The wild, barren heights of Altos de Campana more closely resemble the whiskey-brown crags of the Scottish Highlands than the torrid tropics. The 4925 hectares of mountainous wilderness include severely deforested lower slopes, yet the breeze-swept heights are lush and lovely, with a lager concentration of endemic species atop the highest peaks.

The park has four distinct forest types; including tropical pine forest on the drier Pacific slopes. The more lushly clad Atlantic slopes resound with chattering birds: bronze-tailed plumeleteers, scale-crested pygmy tyrants. And a variety of trogons are among the 267 species recorded.

The area is known for its large numbers of reptiles and amphibians, including Panama’s endangered golden frog, restricted to the northwest corner near El Valle de Anton.