Coiba National Park protects Panama’s largest island, dozens of smaller islands and a vast marine zone in the Gulf of Chiriquí. Its clear waters, reefs and position near productive Pacific currents support sharks, rays, turtles, cetaceans and large schools of fish. On land, tropical forest sheltered endemic wildlife while the island’s former penal use limited large-scale development. The result is a powerful conservation destination—but one that requires permits, authorised transport and realistic expectations.
Panama created the national park in 1992, and UNESCO inscribed Coiba and its Special Zone of Marine Protection in 2005. The protected waters form an important link in the Tropical Eastern Pacific marine corridor. Divers value sites around Coiba, but wildlife encounters are never guaranteed, and currents can be demanding. Snorkelling, diving and landing locations are assigned according to weather, capacity and ranger instructions.