FAQ
How many persons participate in the tours?
We take small numbers of birders; Limit 8 participants, minimum 3 participants, custom tours for private parties are welcome too.
Which hotels does the program use in Panama City and the Chiriqui Highlands?
The Hotels or Lodges we use are:
- Country Inn Amador Hotel - http://www.countryinns.com/panamacanalpan(Old Canal Zone)
- Albrook Inn Hotel - http://www.albrookinn.com(Old Canal Zone)
- La Estancia Hostel (Old Canal Zone)
- Private Lodges in Gamboa (Soberania N.P.)
- Los Quetzales Lodge (Chiriqui Highlands)
- Hotel Dos Rios (Chiriqui Highlands)
All of them are comfortable lodges and hotels with private rooms and hot water; hotels are located next or within the Rainforest.
How is the transportation of Birding Panama?
The land transportation can be in a van, bus or 4WD depending on the needs. All the land transportation is done in perfect condition vehicles with air conditioned and very responsible certified drivers. The sky transportation is done for the Chiriqui Highlands and Darien program.
What are the accomodations like in Darien?
For the Darien extension, the nights will be on private tents accommodated in a traditional hut, raised on stilts above the ground.
How would we make a reservation for the birding program? What are the payment terms?
The registration form and payment terms for the program will be sent once we start the planning process.
When is the best time of the year to watch birds in Panama?
The dry season ( Mid December –Mid April) is a good time because it doesn’t rain much and you can add migrant birds to the list; however, the green season offers good morning birding because usually it rains more in the afternoon; anyway local weather conditions change in every region within different times of the year.
Which field guide do you recommend for Panama?
A Guide to the Birds of Panama by Robert S. Ridgely and John A. Gwynne is the best available field guide to the birds of Panama.
Who will be the guides for the 14 day birding program?
The tour leaders would be Jose Carlos Garcia or Mahelis Rodriguez, with the help of other local guides.
Is Darien safe?
Concerning Darien safety, you can do your own research, but I can tell you that unless you have the wild idea of exploring the Panama-Colombian border, you will be out of trouble. A special Panamanian Army Police was created to protect the zone, so it is normal to come across them in every single little town. You check with them and go on. If you plan to do a lot of foot traveling, always check with them, stick to the trails they patrol and never intend to go to an isolated area or mountain range if you don’t know they are present there.
Where can I get the bird calls of the Panama Birds?
At the Cornell Lab Nature Shop http://www.onlinenaturemall.com/birdsongs Voices of Costa Rica Birds two CDs that are suitable for Panama. Or you can download calls of South America birds from Xeno Canto http://www.xeno-canto.org, bird songs from Tropical America.
Are there any concerns related to chiggers and/or mosquitos (i.e.
Malaria in Darien) in the areas that will be visited?
My best advice to avoid insect bites is simply using mosquito repellent, DEET is your best friend. Wear long pants and long-sleeved clothing especially around dawn and dusk when the anopheles mosquitos are most active.
Do you offer target birding tours or trips to find endemics?
Target Birding is one of our favorites; we suggest you to gather 3 or 4 budies and contact us for a costume tour.
"More than three million birds of prey were counted during the transcontinental count of raptors held in Panama, Autumn 2004. The major event was named Great Ocean to Ocean Raptor Migration Count." (Hawk Mountain Sanctuary)