Bayano Caves

Bayano Lake was created from Bayano River and its feeders after the construction of a dam and hydroelectric plant that provides the city of Panama and other areas, electricity today. The lake is divided into three zones interconnected by a total of 135 square miles (350 square kilometers). 80% of the lake shore is within the region of Madungandí, populated by indigenous Kuna, Embera and Wounaan, Amerindian people. Bayano Lake is a jewel of Panama, with a spectacular environment that is home to hundreds of birds and other animal species, some of them very rare. Chief among its many splendors, is found in the caves of Lake Bayano in Panama. The caves were formed over many centuries by an underground river that still flows today, the erosion of limestone, and a combination of several factors as wind and floods. The path inside the cave lasts about four hours, with a degree of difficulty with easy parts but some parts moderately difficult, requiring more physical effort. The terrain include river crossings, large rocks, slippery ground etc. There are areas where light penetrates to areas where we need to use lamps. Water can vary from the knee to the chest, so the swimming is advisable but not essential. Inside you will see water drops from the ceiling giving the appearance of waterfalls, different rock formations and a diverse fauna. This tour requires physically healthy and adventurous spirit, invites nature lovers or those wishing to relax from stress and city noise. From early morning the tour starts from the capital to the Lake Bayano important natural resource of Panama. Upon reaching the caves, ready to start this beautiful and impressive route over a canyon full of passages and huge caverns where you will find a variety of small animals that inhabit this ecosystem without sunlight; crystalline lagoons; huge limestone rock formations, formed through the centuries until it ended in a lagoon where you can enjoy a refreshing swim in small crystalline waters. This route has an area of about one kilometer. Different birds species can be watched: Neotropic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Great Egret, Black Vulture, Osprey, Broad-winged Hawk, Ringed Kingfisher, Tucans, Great Kiskadee, Crested Caracara; Mammalas as Mantled Howler Monkey, Neotropical River Otter, Three-toed Sloth, Norther Tamandua, Short-tailed Fruit Bat; Reptiles como: Green Iguana, Brown Vine Snake, Tiger Ratsnake, Fer-de-Lance, variety of amphians and butterflies.