Departure Dates:
January 31-February 7
March 14-21
December 5-12
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive To Panama
On arrival to Tocumen International Airport we will be met by an M19361 representative and transferred to our hotel in Panama City. This evening we will enjoy a welcome cocktail and briefing with our Naturalist Guide. Night at Hotel Executive.
Day 2: Pipeline Road – Summit Ponds – Miraflores Locks
This morning we drive to Pipeline Road in Soberania National Park. Soberania is home to some 525 species of birds. Before entering the road we bird the scrub habitat near Ammo Dump ponds looking for Crimson-backed Tanager, Rufescent Tiger Heron, White-throated Crake as well as several Tyrannulets and Greenlets. Located within this protected area Pipeline Rd. is the site where Audubon Society held its world Christmas bird count record for 19 years straight, with 357 species of birds identified in a period of 24 hours.
As one of the most accessible rain forests in the world, Pipeline Road is a great place to look for birds like Slaty-tailed, Black-throated Trogons, Golden-collared Manakin, White-bellied Antbird, Semiplumbeous Hawk, Black-breasted Puffbird, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Blue Cotinga, Pheasant Cuckoo as well as army ant-swarm followers. A picnic lunch will be served at Summit Ponds. Here we will look for the Boat-billed Heron, Rosy Thrush Tanager and other Pacific woodland species.
Afterwards we will visit Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal to learn about its history and marvel at this engineering accomplishment. The canal still operates pretty much as it did when it was inaugurated almost 100 years ago. The SS Ancon steamer was the first ship to officially transit the Panama Canal, on August 15, 1914. Night at Hotel Executive. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 3: Metropolitan Nature Park – Old Panama Mudflats – Juan Diaz Mangroves
Today we visit the Metropolitan Nature Park (the only protected rain forest within capital city limits in Latin America). With an impressive list of 260 bird species the possibilities are great. Specialties include Lance-tailed Manakin, Rosy Thrush-Tanager, Orange-billed Sparrow, Green Honeycreeper, Rufous and White Wren and many others. We will also look for the endemic Red-napped Tamarin in the trail named after this tiny primate.
Tide level permitting we will visit the Old Panama Mudflats for a chance to see Collared Plovers, Short-billed Dowitchers, Marbled Godwit, Whimbrel and others. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. We continue to bird at Juan Diaz scrub and mangrove area where we look for Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Ruddy-breasted Seedeater, Northern-scrub Flycatcher, Mangrove Black Hawk, Mangrove Warbler, Sapphire-throated and Scaly-breasted Hummingbirds, Rufous-browed Peppershrike among others. We will also stop at Costa del Este in search of Black-necked Stilt, Least Sandpiper, Southern Lapwing, Cocoi Heron, Yellowlegs, and Night-Herons. In the afternoon, we drive to Burbayar Lodge located in the pre-montane rainforest of the Kuna Yala foothills. Night at Burbayar Lodge. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 4: Burbayar
This morning we will bird the network of trails surrounding Burbayar Lodge. The avifauna here is very rich and includes foothill and Eastern Panama species such as Sapayoa, Speckled Antshrike, Black-headed Anthrush and many more. Also look for the endemic Striped-cheek Woodpecker, Swallow-tailed Kite and Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer. Night at Burbayar Lodge. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 5: Burbayar – Chiriqui Cloudforest
This morning we bird the road that leads to the Nargana Forest Reserve. This road is very productive for foothill specialties that include Black and Yellow, Rufous-winged, Bay-headed, Olive and Hepatic Tanagers. Depart Burbayar after lunch and head for Albrook airport in Panama City to board our flight to David, capital of Chiriqui Province. Chiriqui is known as “Panama’s breadbasket” having some of the most breathtaking highland scenery in Central America. Transfer by van to the western side of the Baru Volcano to the town of Volcan. Night at Hotel Dos Rios. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 6: La Amistad International Park and World Biosphere Reserve
Shared with neighboring Costa Rica and recognized in 1982 as a Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site, La Amistad is located at a point on the Central American land bridge where flora and fauna from North and South America reach their maximum species mix, with great ranges in altitude, precipitation, soils and temperature. We spend the morning hiking and exploring La Amistad in the area of El Retoño in search of Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Andean Pygmy-Owl, Barred Becard and many other western highland species.
After lunch at a local restaurant we drive to Baru Volcano National Park located in the Talamanca mountain range. Baru is the highest point of the country at 3,475 meters above sea level. Baru Volcano and La Amistad parks are part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. Here we will search for Buffy Tuftedcheek, Resplendent Quetzal, Ochraceous Pewee, Silvery-throated Jay, Hummingbirds and other highland species. Night at Hotel Dos Rios. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 7: Tapir's Canyon - Querevalo Road – Panama City
This morning we will stop at Tapir’s Canyon and Bajo Frio Road in search of Lesser Elaenia, Bay-headed Tanagers, Crested Oropendola, American Dipper, and a myriad other species. After lunch we start our descent to David and drive through some rice, corn and sugar cane fields along Querevalo Road. We will keep an eye out for Brown-throated Parakeets, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Dickcissels, and other grassland birds. We reach the airport in the late afternoon in time to board our flight back to Panama City. Upon arrival transferred to the hotel. Farewell dinner. Night at Hotel Executive. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 8: 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. Includes: (B).
Pre or post trip extensions to Cana, Darien National Park and 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 hotels to basic lodges and tent camp (on the extension).
Note: A maximum of 25 lbs. of checked luggage per person is allowed. Arrangements can be made with Ancon Expeditions of Panama to store luggage that will not be needed during a particular leg of the trip. Excess baggage charges assessed by commercial carriers are the responsibility of the passenger.
Equipment Checklist: Binoculars (preferably 7x35 or larger), Birds of Panama book, camera with extra batteries & film, flashlight with extra bulb and batteries, bathing suit, insect repellant, sunscreen, hat, day pack, water bottle, lightweight/quick dry cotton clothes, windbreaker, hiking boots, sandals, sneakers, rain gear, money in small denominations, toiletries & personal medications. The Naturalist Guide carries a spotting scope.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Lodging in Panama
- 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 and related entrance fees
- Naturalist Guides’ services and expenses and services of an in-bound land operator for airline confirmations and tour operations.
Price Excludes:
- 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.
Also see tour packages in:
Central America and Caribbean
Panama
Nature & Wildlife
Birdwatching
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