Towering, Flowering, Golden Tree in Panama

Towering, Flowering, Beautiful Guayacan Tree

Like the golden Aspens of Colorado, a burning red sun setting at the end of a day, or the colorful ribbons of the Northern Lights dancing across the dark sky, this towering golden tree will stop you in your tracks to be admired. She is the Guayacan - a commanding presence in the forest treasured this time of year for her brief golden display high up in the canopy of Panama's forests.

The Guayacan is easily identified this time of year by her golden crown of trumpet flowers that bloom for just a few days then the trade winds, that help form our great surf waves, blow those flowers off to carpet the forest floor. Many consider this a sign of the changing of the seasons from wet to dry so, according to them we are now oficially in the dry season and that it surely is. We are not likely to get another drop of rain until the end of April.

The Guayacan is a slow growing hardwood tree native to the tropics of Mexico to South America. Many of the species of the Guayacan are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to deforestation and harvesting for medicinal use and construction as well because, like all wood, it's naturally beautiful. Commonly referred to as ironwood because of it's density and durability making it ideal for construction.

In nature, like the one that towers over our hotel, she provides habitat, a food source, overall health for the soil, and like all trees creates the air that we breathe. On any given day, high up in her branches our guests will be delighted by a lounging iguana, a durante of toucans, or a hungry vulture waiting for a whiff of carrion to guide them to their next feast.

A momma howler monkey and her baby scurrying beneath a beautiful Guayacan

This towering beauty blends into the forest for most of the year appreciated for the view of the animals that call her home then for a brief window, drops her leaves, and erupts into a brilliant show of gold. In a sea of every color of green imaginable, the color makes the floral bloom that much more dramatic reminding me of the mountainscape of Colorado in the fall. Arguably the most beautiful place for fall colors, it's hard to beat - but for those escaping the cold, snowy mountains to Panama right will be rewarded with another type of tropical golden bloom.

Colorful Colorado Aspens in the fall

The mountains of Colorado, like the jungles of Panama are always an incredibly beautiful sight to see but if a quick reprieve from the snow and cold is what you need, we have a warm cozy place beneath our trees with the monkeys calling your name.

With love from Panana,

Cari and Ryan Mackey

Owners & Hosts