It is an active stratovolcano, the highest mountain in Panama (3474 meters above sea level) and the twelfth highest peak in Central America. It is located about 35 kilometers from the Costa Rican border. It is surrounded by an area of fertile highlands. The volcano was declared Volcan Baru National Park in 1976 and is also part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor - a region that includes Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and some southern areas of Mexico. It serves as a natural land bridge connecting South America with North America.
On a clear day, both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea can be seen from the summit.
