Facilities
Camp and Puerto de Cabimos
We have an excellent lodging facility surrounded by rainforest, a teak plantation and the Pacific Ocean. It’s an ideal outdoor site to learn, work, do research, or simply have fun, in Puerto de Cabimos. The camp includes bedrooms, running water, showers and toilets. Also, there is a gas cooking area and a wood burning stove which is designed in line with Panama’s traditional culture. Visitors can cook their own food with either one of the stoves provided, or if they wish, request local food service. Cabimos has a pier in the beautiful Bahía de los Muertos where boats or small ships can dock, always according to tides conditions.
Batipa Field Institute (BFI) includes an open classroom, under the thatched roof of a traditionally built hut and also a more modern one, which is air conditioned and is equipped with LCD projector. In this classroom, the space is designed to enable guests to the use of computers, as well as other Lab equipment that requires electricity (microscope, scales, refrigerator, centrifuge, etc.). It is planned to generate electricity for this new space through an installation of a photovoltaic system. The same building will be equipped also to collect rainwater for its multiple uses needed here, to various individuals and or groups that may reside at BFI for research projects, academic courses, internship, etc. The design and characteristics of the built-environment at Batipa Field Institute, demonstrate an on-going commitment of BFI for a sustainable development.
Access to BFI:
Land route
The Inter-American highway from David will take you to Batipa Field Institute in about 25 minutes. The (26 km) along this highway is all paved, 2-lane road. The entrance gate to BFI is adjacent to the Inter-American highway, at km. 320. Vehicles with extra traction capabilities (4 × 2 or 4 × 4 vehicles) are used to facilitate access and circulation through the property’s 2000 Ha.
Sea route
From Puerto de Pescadores (a quiet marina, 10 minutes’ drive south from David), is Puerto de Pedregal, that opens access to David’s coast line and pristine mangroves. From here, you can navigate through the “Golfo de Chiriquí” National Marine Park, or you can set route toward Boca Chica, an historic port with many tourist attractions at the west of Chiriqui.
ENTERING BATIPA FIELD INSTITUTE FROM THE INTER-AMERICAN HIGHWAY
We are entering Batipa Field Institute (BFI). This field institute is associated with Universidad Tecnológica Oteima (UTO). The relationship between BFI and the university makes the latter a precious asset to enhance learning in ecology, agroecology, conservation biology and related academic disciplines. Education is enhanced at BFI through research, internships, field-trips and visits that overall, aim at fostering academic tourism at the BATIPA Peninsula and the Gualaca Altitudinal Biological Corridor. The latter is an ambitious restoration project that BFI is leading within the bioregion for preserving ecosystems, from the Marine National Park Gulf of Chiriquí, to the Fortuna Forest Reserve.
Nestled in the mountains of the Fortuna Forest Reserve is the ENEL-Fortuna Hydroelectric plant, which produces much of the electrical power consumed in the whole country.
