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 5 days / 4 nights
The pristine valley of Cana in the eastern slope of Pirre mountain range is Darien National Park’s most productive birdwatching destination. Nowhere else in Panama does nature expresses itself so abundantly than in this region of remote wilderness. Explore the trails around Cana Field Station such as the Boca de Cube trail, hike up to Pirre Cloudforest where you spend the night in screened tents and enjoy this unique birding experience in Cana.
Day 1 Darien National Park – Santa Cruz de Cana
This morning you are picked up at the hotel by our Ancon Expeditions of Panama Naturalist Guide for the short transfer to Albrook domestic airport where you board a chartered plane to Santa Cruz de Cana, in the heart of Darien National Park and World Biosphere Reserve, where Ancon Expeditions manages a field station. As you fly in you can admire the vast forest cover of Panama’s largest park (1.3 million acres). Cana is located at the foothills of Pirre Mountain, which stands like an island in the most remote area of Panama. Very few places in the world rival Cana in birding potential. From the plane be on the lookout for King Vultures and Macaws. After getting settled at the Field Station you explore the Boca de Cupe Trail and surrounding area. Specialties here include Blue and Gold, Red and Green, Great Green and Chestnut-fronted Macaws, Black tipped Cotinga, Swallow Tanager, Red-throated Caracara, Streaked Antwren, Dusky-backed Jacamar, Ornate Hawk-Eagle and others.
Night at CANA FIELD STATION (LD)
Day 2 Cana Field Station & Surrounding Trails
Today is a good day to explore the Mine Trail where rusting machinery was left to be overtaken by the jungle after the British Gold Mine ventures collapsed at the beginning of the last century. Specialties of this area include Great Curassow, Crested Guan, Dusky-faced Tanager, Olivaceous Piculet. Also the Seteganti Trail with open scrub areas and mature forests are good for various Woodpeckers such as Crimson-bellied and Red-rumped, Red-billed Scythebill, Brown Violetear.
Night at CANA FIELD STATION (BLD)
Day 3 Pirre Cloudforest Camp
Today you begin a slow-paced 5-hour hike to the Pirre Cloud Forest. At 1,200 meters above sea level, the Pirre Cloud Forest is a good place to look for specialties such as Beautiful Treerunner, Tooth-billed Hummingbird, Slaty Antwren, Tody Motmot, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Rufous-breasted Antthrush, Immaculate Antbird, Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo, Pirre Warbler, Pirre Hummingbird, Pirre Bush Tanager, Greenish Puffleg, Orange-bellied Euphonia. In the afternoon you hike to the top of Pirre Mountain in search of the Golden-headed Quetzal, Gray and gold Tanager, Sharpbill, Chlorophonia and several Tanagers among other highland species.
Night at PIRRE CAMP (Screened tents with sleeping mats) (BLD)
Day 4 Pirre Cloudforest – Cana Field Station
After breakfast we will start our descent to the field station with more birding along the way. This afternoon is spent looking for birds around the main camp. Possibilities include Gray-cheeked Nunlet, Spotted Barbtail, Barred Puffbird, Yellow-green Tyrannulet, Jet Antibird, Black-crowned, Fulvous-bellied, Ochre-breasted and Scaled Antpittas, White-fronted Nunbird, Cinereous Becard, Golden-headed Manakin.
Night at CANA FIELD STATION (BLD)
Day 5 Darien – Panama City
This morning, after some last minute birding from the airstrip, your charter flight takes you back to Albrook Airport in Panama City Panama City. Transfer to your hotel (B)
B (Breakfast), L (Lunch), D (Dinner) – meals included
TRIP CLASSIFICATION
- Birdwatching. Moderate/long hiking 3-5 hours per day over variable terrain, slippery, muddy
- Accommodations vary from field stations to tent camps
PRICE US$1,595 per person + 7% tax (double occupancy) – minimum 4 passengers - Additional price for single occupancy: US$200 + 7% tax Receive a $100 discount per person for departures before Dec 1, 2010! INCLUDED NOT INCLUDED
- Lodging, meals as specified in the itinerary
| | - All land, air and water transportation within Panama
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| - All airport/hotel transfers on scheduled arrival and departure dates
| - Meals not specified in the itinerary
- Alcoholic beverages
| - Local guides´services and expenses
| | - Park and related entrance fees
| - Gratuities and extras in hotels
| - Services of an in-bound land operator for airline re-confirmations and tour operations
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DEPARTURE DATES 2010
Sep 8 - 12, 2010 - 2 more participants needed to confirm the tour.
Nov 20 - 24, 2010
Nov 30 - Dec 4, 2010
Dec 4 - 9, 2010 (with 1 extra night in Pirre) - US$1,745 per person plus 7% tax!
Dec 9 - 13, 2010 - 2 more participants needed to confirm the tour.
Dec 13 - 17, 2010 - 3 more participants needed to confirm the tour.
Dec 17 - 22, 2010 (with 1 extra night in Pirre) - US$1,745 per person plus 7% tax!
Dec 22 - 26, 2010
Dec 26 - 30, 2010 - 2 more participants needed to confirm the tour. DEPARTURE DATES 2011 Jan 6 -10, 2011
Jan 10 - 14, 2011
Jan 14 - 19, 2011 (with 1 extra night in Pirre) - US$1,745 per person plus 7% tax!
Jan 31 - Feb 4, 2011
Mar 2 - 6, 2011
Mar 11 - 15, 2011
Mar 19 - 23, 2011 - 6 clients signed up already!
Mar 23 - 27, 2011
Apr 8 - 12, 2011 - 3 more participants needed to confirm the tour.
Nov 23 - 27, 2011
Nov 27 - Dec 1, 2011
Dec 1 - 5, 2011
Dec 5 - 9, 2011
Dec 9 - 13, 2011
Dec 13 - 18, 2011 (with 1 extra night in Pirre) - US$1,745 per person plus 7% tax!
Dec 18 - 22, 2011 DISCLAIMER & NOTE
Prices and itineraries are correct at the time of printing, however they are subject to change due to tidal/weather or local conditions, availabilities or factors beyond our control. Weight restrictions apply to luggage in commercial and chartered flights within Panama. A maximum of 25 lbs. (11 kg) of checked luggage and 10 lbs. (4.5 kg) of carry-on per person is allowed. Arrangements can be made with your hotel or Ancon Expeditions to store luggage that will not be needed while away from the city. Excess baggage charges assessed by commercial carriers are the responsibility of the passenger.
WHAT TO BRING
- Binoculars (preferably 7x35 or bigger, also available for rent at Ancon Expeditions of Panama)
| - Lightweight/quick dry cotton clothes
- Windbreaker, Rain gear
| - Birds of Panama book (provided by Ancon Expeditions of Panama)
| - Sandals, sneakers, hiking boots
- Money in small denominations
| - Camera with extra batteries & film
| - Toiletries & personal medications
| - Flashlight with extra bulb & batteries
| - Your guide will carry a spotting scope
| - Hat, Day pack / dry sack, water bottle
| - Bathing suit, Insect repellant, Sunscreen
- Masking tape for flee protection / capture
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TIPPING
Ancon Expeditions is Panama’s top eco-tourism operator. Our Natural & Cultural History Guides are the country's finest. Due to frequently asked questions from our clients about suggested guide & staff gratuities, we would like to provide you with the following universal tipping guidelines: - Naturalist guide/Tour leader: US$10.00-US$20.00 per person/day
- Day tour guide: US$10.00 per person/day
- Transfer driver: US$2.00 per person
- Tour driver: US$5.00 per person/day
- Tour boat driver: US$5.00 per person/day
- Hotel bellman: US$1.00 per person per suitcase
- International airport bellmen (red caps): US$1.00 per piece of suitcase
CANA FIELD STATION 
| Regarded by renowned ornithologists as one of the best birding sites in the world, Ancon Expeditions' Cana Field Station is located in the heart of the 1.2 million-acre Darien National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lodge is located at 1,600 feet above sea level and it's reachable by chartered plane from Panama City. The rustic accommodations are made up of 8 comfortable double occupancy bedrooms sharing 2 bathrooms (hot water available), a dinning hall with spectacular views of the lush vegetation, an observation deck and a series of trails where birders spend time feeding their passion. |
Address: Cana, Darien National Park, Panama
Website: www.anconexpeditions.com
Phone: +(507) 269-9415
Fax: +(507) 264-3713
Check in & Check out: Depend on domestic flights Click here for more information about Cana Field Station. PIRRE TENT CAMP | Pirre Tent Camp is remotely located in the cloud forests close to the top of the mountain at 4,900 feet above sea level (1,500 meters). The tent camp is made up of two-person screened tents located under a thatch roof structure for further protection against rains. Tents are provided with comfortable lightweight mattresses (2 per tent), sheets and blankets. There is no electricity and water is rationed strictly for drinking and washing up (no showers). Meals are prepared daily in a small outdoor kitchen and served on dinning tables. Guests are responsible for bringing their own overnight packs on the birding hike up to the tent camp. Porters carry the supplies necessary for making the guests' stay in this remote place a comfortable one. The uphill hike to Pirre Tent Camp is about 5 hours long including intermittent stops for birding, enjoying the magnificent vistas and resting. |
“Ancon provided a knowledgeable, safe and educational visit to the Darien, all of which are critical in a remote region like the Darien.
Ancon Expeditions of Panama are consummate professionals.”
Ultimate Darien Experience
Stuart Collinson, UK “Marco,
I've been meaning to get back to you to provide some feedback regarding
our trip with Ancon Expeditions of Panama to Cana and the camp on Mt. Pirre ... truly an unforgettable experience. The environment was breathtaking in the sheer amount and variety of life present, wherever you looked, day or night. Our guide was a wonderful guide... friendly and engaging, patiently spotting and teaching us about the bird species in
the area, while also indulging our interest in the myriad insects, spiders, and monkeys. He helped us get some very interesting photos, and he even spotted a tapir for us during a night walk!
The other staff was excellent as well.
Thanks for a organizing such a great experience for us. We look forward to returning at some point over the next couple years.
Ultimate Darien Experience
Brian McDonald, USA
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