Day 355 of 365 Things To Do in Panama

Day 355 of 365 Things To Do in Panama. Visit a Living Tropical Laboratory!

Barro Colorado Island is located in Gatun Lake in the middle of the Panama Canal. The island formed when the Chagres River was dammed to form the lake. As the water rose it covered the most of existing tropical forest leaving islands in the middle of the lake.

According to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), the Barro Colorado Nature Monument has hosted more than 80 years of biological research and is one of the sites with the longest history of continuous research in the New World tropics, providing a base of scientific information unequaled in the planet. Each year between 250 and 300 scientists from around the world visit Barro Colorado Nature Monument.

The Day Visit Program includes boat transportation, a guided tour and lunch. Learn about the natural history of the island, take a guided trail walk of about 2Km through the tropical rainforest enjoying the sights and gaining an understanding of the significance of the island and research. Barro Colorado Island is home to 115 mammal species and more than 1200 plant species!