Central Panama 7 days/6 nights
The Birds of the Panama Canal Rainforest, including one day at Cerro Azul
Day 1
Arrival
Upon arrival to the Tocumen International airport in Panama City you will be met by your guide to be transferred to your hotel for an explanation of the bird itinerary, and delivery of the checklist of the birds of Panama.
Night: (Canal Area)
Day 2
Pipeline road - Gamboa
This morning we will take you to the famous Pipeline Road, in search of the birds of the Panama Canal Rainforest. We`ll walk the moist forests of Pipeline looking for adding different trogons, manakins, toucans and parrots on the list. Many fruit-eaters are commonly seen at Pipeline, this includes Collared Aracaris, Chestnut-mandible Toucan, Purple-throated Fruitcrows and more. We`ll help you to find and identify some of the tiniest ones, such as the Ruddy-tail Flycatcher and the Southern Bentbill. After lunch we will explore the Chagres River shores and several aquatic habitats around Gamboa, including the Ammo Dumps, searching for Rufescent-Tiger-Heron, White-throated Crake, Olivaceous Piculet, Yellow-tailed Oriole, and many flycatchers.
Night: (Canal Area)(B,L,D)
Day 3
Old Gamboa Road - Plantation Road
In the morning we'll explore the more semidecidious forests of the Panama Canal (Old Gamboa Road) looking for Spectacled Owls, Fasciated Antshrike and Blue-crowned Motmot. We'll scan the Summit Ponds for Kingfishers and nesting Boat-billed Herons. We will try the call for the secretive Jet Antbird. We`ll have a picnic lunch at the Summit Gardens. In the afternoon we'll go to the Plantation Road, this dirt road goes under tall evergreen forest and follows a small creek. The road is good to find Blue-crowned Manakin, Golden-crowned Spadebill, leaftossers and many others. There are possibilities to find army ant-swarms and many of the birds that follow these ants, such as Spotted Antbird, Bicolored Antbird, Ocellated Antbird, Gray-headed Tanager, and several Woodcreepers.
Night: (Canal Area)(B,L,D)
Day 4
Discovery Center Tower & Pipeline Road North
This day We`ll go to a new watch tower, made by the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center, 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 and The Brown-capped Tyrannulet. We will explore the Discovery Center grounds, and forest trails, looking for White-necked Jacobin, Golden-hooded Tanagers, Cinnamon Becards and more. We`ll have a picnic lunch at the Center. For the afternoon will explore the north side of Pipeline looking for wet forest birds such as the Great Jacamar, Streak-chested Antpitta and Brown-hooded Parrots.
Night: (Canal Area)(B,L,D)
Day 5
Cerro Azul & Cerro Jefe Foothills
North east of Panama City is Cerro Azul Foothills, contiguous to the Chagres National Park. These foothills are very good to find species not found in the canal corridor. We'll go in search of White-tipped Sicklebill, Rufous-crested Coquette, Violet-capped Hummingbird, and Scaled Pigeons. Soaring Black-and-white-Hawk Eagle is often seen at Cerro Azul. In the afternoon we'll go around Cerro Jefe (1,000m), an area that has elfin forest dominated by a particular palm tree. Cerro Jefe is excellent to find specialties of Eastern Panama, such as Tacarcuna Bush-Tanagers, Xenornis and Russet-crowned Quail-Dove.
Night: (Canal Area)(B,L,D)
Day 6
Metropolitan Park & Visit to The Panama Canal
The Metropolitan Nature Park is a good place to find birds of dry and second-growth forest of the Pacific of Panama. We'll drive 10 minutes from the city to find ourselves in the Metropolitan Park, looking for pacific-slope specialties like: the Panama endemic Yellow-green Tyrannulet (rare), Lance-tailed Manakin, Rosy-thrush Tanager, Rufous-and-white Wren, White-bellied Antbird several Euphonias, White-necked Puffbird, Short-tailed Hawk and many more. For the afternoon will have a visit to the Panama Canal.
Night: (Canal Area)(B,L,D)
Day 7
Departure Date
Transfer to the International Airport or to your Hotel (B)
TOUR RATE: $1200 per person, double occupancy.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $260
TOUR DATES: Available year around.
TOUR CUSTOMIZABLE OR EXTENTIONS: Yes
INCLUDED: bird guide, transportation, lodging, airport/hotel transfers, meals as specified in the itinerary (B, L, D) and entrance fees to parks.
NOT INCLUDED: International Airfares, tourist card ($5), meals not specified in the itinerary, medical and/or cancellation insurance, alcoholic beverages, extras in hotels, gratuities etc.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Comfortable lodges, private rooms and bathrooms with hot water.
WALKING CONDITIONS: The path and trails are wide and flat around the Canal Area (Central Panama), none of the bird walks will be strenuous.
EQUIPMENT: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. The tour leader will have a professional spotting scope; but if you have one, its ok to bring it. 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.
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.