| Day 1: |
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Pick-up at the international airport of Panama. It takes only 45 minutes drive from the Canopy Tower, located in the National Soberania. You will be birding within an hour after landing! Tonight we will have an orientation meeting and provide instruction on the use of the facility. Please note that the program starts today with dinner and check-in starts at 5PM. If you plan to arrive early, early check-in charge. |
| Day 2: |
Canopy Tower/Semaphore Hill & Plantation Road |
The Canopy Tour is an excellent location for observing birds and wildlife in the canopy. They are right at eye level, it is customary to fantastic views of birds you would not see otherwise get. They did not leave the Tower to find birds, you do not even need to leave your room! Tanagers, toucans and Tityra displayed directly on your window. The dining room and the roof of the tower are better for the search for fugitive canopy birds and howler monkeys, tamarins and other mammals. All this, without venture far from the Tower. Some species of birds that we can see the observation platform: green and red legs Honeycreepers, Green Shrike-Vireo, Blue Cotinga, Scaled Pigeon, Mealy Red and Yellow-crowned Amazon, Keel-billed Toucan, Chestnut - Swainson Toucan, flycatchers and many others. Plantation Road, which starts right on the access road to the Tower, is a good, easy dirt road that crosses ordered a mature forest for about four miles. The road runs along a small stream, the Rio Chico Masamba, where sometimes a Louisiana Waterthrush spends the winter. We have also discovered Sunbitterns and alligators in the creek. In most places the forest is clear of undergrowth, which makes it particularly suitable for monitoring forest birds in the interior and Tinamous Leaftossers afraid suitable. Golden-crowned Spade bills are around the Bay regularly, and White-breasted wrens are very easy to find. When visiting Plantation Road you also have a good chance of a swarm of army ants and many birds that follow these swarms as they roam the forest floor. Spotted, two-tone and Ocellated Antbird, Gray-headed Tanagers, and Plain-brown, Northern Barred and (if you're lucky) Ruddy Woodcreeper. And if you really are lucky, you can even have a hook-billed kite. |
| Day 3: |
Summit Pond/Old Gamboa Rd |
Old Gamboa Road is, you guessed it, the old road to Gamboa. Earlier this bird-rich region, you will find Summit Ponds, where Boat-billed herons nest and Capped Herons are seen regularly. Both Kiskadee, and both Green and Striated Herons are often seen, and the most common heron. Line through the two ponds you will Gamboa on Old South Road, one of the places birdies in the vicinity. This road leads through a variety of habitats, and many specialty: Blue Ground-Dove, Great Antshrike, Jet Antbird, Black-tailed and Royal Flycatchers, Lance-tailed and Golden-collared Manakins and Rosy Thrush-Tanager few highlights. In the north of the pond, we find species such as White-bellied Antbird, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Yellow-backed Oriole, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Yellow-headed Caracara, plus more. |
| Day 4: |
Pipeline Road/Summit Garden |
Pipeline Road is the best place in central Panama to find forest birds, and many of them. Eight species of wrens, five Trogons four bearded, three Motmot, Antbird flycatchers and many more were reported from the street. And if the 17 km are not enough, there are many side trails plus eleven creeks and rivers that can be tucked into the woods. Antswarms army are often some of Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo, and there are many Manakin leks beside the road. Pipeline Road is also a great place for birds of prey: the three forest-Falcons have agreed not to do with ease, and Tiny and Plumbeous Hawks and Ornate Hawk-Eagles have been widely reported. A harpy eagle was once seen on the right side of the road! Summit Garden and Harpy Eagle Exhibit: Summit Gardens is a park, led by the mayor of Panama City. There is a small zoo, where you can get a better look at King Vulture, Great Curassows and four species of macaws, as well as Jaguar, Spider Monkeys and many other mammals. The botanical garden is perfect for migratory songbirds and other forest species, and Blue Cotingas happens every once in a while. The Harpy Eagle is the national bird of Panama and the park is the site of the harpy eagle exhibit a "state of the art exhibition, sponsored by Sony, which films in this beautiful bird, a nest full-size displays, multiple plates, the importance of Track harpy eagle in Panama's history and culture from the trade in pre-Columbian gold. There are also two live specimens of this bird in a huge aviary. These birds are in the breeding program of the Raptor Peregrine Fund, which recently moved to Panama from Boise, Idaho. The harpy eagle slideshow: First photos of a couple of harpy eagle Discover published. |
| Day 5: |
Ammo Dump/Chagres River/Night Tour |
The ammunition depot is located north of Gamboa pond located on the way to Pipeline Road. This is the best place to see the elusive White-throated Crake, and a variety of other water birds. Less crested grebe, water, and Purple Gallinule are common, and calls Cent Tiger-Heron and American Pygmy-Kingfishers are present, but not so easy to find. Sometimes you have to get a Limpkin and maybe even a little bittern, and recently some of snail kites were reported. The Chagres is located on the east side of Lake Gatun, we will walk along the banks of the river to other aquatic birds, for example, Amazon Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, American Pygmy-Kingfisher and Blue-crowned Motmot Woodpecker and cinnamon. We could also see species such as Gray-necked Wood-Rail, green heron and anhinga. In this area we have often spotted alligators, turtles and capybaras. At night, the forest turns into a completely different world. More than eight species of owls and Potoos were on the streets around the Canopy Tour and many interesting mammals, are active mainly seen in the night, can also be seen. For example: Uno and Porcupine kinkajous Rothschild. If we are really lucky you will be one of the feral cats that this forest, a jaguarundi or even live to see an ocelot. |
| Day 6: |
Pipeline Road 2nd |
Return to the Pipeline Road one of the sites for bird watching Prime Minister of the North and South America. The second half of the Pipeline Road offers the possibility of new species due to its Atlantic with spatial overlap. We are on the lookout for ant swarms, White-necked and Black-breasted Antpitta bearded, Grand Jacamar, Black-tailed Trogon, Crane Hawk, Black Hawk-Eagle, Cinnamon Woodpecker are Black-striped Woodcreeper and even a Pheasant Cuckoo. We will have a picnic somewhere in the woods. |
| Day 7: |
Wrap-Up Day |
We look at some of the points of observation of birds, depending on who, what kind we missed, or want to see again. This may be the day to study the behavior of certain species. Miraflores Locks (Optional) We visit the Visitor Center, Panama Canal, one of the eight wonders of the modern world. It is only 20 minutes from the Tower! Or you can stay on the trails and see more birds, it's yours. |
| Day 8: |
El Valle de Anton |
After a leisurely breakfast and a last look at the birds of the observation deck of the Canopy Tower, we will travel aboard a comfortable a / c bus to 2 hours to El Valle de Antón, also known as Crater Valley name. We will spend three nights in this charming village in the crater of an extinct volcano that exploded 5 million years are located. The resulting landscape is surrounded by quite unique in a deep valley of craggy peaks and filled with flowers, streams and green forests. No wonder he is one of the most popular outside of Panama. If today is a Sunday, we will arrive on time, the "Sunday Market as" artisans are from the surrounding mountains to sell their goods. The El Valle Sunday Market is considered one of the best in the region. This is an excellent opportunity to buy local crafts directly from the manufacturer. "The prices are usually negotiable. There are ceramics, Bateas (wooden bowls), woven baskets, hats, carved and painted totum (cups made of squash) and trinkets made from acorn, as well as vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants, flowers and orchids. Our home for the next three days will Canopy Lodge, sister company of the Canopy Tower, erected a small boutique hotel in a beautiful mountain stream and adjacent to the protected area of Cerro Gaital Natural Monument. In the gardens around the cottage, we can easy to see how the species Crimson-backed, blue-gray, Dusky face and Plain-colored Tanagers, Social Flycatcher, Ruddy-ground Dove, Barred Antshrike, Yellow-faced Grassquit, Rufous - tailed, Violet-capped Hummingbirds and clay-colored robin . After lunch we start birding in the foothills by visiting the track in the vicinity Cariguana where we expect that some of the specialties of this region you will find many flu, including: Small Elenia, Yellow-olive Flycatcher, Rosy Thrush Tanager Red and White Wren and Lance-tailed Manakin. Canopy Tower (B) Canopy Lodge (LD) |
| Day 9: |
Cerro Gaital Trail and The Canopy Adventure |
We will now get up early and go bird watching in the mountain trails umlie thing crater, where you watch one of the most sought-after species in neo-tropical birds, the Rufous-vented search Cuckoo reason. This area also offers frequent visits Toucanet Emerald, Orange-bellied Trogon, Spotted Barbtail, Common Bush Tanager, Black-faced Grosbeak, Rufous-capped Warbler, Gray-headed Kite, Tawny-capped Euphonia, White-tailed Emerald, Violet - headed Hummingbird and if we're lucky we might see a scaled Antpitta and Black-headed Antthrush. After lunch, those who also experience the opportunity to have the adventure Canopy. To explore a series of zip lines high in the treetops, the traveler and the rain forest with a safe and modern climbing technique. After an invigorating short climb to the summit of the mountain through bird-rich forest, you climb in and strap through the treetops, where you will see a rich natural and unexpected activity. Piqué a platform high in the trees of the forest of solid clouds, take the stream and waterfall, not once but twice. The Canopy Adventure is a private retreat in the hills above El Valle is located. The main attraction of this sanctuary is 150 meters high waterfall beautiful name Chorro Macho; animal and plant life is extremely rich and diverse because the area was a haven for animals for several years. The main purpose of this refuge, beyond the obvious task of the area free from poachers and loggers, has been offering on a permanent basis, based on employment to 10 young people who would otherwise cut through the forest slash and burn farming methods in order to survive and their families increase. The refuge is a way to all forest ecosystems, while providing much needed jobs to keep. Not explore those who prefer, to do the Canopy Adventure can route around the waterfall, where you can see, the deaf-mantled Antbird, Tawny-crested and Dusky-face Bananaquit tanager, green and Little Hermits and trogons and MOT words. Canopy Lodge (BLD) |
| Day 10-13: |
El Valle de Antón, Chorro Macho |
Another day of birding in the foothills, we need early in the morning on the northern rim of the crater to explore the footsteps of the Chorro Macho private reserve. Some very special birds have been observed: the majestic white hawk, the little Tody Motmot, the cuckoo Stripped tuneful and elegant Sunbittern be on our list of target species high, as well as some colorful tanagers and honeycreepers as the silver-throated, Golden-hooded and Bay -headed Tanager, Blue Dacnis and Scarlet-thighed Dacnis. On this route can also provide good opportunities to see, Brown-hooded and Blue-headed Parrots, Squirrel Cuckoo, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Black-chested Jay and Crimson-crested Woodpecker. In the afternoon we visit the gardens of a local birder who maintains very popular Foothill certain investors Specialties difficult to see otherwise, like the flame striking rumped Tanager and the rare White-lined Tanager. Foothill species to investors: Buff-throated Saltator, Black-striped Sparrow, Blue-crowned Motmot, Red-crowned Woodpecker. Perhaps the biggest highlight of this amazing birding spot is huge colony of Chestnut-headed Oropendola in a group of eucalyptus trees near the feeder is located. These beautiful birds down into the pipes and dwarf the other participants of the festival. This is a unique opportunity to take to see close-up pictures of a bird is usually high in the trees. It is also fascinating to the parasitic cowbirds Giant store secretly in the nests of the long Oropendola their eggs to see. Canopy Lodge (BLD) |
| Day 14: |
El Chiru forest and La Zamia Trail |
Today we visit an early breakfast and travel outside El Valle on a plot of dry forest at a time near the small village of El Chiru. The contrast with the lush and humid LLS foothi El Valle is dramatic. This habitat consists of relatively stable growth of low and often straggly bushes and small trees interspersed with grass. This is a special habitat of the Pacific lowlands and there is little time left, because the majority of the population in Panama has in the Pacific coast down. We search for Pale-eyed Pygmy-Tyrant, Crested Bobwhite, Rufous-browed Pepper Shrike, Brown-throated Parakeet, Blue Ground Dove, Fork-tailed Flycatcher and Pearl Kite, among other things feathered inhabitants of this area rarely bushy. Bird activity is high in the first few hours, then it is hot and it is time to go back a lot fresher. We will have lunch back at Canopy Lodge and afterwards we bird Zamia Trail at the foot of Cerro Gaital natural monument. This is a simple, high-level trail in which the rare Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo has been seen occasionally. We also see for the Blue-crowned Mot Mot, joint Potoo, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Little Tinamou, and Gray-headed Chachalaca. For those interested in botany, it is interesting to note that La Zamia road is named after the rare and primitive genus of palm-like plants as Zamia Cycads of the order. Some of this rare and ancient ferns such as dioecious plants with aerial or subterranean stems are found in this path. Canopy Lodge (BLD) |
| Day 15: |
Panama City |
After a leisurely breakfast and some last minute birding in the gardens around the cottage, brings us back to Panama City and catch our flight back home. Canopy Lodge (B) |
