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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

  • We enjoyed all locations which were very diverse and equally memorable. 

    IB, Chesterfield Apr 2017
  • Each part of my trip had a special moment. I loved both the new and old parts of Panama city, but my highlight there was seeing sloths while walking up…

    TF, Wakefield Jun 2018
  • Because of my interest in shipping, the Panama Canal partial transit was fascinating. 

    JB Apr 2012
  • 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!

  • "Bocas del Toro was great fun and frivolous and a great journey there by boat."

    GS, Bushey Jun 2013
  • Most Memorable Moment?: Too hard to choose one. Panama Canal Transit was a lifelong ambition.

    NA, London Mar 2017
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Our Expert's Opinion

Finn Clennett
Finn Clennett - Travel Expert

Papagaio

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Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Sallly
    Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • Alex
    Alex Walker - Travel Expert

    A globetrotter since her childhood, Alex spent a year studying abroad in Guadalajara and has returned to Latin America countless times since then.

  • Finn Clennett
    Finn Clennett - Travel Expert

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