Description
Explore Panama’s wildlife in two nearby parks:
We begin early in the morning with pickup from your hotel in Panama City to take advantage of the peak wildlife activity hours. Usually in the early morning, various bird species, such as parrots, parakeets, and toucans, are often easy to spot in the forest canopy.
Ancon Hill:
The forest reserve of Ancon Hill, located in the heart of Panama City, will be our first stop. In addition to being home to a wide variety of wildlife, it is one of the best places in Panama to find sloths! Ancon Hill is also one of the city’s most popular urban birdwatching spots, where dense foliage and forest edges create ideal conditions for observing a surprising diversity of birds, flora, and fauna.
As you walk up the path, your guide will point out both local and migratory species such as tanagers, flycatchers, and other birds commonly found in the area. There are also good chances to spot mammals like Geoffroy’s tamarin monkeys, nine-banded armadillos, and more.
Finally, in reaching the summit and along the path you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Panama Canal, Panama City, and Pacific Ocean from the multiple lookout points, offering opportunities to capture incredible photos from an iconic vantage point.
Metropolitan Natural Park:
To continue observing Panama’s flora and fauna, we will spend the rest of the morning exploring the Metropolitan Natural Park, a 265-hectare protected rainforest within the city limits and one of the best places for wildlife observation in Panama City. This park features a network of well-maintained trails where we often encounter two species of sloths, howler monkeys, white-faced capuchin monkeys, agoutis, coatis, and other interesting bird species like motmots, toucans, trogons, manakins, and more. With its combination of accessible hiking and rich biodiversity, Metropolitan Park is ideal for wildlife photography, birdwatching, or simply enjoying a walk in a tropical forest.
GROUP TOUR
$75.00
per person
Green Season Discount
$65.00 pp
August 15th - December 15th
Our group tours average 4–6 people. Smaller groups make wildlife observation easier and the overall experience more enjoyable compared to larger groups.
PRIVATE TOUR
$90.00
per person
Tailor this experience to your preferences, whether it’s focusing on specific interests like wildlife photography, birdwatching, or simply enjoying a leisurely Nature Walk.
Photo Gallery & Tour Highlights
General Details:
- Location: Ancon Hill and Metropolitan Park
- Duration: Approximately 5 hours
- Start/Finalize: Your hotel or Airbnb in Panama City (center)
- Pick up time: Between 6:20 – 6:40 a.m.
- Tour Ends: Between 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m.
- Group Size: Small group (minimum 2, maximum 6 participants)
- Tour category: Outdoor & Wildlife Observation
- Tour guide: Led by an experienced naturalist tour guide
What is included?
- Hotel pick-up & drop-off (Panama City center)
- Comfortable transportation
- Entrance fees to Metropolitan Nature Park
- Bilingual naturalist guide (Spanish & English)
- Refreshments (Water & tropical fruits)
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Prices are listed in USD, per person, and based on a minimum of 2 participants.
- Small Group Tour: To ensure a personalized and high-quality experience, we limit each tour to a maximum of 6 participants. We recommend booking in advance to secure your spot.
- Prices apply for ages 12 and up. Children ages 5–11 receive a 40% discount.
- Tour routes and times may change due to heavy rain or other unforeseen circumstances, always prioritizing your safety and comfort.
- Before booking, please make sure to read and understand our cancellation policy.
If you have any special needs or questions before booking, feel free to reach out. We’re happy to assist: info.panamaroadtrips@gmail.com
What to bring?
- Comfortable shoes for the hike
- Insect repellent, hat, and sunscreen
- Additional snacks & bottle of water
- Binoculars (Recommended)
- Camera
- Light rain jacket or poncho (rainy season: May–December)
Is this experience for me?
This nature and wildlife day tour in Panama City is perfect for nature lovers, families, wildlife enthusiasts, and travelers hoping to see a variety of animals in their natural habitat without leaving the city.
A certified nature guide will provide you with interpretative information on the local flora and fauna. While the nature walk includes uphill sections, the walk is slow and relaxed, with frequent stops for wildlife observation and photos. If you’re comfortable walking for about 3–4 hours up gradual inclines in warm humid weather, this tour is a great fit. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
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Fun experiences with very good naturalist guides - Miguel ( first day) and Gaseth (boat, 2nd day) worked hard at showing us (my wife, young daughter, and myself) some of the most interesting wildlife and habitats in the... read more 
Jet42756927473
December 3, 2025 Amazing Nature Experience - It was a fantastic experience. Miguel is a wonderful guide—kind, funny, and extremely knowledgeable about wildlife. He respects nature and the animals, which we really appreciated. I highly recommend him... read more 
tarnora
February 9, 2026 Pipeline/Gamboa Tour - We had a planned 8 hour lay over at PTY and honestly it was the best lay over ever! Natalia met us at the airport, we drove to Gamboa/ Pipeline,... read more 
dezersky
January 6, 2026
Insights About This Experience with us
THE BEST PLACES TO SEE SLOTHS IN PANAMA CITY: Ancon Hill & Metropolitan Park
The combination of these two places gives travelers an incredible 90% chance of spotting a sloth in its natural habitat. The most commonly seen species is the Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, but both reserves also offer the chance to see the Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth. Our record in a single day combining Metropolitan Park & Ancon Hill in 2022 is 12 different sloths in a morning!
How is this possible? Ancon Hill, located in the heart of Panama City, is like a green island with a high sloth population concentrated in a small area. The abundance of Cecropia trees (one of their favorite food sources) along with excellent canopy views, makes it an ideal place to spot sloths in the wild.
EXPERIENCED NATURALIST GUIDES MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
What sets this tour apart? Our expert local guides. With trained eyes and years of experience on these trails, they know exactly where to look and what to listen for.
Our guides walk these paths often and are very familiar with the areas that sloths, monkeys, and birds frequent. They recognize bird calls and mammals’ sounds, making it much easier to locate wildlife that others might miss.
To make your experience even more memorable, most of our guides carry high-quality spotting scopes. These powerful tools not only bring distant animals into clear view but also give you the perfect chance to take stunning close-up photos of birds and mammals in their natural environment.
Reserve this Tour
Please fill out the form below with your booking request. Payment is not requested until we verify availability for the dates that you are requesting, and also review any special request that you might have. By booking with us you are accepting our Terms & Conditions. If you have any question of how booking works, please see our Frequently Asked Questions for booking, and our 3 easy steps to book with us.
