Nature Loving Clients? Make Sure Panamá is Part of the Conversation

One of only three carbon-negative countries in the world, 25% of Panamá’s land is protected by national policies, from ambitious energy transition plans to strong environmental strategies that safeguard land and sea, ensuring its rich biodiversity and natural landscapes are preserved for generations to come.  

Panamá is a destination where amazing biodiversity and deep reverence for sustainability come together though cutting-edge conservation efforts and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters that don’t come at the planet’s expense. 

What makes Panamá stand out? Here’s a Snapshot: 

Wonders on the Wing

Home to 10% of the world’s bird species, Panamá is one of the best birding destinations in the world. With over 1,000 bird species, including 107 endemics, Panamá contains more avian diversity than the U.S. and Canada combined and serves as one of only five global migratory bird corridors. 

Additionally, Panamá ranked #7 worldwide during Global Big Day 2025, recording an impressive 771 bird species in just 24 hours.     

Panama City is the only urban capital with a tropical rainforest within its city limits and birders can explore national parks that are part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, including Metropolitan Natural Park and Soberania National Park.

Beyond the capital, adventurers can visit the remote Darien National Park to track the rare harpy eagle, or head to the cloud forests of Chiriquí to glimpse the elusive resplendent quetzal. 

Additionally, Veraguas – Panamá ’s only province with coasts on the Pacific and Caribbean – is ideal for travellers looking to explore lush landscapes and exceptional birdwatching. With over 500 species, including the stripe-cheeked woodpecker and sapphire-throated hummingbird, spots like Santa Fe and Coiba national parks offer rare wildlife in untouched settings. 

Birdwatching is also popular in the highland forests of Tierras Altas and Boquete, where the resplendent quetzal can often be seen — two regions rich in cool climates, cloud forests, and local culture that enhance the experience of spotting this iconic bird.  

Two Seasons of Whale Watching  

From early July to October—and again from January to March—Panamá’s Pacific coast welcomes migrating humpback whales from both hemispheres, making it one of the few places in the world to witness this dual-season spectacle and providing an opportunity for travellers to marvel at the breaching of these majestic creatures. 

Thanks to early research by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panamá established some of the region’s first legal whale-watching protocols, ensuring ethical and sustainable encounters. 

Top viewing areas include the Pearl Islands and Taboga Island near Panama City, Panamá, Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge in Pedasí, Coiba National Park in Veraguas (a UNESCO Marine World Heritage Site), and the Gulf of Chiriquinear Boca Chica.  

The Place to See Sea Turtles 

Panamá is one of the few countries where five of the planet’s seven sea turtle species nest and thrive. With over 200 beaches designated as protected nesting sites, Panamá’s Sea turtle conservation is a national priority. All five species found here are listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered by the World Wildlife Fund. 

One of nature’s most extraordinary events takes place on Panamá’s Pacific coast: the arribadas – mass nesting events where thousands of olive ridley turtles arrive at once.