Chagres National Park

Chagres National Park protects the Chagres River watershed and adjacent lowland and montane rainforest east of Panama City, preserving habitats that are critical to the functioning of the Panama Canal. The park encompasses rivers, lakes and forested slopes and is one of the country’s largest protected areas for tropical forest.

Visitors use river and lake routes to reach park sites, and the area supports diverse wildlife and traditional communities; the park’s conservation purpose includes watershed protection and biodiversity conservation. Scientific research and controlled ecotourism are active components of the park’s use.

The park lies to the east of Panama City in Panamá Province, covering a broad inland area that drains toward Gatun Lake and the Caribbean side of the isthmus.

• Canal watershed protection: The park protects the watershed that feeds Gatun Lake, an essential reservoir for the Panama Canal, and contains large tracts of lowland tropical rainforest and hilly terrain.
• Access and navigation: River and lake navigation and boat access provide common means for visiting interior parts of the park; river conditions can vary with the season.

What to See #

• Chagres River: Chagres River watershed - the park protects the headwaters and tributaries that supply Gatun Lake and play a crucial role in the freshwater inputs used by the Panama Canal.
• Gatun Lake and shores: Gatun Lake and surrounding protected shorelines - key freshwater reservoir for canal operations and important habitat for wildlife within the park boundaries.