Amistad Natural Park - Panama

Panama - Amistad National Park
Amistad National Park

 
 
Amistad National Park is unique as it is shared by Costa Rica and Panama. The word "Amistad" literally means "friendship". Located in the western part of Panama, 500 km from Panama City, Amistad National park is located within 2 Panamanian provinces : Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro. The park entrance at Cerro Punta is about one hour north of the city of David, which has an airport and car rental facilities. With a size of 207,000 hectares, it is Panama's second largest park. Amistad National Park is comprised of mountainous terrain, making it a ecologically diverse park.
  
 

On 3 March 1979 The Presidents of Costa Rica and Panama jointly declared their intentions to establish an international park. On September 6 1988- La Amistad was officially declared a national park. The Costa Rican side of La Amistad National Park was placed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1983, and the Panamanian side in 1990. This trans boundary World Heritage Site is referred to as Talamanca Range-La Amistad/La Amistad National Park.

Over 100 species of mammals, including many primates like the howler monkey and black handed spider monkey . The park protects threatened populations of tapir, olingo and shrew.
Five species of cats from Panama can be found here. 91 species of amphibians have been recorded in the park. Of the 400 bird species recorded to date in the park, the most outstanding are the harpy eagle, endemic glow-throated hummingbird, quetza, umbrella bird, threewattled bellbird, whose call resembles the sound of a bell, and the crested eagle - one of the largest and most threatened birds of prey in the Neotropics. There are several natural trails leading into the park's interior, the La Cascada and El Retoño trails being of particular interest.

LOCATION: the park is located 480 km's by road from Panama city in Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro provinces.

ACCESS: There is an international airport located in David. Visitors can reach the park in a vehicle via the town of Cerro Punta, Piedra Candela, Rio Sereno and Boquete.

FACILITIES: In las Nubes - Chiriqui there is an administrative center with a visitor center, camping site and trail. There are hostels in Culebra and Cotito.

ACCOMMODATION: David has many accommodations and accommodation can be found in Cerro Punta and Boquete.

 

  
 

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