The land bridge between North and South America, Panama is a meeting place for plant and animal species from both continents. The incredible wildlife diversity which results makes Panama one of the world's most exciting ecotourism destinations. With 16 national parks established to protect unique ecosystems and life forms, Panama has a tremendous variety of fascinating habitats for visitors to explore.

Darien National Park/Cana
Panama established the largest of all of Panama's National Parks, the enormous Darien National Park, in 1981, to protect the unique ecosystems there. It was considered so important that it was designated a World Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations two years later. Darien National Park is a vital ecological reserve for the many unique and rare species that are found there. Centers of endemism in the Darien include the Pirre mountain range, Cana and Cerro Tacaruna. Largely uninhabited and inaccessible, Darien National Park is home to scattered groups of the Embera, Waunana, and Kuna peoples. Fortunately for birdwatchers, one of the centers of endemism, Cana, is accessible by light aircraft and even has rustic accommodations for visitors. Several times each year one tour operator conducts its famed Trans-Darien Expedition, a grueling hike across the isthmus which retraces the route Balboa followed in his march to the Pacific Ocean.

Coiba Island National Park
One of Panama's most important ecological reserves, the island is rarely visited due to the lack of hotels and the fact that many visitors are reluctant to spend so much time getting to the island. That situation has improved, thanks due to the availability of live-aboards going to Coiba Island. Divers seeking dive sites with an abundance of large fish principally take these trips, but a few ecotourists are starting to join in. Coiba Island is an important refuge for the Scarlet Macaw, the last place where a breeding population of these birds is found in Panama. The island also boasts some rare marine species.