Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival to Panama

Welcome to Panama! Upon your arrival at Tocumen International Airport an Ecocircuitos representative will be waiting to assist and transfer you to your hotel, Country Inn & Suites Amador, located on the Amador Causeway. In the natural area surrounding, the hotel identified more than 40 species of birds.

Day 2 Birding in the Metropolitan Natural Park (MNP) & City Tour

The Metropolitan National Park, situated only 15 minutes from downtown Panama City, is the most accessible rainforest in the region. It is the only tropical forest in Latin America located inside a major urban center.

The MNP and several other protected areas form the “Interoceanic Biological Corridor” stretch from the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans. The MNP is characterized by the increasingly rare dry lowland pacific forest and is home of the Two- and Three-toed Sloth as well as over 200 bird species. In this remarkable park visitors can access four walking trails, a bike trail (you must be in shape for this one) and the Cedar Hill lookout over Panama City and the Canal. A library and souvenir shop can also be found here. (B, snacks)

Day 3 Pipeline Road

Panama’s Pipeline Road – where the Audubon Society spotted 300 species of birds in a single day – is considered one of the best birding spots in the world.

Located in the Panama Canal watershed, this former US Military access road takes you into old growth secondary forest, ideal for the observation of flora and fauna from the Pacific and Caribbean slopes. The tour begins with a preparatory talk about the geography and animal life of the Panama Canal areas by our expert guide as you are driven to Soberania National Park, about an hour outside Panama City.

Soon you will be enjoying an easy walk under the forest canopy into a veritable bird sanctuary. During the tour you will have the opportunity to see many bird species and a wide range of diverse plant and tree species. Overnight at hotel Radisson Rainforest or Gamboa Rainforest Resort.

Optional overnight at Canopy Tower (B, snacks)

Day 4 Plantation Road

Plantation Road was created around 1913 in the Panama Canal Watershed in an area that is now known as Soberania National Park. Moreover, it was an area where cacao was grown and the road that was constructed during this time was the first paved road that went into the interior of the country.

This trail is approximately 4.8 kilometers long and connects with the famous Camino de Las Cruces Trail that was used to transport riches from South America. Some of the birds that may be observed are the following Tinamous, leaftossers, Golden-crowned Spadebills, White-breasted Wood-Wrens, Spotted, Bicolored and Ocellated Antbirds, Gray-headed Tanagers, and Plain-brown, Northern Barred and Ruddy Woodcreepers and Hook-billed Kite. (B, snacks)

Day 5 Cerro Azul Foothills

This day we will visit Birders View, a famous birding spot with imposing views of the Chagres National Park. The gardens and feeders attract a variety of colorful tanagers, such as Bay-headed Tanager, Emerald Tanager, Rufous-winged Tanager and Speckled Tanager.

Hummingbirds include: Bronzed-Tailed Plummeteer (A hummer with pink feet), Violet-capped Hummingbird and the sought after; Rufous-crested Coquette. In the afternoon we will walk around Cerro Jefe (1,000m). (B, Box Lunch)

Day 6 Achiote Road

This birding excursion to the Atlantic side of Panama is one of most scenic drives in central Panama. From the road you will be able to see remnants of the old sea level French Canal, drive through wooded hills and will be able to reach the Gatun Locks. The woodland along the road is noted for Trogons, Motmots and numerous other forest and woodland birds.

We head to Achiote Road and will hike the CEASPA which is a new trail for other species such as White-headed, Stripe-breasted Wrens and Montezuma Oropendolas. (B,L)

Day 7 Chiriquí Highlands & Afternoon Birding

In the morning you will be transferred to the domestic airport to catch your flight to David located in the Chiriquí Province. You will be met by the local host and transferred to Cerro Punta. Check in at Hotel Casa Grande Bambito. In the afternoon you will have time to bird and explore the area. (B)

Day 8 Birding The Cloud forest

In the Baru National Park the visitors will be in the low montane rainforest, premontane rainforest and cloud forest with the ability to observe animals such as the Quetzal, Bell bird, some trogons, Black and White Hawk, a variety of humming birds such as Brown Violet Ear and Black-bellied Hummingbird, wildcats, porcupines, Coati Mundi, nutria and bats. As well as different trees like Huge oaks, magnolias, orchids Stelis montana, Hoffmania areolata and Anthurium chriquense.

You will have a lunch box in the field before continuing on to Boquete. Overnight hotel Finca Lerida. (B, L)

Day 9 Finca Lerida State Coffee Farm

This small family farm is known for its shade grown coffee, variety of orchids and abundance of birds in the area. You will have a lunch in the field. (B, Lunch Box)

Day 10 Return to Panama City

At the appropriate time you will transfer to David International Airport for your flight back to Panama. Upon your arrival you will be transferred to your hotel in the city. (B)

Day 11 Free Day & Afternoon Birding

Today you will have a free day to relax or do some last minute shopping. In the late afternoon you will have a birding tour in the Metropolitan Natural Park or in the Soberania National Park. (B)

Day 12 Transfer Out

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