Protected areas prepare to receive visitors during the national holidays

Approximately 410,069. 55 balboas have been allocated by the Ecological Trust Fund (FIDECO), the Natural Heritage Conservation Project, the National System of Protected Areas (SINAP) of the Ministry of the Environment (MiAMBIENTE), and the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP) , for improvements, rehabilitation, adaptations and repairs of trails in some eight protected areas at the national level, with the aim of providing a better service to national and foreign tourists who visit these natural sites during the national holidays.

According to Michele Caballero, a biologist from the National Directorate of Protected Areas of MiAMBIENTE, the adaptations were carried out in the Soberanía National Park, Camino de Cruces, Coiba, Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge, Protected Forest and San Lorenzo Protected Landscape, Monument Natural Cerro Gaital, Cerro Cariguana Water Reserve and India Dormida.

In the Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge in the province of Los Santos, a new biodigester was installed, and a dredge pump to pump salt water for the maintenance of the existing battery of four bathrooms and two urinals, which will be used by visitors during these holidays.

Elida Bernal, MiAMBIENTE Los Santos Regional Director, called on visitors to make efficient and proper use of the battery of bathrooms that have been recently rehabilitated to offer greater comfort during their stay in this protected area.

Taking into account the upcoming free days, MiAMBIENTE calls on the population to carry out good practices during their visits to the country’s protected areas.

To this end, MiAMBIENTE maintains administrative offices in each of these areas for their management and for adequate attention to the visiting public, in which good practices for their visit are established, such as those indicated below:

Register at the offices of each of the Protected Areas upon arrival where you will receive instructions directly from the park rangers of the area visited.
Respect the visiting hours established by MiAMBIENTE.
Keep in mind to collect the garbage that you generate with your eyes and deposit it appropriately in the indicated places.
Remember that excessive noise is prohibited.
Do not smoke or light matches inside the park, remember that it is forbidden to make any type of fire in the area.
Remember that the extraction of plants or animals is not allowed except for scientific purposes with proper authorization.
If you find any archaeological object by chance, notify the park administration, remember that digging is prohibited.
Visitors who wish to camp in the areas where this service is offered must register at the MiAMBIENTE checkpoint.
In case of snorkeling or other activity, the biological or ecological processes of the species must not be altered, for example, anchoring on coral reefs is prohibited.
Fishing must be carried out with special permits regulated by the management plan (fishing cannot be carried out within a mile of each island, islet or rocky promontory).
Bring water if you plan to hike a trail to avoid dehydration.
Take the tours in the early hours of the morning and in the last hours of the day, if you want to observe birds or fauna in general, they are easier to find at these hours.
Do not bring any kind of pets.
In places of difficult access, go with guides or accompanied by personnel who have knowledge of the place.
Stay within the trails.
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for each area.
Drinking liquor is prohibited.
Hunting, burning and logging are prohibited.
Firearms are not allowed inside the parks.