Lets face it. When you hear Panama, the first thing you think of is the Panama Canal, isn’t it? Before my trip to Panama, it was actually one of the only things I knew about the country. Naturally I had to see it for myself …
If there’s only one museum you get to during your visit to Panama City, make it the BioMuseo. Situated along the Amador Causeway, there’s no missing this distinctly abstract and colourful building. The BioMuseo is an extremely modern, interactive museum that focuses on Panama’s biodiversity …
Prior to spending time in Panama City, I didn’t fully comprehend the significance of Panama’s natural diversity. I certainly didn’t expect to get the chance to get into the wild a short distance from the heart of the city. If you’re spending more time in the country, you’ll likely get to see Panama’s vast and varied regions, but if you’re only around for a short stay, I highly recommend Punta Culebra Nature Center (Centro Natural Punta Culebra). Especially engaging for family travellers and animal lovers, this open air conservation reserve is the perfect place to see sloths, frogs, tropical fish and so much more. Add in the surrounding dry forest of the reserve and vista views out over the Panama Canal and Pacific Ocean, and you’ve got a great place to spend an hour or two in the Panama sun.
I couldn’t find much information about Punta Culebra prior to my visit, so in this post I’ll be covering its various exhibits.
Before diving into the wildlife you’ll see at the Nature Center today, I thought it would be a good idea to briefly cover the history of this unique set of islands off Panama City. There’s quite a few signs that cover this throughout the Center, so those interested in history will also benefit from visiting.
Punta Culebra is one of four islands at the mouth of the Panama Canal, the others being Naos, Perico and Flamenco. The islands have served as Panama City’s port for many centuries, with the large tidal variations and wide mudflats offshore making it impractical for ships to dock directly by the city itself. For this reason, the islands saw merchants and traders dock their vessels in colonial times before transferring to the mainland in smaller boats.
The islands’ isolation suited them to various roles over time. While in Panama, you’ll learn that yellow fever and malaria took many lives throughout the construction of the Panama Canal. During this period, a quarantine station was set up on Punta Culebra island to prevent those infected from spreading their the diseases to the rest of the population. The station was demolished in 1914, but you can actually still see the pilings of one of the quarantine structures at the Nature Center today.
In 1913, the islands were finally connected to Panama’s mainland with the construction of the Amador Causeway. The causeway was actually created from material excavated during the construction of the Panama Canal. It not only made access to the island easier, but also created a breakwater, protecting the entrance of the Canal from waves and sediment build-up. Shortly after this, the islands were converted into a US military outpost, though it was retired following World War 2.
The restrictions on accessing the islands during their military occupation indirectly bolstered their natural ecosystems. While much of the dry forests throughout Central America have been cleared for agriculture and development, they thrived on these isolated islands. This rich environment led to Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute creating a conservation and research station on Punta Culebra. In 1996, the Nature Center was finally opened to the public with a view to promoting biodiversity and conservation. The mission statement at Punta Culebra Natural Center is to share discoveries, spark curiosity and inspire learning about the wonders of tropical science!
Punta Culebra Nature Center is some 3.5 kilometres down the Amador Causeway. The causeway is a pleasant spot to walk along in Panama City, but you’ll need a set of wheels to at least get to the entrance. I had limited time to experience everything to city had to offer, so despite my hotel being a short distance from the start of the Causeway, I caught an Uber to Punta Culebra (its so affordable in Panama!). You can also get to Punta Culebra via the city’s Metrobus service, as there’s a bus stop about 250 metres away on Naos Island (in front of the Smithsonian Labs) There’s not a huge amount of signage marking the entrance to Punta Culebra, but you’ll know you’re there when you get to the Mi Ranchito restaurant.
Punta Culebra Nature Center is an incredibly affordable attraction, making it perfect for families on a nice day. You can pay the admission fee by cash or card. If you have accessibility issues, you should be aware that much of the reserve is covered in uneven terrain and therefore those in wheelchairs may not be able to experience most of the site.
You won’t need a huge amount of time dedicated to the Nature Center on your Panama City travel plans. I spent about an hour here and felt I saw everything I needed. For a more comprehensive experience, you might spend two hours at the most.
Entering Punta Culebra Nature Center, you’ll pass beaches and mangroves on your right before reaching the first major exhibit on the site. Just opposite the remnants of the old Quarantine Station is the indoor Amphibian Exhibit. This colourfully vibrant frog house contains a myriad of amphibious species, at all stages of life (including tadpoles). Frogs have played a central role in Panama’s ecosystems throughout history, and in addition to learning about the creatures themselves, the exhibit house contains information about the significance they had to pre-Columbian cultures in the region. Did you know that many of Panama’s ancient people decorated themselves in gold or shell frog figures?
When you think of tropical amphibians, one species that likely comes to mind is the poison dart frog. They’re here (among many others), and I found it interesting that unlike most amphibious species, they actually lay their eggs in the leaf litter to be cared for by the male, only for the female to take over when the eggs hatch, depositing her tadpoles into pools of water or trees and returning to feed them. Most frogs lay their eggs in water, with the hatching tadpoles having gills and a tail, before going through the metamorphosis process to become frogs.
I also was surprised to learn that while Panama is home to over 200 species of frogs, many are under threat of being wiped out by the chytrid fungus, thought to have been introduced from Africa. The Smithsonian Institute is carrying out important research at Punta Culebra to immunise the frog population so that we don’t lose more species. You can learn more about the important projects carried out by the Institute in the nearby Q?rioso exhibit.
Heading deeper into the reserve, you’ll find a hiking trail branching off to the left. This is where you’ll have the chance to escape into the type of tropical deciduous dry forest historically found of much of Panama’s Pacific Coast. Many years ago, dry forests like this were found all over the Pacific coast through Central America, but nowadays many have been cleared by humans. This demonstrates the importance of reserves such as Punta Culebra, where these environments can be protected, for the various species that are dependent upon them.
The dry forest at the Nature Center is small, but if you take your time to linger you might come across many of the animals that make their home here. Keep quiet, and you could see racoons, iguanas, toucans and so much more. Perhaps most sought after is the sloth, which can be found lazing around in the tree tops. They can be quite difficult to spot, especially so far below the tree tops, but the park rangers do a good job of pointing out where you can find them in the forest and will also tell you lots of fun facts about the species.
There’s also all kinds of interesting plant life throughout the dry forest trail. One species that I was especially fascinated by was the night blooming cactus. This cactus could be found growing on trees of all places! Cacti are known to thrive in dry conditions, and a trees branches are actually quite similar to deserts in that rain runs off quickly. The thick, waxy skin of these cacti adapt them to these conditions, helping them conserve water.
Punta Culebra Nature Center also highlights the array of aquatic life found in the waters of and surrounding Panama. There are a few marine exhibits throughout the reserve, but the focal point is the Aquaria Exhibition at the end of the island’s peninsular. This hexagonal building contains fish tanks displaying various aquatic environments. With Panama’s formation dividing the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea the emphasis here is on the difference between these two bodies of water and the species found within them. You’ll learn about the Caribbean’s constantly warm waters creating ideal coral growth conditions, hence the large amount of reefs found in the region. Meanwhile the vast Pacific Ocean’s reefs are being impacted by climate change, though there are some areas, such as the Gulf of Panama, where cool temperatures allow them to thrive.
As with the rest of Punta Culebra Nature Center, there is a strong focus on conservation here, and you can find information in the aquarium detailing the Institute’s research into coral evolution and ecology. Despite the fragility of these ecosystems, its thought that appropriate action by humans today could allow some reefs around the world to return to their original status.
Outside the mini-aquarium, you can fully take in the views of the Panama Canal’s mouth while reading the interpretive panels about Panama’s formation, the use of the Panama Canal by shipping vessels, and the migration of whales to Panamanian waters from both the north and south hemispheres. When you’re finished with all that, you can backtrack to the Echinoderm (starfish and cucumber) tank and touch pools and Coastal Fish exhibits to learn more about Panama’s aquatic life before departing Punta Culebra.
I found the Punta Culebra Nature Center to be an interesting place to visit for a quick trip in Panama City. With the Amador Causeway being a major attraction in itself, the reserve is quite accessible and one of the best ways to experience the wildlife of Panama if you’re not venturing out of the capital.
What interests you most about the various animals and ecosystems highlighted at Punta Culebra?
I spent a fair bit of time wandering about the Casco Viejo during my stay in Panama City, especially during the evenings. This restored historic old town is a far cry from the modern, business oriented Downtown of Panama’s capital. The Casco Viejo is the …