At the Biomuseo of Panama you do not only learn about biodiversity, but also how the formation of the Isthmus of Panama made a great change in the world. Fauna, flora and climate evolved.
For many years I had heard about the museum, even before it was built, I went to Amador several times and always saw the colorful structure, I have even attended some of the Saturday events that they take place there, but I had never visited it, so, taking into account that I want to tour Panama, being already in the city I went to meet it, I took advantage of the fact that I had the opportunity to go on a weekday.
The Biomuseo of Panama has an audio guide, in English and Spanish, for specific points and, in addition, each room has its own guide, they do not only give us an explanation, but also answer any question and guide us to the next room, so may our visit be as pleasant as possible.
I’ve been to other museums, but in this one, the guides who work there get a big applause.
First of all, what comes to mind with the word “biodiversity”? probably a great diversity of living things, but the museum goes beyond that.
It is not only biodiversity, but the formation of the Isthmus of Panama made the world change, the climate, the ocean currents and gave evolution to new species.
Panamarama Room
This room has a space with giant screens, both on the ceiling, on the floor, and on 3 of its sides, in such a way that it gives us an idea of being in the middle of a forest, a beach or a natural environment.
It is a video with nature sounds, which are changing and involving us in the place, I would have liked the space of the room to be a little larger, to have the side screens a little further apart and enjoy them better.
El Gran Intercambio Room
Another of the rooms that I really liked is El Gran Intercambio (Worlds Collide), where it shows life-size animal sculptures, separated according to the part of America in which they were found, north or south, and thus, you can see the migration that happened later that Panama emerged.
Many animals still exist, some evolved and others have become extinct.
Unfortunately, one of the greatest predators is man, on the one hand, by hunting, on the other, the destruction of habitat and the transfer of products from one place to another, transmitting fungi and bacteria that are harmful to some animals.
Besides all this, the conquest of America, the gold rush and the construction of the Panama Canal, helped the exchange of crops and animals between continents.
But, how was Panama formed?
It was due to many facts and in many years, part was due to the displacements of the tectonic plates, on the other hand, submarine volcanoes gave formation to islands.
Later, large amounts of sediment, both North and South America, they filled in the areas between the new islands and finally joined the Isthmus.
As a curious fact, Panama has its own tectonic plate.
Before, the waters of the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean were one, and that fish passed from one side to the other freely
However, land animals could not go from south to north or vice versa.
Looking at the coral skeletons of that time, it could be seen that they were the same, however, after the Isthmus was formed, all changes, including the Atlantic water became saltier and the Pacific water richer in nutrients.
The coral skeletons from one sea to another they are totally different, also the marine stream changed, giving a significant change to the climate worldwide.
El Puente Surge room (Building the Bridge) Room
There is a seismograph, which shows us the earthquakes of the last days in America, and it also has a sensor that, by jumping on the platform, we can register a seismic movement.
Huella Humana (The Human Path) Room
In this room, you will see a series of columns with information about the changes that man made when he arrived in America, curious things such as that they brought cows, pigs, chickens, bananas among other things.
Very common foods in America today, they took potatoes, cocoa, tomatoes, among other foods that are very common in Spanish food today.
Océanos Divididos (Oceans Divided) Room
It is an interesting room and is one of the last to have been introduced.
We can see two huge fish tanks, one representing the Pacific Ocean and the other the Atlantic Ocean, each with water and ocean species that they represent.
With the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama, the oceans were divided and with it the marine world changed, some species evolved, others emerged and others became extinct (such as the Megalodon).
In addition, this led to the water changing, being denser in the Pacific and with more nutrients than in the Atlantic, appropriate for the animals that are in it today, if they unite today, some animals could become extinct.
The Red Viviente (The Living Web) Room
It is another of the rooms, in this we can see and interact with various things, there are screens with photos of national parks, sounds of insects.
One of the most impressive things is a huge fig, which serves as an example to explain the importance of each species, plant or animal on the planet and why they depend on each other.
Panamá es el Museo (Panama is the Museum) Room
It is a room with screens and a series of light paintings on the floor, if we stop at one of the ones that have symbols.
One of the screens shows us images related to the subject, the images are about the culture and tourist places of Panama.
It also has interactive screens on the walls, where they give us an explanation of something from Panama, for example coffee.
Temporary Room
The Biomuseo of Panama has a room where temporary exhibitions of different topics are held.
On my last visit, I had the pleasure to see one about the Chili pepper, with the varieties that exist in the world, food dishes and even the intensity of heat, from those that are not spicy, to those that are literally inedible.
It also had some capsules with seeds, I bought one, but it did not germinate.
Souvenir Shop
Here in addition to taking a souvenir from the Biomuseo, you can see and take a photo with a Megalodon head that was found in the Panama Canal.
Trails
The Biomuseo has small free access trails in its external area, where they show and explain a little about the flora of the place.
It also has a small garden where you can see some crops such as chili peppers, some plantains among others.
Building
Designed by the renowned architect Frank Gehry, this being his first work in Latin America, the building’s columns evoke the trees, the roof represents the leaves and its colors the cultural diversity of Panama.
Note
The museum is suitable for the disabled, except for the parking lot, as it is gravel.
You can pay by Visa, Mastercard, cash or debit card.
Advices
- Arrive at least 2 hours before closing time to tour the Museum.
Hours
- Tuesday to Friday, from10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Because of Pandemic, it is only open Saturday and Sunday, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Prices
Panamanians and Residents
- $10.00 adults.
- $6.00 children (5 to 17 years old).
- $5.00 retirees (with identification).
- $6.00 students (university students with a card).
- $20.00 family package (4 people).
Non residents
- $18.00 adults.
- $11.00 children(5 to 17 years old).
- $16.00 seniors (with identification).
- $11.00 students (university with card).
- $30.00 family package (5 people).
Only temporary exhibitions
- $5.00 adults.
- $2.50 retirees, students and children under 18 years of age.
Guided visit
- $250.00 up to 5 people.
- $350.00 for 6 to 10 people.
- $35.00 per person, 11 or more people.
Parking Lot
The Biomuseo has its own parking lot and is very spacious.
How to get to Biomuseo of Panama?
By car: go to Amador, you can do it either by crossing the Bridge of the Americas from Panama Oeste to Panama, or if you are in the capital you can do it by the maritime way of the Cinta Costera, Avenida de los Martires or by Ancon.
Pay attention to the signage order do not to miss the entrance to Amador, once there continue the entire section (it is a single street).
In a roundabout on the right hand side are the offices of the Biomuseo (just before the same Biomuseo), enter through that street and on the right you will see the parking lot.
You can also use Google Maps.
If you pass it, just keep going and come back at the next roundabout.
Then walk through the offices and the employee parking lot until you reach the Museum, you will pass through one of the trails of the Park.
By bus: you must take bus route C850, you can take it at the Albrook Bus Terminal and get off at the Biomuseo stop.
More information of Biomuseo here.
Updated: 2021.
Other places you may like
- Visiting Miraflores Visitor Center of Panama Canal
- Sunday at Panama Canal Museum
- 20 Interesting Facts about Panama
- Expanded Panama Canal – Visitor Center
- 7 Churches of Casco Antiguo
- Fun Visit to Panama Viejo Archaeological Site
- The Best Guided Museum in Panama, MUMO, Mola Museum
- Botones Museum, The Museum to see the Bilbo´s Button
- 10 Must-Visit Places in Panama
