Panama Canal Region: At this time of the tour you will be birding on a boat covering the afluents of Gatun Lake (Panama Canal) surrounded by freshwater with abundant aquatic vegetation, natural swamps, marshes, lagoons, savannas and grasslands. All in a freswater enviroment.
Highlands near Panama City: We will look for Cerro Azul, Cerro Jefe and El Valle specialties and the avifauna related to the area.

Electronic map of Panama

Save money with our 2012 fixed date birdwatching tours to Panama

Tour I

4 day birdwatching tour

4-days dedicated to birding Central Panama incluidng the world-renowned Pipeline Road, Achiote Road, Old Gamboa Road (Summit Ponds), Plantation Trail, Fort Sherman, San Lorenzo Road and more. We will also visit San Lorenzo National Park, Soberania National Park, Metopolitan City Park and other locales with a variety of habitats, including marshlands and lowland humid and dry rainforest.

Itinerary

Being conservative expect 180+ species during the trip.

Day 1.
Our first birding day will start at 6:15 am at the Metropolitan Nature Park in Panama city (470 acres of dry second and youngest growth forest with patches of grassy areas) in search of the Lance-tailed Manakin, the endemic Yellow-green Tyrannulet, Rosy Thrush-Tanager (uncommon), Oange-chinned Parakeets, Pheasant Cuckoo (rare) and more; after lunch birding will continue until around 3:00pm when we will drive to Achiote Town. We’ll stop to birds along the road at such spots as Gatun Lock and at the Chagres River (Gatun Dam spillway) in search of Road-site Hawk, American Kestrel, Cocoi Heron, Tricolored Heron, Keel-billed and Chessnut-mandibled Toucan, Yellow-headed Caracara
After dinner we will go for a short night birding walk in search of owls, nightjars, nighthawks and paraques.
L, D and local lodging.
Day 2.
We start start birding Achiote Road and surrounding areas early looking for species that favor humid condition like Spot-crowned Barbet, White-headed Wren, Long-tailed Tyrant, Blue Cotinga, White Hawk, Flame-rumped Tanager, Montezuma Oropendola and many other species that can be found here. At 8:30am a well deserved breakfast with binoculars at hand to catch a gleam of Rufous-tailed Hummignbird and maybe Barred and Fasciated Antshrike. After breakfast we will bird trails and shaded coffee plantation.
B,L,D and local lodging.

"Male Black-throated Trogan""© Will and Gill Carter"

After lunch (2:00pm) we drive to Fort Sherman and Fuerte San Lorenzo (wet lowland tropical forest with areas of grass, scrubs, mangroves, marshes and coastline) looking for the Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Golden-collared Manakin, Rufous Motmot, Checker-throated Antwren, Piratic Flycatcher and more returning late afternoon to Gamboa Town.

"Male Faciated Antshrike""© Will and Gill Carter"

Day 3.
We will start early birding Old Gamboa Rd. also known by some as the Summit Pond area of dry forest, scrub and grassland. A walk down the road will allow a great views of many species including Great Antshrike, Pale-vented Pigeons, Blue Ground-Doves, Orange Chinned Parakeets, Red-crowned Woodpecker, Lesser and Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Heron, Streak Saltator, Ringed, Amazon and Green Kinfishers are possible and more. Later in the afternoon on Plantation Trail and the El Charco Trail we will listen to the call and look for the Slaty-tailed Trogon, Golden-crowned Spadebill, Southern Bentbill, Blue-crowned Manakin and other great forest birds.
B,L,D and local lodging.

"Pipeline Road""© Will and Gill Carter"

Day 4.
Early birding on Pipeline Road (secondary forest with some scrubbier areas, with many streams crossing it). We will hear and look for the Southern Bentbill, Pheasant Cuckoo, Green Shrike-Vireo, Grey Elaenia, Streak-chested Antpitta, SpVvery productive during any hour of the day searching for Snail Kite, White-throated Crakes, Ruddy-breasted Seedeaters, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Variable Seedeater, Smooth-billed Ani and more. In the afternoon we will visit The Summit Gardens for Oropendolas, Caciques and Hummingbirds. Then El Charco Trail looking for Black-breasted Jay, Collared Arassari, White-wiskered Puffbird and more.
B,L and transfer to Panama City


(B,L,D)= B stands for breakfast: L: lunch; D: dinner. When food is not specify is not included in the trip price.

4 days tour price is: 2 pax US$810 per person. 4 pax US$587 per person.
Single accommodations are available for an extra charge of US$120 per person.

Due to currency fluctuations and fuel cost we reserve the right to adjust any pricing prior to departure.
A 50% deposit is required upon booking a trip. Balance due minimum 30 days prior to departure.

Convert your tour cost into your currency of choice.

Included:
English/Spanish bird guide with field scope and the latest Panama field guide, pick up and drop off Tucomen Airport/Panama City hotel, transportation, lodging, meals and park entrance fees.
Excluded:
Gratuities, alcoholic beverages, items of personal nature, airport departure tax, or international and local airfare.

Notes:
The above birding itineraries are based on what are essentially popular routes for birders. It can be shortened or extended.
All trips are available year round, but prices may be adjusted around special holidays.
Tour can be extended:
Darien Lowland Birding Trip (4 Day/3 Nights) to find overlap limit South America and North America bird species with the possibility of a Harpy Eagle.
The Birding by Boat Tour: a day tour to cover fresh water river-lake, swamps and savanna birds.
Minimum lead time 1 months.
Contact us for details
To check availability for tours on short notice, fill out “Request for Quote” form with desirable dates.
Notes:
Fitness - Easy to moderate hiking is require. For birders with moderate limitations we are able to make a special itinerary. Either way, birders will have a fantastic opportunity to views an impressive number of bird species, and the experience will be an enjoyable one.
Clothing - Dress for hot and humid tropical weather and be prepare for rain. Light clothing is recommended: cotton shirts and t-shirts (earth colors preferable), long and short pants, poncho, hiking shoes, an extra pair or sandals, hat, insect repellent and sun block.
Gear - Binoculars, scope, field guide, notebook and camera.

Should you only need a guide for a day please send a message to Gonzalo.   

Gonzalo Horna, your local Birdingpal guide Former owner and manager of Sierra Llorona Panama Lodge, Gonzalo has been birding central Panama and adjacent low and highland areas since 1997. Attending groups and individuals he has mastered the needs and logistics to make a birders journey a successful one. He created and implemented a unique Birding by Boat day tour to explore the fresh water avifauna (and related birds) difficult to see while normal hiking secluded areas. Has being actively involved with the Embera Quera indian community located at the Panama Canal basin (Caribbean site) helping them develop a tourism program with emphasis on birding. In the government conservation programs he have served at national levels. Also he is a very active member of the Panama Audubon Society (PAS). His wide ranging interests include butterfly, mammals, insects, good food & cooking. Friendly, fun and knowledgeable, Gonzalo (54 years old) is always ready to take you birding any time any place in Panama.

Testimorial.

Our birding trip with you was great. You were knowledgeable about the individual birds and where to find them, as well as being a most gracious host. Our accomodations in Achiote and Gamboa were excellent. We enjoyed the rural atmosphere and food in Achiote and, well, Ivan's B and B was wonderful. Please give Ivan and his family our regards. While birding in both Achiote and Gamboa was excellent, Marlin would have liked to spend more time in Achiote than in Gamboa. On leaving you, we went to the Canopy Tower. That evening we birded at the munitions depot where we saw a Rail. The next day we spent most of the morning in the tower, then. Future birding at the tower included most of the places, we had been at with you, we decided to join another couple and go to the Canopy Lodge. We were there three days and two nights. Each day were birded all morning (and then some) as well as three to four hours in the afternoon, seeing many different birds at that higher elevation.
Thank you for giving us such a wonderful tour of the Panama city area and such a comprehensive overview of the history of Panama, as well as the opportunity to see the workings of the Panama Canal lock system.
All in all, it was a memorable adventure and birding trip and you helped make it special.
Marlin and Anita Jones, Iowa marlinjones28(AT)gmail.com
Gonzalo, Thank you so much for your expert guidance!
David Jordet, New York, 2008. sailbirder(AT)yahoo.com
We all really appreciated the time and effort that you put into showing us the birds of the Gamboa and Achiote Road areas.
Barbara, Kathleen, Don, Howie, Dave, Dennis, Carol, Rob, Melissa, Miriam and Eva Callahan, 2008. "The -noisy- group!
evamsc(AT)verizon.net

Some facts about Panama.

Panama is a land to be discovered. Other thinks To Do besides birding: Panama City Tour, Panama Canal Cruise, Indian Village visit, Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, White Water Rafting, Sport Fishing, Sailing, Surfing, Golf, Shopping.
Weather: Days are warm to hot, nights much cooler; temperatures range from 32C (90F) during the daytime to 21C (70F) in the evening practically year-round. Humidity is always high at about 80 percent. The rainy season takes place between May and November, and summer season from December to April. Birding is all year round.
Panama is a narrow land bridge connecting North and South America. The Panama Canal, built by the United States after Panama's independence from Colombia in 1903, joins the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In 1999 Panama assumed full control of the Panama Canal.
Industry: food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products and textiles.
Agriculture: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton; beef and veal.
Population: 3,232,000
Capital: Panama City (930,000 population)
Area: 75,517 square kilometers (29,157 square miles)
Language: Spanish and English
Religion: Roman Catholic and Protestant
Currency: The Balboa = US dollar
Life Expectancy: 74
GDP per Capita: U.S. $6,200
Literacy Percent: 93

More facts about Panama.

Guide books and CD’s recommended:

A Guide to the Birds of Panama, by Robert S. Ridgely and John A. Gwynne, Jr.

Find lowest prices here

Request a Quote from Birdingpaltours
Trip Description:
Full Name:
Street Address:
Town:
State or province:
Postal or Zip Code:
Country:
Nationality:
Email Address:
Confirm Email Address:
Telephone Number:
Desired departure week: See note below form:
Number of people:
Name & Address of Travel Companions
Notes
Type this word:   DOVE

Note: To ascertain tour availability and best pricing, select a week for departure date. e.g. Sep 01 - 07

Email to a friend
secure email provided by barewire.net
To Email:
Your Email:
Your Name:
Subject Line:
Message:	This is an automatic message to tell you about a trip for birdwatchers. I visited Birdingpaltours and thought you would be interested: http://www.birdingpal.org/tours/PanamaItinerary.htm
Type this word:	WREN

For more tours around the world visit
Birdingpaltours

Last update 24/03/2012