A sloth in a tree with Panama City in the background.

Reserva Cerro Ancón

Where else can you take a jungle hike in the middle of a city and see a wild sloth in a tree?

Areas of Panama were placed under US jurisdiction as part of the Panama Canal Zone between 1903 and 1977. Ancon Hill is a 200m hill in the center of Panama City that was used as a US army post during that period. The area was largely undeveloped and became a reserve after being handed back to Panama - albeit with a very prominent Panamanian flag at the top of the hill.

It takes about half an hour to hike to the top - but in practice it takes longer because you will want to stop and admire the sloths. We saw sloths, toucans and coatis and apparently there are also nine-banded armadillos and Geoffroy's tamarin in the reserve as well.

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Reserva Cerro Ancón, Panama City, Panama - Map

21 December 2019

Ancon Hill, República de Panamá

JBHewlett, Atlas Obscura, 15 December 2011

An artist working on a piece for a float

Mardi Gras World

1600.72 miles away

Dolls houses in the hall.

House of Broel Dollhouse Museum

1601.18 miles away