Coiba National Park (Parque Nacional Coiba) is located within the western portion of the Veraguas Province, and encompasses approximately 667,000 acres, most of which are marine habitat. It is truly one of Panamaís most spectacular parks, due to its size and number of islands it includes. The largest of the islands in the park, Isla Coiba, is also the largest island in the country of Panama. There are 38 other islands in the park including Jicaron, Jacarita, Canal de Afuera, Afuerita, Pajaros, Uva, Brincando, Coibita and many more which make up about 130,000 acres of island territory. The islands in the park contain over 150 miles of unspoiled coastline, and beautiful beaches.
Coiba National Park has had a biological station, which has recorded 36 species of mammals, 147 birds and 39 species of amphibians and reptiles. Coiba National Park is a safe haven for some species that have disappeared from the rest of Panama, such as the Scarlet Macaw and Crested Eagle; or that are found nowhere else in the world, such as the Coiba Island Agouti and the Mantled Howler Monkey. Coiba National Park is also rich in plant life, with approximately 1,450 different species of plants, only a small percentage of which have been identified.
Coiba National Park is particularly known for the spectacular diving among itís wealth of coral reefs. The largest coral reef in Central America is located in the park in Damas Bay. Here over 69 species of fish, 12 echinoderms, 45 mollusks and 13 crustaceans have been identified. In addition, Coiba National Park is also the habitat of humpbacked whales, orca whales, pan tropical spotted dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. Pilot and Sperm whales have also been identified in this area.