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Canopy Tower

  • Aerial view of Canopy Tower
  • Canopy Tower external view
  • Canopy tower bird watching
  • Canopy tower reception area
  • Canopy tower library
  • PAN_SoberaníaNationalPark_Canopy tower internal room
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One of Panama’s top birding venues, the Canopy Tower is perched on top of Semaphore Hill in the heart of Soberanía National Park.

This is also one of Central America’s most unusual places to stay. Situated at an altitude of 300m, the one-time US Air Force Cold War radar tower overlooks the rainforest canopy, the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal and the skyline of Panama City, just an hour away. Built in 1963, it finally became a lodge in 1999.

There are a dozen guest rooms arranged on the first and second floors of the circular construction, each clean and comfortable and some with private bathroom. There is also spacious dining area and well-stocked library. Our favourite feature is its excellent open air observation deck on the top floor, just above the canopy line; this is where guests convene in the early morning to enjoy the views and listen to the sounds of the forest as the new day dawns.

As well as the birding that is offered onsite from the observation deck, each day there are morning and afternoon excursions to some of central Panama's premier birding locations.

Bartolome, Galápagos

What our clients say

  • "Most memorable was watching mother and baby two-toed sloths from bedroom window at Canopy Tower. Early morning on the roof of Canopy Tower listening to howler monkeys as the sun…

    NW, Kidlington Jun 2013
  • Top experiences in Panama - going through the canal and exploring Panama City and surrounding area. I was surprised to find that Panama is not just the Canal Zone!

  • Most memorable experience: “Tranquillo bay was a cut above everything else.   Staying on Waidup (near Isla Tigre) was also special.”

    MH, Chiswick Dec 2013
  • Highlights: “Locks on the Panama canal and Panamax vessels up close.”

    MC, Fulham Nov 2012
  • We didn't realise the partial canal transit would be in such a big boat with loads of other tourists - not a problem, but would have been good for this…

    NF, Tunbridge Wells Apr 2013
  • We enjoyed all locations which were very diverse and equally memorable. 

    IB, Chesterfield Apr 2017
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Our Expert's Opinion

Juliet
Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

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Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Carrie
    Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

    A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

  • Maggie
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

  • Lina
    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

  • Charlotte
    Charlotte Daubeney - Travel Expert

    Charlotte's fascination with Latin America began with a family holiday to Belize. She went on to study Spanish in school and at university before spending a year living in Santiago, Chile.

  • Juliet
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

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