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 8 days / 7 nights
The pristine valley of Cana in the eastern slope of Pirre mountain range is Darien National Park’s most productive birdwatching destination. Very few places in the world rival Cana in birding potential. Nowhere else in Panama does nature expresses itself so abundantly than in this region of remote wilderness. From the plane be on the lookout for King Vultures and Macaws. Experience a unique 8 day / 7 night birding trip with Panama´s best naturalist and birding guides.
Day 1 Darien National Park – Santa Cruz de Cana
This morning you are picked up at the lobby of your hotel and proceed to Albrook domestic airport where you board our chartered plane to Santa Cruz de Cana, in Darien National Park and World Biosphere Reserve. As you fly in you will 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 (BLD)
Day 2 Cana Field Station
Today you will 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 last Century. Specialties in this area include Great Curassow, Crested Guan, Dusky-faced Tanager, Olivaceous Piculet.
Night at CANA FIELD STATION (BLD)
Day 3 Pirre Cloudforest
Today you begin your 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 Ant thrush, Immaculate Antbird, Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo, Pirre Warbler, Pirre Hummingbird, Pirre Bush Tanager, Greenish Puffleg, Orange-bellied Euphonia.
Night at PIRRE CAMP (Screened tents with sleeping mats) (BLD) Day 4 Pirre Cloudforest
This morning 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. Late afternoon birding around the Pirre Tent Camp.
Night at PIRRE CAMP (Screened tents with sleeping mats) (BLD)
Day 5 Cana Field Station
After breakfast you will start your descent to the field station. 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 6 Cana Field Station
Today you will bird the Seteganti Trail with open scrub areas and mature forests that are good for various Woodpeckers such as Crimson-bellied and Red-rumped, Red-billed Scythebill, Brown Violetear among other specialtie of the area.
Night at CANA FIELD STATION (BLD)
Day 7 Cana Field Station
Depending on what you have accomplished on the previous days you will return to the Boca de Cupe trail and the Main trail. This afternoon you will bird from the open areas of the airstrip.
Night at CANA FIELD STATION (BLD)
Day 8 Darien – Panama City
This morning, after some last minute birding your charter flight takes you back to Albrook Airport in Panama City Panama City. Transfer to you hotel (B) B (Breakfast), L (Lunch), D (Dinner) – meals included
TRIP CLASSIFICATION
- Moderate/long hiking 3-5 hours per day over variable terrain, slippery, muddy
- Accommodations vary from field stations to tent camps
DEPARTURE DATES 2011
Feb 4 - 11, 2011 - 3 more passengers needed to confirm the departure!
April 1 - 8, 2011 - 3 more passengers needed to confirm the departure!
Dec 22 - 29, 2011
PRICE US$1,950 per person + 7% tax (double occupancy) – minimum 4 passengers - Additional price for single occupancy: US$350 + 7% tax
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
| | 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
- Bathing suit, Insect repellant, Sunscreen
| - 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
| | - Hat, Day pack / dry sack, water bottle
| - Your guide will carry a spotting scope
- Masking tape for flee protection / capture
| 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. |
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