Sinces October 5, 2020, 14 national parks and terrestrial nature reserves reopened and from October 12 a booking is needed to visit them.
I wanted to make this post so that it is easier for you to find the information, since in social networks the publications get lost.
Also so that it does not happen to you like me, that one day the information is easy and another day it seems that it has be eliminated.
In this post, I will tell you how to make a booking, where you can go and what you can do, also I will update it as the other natural parks and reserves reopen.
It must be taken into account that the reopening will be gradual and that those that have already opened are not 100%.
What is allowed to do at the moment?
- Hiking,
- Observation of Biodiversity,
- Photography,
- In some places you can snorkeling, diving, beach use, recreational fishing, kayaking, and cultural dance activities are allowed. You can check the activities when you make the booking.
First of all it is necessary to make a booking, which will be made by email, with a minimum of 72 hours before and must have the following information
- You must put in the subject: Reserva área protegida,
- Date of the visit,
- Number of people visiting (in case of groups, only up to 8 people are allowed),
- Name and telephone number of who is booking,
- Names, last names, ages, nationalities and identity card or passport number of the visitors.
- Vehicle plate (if applicable).
Bocas del Toro Province
Bastimentos Island National Marine Park
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: parqueislabastimentos@miambiente.gob.pa
Place Allowed
- Zapatilla Cay 2 (Las Bromelias trail and the beach).
Maximum capacity
- 300 people per day.
Coclé Province
Gaital HillNatural Monument
Hours
- Friday to Tuesday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: cerrogaital@miambiente.gob.pa
Place Allowed
- El Gaital trail o El Convento.
Maximum capacity
- 25 people per day.
G.D. Omar Torrijos Herrera National Park
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: parquenacionalomartorrijos@miambiente.gob.pa
Place Allowed
- Los Helechos Trail.
Maximum capacity
- 62 people per day.
Colón Province
San Lorenzo Protected Forest and Landscape
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: bosquesanlorenzo@miambiente.gob.pa
Places Allowed
- El Pavón Trail (observation tower),
- Tortuguilla Trail,
- El Aguacate Trail,
- Chagres River,
- Dock of Río Chagres River.
Maximum capacity
- 300 people per day.
Portobelo National Park
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
No booking is required.
Places Allowed
- The ruins of Portobelo,
- El Faro Trail and La Trinchera,
- Santiago de la Gloria and San Jerónimo Fort,
- Beaches.
Galeta Island Natural Landscape
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: paisajeislagaleta@miambiente.gob.pa
Places Allowed
- Mangrove reforestation,
- La Costanera.
Gatún Lake Recreational Area
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: arealagogatun@miambiente.gob.pa
Places Allowed
- El Lago Trail,
- Mirador Trail,
- Cariblanco Trail.
Chagres National Park
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: pnchagres@miambiente.gob.pa
Places Allowed
- Visitors Center,
- Azul Hill,
- Peasant communities (San Vicente de La Tranquilla, Quebrada Ancha, Santa Librada, Nuevo Caimito).*
- Indigenous communities (Emberá Drua, Via Kiru, Parara Puru, Emberá Puru, Tusípono).*
* Maximum capacity and hours of operation will depend on the information they provide.
Chiriquí Province
Barú Volcano National Park
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: parquevolcanbaru@miambiente.gob.pa
Places Allowed
Camiseta, trail to the peak.
- Maximum capacity
- 75 people by hiking per day,
- 15 cars per day.
Los Llanos Control Point.
- Maximum capacity
- 35 people by hiking per day (for each 10 people, a tourist guide is need).
La Amistad International Park
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: parquelaamistad@miambiente.gob.pa
Place Allowed
- Panamá Verde Trail.
Maximum capacity
- 25 people per day.
Gulf of Chiriquí International Marine Park
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
No booking is required.
Places Allowed
- Beach,
- Gámez Island,
- Parida Island,
- Bolaños Island.
La Barqueta Beach Wildlife Refuge
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
No booking is required.
Places Allowed
- Beach,
- El Jobo Trail.
Darién Province
Darién National Park
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: pnd@miambiente.gob.pa
Places Allowed
- Rancho Frío, maximum capacity, 24 people per day,
- Muerto Beach, maximum capacity, 48 people per day,
- Pijibasal (buffer zone), maximum capacity, 30 people per day,
Herrera Province
Sarigua National Park
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: parquesarigua@miambiente.gob.pa
Places Allowed
- Las Dunas Trail,
- Archaeological area,
- El Armadillo Trail,
- Piedra El Gato Trail,
- Albina area.
Maximum capacity
- 100 people per day.
Reserva Forestal El Montuoso
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
E-mail para reservar: reservaforestalelmontuoso@miambiente.gob.pa
Places Allowed
- Los Tucanes Trail,
- El Mirador Trail,
- Cesar Best Trail.
Maximum capacity
- 100 people per day.
Los Santos Province
Iguana Island Wildlife Refuge
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: reservaislaiguana@miambiente.gob.pa
Places Allowed
- Cirial Beach,
- La Playita,
- El Faro Trail,
- Árbol Panamá trail.
Maximum capacity
- Monday to Thursday, 72 people per day,
Friday to Sunday, 100 people per day.
Panama Province
Camino de Cruces (way of crosses)
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: parquecaminodecruces@miambiente.gob.pa
Places Allowed
- Camino de Cruces trail, maximum capacity: 30, people per day,
- Camarón trail, maximum capacity: 80 people per day,
- El Pescador trail, maximum capacity: 20 people per day.
Soberanía National Park
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: pnsoberania@miambiente.gob.pa
Place Allowed
- Camino El Oleoducto (this trail is actually in Colón, check, when making the booking, if there are mobility restrictions, the one in Panama or Colón applies).
- Maximum capacity: 100 people per day.
- Plantación Trail
- Maximum capacity: 50 people per day.
- El Charco Trail (Tuesday to Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Maximum capacity: 40 people per day.
Taboga Island Wildlife Reserve
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: reservaislataboga@miambiente.gob.pa
Place Allowed
- Mirador El Vigia Trail.
Ancón Hill Natural Reserve
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
No booking is required.
Place Allowed
- Go to the peak.
Panamá Oeste Province
Altos de Campana National Park and Biological Reserve
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: reservaparquecampana@miambiente.gob.pa
Places Allowed
- Podocarpus Trail, maximum capacity:180 people per day,
- La Cruz Trail, maximum capacity: 30 people per day.
Veraguas Province
Santa Fé National Park
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: parquesantafe@miambiente.gob.pa
Place Allowed
- Loma Grande Trail.
Maximum capacity
- 30 people per day.
Hoya Hill National Park
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
No booking is required.
Place Allowed
- Restingue.
Reserva Forestal La Laguna de La Yeguada
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: reservalayeguada@miambiente.gob.pa
Places Allowed
- Lagoon area, maximum capacity: 25 people per day,
- Administrative Site, maximum capacity: 30 people per day.
Coiba National Park
Hours
- Monday to Sunday,
- 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
E-mail to reserve: pnislacoiba@miambiente.gob.pa
Places Allowed
- Gambute Administrative Site,
- Machete Ranchería Beach,
- Canales de Afuera,
- Coco Island,
- Frijoles.
Maximum Capacity
- 100 people per day
Only up to 20 divers per day will be admitted, which will be distributed by places allowed.
Regulations
Once you have the booking, you must take into account some things during your visit, they are regulations and biosafety measures given
by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Health.
- No pets,
- Do not feed the animals,
- Do not bring alcoholic driks,
- No Smoking,
- Do not carry or take out, species of fauna and flora or parts and sub-parts of these,
- Mandatory use of the mask,
- Bring antibacterial gel or alcohol,
- Save social distancing,
- Respect the established hours.
Note
The hours of each park will also depend on the quarantines and curfews and regulations of each province.
Additional Advices
- Bring water,
- Extra masks,
- Raincoat,
- Snacks,
- Do not leave anything (it is recommended that you carry a bag so that you can deposit your waste and do not leave the bag in the park),
- Wear light, dry fit clothes,
- Bring a complete change of clothes (and shoes) for when the hike is over (if it rains, you may get wet),
- Good hiking shoes or boots,
- Do not make noise,
- Sunscreen,
- Cap,
- Repellent.
Source of information
- Sitio web de Mi Ambiente
- 1 post de Instagram de Mi Ambiente
- 2 post de Instagram de Mi Ambiente
- 3 post de Instagram de Mi Ambiente
- 4 post de Instagram de Mi Ambiente
- 5 post de Instagram de Mi Ambiente
- 6 post de Instagram de Mi Ambiente
- 7 post de Instagram de Mi Ambiente
- 8 post de Instagram de Mi Ambiente
- 9 Post de Instagram de Mi Ambiente
- 10 post de instagram de Mi Ambiente
- Post of Mi Ambiente
- y unas consultas que hice a los parques.
