7 days - birding package to:
Panama Central + Canal +Altos del Maria
and El Valle
This is our 7-day, all inclusive Central Panama (C.P.) birding tour Package, dedicated to birding Central National Parks and other locales on a variety of habitats, including marshlands and lowland rainforest and highlands to the west of Panama city. We will visit both the most and the least frequented birding hotspots including the world-renowned Pipeline Road, Achiote Road, Old Gamboa Road, Plantation Trail, Fort Sherman, San Lorenzo National Park, Panama Rainforest Discovery Center, Altos del Maria, El Valle and more.
As a conservative estimate, expect between 160+ species during this trip (a much higher number is possible). Please note that the species mentioned below are merely representative of the birds that might reasonably be expected in the areas involved.
ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrival, Transfer to Panama City Arrival at Tocumen International Airport. After customs take the right door/exit to the Right Section and your guide will be waiting here for you with your names on board, and transfer you to Panama City. Lodging: PanamaCity.
Day 2 Park Metropolitan, drive to Achiote Our first birding day will start at 6:00 am at the Metropolitan Nature Park in Panama city (470 acres of dry second and youngest growth forest with patches of grassy areas) giving us the opportunity to beginning with the search of the Lance-tailed Manakin, the endemic Yellow-green Tyrannulet (rare), Rosy Thrush-Tanager (uncommon), Orange-chinned Parakeets, Pheasant Cuckoo (rare) and more; after lunch birding will continue until around 3:00pm when we will star the ride to the hotel.
Optional we can drive (90 min) to and overnight in Achiote Town (recommended). On the road (driving slowly) we’ll stop for birds along the road and at well known spots like at Gatun Lock and at the Chagres River (Gatun Dam spillway) in search of Road-site Hawk, American Kestrel, Cocoi Heron, Tricolored Heron, Kill-billed and Chessnut-mandible Tucán, Yellow-headed Caracara…after dinner we will go over the bird-list and vote for the best bird of the day (bb of the d), follow by a short night birding walk in search of owls, nightjars, nighthawks and pauraques. And after a long and productive day, a well deserved night sleep. Lodging: Centro El Tucan, Achiote (basic accomodation).
Day 3 Achiote Road, The early birding day starts in Achiote Road and surrounding areas looking for species that favor humid condition. We will be on the search of the Spot-crowned Barbet, White-headed Wren, Long-tailed Tyrant, Blue Cotinga, White Hawk, Flame-rumped Tanager, Montezuma Oropéndolas (rare) and many other species that can be found here. At 8:30am a well deserved breakfast with binoculars at hand to catch a gleans of a Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, a probable Barred and Fasciated Antshrike and others. After breakfast the birding fiesta will continue at trails and in shaded coffee plantation. After lunch (2:00pm about) in route to Fort Sherman and Fort San Lorenzo (wet lowland tropical forest with also areas of grass, scrubs, mangroves , marshes and coastline) we will look for the Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Golden-collared Manakin, Rufous Motmot, Checker-throated Antwren, Piratic Flycatcher. Birding along the way and later on the afternoon back to Gamboa Town. After dinner we will go over the day bird-list and select the high light and the bbd. Lodging: Gamboa / Panama City, it will depend on availability.
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Pied Puffbird ©Gonzalo Horna
Day 4 Pipeline Road/ Rainforest Discovery Center We’ll start the day at the new Panama Rainforest Discovery Center. From atop their canopy tower we hope to see Blue Cotinga and a number of forest raptors. Trails around the center have been good for Great Tinamou and Pheasant Cuckoo, and with luck we may find an ant swarm with a Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo (rare) in attendance. In the late morning we will work the first couple of kilometers of Pipeline Road proper, where we might find Golden-crowned Spadebill, Southern Bentbill, Green Shrike-Vireo, Gray Elaenia, White-wiskered Puffbird, Oropéndolas, Caciques, Hummingbirds and Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant, among many others. Later in the day we will check out the Ammo Dump Ponds, where we might find Ruddy-breasted Seedeaters, White-throated Crake, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Snail Kite and other wetland specialties. At noon before dinner we will work on our “last day bird-list” and vote for the “bb of the d”. The group will summarize on the complete tour bird-list, a vote for the best bird and the best day of the tour and the correspondent comments for the complete tour will be appreciated. Lodging: Gamboa / Panama City, it will depend on availability.
Day 5 Old Gamboa Rd, drive to El Valle Early birding on the Old Gamboa Rd. also known as the Summit Pond area traverses areas of dry forest, scrub, grassland and natural ponds. A walk down the road will allow a great views of many species including Great Antshrike, Pale-vented Pigeons, Blue Ground-Doves, Orange Chinned Parakeets, Red-crowned Woodpecker, Lesser and Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Heron, Streak Saltator, Ringed, Amazon and Green Kingfishers are possible and more. In the afternoon will drive to El Valle. We’ll stop for a visit en route in the Altos del Maria area (optional), our best chance to find Snowcap (rare), White-tipped Sicklebill (rare), Rufous-browed Tyrannulet, Red-faced Spinetail and many others. Thanks to the construction of a new through-road, this barely involves a detour, so we will pass smoothly on to El Valle, where we will bird late in the day as time allows. And the day bird-list with the “bb of the d” and comments will end a successful day. Lodging: El Valle, Cocle, it will depend on availability.
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Cocoi Heron
© Gonzalo Horna
Day 6 Cerro Gaital/La Mesa areas We’ll work the foothills above El Valle for most of the day, hoping for local specialties such as Blue Seedeater, Orange-bellied Trogon, Slaty Antwren and many more. We’ll probably spend the afternoon around the Canopy Adventure, which might yield Tody Motmot (a 2nd spot is also possible for this one), Rufous-crested Coquette, and maybe even a staked-out Rufous-vented Ground- Cuckoo (rare). At noon after hotel check-out we´ll head back to Panama City, birding along the way and visiting several spots looking for the Yellow-Mangrove Warbler and shore birds at a beach front in Chame. After the check in for the last night and before the farewell dinner we will work on our “last day bird-list” and vote for the “bb of the d” and summarize on the complete tour bird-list voting for the "bb of the tour", and appreciate your comments to improve the tour. Lodging: Panama City, depending on availability.
Day 7 Departure Day
Time permitting, before you are assistedthroughout the final procedure for departure to your next destination, we will cover other special areas in and around Panama city looking for other specialties like Cattle Tyrant, Mangrove (Yellow)Warbler,Straight billed Woodcreeper, Common Black Hawk and depending on the sea tide many shorebirds at the Panama mudflats.
price is quote in usd per person in double occupancy minimum four (2) persons per tour. Single accommodations are available for an extra charge of 000 usd per person.
Included:English/Spanish bird guide with field scope and the latest Panama field guide, pick up and drop off Tocumen Airport/Panama City hotel, transportation, lodging (from ARIVAL DAY to Day 7), and park entrance fees.
Excluded: Meals, gratuities, alcoholic beverages, items of personal nature, government tax (7%), airport departure tax, or international airfare.
Final list for Hotel and B&B will be giving when the tour is book. We do our best to book at least a 4 star hotel including the ones we have use during our past birding tours. Also for the good flow of the tour lodgings will be as conveniently located as possible and in all cases but a few minutes from birding locations. Detailed information regarding lodgings, hotspots, habitats and complete bird list of Central Panama is available upon request.
For the benefits of participants we reserve the right to make any changes to the above itinerary, conditions prior or during the tour.
Information on Term & Conditions.
Price for other all inclusive package tours ( 4, and 12 days or +), or for a Day Trips are available upon request.
Notes:
The above birding itineraries are based on what are essentially popular routes for birders. It can be shortened or extended.
All trips are available year round, but prices may be adjusted around special holidays.
The Birding by Boat Tour: a day tour to cover fresh water river-lake, swamps and savanna birds.
Minimum lead time 1 months.
Contact us for details
To check availability for tours on short notice, fill out “Request for Quote” form with desirable dates.
Fitness - Easy to moderate hiking is require. For birders with moderate limitations we are able to make a special itinerary. Either way, birders will have a fantastic opportunity to views an impressive number of bird species, and the experience will be an enjoyable one.
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Clothing - Dress for hot and humid tropical weather and be prepare for rain. Light clothing is recommended: cotton shirts and t-shirts (earth colors preferable), long and short pants, poncho, hiking shoes, an extra pair or sandals, hat, insect repellent and sun block.
Gear - Binoculars, scope (optional), field guide, notebook and camera.
Areas to visit during the tour: We will visit the most and the least frequented birding hotspots in Central Panama, including the world-renowned Pipeline Road, Achiote Road, Old Gamboa Road (Summit Ponds), Plantation Trail, Fort Sherman, San Lorenzo Road and more.
- Expect to see: As a conservative estimate between 200+ species during this trip (a much higher number is possible). Please note that the species mentioned in the list below are merely representative of the birds that might reasonably be expected in the areas involved. - Birding Group Size: 1 – 2 persons maximum We keep our group size “petite”. This way everyone gets a personalized attention especially when seen a bird at its maximum detail.
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