More than 4,000 people visited Panama’s national parks, forest reserves, and wildlife refuges during the November patriotic celebrations, cementing the country’s growing reputation for protected areas tourism. The Ministry of Environment deployed personnel across 66 protected sites between November 2 and 6, combining visitor services with active conservation enforcement.
The turnout reflects a broader shift toward nature-based recreation among both Panamanian citizens and international travelers, officials said. Park rangers maintained continuous patrols while managing the influx of hikers, wildlife observers, and families seeking outdoor activities during the holiday period.
Protected Areas Tourism Surges at Volcán Barú
Volcán Barú National Park led all destinations with 1,575 visitors, followed by San Lorenzo National Park with 1,259. Marine protected areas also performed strongly, with Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park recording 859 visitors and Coiba National Park welcoming 353.
Other notable sites included Chagres National Park with 585 visitors, Altos de Campana National Park and Biological Reserve with 561, and Soberanía National Park with 385. Portobelo National Park, Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge, and Cerro El Gaital Natural Monument each drew between 116 and 160 visitors.
In Veraguas province, Coiba National Park hosted 288 national and foreign visitors while rangers conducted environmental orientation sessions and maritime monitoring. Isla Bastimentos benefited from strong traffic at Cayos Zapatilla, while San Lorenzo attracted visitors interested in its combination of colonial history and biodiversity.
Conservation Enforcement During Holiday Operations
Beyond visitor management, rangers carried out significant conservation work. Personnel protected 311 sea turtle eggs at Playa Horcones and released 438 olive ridley turtle hatchlings in Chiriquí and Los Santos. Teams also rescued and relocated a boa constrictor near Camino de Cruces National Park and recovered a ghost net from Coiba’s waters.
Enforcement operations yielded substantial results against environmental crimes. Authorities destroyed 10 water pumps used for illegal mining and apprehended one person in Chagres National Park, where two firearms were also seized. Two individuals were captured for carrying a firearm inside Soberanía National Park.
Officials detected illegal logging in Chagres, Sierra Llorona, and Palo Seco Protected Forest. At San San Pond Sak wetland, authorities retained 48 wooden boards. In Los Santos, one person was apprehended for trafficking sea turtle eggs, with 284 eggs confiscated.
Ministry Reports 175 Incidents During Holiday Period
The national operation generated 175 activity and incident reports, with 53 classified as positive or negative events
to conservation, protection, monitoring, and environmental surveillance. Ministry personnel and supporting entities documented biodiversity monitoring, visitor assistance, and environmental education across dozens of protected areas.
The ministry emphasized that the holiday results demonstrate protected areas’ dual role as spaces for responsible recreation and as critical conservation zones. The sustained presence of park rangers and technical staff underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding Panama’s natural heritage while accommodating growing public interest in sustainable tourism.