Visit the Metropolitan Natural Park, the only park in tropical Latin America with a natural forest located within a metropolitan capital. Moreover, it is easy to see. No permit from ANAM is required as the park is administered by the Mayor's Office and various environmental organizations. Visiting hours are from Tuesday through Sunday from 9.a.m. to 3.p.m. A visitor's center provides information about the Reserve and guides to take you to the interpretative trails. The Metropolitan Park, which covers 265 hectares, is located between Juan Pablo II Avenue and Friendship Road. Call 232-5552/232-5516.

Go early to see the park as the majority of its fauna can be observed in the morning hours by climbing up the Natural Interpretative Trail and coming down the Mono Tití Road. The park is an island of trees and shrubs where one can view arboreal fauna. It is the only park where you can find and see Tití monkeys, white-tail deer, agoutis, coatis, anteaters and the two-toed and three-toed sloths within a short range. Over 200 species of birds can be found, among which are finches, pigeons, Grey-Headed Chachalacas, owls, hawks, eagles, crows, wood-peckers and hummingbirds. There are also a great variety of turtles such as fresh-water turtle, land turtle or jicotea. The green iguana (Iguana iguana) can frequently be seen sunbathing on the branches of the trees of the area. Approximately 192 hectares of the park are composed of tropical semi-deciduous forest of low-lying lands. This type of forest has nearly disappeared in the central and western regions of the Pacific and Darién.

The Smithsonian Institute has installed a high crane to observe birds and animals that take refuge on the top of the trees. It is the only one of its kind and serves scientific purposes. Any visit to the park should include a climb to the Lookout, which is reached by the Tití Monkey Road. From this point, at an elevation of 150 meters, all the rest of the park can be seen as well as Panama City, the Bay, the Panama Canal including the port of Balboa and Miraflores locks. It is a wonderful view. For a visit to the crane, call the Smithsonian Institute (212-8760)