The Biomuseo

The Biomuseo opened in 2014 after a long and troubled construction, and it is Frank Gehry's only building in Latin America, a heap of folded metal roofs in red, yellow and blue at the entrance to the causeway, designed with his Panamanian wife's country in mind. The subject is specific: around three million years ago the isthmus closed, joining two continents that had been separate for tens of millions of years, splitting one ocean into two and triggering an exchange of animals in both directions that reshaped the biology of both Americas and altered global ocean currents and climate. Eight galleries make that case, including the Panamarama, a three-level projection space with ten screens.

The main sights

• The Gehry roofs - folded coloured metal, his only Latin American building.
• The Great American Interchange - the animal exchange when the isthmus closed.
• Panamarama - a three-level projection room with ten screens.
• The biodiversity gallery - what the closure produced in both directions.

When to go

Year-round; closed on Mondays. Mornings are quietest. The building itself is worth seeing from the outside at any hour and is best in strong light, which suits the colours.

Practical notes

It is small for the price and several planned galleries were never completed as originally intended; the visit takes about two hours. The content is aimed at a general audience and specialists will find it thin. It is a taxi ride from the city with no easy walking route.

Nearby

The Amador Causeway starts here; Casco Viejo is fifteen minutes.

Key facts