The Canopy Tower was built in 1965 by the US Air Force to house a powerful radar used to protect the Panama Canal (which at the time was also controlled by the US). From 1988 to 1995 the radar tower’s role changed and it was used to search for drug planes but then closed and sat vacant for years. As part of the Torrijos-Carter treaty that eventually handed control of the Panama Canal back to Panama, the radar tower and the 35-acre Semaphore Hill site it sat on were also returned to Panama in 1996. In 1999 the Canopy Tower was opened to promote ecotourism in Panama and it hasn’t looked back since. Today the Canopy Tower consists of just 12 rooms including two Suites, five Canopy Rooms, and five Single Rooms. The Canopy Rooms are located on the second floor of the tower and are at 28 ft. elevation so you are immersed into the rainforest canopy. The Harpey Eagle Suite is on the first floor so it is mid-level canopy with 18 ft. elevation but it also boats 290 sq. ft. of living space. The crown jewel of the Canopy Tower is the 366 sq. ft. Blue Cotinga Suite, also located on the second floor and boasts its own private balcony with hammock. All rooms feature two single beds or one queen, ceiling fan, large windows, and a private bathroom.

It goes without saying that the Canopy Tower is the ideal destination for nature lovers and serious birders. In addition to the views from your room, the 50 ft. tall observation deck is the main highlight of this unique property. Each morning birdwatchers and nature lovers gather to watch the rainforest come alive around them. Guests here can expect to see toucans, tanagers, hummingbirds, hawks, iguanas, howler and capuchin monkeys, two types of sloths, and even the unique Geoffroy’s Tamarin! After breakfast you can enjoy a guided excursion to some of Panama’s most famous bird watching destinations like the Pipeline Road in their customized 4×4 birding vehicles. For non-birders or simply for a change of pace, there are a variety of other tours available such as the Embera Indian Village, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, the canopy zip-line, peacock bass fishing on Lake Gatun or, of course, a visit to Panama City and the Panama Canal itself.