Panama feels like a second home to me…
I lived there for seven years with my husband, and we built a fruitful life there.
Even though we moved away in 2018, we’re still Panama residents, which means we can come and go as we please, and we can stay for as long as we like. We think of it as a “backup residency.” If all else fails, we know we can always live in Panama again. We just have to show up every couple of years to maintain the status.
Plus, I enjoy spending time there. Every visit feels like a bit of a homecoming—and these days it comes with the added fun of introducing our daughters to the completely different lifestyle that we used to enjoy.
I get nostalgic when I think back over our “Panama years”…where we adopted our dog, where we slept in luxury tree houses in the jungle, where we spent countless days at the beach and at resorts, where we hiked at least once a month in the rain forest around the city, and where we visited all the islands we could in our friend’s little boat…
And where the luxury lifestyle we enjoyed cost a relative pittance…
We lived in a high rise with two pools and a gym right on the seafront. We had three bedrooms, a giant living space, and wrap around floor to ceiling windows to enjoy the views of the bay, the Old Town, the fish market, the epic thunderstorms, and the daily sunrise…
Our balcony had a table that seated six, a grill, a sun lounger, and a five-person couch. I spent every weekend at the pool and tanning or gardening on our balcony…
You can find just about any lifestyle in Panama, from golf resorts by the beach to mountain retreats and from island getaways to country living… but this is also the best city in Central America to live a cosmopolitan life.
With a burgeoning arts culture, a fully developed business and banking industry, and decent infrastructure (this one is arguable), life here is fully appointed…
On the other hand, it’s also the heart of a country that is blessed with so much biodiversity and untouched nature, it could practically be called a jungle or beach destination as well as a city.
In this week’s video, for example, I share one of my particular joys of living in Panama City: rain forest hikes without leaving the metropolitan area…
Got a question? Want to see us cover a particular topic? Write to me here.
Kat Kalashian,
Editor LIOS Confidential
Video Transcript
How To Escape To Raw Wilderness in a City
Hi, I’m Kat Kalashian with Live and Invest Overseas, and today I’m sharing an insider’s trick for experiencing nature in Central America’s biggest concrete jungle, otherwise known as Panama City.
If you have seen Panama City, which often looks a lot like Miami, it may be hard to believe that you can escape into raw wilderness and find yourself in the rainforest within just a few minutes of leaving the road.
That is not something you find in many places around the world, especially not in Central America. In fact, this is the only national park within city limits in Central America.
At the vast nature reserve of Parque Metropolitano, you can enjoy Panama’s wild side without traveling for hours to reach the rainforest.
The grounds and trails are well maintained and generally free of litter. The environment feels safe and quiet, and visitors may even see uniformed officers on patrol from time to time.
For anyone living in or visiting Panama City, it is an easy and enjoyable option for biking, hiking, or simply spending time outdoors without needing to turn it into a major road trip.
It can also be a great family outing, with enough nature and open space to make the experience feel like a real escape from the city.
The Jungle Behind The Concrete Jungle
Parque Metropolitano is made up of green hills and forested trails that rise above the city skyline. If you are in Panama City and notice large green hills nearby, you are probably looking at the park.
The park is part museum, part playground, and part trail system, offering a wide variety of ways to enjoy the natural environment.
It has been called the lungs of Panama City and has been preserved as part of a soil management plan connected to the Panama Canal.
The area was first set aside in the 1970s and was officially recognized as a park in 1985.
Its protected status makes it especially significant, since it remains the only protected natural zone within the borders of a Central American city.
How To Get There
Getting to Parque Metropolitano is relatively easy from almost anywhere in Panama City.
One of the simplest routes is to take the Corredor Norte, the city’s toll expressway, toward the district of Ancón.
Visitors can leave their car in the secure parking lot right in front of the information center at no charge.
There is also a modest entrance fee, which varies depending on whether you are a resident or a tourist.
Residents typically pay $2 per adult and $1 per child, while tourists generally pay $5 per adult and $3 per child.
What To Do Here
Once you arrive, one of the best first stops is the information center.
There, visitors can get a better sense of the flora and fauna they might encounter in the park. The center includes maps, historical background, and photographs showing the park’s role in the development of Panama City over time.
Guides are available for tours in both Spanish and English, and the center also offers souvenirs such as hats and T-shirts.
It is a good idea to bring a snack or picnic, or to buy refreshments at the small on-site store before heading deeper into the park.
Once inside, it helps to think of the experience as a real trip through the rainforest, because that is essentially what it is.
Panama’s weather can change quickly, and a sunny walk can easily turn into a rainy trek. Anyone not used to getting around on foot in the tropics should be prepared to sweat, get thirsty, and work up an appetite.
Fortunately, much of the park is shaded by tree cover, which helps reduce direct sun exposure.
The adventure does not require expert hiking skills. Near the information center there is also a shaded picnic area and a playground, making it easy to enjoy the setting even without committing to a longer hike.
That alone can make for a pleasant tropical day out with children or grandchildren.
The Trails and The Animals
The trails are the heart of the Parque Metropolitano experience.
Most of them can be walked in about an hour, and many are considered relatively easy and not too demanding for the average visitor.
Wildlife sightings are one of the highlights of the park. Visitors may spot sloths, monkeys, toucans, frogs, giant ants, lizards, and crabs, among other animals.
One of the easiest and most accessible options is Sendero El Roble, a loop trail that can be completed in about 30 minutes and returns you to the picnic area for a quick rest or snack.
It is an excellent starting point for anyone easing into the park experience.
Birdwatchers in particular may find the park especially rewarding, and it is worth bringing a birding guide or species list along.
Scientists have recorded more than 570 species of plants and animals in the park, making it a rich environment for anyone interested in tropical biodiversity.
The trails also offer excellent views of the city, the water, and the islands around Panama City.
The Camino del Mono Tití and La Cienaguita trails connect to form a larger loop with lookout points near the park’s high areas.
From these miradores, visitors can enjoy broad panoramic views of Panama City and the surrounding waters, with only a few trees partially interrupting the scenery.
Along the trails, informational displays provide more context about the work that has gone into maintaining the park, the species found there, and the way the landscape has changed over time.
Some displays even include historical photographs, allowing visitors to compare older views of the park with what they see today.
