The Isthmian Bird Route
The Panama Canal Rainforest / El Valle Foothills / Eastern Panama
Day 1
Arrival to the Tocumen Airport (PTY)
You are met at the airport and driven to the hotel, located at the Old Canal Zone. The Hotel is located in a nice area, surrounded by nature and with easy access to the main bird spots of the Panama Canal Rainforest.
Night: Radisson Summit Hotel
Day 2
Metropolitan Nature Park
With a list of 267 species, the Metropolitan Park is the largest tropical forest park within the limits of a Latin American city, this a good place to find birds of the Pacific forest of the Panama Canal. Some of the key birds are: the Panama endemic: Yellow-green Tyrannulet (rare), Lance-tailed Manakin, Pheasant Cuckoo and the elusive Rosy-thrush Tanager. After lunch in a local restaurant, afternoon plans allow for more birding or an optional visit to the Panama Canal
Night: Radisson Summit (BLD)
Day 3
Pipeline Road & Discovery Center Tower
Day of Birding at the famous Pipeline Road and the surrounding areas of the Soberania National Park. From a new observation tower, 100 feet’s high, enjoy fantastic views of the tropical forest and several Canopy Dwellers, such as the Blue Cotinga and flocks of Keel-billed Toucans. Visit to the Rainforest Discovery Center gardens where some of the easy to photograph birds include: Slaty-tailed Trogon, Black-breasted Puffbird and Broad-billed Motmot. Admire hummingbird feeders teeming with acrobatic fliers who are in a battled dominated by the White-necked Jacobin. Visit to the ammo-dumps near Gamboa, to look for water birds, such as the Rufescent Tiger-Heron.
Night: Radisson Summit (BLD)
Day 4
Old Gamboa Road & Plantation Road
Explore another hot spot at the Canal corridor, looking for Spectacled Owls and Blue-crowned Motmot. Scan the Summit Ponds for Amazon, Green, Ringed Kingfishers and nesting Boat-billed Herons. Bird walk under the evergreen forest of Plantation Road, there are possibilities to find army ant-swarms and many of the birds that follow these ants, such as Spotted Antbird, and Ocellated Antbird. Some other specialties of the Plantation Road include: Golden-crowned Spadebill, Olivaceous Flatbill, White-whiskered Puffbird and more. The rainforest of the Panama Canal are highly diverse, we go over the list every day! Afternoon transfer to EL Valle, less than two hours, we’ll spend two nights there.
Night: Anton Valley Hotel - El Valle (BLD)
Day 5
El Valle Foothills
This morning explore the Cerro Gaital Nature Monument and La Mesa area. This area is at higher elevation than the town itself; here look for wet forest species typical of the Western Foothills of Panama such as Tody Motmot, Spectacled Owl, Spot-crowned Barbet, Flame-rumped Tanager, Yellow-eared Toucanet and more.
Night: Anton Valley Hotel - El Valle (BLD)
Day 6
EL Valle Foothills & Transfer to the East of Panama
Morning Birding El Valle, a picturesque town, located in the crater of an extinct volcano. The town has year-round spring weather thanks to its 700meter altitude. Some other birds are; Silvery-throated Tanager, Orange Bellied Trogon, Blue-throated Toucanet, After lunch, afternoon 3 hours and a half, to the Eastern Panama area, stop near Bayano for Cocoi Heron, Paid-water Tyrant and many others. This side of the country is great to find birds not found in the rest of Central America.
Night: Portal Avicar Torti - Eastern Panama (BLD)
Day 7
Torti - San Francisco Reserve
Only 10 minutes from our hotel, this 500 hectares reserve holds many Eastern Panama and Darien specialties. We will be looking for Black-and White Hawk-Eagle, White-eared Conebill, Bare-Crowned Antbird, Barred Puffbird, Moustached Antwren and more
Night:Torti - Portal Avicar(BLD)
Day 8
Departure to the International Airport
Morning birding around the hotel grounds, if time permits. Transfer to Tocumen Airport (PTY) or continue with a different extension.
(B)
TOUR RATE: US$1690.00 per person.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: US$290.00
TOUR DATES: / 2022
TOUR CUSTOMIZABLE OR EXTENSIONS: Yes
TOUR SIZE: 4-10 persons
INCLUDED:INCLUDES: Excellent Bird guide, accommodations, meals as indicated (BLD), all park fees, airports hotel transfers, bottled water, touring in comfortable air-conditioned bus.
NOT INCLUDED: International Airfares, alcoholic beverages, extras in hotels, gratuities etc.
ABOUT THE TOUR: Travel in comfortable bus, easy to moderate walking on flat terrain, this allows for bird and wildlife photography. We visit several private reserves, gardens and feeders where is easier to find many of the species. Afternoon plans allows for Midday-breaks.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Summit Rainforest Panama – 3 nights: located in the Old Canal Zone is comfortable with private rooms, AC and hot water, the place is next to forest and only 15 minutes from Pipeline Road and 25 minutes from the Metropolitan Nature Park. Portal Avicar - Eastern Panama – 2 nights (Private rooms, AC, hot water, wifi). Anton Valley Hotel – El Valle 2 nights(wifi, private rooms, hot water etc)
EQUIPMENT: The tour leader will have a professional spotting scope; but if you have one, its ok to bring it. The most important things to bring for the Panama birding tour are a pair of binoculars, a field guide and a camera with extra batteries. You should also bring sunglasses and sunscreen, a small flashlight or headlamp, small alarm clock, water bottle, camera, film and spare batteries.
CLIMATE:The annual average temperature on the Canal Area is 29°C (84°F), and it ranges from 22° to 26°C at El Valle . The period of lightest rainfall is from mid December to mid April.
CLOTHING: Light field clothing with neutral colors. Bring several pairs of long pants and comfortable shirts. Long-sleeved shirts are useful for protection from the sun, a light hat or cap, plus rain gear and/or an umbrella are essential. Be sure to have a pair of comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots, plus a second pair of footwear, such as tennis shoes or sandals.
HOW TO BOOK: The complete registration form and payment terms will be sent once we start the planning process. A deposit of US$50 per person will be due to register for a trip. The payment can be done through: PayPal, bank transfer or check. The balance of the trip price is payable 30 days before your trip start.