The Birds Of Panama - 14D/13N

photo of a Loro in Panama, courtesy of Tourism Board of PanamaAn in-depth exploration of avian diversity across the isthmus. Bird watching in Panama is very easy and rewarding. Its geographical position allows contact with two great mother lodes of avian diversity. You can see Resplendent Quetzals and Umbrella birds in the West as well as four types of Macaws and Harpy Eagles in the East. In the central part the rainforests of the Panama Canal watershed are within a 45-minute drive from Panama City and harbor more than 400 bird species. In total the country of Panama boasts an impressive list of over 960 species.

Included: Lodging, all land, air and water transportation within Panama. All airport/hotel transfers on scheduled arrival and departure dates - Meals as specified in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) - Park, museum and related entrance fees, guides’ services and expenses and the services of an in-bound land operator for airline re-confirmations and tour operations.

Not Included: : International airfare - Tourist card ($5 per person), Meals not specified in the itinerary - Alcoholic beverages - Personal equipment - Extras in hotels (laundry, telephone calls, room service, etc.) or gratuities - Any personal expenses.

Notes: Minimum 2 passengers - Weight restrictions apply to luggage in commercial and chartered flights within Panama. A maximum of 25 lbs. of checked luggage and 10 lbs. of carry-on per person is allowed. Arrangements can be made to store luggage that will not be needed while away from the city. Excess baggage charges assessed by commercial carriers are the responsibility of the passenger. * Optional post trip extension to Darien’s Punta Patiño Nature Reserve, the Realm of the Harpy Eagle.
Trip Classification: Moderate/long hiking 3-5 hours per day over variable terrain, slippery, muddy. Accommodations vary from hotel, comfortable lodges, field stations and tent camps.
Equipment Checklist: Binoculars (preferably 7×35 or larger), camera with extra batteries & film, flashlight with extra bulb & batteries, bathing suit, insect repellant, sunscreen, hat, day pack, water bottle, lightweight/quick dry cotton clothes, windbreaker, sandals, sneakers/hiking boots, rain gear, money in small denominations, toiletries & personal medications. The Naturalist Guide carries a spotting scope.

Departures: January 24-February 6 // February 24-March 8 // March 15-28.

photo of Baru Volcano, Panama courtesy of Tourism Board of PanamaDay by day Itinerary:

  • Day 1 Arrive Panama - On arrival to Tocumen International Airport our Naturalist Guide will meet us. Transfer to the Gamboa Rainforest Resort near Soberania National Park. Welcome cocktail and briefing. Night at Gamboa Rainforest Resort Villas.
  • Day 2 Pipeline Road / Summit Ponds / Plantation Loop - This morning we drive to the nearby Pipeline Road within Soberania National Park. A picnic lunch will be served at Summit Ponds. Night at Gamboa Rainforest Resort Villas (B, L, D)
  • Day 3 Escobal / Achiote Road - An early morning drive will take us to the areas of Escobal and Achiote roads on the Caribbean side of Panama. Night at Gamboa Rainforest Resort Villas (B, L, D)
  • Day 4 Metropolitan Nature Park / Chiriqui Cloud forest - Today we drive to Metropolitan Nature Park (the only protected rain forest within capital city limits in Latin America). Lunch will be at the hotel’s restaurant. In the afternoon we proceed to a coffee farm which offers great birding such as Rufous-browed Peppershrike, White-winged Tanager, Fiery-billed Aracari in a transitional area between the highlands and lower foothills of the western mountain range. Night at Hotel Dos Rios (B, L, D)
  • Day 5 La Amistad International Biosphere Reserve - Shared with neighboring Costa Rica and recognized in 1982 as a Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch at a local restaurant we drive to Baru Volcano National Park located along the Talamanca mountain range and also being the highest point of the country (3,475 meters above sea level). Night at Hotel Dos Rios (B, L, D)
  • Day 6 Tapir’s Canyon / Querevalo Road / Boquete - This morning we will stop at Tapir’s Canyon in search of Lesser Elaenia, Bay-headed Tanager, Crested Oropendola, American Dipper, and a myriad other species. In route to Boquete we will descend back to the lowlands and drive through some rice, corn and sugar cane fields where we keep an eye out for Brown-throated Parakeets, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Dickcissels, and other grassland birds. Night at Hotel Panamonte (B, L, D)
  • Day 7 Finca Lerida Cloud Forest - We explore Finca Lerida, a privately owned preserve, just outside Baru Volcano National Park. At an elevation of 2,286 meters above sea level, we have an opportunity to see the elusive Resplendent Quetzal, Three-wattled Bellbird, Black-faced Solitaire, Volcano Hummingbird, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher and Prong-billed Barbet in their cool habitat of orchids, bromeliads and wild avocados. After a picnic in the cloud forest we continue birding before returning to our hotel to get ready for our transfer to David for our flight back to Panama City. Night at Hotel Executive (B, L, D)
  • Day 8 Darien National Park / Santa Cruz De Cana - This morning after breakfast we will proceed to Albrook domestic airport where we board our chartered plane to Santa Cruz de Cana. Night at Cana Field Station (B, L, D)
  • Day 9 Cana Field Station - Today is a good day to explore the Mine Trail where rusting machinery was left to be overtaken by the jungle after the British Gold Mine ventures collapsed at the beginning of the last century. Specialties of this area include Great Curassow, Crested Guan, Dusky-faced Tanager, and Olivaceous Piculet. Also the Seteganti Trail with open scrub areas and mature forests are good for various Woodpeckers such as Crimson-bellied and Red-rumped, Red-billed Scythebill, Brown Violetear. Night at Cana Field Station (B, L, D)
  • Day 10 Pirre Cloud Forest Camp - Today we begin our slow-paced 5-hour hike to the Pirre Cloud Forest. At 1,200 meters above sea level, the Pirre Cloud Forest is a good place to look for specialties such as Beautiful Treerunner, Tooth-billed Hummingbird, Slaty Antwren, Tody Motmot, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Rufous-breasted Ant thrush, Immaculate Antbird, Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo, Pirre Warbler, Pirre Hummingbird, Pirre Bush Tanager, Greenish Puffleg, and Orange-bellied Euphonia. Night at Pirre Camp (Screened tents with sleeping mats) (B, L, D)
  • Day 11 Pirre Cloud Forest Camp - This morning we hike to the top of Pirre Mountain in search of the Golden-headed Quetzal, Gray and gold Tanager, Sharpbill, Chlorophonia and several Tanagers among other highland species. Late afternoon birding around the Pirre Tent Camp. Night at Pirre Camp (Screened tents with sleeping mats) (B, L, D)
  • Day 12 Cana Field Station - After breakfast we will start our descent to the field station. This afternoon is spent looking for birds around the main camp. Possibilities include Gray-cheeked Nunlet, Spotted Barbtail, Barred Puffbird, Yellow-green Tyrannulet, Jet Antibird, Black-crowned, Fulvous-bellied, Ochre-breasted and Scaled Antpittas, White-fronted Nunbird, Cinereous Becard, Golden-headed Manakin. Night at Cana Field Station (B, L, D)
  • Day 13 Darien / Panama City / Old Panama Mudflats / Juan Diaz Mangroves - This morning our charter flight takes us back to Panama City. Farewell dinner at a Panamanian cuisine restaurant. Night at Hotel Executive (B, L, D)
  • Day 14 Depart Panama - Today we are picked up at the lobby of the hotel 2.5 hours prior to our scheduled departure flight and transferred to Tocumen International Airport. Fly home (B)


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Also tagged with: Escorted Journeys, Costa Rica, Panama, Hiking, Active Travel, Cultural, Nature / Ecology, Bird Watching, Join-In Tour, Hosted Tours, Photography


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