geoffroy's tamarin lives in various types of forest, including primary and secondary forest, and dry and moist tropical forest. in panama, it prefers secondary forests with moderate humidity. it occurs in central and eastern panama, with the range extending slightly west of the panama canal zone and has been observed as far west as altos de campana national park. it is less common on the atlantic coast of panama than the pacific coast, and is only abundant on the atlantic coast in areas near the canal zone that have been modified by man. it occurs in metropolitan natural park, an urban park within panama city. in colombia, it occurs on the pacific coast west of the andes, south to the rio san juan. the eastern boundary of its range in colombia was once thought to be the rio atrato, but has been reported further east, including the las orquídeas national park. older sources sometimes report the species occurring in southern costa rica, but these are most likely erroneous.