Coiba National Park

Coiba National Park (Parque Nacional Coiba) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Gulf of Chiriquí and one of the most significant marine wilderness areas in the tropical Eastern Pacific. The protected archipelago surrounding Coiba, the largest island off Central America’s Pacific coast, is known for its largely preserved rainforests, rich coral reefs, and exceptional marine life, including hammerhead and whitetip reef sharks, manta rays, whale sharks, and humpback whales. Coiba’s decades-long use as a penal colony severely restricted access to the island and helped preserve much of its natural environment. Often referred to as the “Galápagos of Panama”, Coiba is now considered one of Central America’s premier diving destinations and an important refuge for numerous rare and endemic species.