BioMuseo

In a country with so much biodiversity, it’s not surprising to see a museum dedicated to the natural marvels found here. The 4,000-square-meter BioMuseo was designed by Frank Gehry, the same architect who designed the beautiful Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. This site takes visitors on a journey through time to when the Isthmus of Panama was formed, joined two continents and divided oceans.
There are seven permanent exhibitions that focus on art and science education here. When the isthmus was formed, there was an interchange of species between North and South America, an effect depicted in a series of 72 sculptures of those species.  Audiovisual presentations also show the natural wonders of Panama’s ecosystems.
Another exhibition consisting of 16 columns tells the story of the cultural diversity in Panama. Two aquariums examine how the Pacific and the Caribbean changed when they were separated by the isthmus, and another display explores the relationship between Panama’s biodiversity and the rest of the world.
An outdoor Biopark serves as a living extension of the museum, with a selection of endemic plants that contribute to an understanding of Panama's biodiversity and makes for a pleasant place to take a walk.

Practical Info

The BioMuseo is conveniently located on the Amador Causeway with excellent views of the modern city, the Old City, Ancon Hill and the Bridge of the Americas. To get here, take a 15-minute taxi ride from the Albrook terminal or from Panama City’s Plaza 5 de Mayo. Alternatively, a bus can be taken from Plaza 5 de Mayo as well. BioMuseo is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adult nonresidents, $11 for nonresident children under 18, $12 for adult residents and $6 for  resident children under 18.