlife and understand how the forest shapes the region.
The park is best explored in the morning when trails are less crowded and temperatures are cooler. Comfortable hiking shoes and plenty of water are important, as the paths are steep in places and humidity is high.
Researchers have installed a special observation platform high in the trees to study forest ecosystems from an unusual vantage point. This setup provides rare insight into habitats and species that remain hidden from ground level.
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