Bird Watching Rainforest Discovery Center

At the Rainforest Discovery Center, you are greeted at the visitor center before continuing to the Observation Tower and Forrest Trails where you will have the opportunity to spot many species of birds (not to mention the many other types of wildlife in the area!).

Visitor Centre: Hiking trails extend from the visitor centre into the forest. The centre is energy self-sufficient with solar panels and a rainwater collection system from the roof for bathrooms. 70% of the construction materials come from old houses in the Canal area. The gift shop offers bottled water, soda, snacks and souvenirs for sale.

Tower: Down a 200-meter walkway from the visitor center is a 100-foot observation tower with spiral stairs winding all the way to the top (rest platforms are found every 25 feet) where you can see the top of Soberania National Park that stretches for miles in every direction. This painted steel tower has been specially designed by the Panamanian architect, Patrick Dillon and was constructed entirely by hand to provide optimal viewing opportunities of the surrounding birds and wildlife.

Forest Trails: There is a 1.1-kilometer circuit of forest trails. These trails are from mild to moderate difficulty level, made of gravel and 1.2 meter wide. There are two rest areas along the trails, one small wood deck on the Calamito Lake shore for aquatic wildlife observation, and another wood deck in the forest with benches.

Since the best viewing opportunities are early in the morning just after sunrise, you will be picked up at your hotel between 5:30-6:00 am and driven approximately 50 minutes north to Gamboa.

Once there, you will be accompanied by an experienced guide who can spot the tiniest bird or recognize the faintest sound and show you where to look. The tour lasts about 4 hours giving you plenty of time to explore the hiking trails and spend time on the observation tower before returning to Panama City.