Punta
Galeta
Marine Laboratory
Visit a mangrove-surrounded
research station near the Caribbean
entrance to the Panama Canal
Note: The Punta Galeta Marine Laboratory is closed to the public. We invite you to check our webpage for updates.
The Galeta Point Marine Laboratory is a research and outreach center located on the Caribbean coast near Colón, Panama’s second city. Visit Galeta Point and get to know the amazing diversity of creatures that inhabit the marine and coastal ecosystems of Panama’s Caribbean coast. Advance reservations required.
Visitors explore the ecosystems found at Punta Galeta including seagrass beds, mangrove forests and coral reefs led by naturalist guides. A typical tour includes a walk along the mangrove boardwalk, visits to the marine animals exhibit including touch pools with rescued sea turtles. Our rooftop observation deck that has telescopes to observe the mangrove forest and the Panama Canal’s Caribbean entrance.
| General Admission Rates | Cost |
|---|---|
| Children under 17 | $2.00 |
| College Students | $2.50 |
| Adults | $3.00 |
| Retirees | $1.50 |
| International Visitors | $5.00 |
| Days open | Hours |
|---|---|
| Tuesday - Sunday | 9:00 am - 3:00 pm |
| Special Guided Tours | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tour in Spanish | $50.00 |
| Tour in English | $60.00 |
Closed to the public on Mondays and select holidays.
Attractions
Caribbean Ecosystem
Nestled in a mangrove forest and facing the open Caribbean, the station’s ecosystem is typical of the region with shorebirds, fishes, seagrass beds and corals.
Mangrove Trails
Foot bridges through the mangrove forest around the station allow visitors to have a close-up look at this extraordinary ecosystem of slow-growing, salt-tolerant trees.
Observation Deck
The station’s roof is a large observation deck with telescopes for close-up looks at the surrounding mangroves and ships gathered near the Panama Canal.
School Groups
Our school program welcomes 10,000 Panamanian students annually, hosted by our experienced naturalist guides and volunteers.
For Educators
Galeta offers professional development workshops and seminars for Panamanian educators at the marine laboratory. These workshops, which are accredited by Panama’s education ministry MEDUCA, give teachers the opportunity to learn about Panama’s coastal ecosystems and share their knowledge with students back in the classroom.
Brochures
Research
Data on marine biota and the physical environment have been collected for more than four decades at Galeta. Long-term work includes studies of Caribbean mangroves, invasive species, termites and social wasps. More recently the site has been used to monitor and study the arrival of the invasive lionfish to the southern Caribbean. STRI scientists also helped create a management plan at Galeta that encompasses research, education and ecotourism that will allow joint use of land in the area by STRI, Panama's environment ministry and universities.
Contact Us
For reservations and information
Reservations are required to visit the station. Please give us at least two weeks’ notice.
Note: Punta Galeta Marine Laboratory is closed. We do not have an opening date at this moment.
