DAY 1.   ARRIVAL TO PANAMA

Upon arrival to Tocumen International Airport, you will be greeted by a Panama
Great Adventures representative and transferred to your hotel in Panama City.
 

Meals (-).

Lodging (Hotel Crowne Plaze Exprees Aeropuerto or similar).

 

 

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DAY 2. BAYANO LAKE AND DRIVE TO METETI

In our way to the Darien will traverse what seems as an homogenous but surprisingly rich rainforest. The Bayano lake, an artificial reservoir that generates electricity for Panama City, is inhabited by several species only found on this side of Panama: Cocoi Heron, Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Pied Water-tyrant, Striated Heron and Neotropic Cormorants are common on this lake shore. After lunch will continue our drive to the east until we arrive to the town of Meteti. Birding is very easy around town so will drive around looking for Spot-breasted Woodpeckers, Orange-crowned Orioles and Mealy Amazon Parrots.

 

Meals (BLD).

Lodging (Hotel Crown Darien or similar).

 

 

 

DAY 3. EL SALTO ROAD AND YAVIZA

Early morning will depart towards this dirt road that cut through teak plantations and native forest. The constant change of forest types will give us chances to see some specialties such as the Black Antshrike, Red-billed Scythbill, Sooty-headed Tyrannulet, Spectacled Parrotlet, Golden-green Woodpecker, Bare-crowned, Jet and the local race of Chesnut-backed Antbirds.

During the afternoon will drive towards the end of the Panamerican Highway, longest road on the planet. The forest nerby the town of Yaviza offers opportunities for Yellow-hooded Blackbirds, Black-billed Flycatcher, Black Oropendola, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Yellow-breasted Flycatcher, Bicolored Wren and Little Cuckoo.

 

Meals (BLD).

Lodging (Hotel Crown Darien or similar).

 

 

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DAY 4. FILO DEL TALLO AND TORTI VALLEY

Before we depart this área will inspect the hills of Filo del Tallo protected watershed to find the Golden-headed Manakin, Red-throated Caracara, Blue Cotinga and Red-rumped Woodpecker. Will then drive towards Torti, half way towards Panama City and will check the sparsley populated area of Torty. The valley offers secondary forest which is great for  Double-banded Graytail, Gray-cheecked Nunlet and Black-tailed Trogon.

 

Meals (BLD).

Lodging (Hotel Portal Avicar or similar)

 

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DAY 5. SAN FRANCISCO FOREST RESERVE

The high humidity and proximity to the Maje Massif brings to lower altitude some of the rarities of this forest. Preserved for its high yield of water for human consumption, the San Francisco Reserve includes on its list birds like Black and White Hawk Eagle, White-fronted Nunbird, Central American Pygmy-Owl, Barn Owl, Buff-rumped Warbler, Royal Flycatcher, Choco Syristes and Rufous-winged Antwren.

 

Meals (BLD).

Lodging (Hotel Portal Avicar or similar)

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DAY 6. TORTI RIVER AND CHEPO GRASSLANDS
Right before we depart will scout the gallery forest that flanks the Torti River. Aims are Pacific Antwren, White-eared Conebill, Orange-crowned Oriole, Bay Wren and Fulvous-vented Euphonia. On the way back to Panama City will drive the old panamerican highway to increase our chances for Pearl Kite, Great Black-Hawk, Capped Heron, White-tailed Kite, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Red-breasted Medowlark, Striped Cuckoo, Crested Caracara, Pale-breasted Spinetail,  and other birds specific open grasslands.

 

Meals (BLD).

Lodging (Hotel Radisson Summit or similar)

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DAY 7. METROPOLITAN PARK

Located at  Soberania National Park, this area is one of the "hot spots" on the east bank of the Panama Canal Corridor; it is located at the southernmost part of the Soberania National Park, only a 30-minute drive from Panama City. It contains semideciduous forests and it also features the Summit Ponds. Boat-billed Herons, Capped and Agami Herons are rare to see, Mangrove Swallow, Lesser kiskadee, Lance-tailed Manakin, Rosy-thrush tanager, Dusky Antbird and White-bellied Antbird, Royal Flycatcher, Crane Hawk, Pheasant Cuckoo.

  

Meals (B-L-D).

Lodging (Hotel Radisson Summit or similar).

 

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DAY 8. CERRO AZUL

Just one hour out site of Panama City in  Cerro Azul (2,500 ft.) and Cerro Jefe (3,300 ft.) we encounter cloud-forested hills with peaks of elfin forest.

Yellow-eared Toucanet, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Spot-crowned Barbet, Black-eared Wood-Quail, and a nice mix of tanagers, including Silver-throated, Emerald, Speckled, Rufous-winged, Bay-headed, Black-and-yellow, Golden-hooded, and Hepatic would be our target list.

Hummingbirds are diverse in this mountains and  include the Rufous-crested Coquette, White-tipped Sicklebill, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Green Thorntail, as well as Violet-capped, Violet-headed & Snowy-bellied Hummingbirds! We should also find the endemic Stripe- cheeked Woodpecker, along with Lineated Woodpecker, Black-striped & Spotted Woodcreepers, Red-capped & White-ruffed Manakins, Russet Antshrike, and White-vented & Tawny-capped Euphonia

 

Meals (B-L-D).

Lodging (Hotel Radisson Summit or similar).

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DAY 9. PIPELINE ROAD

6:00 am    Pick up at your hotel in Panama City.

Early morning pick up and transfer to Soberania National Park. Pipeline Road is one of Panama’s birding hot spots. Expect to see Slaty-tailed / Black-throated and Violaceous Trogons; Scarlet-rumped Cacique; Blue-crowned / Red-capped and Golden-collared Manakins; Crimson-crested / Cinnamon / Lineated Woodpeckers; Semiplumbeous Hawk, Collared Forest-Falcon; Snail Kites, Jacanas and  Rufescent Tiger-Herons, among varios dozens of species you will be able to watch, on a guided full day birding trip. We will have  box lunches at noon. Afternoon  transfer to your hotel.

 

Meals (B-L-D)

Lodging (Hotel Radisson Summit or similar).

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DAY 10. SOBERANIA NATIONAL PARK

Located at  Soberania National Park, this area is one of the "hot spots" on the east bank of the Panama Canal Corridor; it is located at the southernmost part of the Soberania National Park, only a 30-minute drive from Panama City. It contains semideciduous forests and it also features the Summit Ponds. Boat-billed Herons, Capped and Agami Herons are rare to see, Mangrove Swallow, Lesser kiskadee, Lance-tailed Manakin, Rosy-thrush tanager, Dusky Antbird and White-bellied Antbird, Royal Flycatcher,

Crane Hawk, Pheasant Cuckoo.

Afternoon flight to Chiriquí

 

Meals (B-L-D).

Lodging (Los Quetzales Lodge or similar).

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​DAY 11. LOS QUETZALES TRAIL + LAGUNAS DE VOLCAN

Today after breakfast, we’ll visit Los Quetzales Trail and  Volcán Barú National Park. We will help you find the beautiful Resplendent Quetzals, and you can also search for Black-and-Yellow and Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher, Flame-throated Warbler, Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Ruddy Treerunner Blue-throated (Emerald) Toucanet to mention some. After lunch we will continue birding  at Volcan Lakes, a middle elevation forest to look for some species like the Masked Duck, Silvery-throated Jay, Golden-winged Warbler, Black-breasted Wood-Quail, Northern Jacanas, Pale-breasted Spinetail.

 

Meals (B-L-D).

Lodging (Los Quetzales Lodge or similar).

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DAY 12. LOS QUETZALES CABINS AREA + FINCA DRACULA +  CIELITO SUR

Tucked deep in the forest the Los Quetzales Cabins are almost on the continental divide and on primary mountain forest. The expected birds are Black-and Yellow Silky –flycatcher, Black Billed Nightingale-Thrush, Flame Tthroated Warblear, Violet Sabrewing, Large-footed Finch, Yellow-thighed Finch and more. The afternoon will visit to easy birding spots: Finca Dracula and Cielito Sur gardens. Finc Dracula is famous for its large collection of orquids. The gardens give us great chances for Gray-breasted Wood-Wren, Maroon-chested Ground-Dove, Silver-throated Tanager, Slaty Flowerpiercer and other common garden dwellers. Further down to hill is the small family run Cielito Sur hotel. Chesnut-capped Brush-finch, White-tailed and Striped-tailed Emeralds, Scintillant Hummingbird, Flame-colored and White-winged Tanagers,

 

Meals (B-L-D).

Lodging (Hotel Dos Rios or similar).

 

 

DAY 13. FINCA HARTMAN + LA AMISTAD INTERNATIONAL PARK

Will drive to the western foothills, close to Costa Rica, to visit one of the pioneering spots for birding in the Chiriqui Highlands: Finca Hartman. Will use their trails to look for Cherrie`s Tanager, Pale- billed Woodpecker, Sulphur-winged Parakeet, White-crowned Parrots, Olive-striped Flycatcher, Red headed Barbet, Fiery-billed Aracari and if you are very lucky the Turquoise Cotinga. After lunch in Finca Hartmann will use 4x4 to climb up the mountinas to continue birding at Ojo de Agua Parque Internacional La Amistad.

 

Meals (B-L-D).

Lodging (Los Quetzales Lodge or similar).

 

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DAY 14.  BAJO FRIO + CUESTA DE PIEDRA

Morning birding at Bajo Frio looking for Rufous Tailed Jacamar, Crested Guan, Ruddy Foliage gleaner, Spot-crowned Euphonia and the White-throated Thrush. Brown Violetear, White-collared Swift, White-crested Coquette and Orange-collared Manakin are among other possibilities in this area.  Will continue our journey to a very clasy and famous hotel in the town of Boquete: Finca Lerida: an active coffee plantation that privately protects some great tracks of native mountain forests. 

 

Meals (B-L-D).

Lodging (Finca Lerida or similar).

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DAY 15. FINCA LERIDA

During this, the last day birding in Panama, will immerse ourselves in the greatness of this forest. The giant oaks and cedars will be our playground. From Resplendent Quetzal to Three-wattled Bellbirds, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Blue-throated Toucan and Ruddy Treerunner: will have a great day polishing our final list.

 

Meals (B-L-D).

Lodging (Finca Lerida or similar).

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DAY 16.   DEPARTURE

You will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to Tocumen International Airport.

Meals (B).