The abundant bird life around The Canopy Tower may change your mind! But there is also an abundance of activities for folks who have seen enough birds. Please take a look at our Activities without birds page for a banker's dozen list of nearby destinations.

    For many, the rainforest surrounding the Tower offers endless interest. Many of the trees along Semaphore Hill Road have numbered tags that identify them to species level on a booklet prepared by botanists and biologists of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (click for our tree list ). Mammals are also abundant around the tower: coatis, agoutis, and anteaters are commonly seen from the road, and howler and tamarin monkeys are sighted frequently from the tower. Due to "good seeing" resulting from few nearby lights at night, stargazing from the roof on a clear night can be delightful. At night, Panama City's lights are visible on the horizon, and lighted ships traverse the Canal. During the day you can see both the skyline of Panama City and the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal.

    The Canal is itself of prime interest to many. Two sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Canal, Miraflores and Pedro Miguel, are a short drive from the Tower, as well as the Panama Canal Visitor Center. Panama City itself, with its museums, fine restaurants and shops, is only 30 minutes away.

    Activities at Gamboa, only 15 minutes away, include kayaking in the Panama Canal, an aerial tram, orchids and butterfly exhibits and fishing expeditions in the Gatun Lake.

    Please visit our "a day at the Canopy Tower " page for a better idea of how our guests occupy themselves at the Tower. See also the activities page for maps & more. And, of course, the Activities without birds page, already mentioned, has a good list. Most of our visitors tell us they wish they could stay longer, as there is too much for one visit!