Our Panama Wildlife Adventure: Whales, Dolphins, Sloths and Howler Monkeys

Our first trip to Panama was partly for work, but it quickly became one of our most memorable travel experiences.

We travelled there to spend time with some of RepuLinks’ business consultants, but we made sure to leave room for exploring. That led to a full-day island-hopping boat trip, swimming off small islands, whales and dolphins appearing near our boat, sloths in the trees and the unmistakable sound of howler monkeys in the jungle.

Panama exceeded our expectations, particularly because of how many completely different experiences we could have within easy reach of Panama City.

Watch the video below to see the highlights, then keep reading for more about what we experienced and what we recommend when planning a similar trip.

This trip was different from many of our vacations because work was the original reason for travelling.

We went to Panama to meet with some of RepuLinks’ business consultants, spend time together in person and strengthen relationships that had primarily developed through working remotely.

However, the flexibility we have built through freelancing and entrepreneurship also allowed us to add some travel experiences around that work.

We were not trying to follow an exhaustive Panama itinerary. Instead, we chose a few experiences that interested us and left enough flexibility to enjoy the trip with friends.

That approach led to two of the strongest highlights: a full day on the water and a visit to the jungle without travelling far from Panama City.

One of our biggest plans was a full-day boat trip departing from Amador Marina.

The excursion took us away from Panama City and out to three small islands. We spent the day moving between the islands, enjoying the beaches and swimming in beautifully clear water.

The boat itself was relatively small, which made the experience feel more personal and adventurous than being part of a large sightseeing group.

Each island provided another opportunity to get off the boat, explore and cool down in the water. It was the type of day where the transportation was as much a part of the experience as the destinations.

We could see Panama City receding into the distance as we travelled, replacing the skyline and busy urban environment with open water, small beaches and green islands.

The island stops gave us time to swim and enjoy the coastline rather than spending the entire day aboard the boat.

Panama has many boating options departing from the city and the Amador Causeway, ranging from shorter sightseeing trips to full-day island excursions. Official tourism information identifies the Amador area as one of Panama City’s principal departure points for offshore trips.

Our trip was not solely advertised as a wildlife excursion. The original appeal was visiting the islands, spending time on the water and enjoying a beach day with friends.

The wildlife sightings came later and turned an already successful day into something much more memorable.

The greatest surprise arrived while we were travelling back toward Panama City.

We spotted whales in the water near our boat, along with dolphins moving through the same area.

Seeing a whale from land or aboard a large vessel would already be exciting. Experiencing it from a small boat made the animals feel remarkably close and gave us a much better appreciation for their size.

The boat slowed while we watched the water and waited to see where the whales would surface again. Dolphins were also moving nearby, giving us two wildlife encounters at once.

We visited in September, which falls within Panama’s Pacific whale-watching season. Tourism Panama generally identifies July through September as the core season, with some regional guidance extending through October. Boat trips also depart from Panama City and the Amador Causeway toward areas where seasonal sightings are possible.

Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, so we felt extremely fortunate.

Some of the strongest whale and dolphin footage was captured by our friend Robert Roth, which you can see in our YouTube video.

Wildlife encounters rarely happen according to a filming plan.

You may be trying to watch the water, steady yourself on a moving boat and understand what is happening while also attempting to operate a camera. Sometimes the most exciting moments occur before anyone has time to press record.

We captured enough footage to show part of the experience, but the video cannot completely recreate what it felt like to be on that small boat waiting for the whales to surface.

That is an important lesson we have carried into later trips: document the experience, but do not spend the entire time viewing it through a screen.

Our wildlife experiences continued on land when we visited Metropolitan Natural Park, located close to central Panama City.

The park contains more than 232 hectares of tropical forest within the metropolitan area. Panama’s official tourism information reports that it supports dozens of mammal species along with extensive bird, reptile and plant life.

That proximity was one of the most surprising things about the trip. We could experience the activity and skyline of Panama City, then travel a relatively short distance and find ourselves walking through tropical forest.

During our visit, we spotted several sloths resting high in the trees.

They were not always easy to find. You need to slow down, look carefully through the branches and pay attention when someone else notices movement.

Once we knew where to look, we could see them hanging among the leaves and branches above us.

Suggested image placement: A sloth visible in the trees at Metropolitan Natural Park.

We also heard numerous howler monkeys throughout the park.

We did not capture clear close-up footage of the monkeys themselves, but there was no mistaking the sound.

The calls travelled through the forest and seemed much louder than we expected. Without knowing what was producing the noise, someone could easily assume that a much larger and more intimidating animal was nearby.

Hearing howler monkeys in person was one of those travel experiences that a photograph cannot properly communicate.

The sound made the forest feel active even when we could not see exactly what was moving around us.

Our visit also reinforced the value of travelling with someone knowledgeable about the area. Spotting sloths and identifying wildlife sounds is much easier when you are with people who know what to look and listen for.

Panama City was part of what made these experiences so interesting.

We were not staying at a remote jungle lodge or travelling for days to reach an isolated wildlife area. We were based around a major city with modern buildings, busy streets and an impressive skyline.

From there, we could take a boat out to small islands or walk through tropical forest where sloths and monkeys live.

That contrast gave the trip much of its appeal.

Panama offered city experiences, beaches, islands, marine wildlife and jungle within the same relatively short visit.

We expected to enjoy Panama, but we did not anticipate experiencing this much variety during one trip.

A work trip evolved into swimming off small islands, seeing whales and dolphins and searching the trees for sloths.

We did not have to abandon Panama City completely to experience nature.

Both our boat excursion and Metropolitan Natural Park were accessible from the city, which made it possible to combine urban and wildlife experiences.

The small islands felt far removed from the city despite being reachable as part of a day trip.

Swimming in the clear water gave the trip a relaxed beach component alongside the wildlife encounters.

The video contains many of our favourite moments, but there were other experiences we either did not capture or could not capture effectively.

That is part of travel. Some of the best moments happen too quickly to organize into perfect footage.

For the best opportunity to see whales along Panama’s Pacific coast, plan around the seasonal migration.

September worked very well for us, but sightings remain dependent on nature rather than a schedule.

A full-day outing gave us enough time to visit several islands, swim and enjoy the journey without constantly watching the clock.

Before booking, confirm:

• Where the boat departs
• Which islands are included
• Whether food and drinks are provided
• Whether snorkelling equipment is available
• How much shade the boat offers
• Whether the trip is focused on wildlife, island-hopping or both
• The cancellation and weather policies

A full day on an open boat can mean sustained sun exposure.

Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and clothing that provides additional protection. A dry bag is also useful for phones, cameras and other belongings.

Anyone prone to motion sickness should prepare before departure rather than waiting until the boat is underway.

Conditions can change between the protected marina and more open water.

Wildlife can appear quickly.

Have a phone or camera accessible, but do not let the pressure to record everything prevent you from actually watching the animals.

For Metropolitan Natural Park, bring drinking water and wear comfortable shoes suitable for uneven trails. The park’s visitor guidance also recommends carrying water and a light snack.

Sloths can blend surprisingly well into the trees.

Walk slowly, scan the branches and listen when other visitors or guides notice something.

Our main change would be to film more of the experience.

This was one of our earlier travel videos, and we did not approach the trip with the same filming plan we use now. We captured the major moments, but we would have liked more footage of:

• Panama City
• The marina and boat departure
• Each island
• The beaches and swimming
• Metropolitan Natural Park
• The search for sloths
• The people we shared the trip with

At the same time, not filming everything allowed us to be fully present.

On a return visit, we would try to find a better balance between capturing useful content and simply enjoying where we are.

Absolutely.

Panama gave us much more than we anticipated from our first visit.

We went for work and came home remembering whales, dolphins, sloths, howler monkeys, islands and time spent with friends.

The trip showed us how much Panama offers beyond any one attraction. You can experience a vibrant city, tropical forest, beaches and marine wildlife without needing to choose only one type of vacation.

We left already looking forward to returning, seeing more of the country and capturing more of the experiences that made our first trip so memorable.