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 8 days / 7 nights
Birdwatching in Panama is a truly rewarding experience. With over 960 species of birds found in an area of less than 50,000 square miles that are easily reached, avid and the beginner birders alike will enjoy a unique avian adventure. During 8 days enjoy the highlights of Panama´s best birding sites in (1) Panama City (Pipeline Road, Summit Ponds, Metropolitan Nature Park, Old Panama Mudflats), in (2) Burbayar and in (3) Chiriqui (La Amistad International Park, Tapir´s Canyon, Querevalo Road)
 Day 1 Arrive to Panama On arrival to Tocumen International Airport you will be met by an Ancon Expeditions of Panama representative and transferred to your hotel in Panama City. Night at HOLIDAY INN – PANAMA CANAL
Day 2 Pipeline Road - Summit Ponds - Miraflores Locks
This morning you drive to Pipeline Road in Soberania National Park. Soberania is home to some 525 species of birds. Before entering the road you bird the scrub habitat near Ammo Dump ponds looking for Crimson-backed Tanager, Rufescent Tiger Heron, White-throated Crake as well as several Tyrannulets and Greenlets. Located within this protected area Pipeline Rd. is the site where Audubon Society held its world Christmas bird count record for 19 years straight, with 357 species of birds identified in a period of 24 hours. As one of the most accessible rain forests in the world, Pipeline Road is a great place to look for birds like Slaty-tailed, Black-throated Trogons, Golden-collared Manakin, White-bellied Antbird, Semiplumbeous Hawk, Black-breasted Puffbird, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Blue Cotinga, Pheasant Cuckoo as well as army ant-swarm followers. A picnic lunch will be served at Summit Ponds. Here you will look for the Boat-billed Heron, Rosy Thrush Tanager and other Pacific woodland species. Afterwards you will visit Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal to learn about its history and marvel at this engineering accomplishment. The canal still operates pretty much as it did when it was inaugurated almost 100 years ago. The SS Ancon steamer was the first ship to officially transit the Panama Canal, on August 15, 1914.
Night at HOLIDAY INN – PANAMA CANAL (BLD)
Day 3 Metropolitan Nature Park - Old Panama Mudflats Today you visit the Metropolitan Nature Park (the only protected rain forest within capital city limits in Latin America). With an impressive list of 260 bird species the possibilities are great. Specialties include Lance-tailed Manakin, Rosy Thrush-Tanager, Orange-billed Sparrow, Green Honeycreeper, Rufous and White Wren and many others. You will also look for the endemic Red-napped Tamarin in the trail named after this tiny primate. Tide level permitting you will visit the Old Panama Mudflats for a chance to see Collared Plovers, Short-billed Dowitchers, Marbled Godwit, Whimbrel and others. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.
You continue to bird at Costa del Este’s scrub and mangrove area where we look for Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Ruddy-breasted Seedeater, Northern-scrub Flycatcher, Mangrove Black Hawk, Mangrove Warbler, Sapphire-throated and Scaly-breasted Hummingbirds, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Black-necked Stilt, Least Sandpiper, Southern Lapwing, Cocoi Heron, Yellowlegs, and Night-Herons. In the afternoon, you drive to Burbayar Lodge located in the pre-montane rainforest of the Kuna Yala foothills.
Night at BURBAYAR LODGE (BLD)
Day 4 Burbayar This morning you will bird the network of trails surrounding Burbayar Lodge. The avifauna here is very rich and includes foothill and Eastern Panama species such as Sapayoa, Speckled Antshrike, Black-headed Anthrush and many more. Also look for the endemic Striped-cheek Woodpecker, Swallow-tailed Kite and Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer.
Night at BURBAYAR LODGE (BLD)
Day 5 Burbayar - Chiriqui Cloud Forest
This morning you bird the road that leads to the Nargana Forest Reserve. This road is very productive for foothill specialties that include Black and Yellow, Rufous-winged, Bay-headed, Olive and Hepatic Tanagers. Depart Burbayar after lunch and head for Albrook airport in Panama City to board your flight to David, capital of Chiriqui Province. Chiriqui is known as “Panama’s breadbasket” having some of the most breathtaking highland scenery in Central America. Transfer by van to the western side of the Baru Volcano to the town of Volcan.
Night at HOTEL DOS RIOS (BLD)
Day 6 La Amistad International Park & World Biosphere Reserve
Shared with neighboring Costa Rica and recognized in 1982 as a Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site, La Amistad is located at a point on the Central American land bridge where flora and fauna from North and South America reach their maximum species mix, with great ranges in altitude, precipitation, soils and temperature. You spend the morning hiking and exploring La Amistad in the area of El Retoño in search of Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Andean Pygmy-Owl, Barred Becard and many other western highland species. After lunch at a local restaurant you drive to Baru Volcano National Park located in the Talamanca mountain range. Baru is the highest point of the country at 3,475 meters above sea level. Baru Volcano and La Amistad parks are part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. Here you will search for Buffy Tuftedcheek, Resplendent Quetzal, Ochraceous Pewee, Silvery-throated Jay, Hummingbirds and other highland species.
Night at HOTEL DOS RIOS (BLD)
Day 7 Querevalo Road - Panama City
Enroute to the airport, this morning you will stop Bajo Frio Road in search of Lesser Elaenia, Bay-headed Tanagers, Crested Oropendola, American Dipper, and a myriad other species. After lunch you start your descent to David and drive through some rice, corn and sugar cane fields along Querevalo Road. You will keep an eye out for Brown-throated Parakeets, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Dickcissels, and other grassland birds. You reach the airport in the late afternoon in time to board your flight back to Panama City. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the hotel. Farewell dinner.
Night at Night at HOLIDAY INN – PANAMA CANAL (BLD)
Day 8 Depart Panama
Today you are picked up at the lobby of the hotel 2.5 hours prior to your scheduled departure flight and transferred to Tocumen International Airport. Fly home (B)
Pre or post trip extensions available to Cana, Darien National Park and Punta Patiño Nature Reserve, the realm of the Harpy Eagle
TRIP CLASSIFICATION
- Moderate/long hiking 3-5 hours per day over variable terrain, slippery, muddy
- Accommodations vary from hotel, basic lodges to tent camp (on the extension)
DEPARTURE DATES 2010
Dec 4 - 11, 2010
DEPARTURE DATES 2011
Jan 29 - Feb 5, 2011
March 12-19, 2011
Dec 10-17, 2011
PRICE
US$2,240 per person + 7% tax (double occupancy) – minimum of 2 passengers -
Additional price for single occupancy: US$460 + 7% tax
INCLUDED NOT INCLUDED
- Lodging, meals as specified in the itinerary (B - breakfast, L - lunch, D - dinner)
| | | - Meals not specified in the itinerary
| - All land, air and water transportation within Panama
| | - All airport/hotel transfers on scheduled arrival and departure dates
| - Gratuities and extras in hotels (telephone calls, laundry, room service)
| - Guides´services and expenses
| | - Park, museum and related entrance fees
| | - 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)
| - Water bottle
- Lightweight/quick dry cotton clothes
| | | - Camera with extra batteries & film
| - Sandals, sneakers, hiking boots
| - Flashlight with extra bulb & batteries
| | - Insect repellant, Sunscreen
| - Money in small denominations
| | - Toiletries & personal medications
| | | - The Naturalist Guide carries a spotting scope
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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
HOLIDAY INN PANAMA CANAL 
| Overlooking the Panama Canal Miraflores Locks and surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, the Holiday Inn has 137 rooms, 2 restaurants, business centre, coffee shop, elevators, jogging trail, outdoor pool, restaurants, and 5 meeting rooms. Located in the Canal Area, the hotel is close to the domestic airport and free shuttles run daily to the Albrook shopping mall. |
Address: Ave. Omar Torrijos Herrera, Clayton, City of Knowledge, Panama Website: www.hinnpanama.com/index2.html Phone: +(507) 317-4000 Fax: +(507) 317-4001 Check in: 3:00 p.m. Check out: 12:00 p.m. BURBAYAR LODGE 
| Burbayar ('Spirit of the mountain' in the Kuna language) is a family owned and operated lodge following the principles of sustainable tourism. The lodge is perched on a mountain summit, 375 meters above sea level. The climate is humid yet the lodge catches a breeze. You are able to sleep in open air cabins without screens or benefit of electricity, enjoying tropical nature without mosquitoes. Burbayar provides all the basic comforts and is totally natural. It is the place for those interested in quiet immersion in nature. You can spend the night in the forest, eat delicious food, relax in hammocks, hike trails, dream and truly get away. Cabins accommodate a maximum group size of 14 people. Each rustic cabin has fully-equipped bathrooms with cold water. Power comes from a small generator and through solar lamps. At night candles and lanterns are lit, giving the lodge an old-fashioned atmosphere. |
Address: Llano Carti, Burbayar Reserve, Panama
Website: www.burbayar.com
Phone: +(507) 390-6674
Check in: 3:00 p.m.
Check out: 1:00 p.m HOTEL DOS RIOS 
| On the slopes of the Barú Volcano, surrounded by mountains and lush vegetation at an altitude of 1750m above sea level, Hotel Dos Rios is located in the beautiful town of Volcán, just 54km away from the domestic airport in David, the capital of Chiriqui. Dos Rios Hotel has 18 rooms, a restaurant, bar, pizzeria, conference room (50 persons), souvenir shop, Internet, fax, external medical services, and a butterfly garden. |
Address: Nueva California, Volcán, Chiriqui, Panama
Website: www.dosrios.com.pa
Phone: +(507) 771-5555
Fax: +(507) 771-5794
Check in: 2:00 p.m.
Check out: 1:00 p.m.
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