Birds of the Isthmus of Panama
Introduction
This program covers a variety of habitats and the most spectacular birds of Panama. We begin with the Panama Canal Rainforests, where a phenomenal congregation of species are. You will be introduced to a variety of tropical bird families, such as trogons, toucans and puffbirds. We'll explore foothills areas where an interesting mix of colorful tanagers wait for us. Visit the Western Highlands of Panama in search of eccentric species, such as Resplendent Quetzals, Blue-throated Toucanet, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher and more. These are full birding days led by a bilingual professional guide with good eyes and fully equipped. At slow pace there are opportunities to photograph birds. The extension to Darien is perfect for those looking to add Darien Lowlands specialties.
Central Panama
Day 1
Arrival to Panama City
You are met at the airport and driven to the Albrook Inn for a welcome dinner and night. The Hotel is located in a nice area, surrounded by nature and with easy access to the main bird spots of the Panama Canal Rainforest.
Night: Canal Inn Panama (Old Canal Zone)
Day 2
Pipeline road & Gamboa
This day your specialist leader will guide you through the famous Pipeline Road. We’ll go to a new observation tower, 100 feet’s above the Canopy, to admire the “roof” of the rainforest. From the treetops we’ll have spectacular views of some unique canopy birds, such as the Blue Cotinga. We'll walk the moist forests of Pipeline looking for Golden-collared Manakin and Slaty-tailed Trogon. We’ll help you to find and identify some of the tiniest ones, such as the Southern Bentbill. We’ll have lunch at the Visitor Center, surrounded by hummingbird feeders. In the afternoon we’ll explore several aquatic habitats around Gamboa, searching for Rufescent-Tiger-Heron and Yellow–tailed Oriole.
Night: Canal Inn Panama (Old Canal Zone) (B,L,D)
Day 3
Old Gamboa Road & Plantation Road
In the morning we'll explore the more semidecidious forests of the Panama Canal looking for Spectacled Owls and Blue-crowned Motmot. We'll scan the Summit Ponds for Capped Heron, Kingfishers and nesting Boat-billed Herons. After lunch at the Summit Garderns, we'll go to the Plantation Road, this narrow road goes under tall evergreen forest and follows a small creek. The site is good to find Blue-crowned Manakin, Golden-crowned Spadebill and Leaftossers. There are possibilities to find army ant-swarms and many of the birds that follow these ants, such as Ocellated Antbird, Spotted Antbird, and Bicolored Antbird.
Night: Canal Inn Panama (Old Canal Zone) (B,L,D)
Day 4
Metropolitan Nature Park & Flight to Western Panama
With a list of 267 species, the Metro Park is the largest tropical forest park within the limits of a Latin American City, a good place to find birds of the Pacific forest of the Panama Canal. We’ll look for specialties like: the Panama endemic Yellow-green Tyrannulet (rare), Lance-tailed Manakin, Pheasant Cuckoo and Rosy-thrush Tanager. Afternoon flight to David (50 minutes), upon arrival we’ll bird around the David airport scrubs and ponds, looking for Striped Cuckoo and Northern Jacanas. We’ll drive the small group one more hour to the town of Volcán, to spend 2 nights on the west side of the Barú Volcano.
Night: Hotel Dos Rios -Chiriqui Highlands (B,L,D)
Chiriqui Highlands
Day 5
Volcan Baru National Park & Finca Dracula
Find Resplendent Quetzals with the help of your specialist guide. The bird could be found eating the wild avocados and everyone will like to have the perfect photo. The Quetzal was the most sacred symbol of the Aztecs and Mayas. The name quetzal is an ancient Indian term for tail feather and the bird itself represents liberty. We should look also for Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher and Blue-throated Toucanet. Afternoon visit to Finca Dracula, the greenhouse complex houses over 2,200 species of orchids. Mixed flocks of tanagers often pass through, stopping to feed at the feeders. Hummingbirds we’ll give us looks of these avian gems, such as the Violet Sabrewing and Magnificent Hummingbird.
Night: Hotel Dos Rios - Chiriqui Highlands (B,L,D)
Day 6
La Amistad International Park
Visit to La Amistad International Park. This Park also known as PILA, is a World Heritage site and part of the Talamanca Mountain Range, a volcanic origin formation that congregates the highest concentration of endemic and threatened species in Panama, such as Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Yellow-thighed Finch, Collared Redstart, Flame-throated Warbler, Prong-billed Barbet and Wrenthrush (Zeledonia). Afternoon visit to Cielito Sur, a private reserve with a trail, that winds through hillside forest, passing several streams, providing an opportunity to see some of the highland bird species. Enjoy several sets of hummingbird feeders around the reserve where you can watch the White-throated Mountain Gem, Green Violet-ear, Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, Scintillant Hummingbird, Green-crowned Brilliant and more. Afternoon transfer to the town of Boquete. The place is located on the east side of the Volcano, where we’ll spend two nights at the Finca Lerida Ecolodge.
Night: Finca Lerida Ecolodge - Chiriqui Highlands (B,L,D)
Day 7
Fortuna Reserve & Bocas Del Toro Foothills
Day of birding at the Fortuna Reserve and the Bocas Del Toro foothills. Fortuna is one of the finest places in Panama to enjoy nature and peaceful birds. Located on the Western Highlands of Panama, on the eastside of the Baru Volcano, this area is home of Globally Endangered species like the Three-wattled Bellbird. Typical birds of the place are: Purple-throated Mountain-Gems, Golden-browed Chlorophonias, Rufous-breasted Antthrush, Blue-and-gold-Tanagers, Tree-striped Warbler, Lineated Foliage-Gleaner, Golden-olive Woodpeckers and many others. The Bocas del Toro foothills (Bosque Protector Palo Seco) is well known as a hot spot for birdwatching. This is a good place to find Rufous-wing Woodpeckers, Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant, Ashy-throated Bush-Tanagers, Immaculate Antbird, Olive-back Euphonias as well as many Warblers. Some of the Hummers include Green-Thorntail, White-tipped Sicklebill, Green-crowned Brilliant and Bronzy Hermit among others.
Night: Finca Lerida Ecolodge - Chiriqui Highlands (B,L,D)
Day 8
Finca Lerida - Boquete
Morning Birding at the Finca Lerida grounds. As suggested in Robert S. Ridgley's A Guide to the Birds of Panama, Finca Lerida is a place to go "searching for quetzals and other specialties". The lower feeders and the beautiful mountain forest attract: Prong-billed Barbet, Red-headed Barbet, Collared Trogon, Orange-billed Nightingale Thrush, Sulphur-winged Parakeets, Black-faced Solitaire and more. After lunch we’ll be transfer (30 minutes) to David to catch our airplane to Panama City. Upon arrival, we’ll be transfer 40 minutes to the eastern panama Foothills at Cerro Azul. Depending on the tides we’ll stop at the Panama mudflats on the way inn or the way back to look for shore birds and some mangrove specialists such as the Mangrove “Yellow” Warbler and the Saffron Finch. We’ll spend two nights at Hostal Casa de Campo.
Night: Hostal Casa de Campo - Cerro Azul (B,L,D)
Day 9
Cerro Azul Foothills & Birder’s View at the Chagres National Park
Visit to the Chagres National Park. The 129,000 hectares of forest, protects the headwaters of the Chagres River, the main provider of water of the Panama Canal. From the gated community of Cerro Azul there is easy access to several trails and roads that leads into the Park. Visit to Birder’s View, a lookout with hummingbird feeders and trails where we'll go in search of the national endemic Striped-cheeked Woodpecker, Rufous-crested Coquette, Violet-capped Hummingbird, and Scaled Pigeons. Gardens and feeders lure a colorful
mixture of tanagers such as Emerald, Bay-headed, Speckled and Rufous-wing Tanagers. Soaring Blackand-white-Hawk Eagle is often seen at Cerro Azul. Afternoon visit to Cerro Jefe (1000m) to look for birds of higher altitudes.
Night: Hostal Casa de Campo - Cerro Azul (B,L,D)
Darien - Lowlands
Day 10
Darien Lowlands - The Lower Sambu Valley
Morning birding around the hotel grounds, look for Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Swallow-tailed Kite and a nearby active colony of Chestnut-headed Oropendolas. Transfer out or continue with the Darien extension. We'll take a flight from Panama City to Sambu (one hour). The lower Sambu Valley is an area located near the coast of Darien that has several Emberas Communities along the Sambu River. We’ll look for the Black-capped Donacobious, Black Oropendola and several other Darien endemics.
Night: Sambu Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 11
Darien Lowlands
This morning we'll go in search of the Harpy Eagle, the emergent trees of the Darien lowland rainforest are the habitat of this majestic raptor. The best way to get looks of the eagle, is to find a juvenile on nest, with the help of the Emberas. Soaring Crested Eagles and Harpy Eagles are often seen around this area. Taking only small groups to observe these raptors on their nests, it'll help to protect this endangered bird against the threads of the new world.
Night: Sambu Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 12
Darien Lowlands
We'll walk several trails around the village in search of some Darién specialties, such as Red-rumped Woodpecker, Orange-crowned Oriole, Black Antshrike, Green-and-rufous Kingfisher and more. This area is perfect for those looking to find species from South American origins not found in the rest of Central America; some other special birds of the zone are Gray-cheeked Nunlet and Barred Puffbird.
Night: Sambu Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 13
Darien Lowlands
We'll have some time to learn more about the Embera Culture and the way they survive in the rainforest, before we leave the Lower Sambu Valley. We'll take our flight back to Panama City.
Night: Country Inn Amador (B,L,D)
Day 14
Departure to Tocumen Airport - International Flight.
Early morning birding around the hotel (if time permits) and transfer to Tocumen Airport (PTY) for international flight. (B)
TOUR DATES: January 13-26,2011 / February 10-23,2011
PRICING: US$1895.00 per person for the 10 days / US$2590.00 per person for the 14 Days. Double occupancy.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: US$390.00
TOUR SIZE: 3-7 people.
WHAT'S INCLUDED: English speaking Birding guide, accommodations, meals (BLD), entrance fees to all sites we will be visiting, domestic flight to Chiriqui (round trip), domestic flight to Darien (round trip), all touring and transfers in air-conditioned motor coach.
NOT INCLUDED:International flights, personal services, including laundry, telephone, alcoholic drinks, gratuities etc.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Canal Inn Panama – 3 nights: located in the Old Canal Zone is comfortable with
private rooms, AC and hot water, the place is next to forest and only 30 minutes from Pipeline Road and 5 minutes from the Metropolitan Nature Park. Hotel Dos Rios (Volcán) – 2 nights: Has all the amenities. Finca Lerida Ecolodge (Boquete) – 2 nights: excellent lodge with a private reserve and all the commodities. Casa de Campo (Cerro Azul) – 2 nights: beautiful lodge with nice views and located on the edge of the Chagres National Park. Sambú Hause (Darién) – 3 nights: Rooms are on double occupancy with private baths and a fan, the B&B is located in the Sambú town, this is a good base to come back, after a hot bird walk in the Darien Jungles, home made cooked meals. Albrook Inn or similar: for the last night in Panama City.
HOW TO BOOK:The complete registration form and payment terms will be sent once we start the planning process. A deposit of US$200 per person will be due to register for a trip. The payment can be done through, banking transfer or check. The balance of the trip price is payable 60 days before your trip start.
WALKING CONDITIONS: The path and trails are wide and flat around the Canal Area and Darien. The terrain is more broken on the Highlands but none of the bird walks will be strenuous.
EQUIPMENT:The tour leader will have a professional spotting scope; but if you have one, its ok to bring it. The most important things to bring for the Panama birding tour are a pair of binoculars, a field guide and a camera with extra batteries. You should also bring sunglasses and sunscreen, a small flashlight or headlamp, small alarm clock, water bottle, camera, film and spare batteries and a small daypack.