How's the hiking and camping in and around the Panama City, Panama suburb of Fort Clayton / Clayton?

The hiking around the Panama City, Panama suburb of Clayton is great! I recommend hiking in Gamboa, which is home to the world famous Pipeline Road (great for bird watchers!). For those who would like to kill two birds with one stone, you can also come on out to Lake Gatun and hike in the Panama Canal!   (That's exactly what we're doing in the picture to the right.)

The hiking around the Panama City, Panama suburb of Clayton is great! I recommend hiking in Gamboa, which is home to the world famous Pipeline Road (great for bird watchers!). For those who would like to kill two birds with one stone, you can also come on out to Lake Gatun and hike in the Panama Canal!   (That's exactly what we're doing in the picture to the right.)

Clayton  (former Ft. Clayton) is a central neighborhood in Panamá City.  It is surrounded by the Panama Canal, US embassy, Social Security Community Center, private schools, a high-income residential area and some commercial centers, shops and restaurants.

Is also very close to Albrook domestic airport, the mall, a main bus terminal with more residential and commercial  areas.

 

As Clayton is not a country area, there are big...

Clayton  (former Ft. Clayton) is a central neighborhood in Panamá City.  It is surrounded by the Panama Canal, US embassy, Social Security Community Center, private schools, a high-income residential area and some commercial centers, shops and restaurants.

Is also very close to Albrook domestic airport, the mall, a main bus terminal with more residential and commercial  areas.

 

As Clayton is not a country area, there are big trees and some green areas that you can go for extensive walks, but no hills are available for hiking.  Same with camping.  Camping is not very popular in Panama, much less in a residential area.

 

Panama does not have specific camping centers, as you can find in other countries.  You may go on your own and set up a private tent, but there are no  appropriate places for this kind of field trip, other than, maybe Cerro Campana, isolated islands, or in the countryside, several hours from Panama City.   Some places that can be useful are located in Gamboa, Gatun Lake, Arraiján or Chorrera, but you´ll have to get special permits from the owners of the land, or from the Panama Canal.  I recommend discretion and lot of research before taking this adventure.