Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive Panama City
Arrival to Panama City and transfer to Hotel in the city. Overnight in Panama.

Day 2

Rainforest / Gamboa Villas
On the Pacific Slope, adjacent to Panama City, Metropolitan Nature Park is the only urban park in Latin America that has accessible tropical semi-deciduous forest. The park harbors such stunning birds as the incredibly pink Rosy Thrush-Tanager, Lance-tailed Manakin, Slaty Antwren, Pheasant Cuckoo, and a Panama endemic, the Yellow-green Tyrannulet. Birding here is easy and over 200 species have been recorded along the forest trails. After the tour, transfer to Gamboa Villas in the heart of Panama's Soberanía National Park. Birds such as the blue cotingas and green shrike-vireos that are normally glimpsed in the tree tops can be viewed at eye level, and all you have to do is get out of bed and look out the window. Afternoon birding tour on your own. Box lunch and night at the Gamboa Villas. (BL)

Day 3

Pipeline Road
The fifteen-mile-long Pipeline Road is a birder's dream. Gated at the entrance, the road's only obstructions will be birds and mammals. More than 400 species of birds have been identified here. Virtually all of central Panama's humid-forest birds reside here, and we should experience the excitement of one or more mixed-species flocks moving through the forest. We will be birding only a portion of the road, a section with scrub, mature second-growth, and patches of old-growth forest. Even with the small allotment of time here, we hope to locate an army ant swarm or two with their professional army ant followers: Bicolored, Spotted, and Ocellated Antbirds, plus Cocoa Woodcreeper, to name a few. A quick visit to the Ammo Ponds will give us a chance for the secretive White-throated Crake, the common Wattled Jacana, and possibly Rufescent Tiger-Heron and other wading birds. Box Lunch in the area. Night at the Gamboa Villas. (B L )

Day 4

Barro Colorado (except on Monday and Thursday) or EcoCanal
After breakfast, enjoy a guided excursion to Barro Colorado Nature Monument. This is a one-day tour that has been acclaimed by many journalist and scientist as one of the best tours in Panama. Barro Colorado became an island when the Chagres river basin was flooded to create Lake Gatun during the construction of the Panama Canal. It was declared a Biological Reserve Station in 1923 and since 1946 the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute has administered the Island. Depart by bus with naturalist guide towards the town of Gamboa, at the mid-point of the Panama Canal. There you will board a boat for a 45 minute trip through Gatun Lake to the area of Barro Colorado Nature Monument (BCNM). At Wheeler Cove on the West Side of Barro Colorado Island, and from the comfort and safety of our boat, observe the flora and fauna of the area. After an exploration of the coves proceed to Peninsula Gigante on mainland for a nature hike on Cima trail for approximately 2.2 kilometers for more observation of flora and fauna. After the hike, return to the station for a box lunch. After lunch return to hotel in the city and overnight. (BL)

Day 5

Sierra Llorona Rainforest Lodge
Early breakfast and excursion to Sierra Llorona Lodge, a family owned private reserve, located 20 minutes from the city of Colon at 1,000 feet sea level. The vegetation differs in variety and abundance, this is a place to enjoy nature, walk through the rain forest and a bird-rich area near the north end of the Panama Canal. Expect to see up to a dozen kinds of raptors, pied Puff birds, Spot Crowed Barged, wide headed wren and hundreds of different species of birds. Night at Sierra Llorona Lodge.(BL) (GUIDE WILL BE IN THE LODGE)

Day 6

Sierra Llorona Lodge.
This Rainforest will expose birdwatchers to species such as the Great Tinamou, Gray Hawk, Barred Forest-Falcon, Gray :headed Chachalaca, Blue-headed Parrot, Shining Honewycreeper, Palm Tanager, Indigo Bunting and much more. In the afternoon transfer back to Panama city. Night at Sierra Llorona. (B)

Day 7

Chiriqui Highlands / Cerro Punta
After breakfast, transfer to the local airport for a domestic flight to David. Travel over 6,300 feet above sea level to the highlands of Volcan in the Pila Hill Formation of la Amistad International Park. The Quetzales lodge is known for its close proximity to a resident group of Resplendent Quetzales. These magnificent birds, with their emerald green tails flowing two feet behind them, are exceedingly rare in Central America. Here at Volcan, your chances of seeing them are excellent. They are often accompanied by Emerald Toucanets. Our first day will allow us to seek out Quetzals before dinner. Night at Los Quetzales. (B)

Day 8

Birding the Highlands
Early breakfast at Los Quetzales. Search the surrounding areas for birds such as the Large-footed Finches, Peg-billed Finches, Black-cheeked Warblers, Long-tailed Silky Flycatchers, Zeledonias and Silvery-fronted Tapaculo. After lunch, continue birdwatching in Volcan Lakes for the Masked Duck, Northern Jacana, and other aquatic birds. The Pale-billed Woodpecker, Antbirds, Flycatchers and Tanagers may also be spotted. Night at Los Quetzales Lodge. (BL)

Day 9

Chiriqui Highlands - Boquete
After an early breakfast continue to Boquete for further middle and high elevation birding. In the afternoon proceed to the Pacific slope at mid elevation and view birds such as the Red-headed Barbet, Finca Lerida, Sepia-cappedFlycatcher, Emerald Tanager and Rufous-browed Tyranulet. Optional late afternoon birding by the rushing Caldera River home to Dippers and TorrentTyrannulets. Overnight at Villa Marita Lodge or Panamonte Hotel. (BL)

Day 10

Volcan Baru-Boquete
Early breakfast. Drive to Volcan Baru over 8000 feet above sea level for highland birding, specifically to look forTimberline species such as Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Silvery-throated Jay, Black-faced Solitaire and the Barred Becard. Lunch in the area. Night at Villa Marita Lodge or Panamonte. (B)

Day 11

Panama City
After breakfast, transfer to David airport for flight to Panama City. Free afternoon to enjoy at your leisure. OPTIONAL: Farewell dinner and folkloric show at Tinajas Restaurant. Night at Hotel in the city.

Day 12

Depart Panama
Transfer to the International Airport, approximately two hours before your flights schedule departure time.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Panama Kit