***Please Contact Museum for Updated COVID-19 Regulations***
Panama’s Biomuseo is a testament to both the country’s progress, and the intimate connection with nature that Panama has, and wants to show the world. Now, after months of closure due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Biomuseo has officially re-opened this month for visitors. The museum is still in its relative infancy of operation but has quickly become a destination point for visitors from afar, as well as locals and foreigners who live locally. Because of COVID protocols, we recommend allowing extra time for your visit, and of course, follow any health and policy regulations that the museum has applied since its re-opening on November 7th, 2020.
More about this stunning museum
This Frank Gehry-designed museum was built to make an impact: a visual impact on the city skyline, an impact on educational tourism, and an impact on the country’s environmental research and conservation efforts. With a bright colored facade and unconventional structure, it stands stands out as a local landmark, and a major point of interest for locals and tourists alike. This is Gehry’s first building in Latin America, complimenting an already famed design career which includes masterpieces such as the Guggenheims in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Bilbao, the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris, and the Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis.
The Biomuseo is massive, built on 4,000 square meters, with eight galleries that host permanent exhibits. These galleries are called Panamarama, Building the Bridge, Gallery of Biodiversity, Worlds Collide, The Human Path, Oceans Divided, The Living Web, and Panama is the Museum. Each gallery is meant to educate visitors on very specific aspects of Panama’s natural habitat, as well as the relationship they have with human development and local culture. With thousands of animal and plant species that call the country home, this is no small feat. Aside from the galleries, the Biomuseo also has a large public atrium and botanical garden, as well as room for temporary exhibits that rotate throughout the year.
Visiting the museum
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am-4pm during the week, and 10am-5pm during the weekends. Tickets cost $10 for residents and $18 for non-residents with discounts for retirees, kids, students, and families. Getting to the Biomuseo is easy, as it is conveniently located at the entrance to the Amador Causeway, just a brief taxi or car ride from downtown and Casco Viejo. You can make a visit a part of a larger trip to the Causeway islands, which have restaurants, parks, a very cool bike/skating path, and some boutique shopping. You can also leave the Biomuseo as your only destination and easily spend an entire afternoon or morning checking out all of the exhibits.
However you choose to see the Biomuseo, and whenever you choose to see it, you’ll get an incredible experience to see and learn about some of nature’s most inspiring creatures and plants. You’ll also get to see some of the world’s most unique architecture, in a setting that simply can’t be matched: Panama. Make sure to call ahead, as hours and exhibits can change without short notice sometimes, especially during COVID-19 restrictions. Leave ample time for traffic and parking (if you drive) as that part of the city can get bottlenecked during daytime hours.
