From highland cloud forests, where mossy, epiphyte-laden trees grow through the fog, to lowland forests on both the Pacific and Caribbean slopes, this trip provides a unique opportunity to experience some of the most beautiful birds in Central America. We'll visit world-famous places like La Amistad International Park and Baru Volcano National Park, which UNESCO declared a biosphere reserve due to their unique flora and fauna.
This trip provides opportunities to see the Resplendant Quetzal, considered by many to be the most beautiful bird in the world! There will also be opportunities for Wrenthrush, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, colorful hummingbirds, and much more.
Day 1: Arrival in Panama City and Gamboa
After arriving at Tocumen International Airport just outside of Panama City, you will be driven to the historic town of Gamboa on the fringes of Gatún Lake along the Panama Canal.
Located within the buffer zone of Soberanía National Park, Soberanía Lodge is a modest bed & breakfast with rooms that have air conditioning and private bathrooms with hot showers.
A great diversity of animals can be seen right on the Lodge property, including dozens of butterfly and moth species, iguanas and other lizards, and a wide range of mammals such as sloths, tamarin monkeys, night monkeys, kinkajous, agoutis, pacas, coatis, and armadillos. The bird diversity is perhaps the most impressive, with around 300 species recorded in the Lodge's backyard!
Day 2: Fly to Chiriqui & Birding the Foothills
Early today, we will fly to David in the Chiriquí Province where we will arrive with time to explore the fields surrounding the airport to search for birds such as Mouse-colored Tyrannulet, the nearly endemic Black-hooded Antshrike and Orange-collared Manakin, and the endemic race of Brown-throated Parakeet.
Throughout the day, we'll keep our eyes out for the numerous species of colorful birds such as the Bay-headed, Speckled, and Silver-throated Tanagers. Other possible sightings include Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, Red-faced Spinetail, Olivaceous Woodcreepr, and the nearly endemic Fiery-billed Aracari.
In the afternoon, we will drive over the other side of the majestic Barú Volcano to the Dos Rios Hotel in the quaint town of Volcan, where we will be surrounded by mountains and lush vegetation at an altitude of approx. 5,000 ft. above sea level. This beautiful property, conveniently located within the heart of the Chiriquí mountains, provides easy access to the birding hot spots we will explore over the next few days. The nearby gardens are home to some gorgeous flowers and butterflies, along with a variety of birds. Keep your eyes peeled for Flame-colored Tanager, Rufous-collared Sparrow, and Elegant Euphonia!
Hotel website: www.dosrios.com.pa
Telephone: 011-507-771-5555
Day 3: La Amistad International Park
Breakfast will find us in La Amistad International Park, an area which is jointly protected by Panama and Costa Rica. Endemism is high in this Important Bird Area (IBA) and we will have a good chance to see many birds that are restricted to the Talamanca Range. While some of these birds are relatively drab, such as the Dark Pewee or Yellowish Flycatcher, this area also hosts some of the gaudiest birds in the world, including myriad hummingbirds and brightly colored tanagers, Emerald (Blue-throated) Toucanet, Spangled-cheeked Tanager, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, and the gorgeous Resplendent Quetzal.
We will have lunch at a restaurant operated by a local women’s cooperative within the park, where we will taste some great local flavors while on the lookout for passing mixed species flocks that could contain many of specialties we may have missed at this point or other species like Ruddy Treerunner, Buffy Tufted Cheek, Prong-billed Barbet and more.
Later, we will stop at some nearby hummingbird feeders where more than a dozen species may be present – including White-throated Mountain-gem, Talamanca Hummingbird, Violet Saberwing, Snowy-bellied hummingbird, the tiny Scintillant Hummingbird, and maybe even a Fiery-throated Hummingbird.
Day 4: Highlands of the Barú Volcano National Park
Early today we will explore the forests along the Los Quetzales Trail within Barú Volcano National Park. Because of its importance in preserving unique elements of the flora and fauna, UNESCO has declared this area a Biosphere Reserve. In the cloud forest we may spot Buffy Tufted-cheek, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Sooty-capped Bush-tanager, Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher, and Large-footed Finch. Flowering bushes along the trail may yield White-throated Mountain-gem as well as other regional endemics like Stripe-tailed and Volcano Hummingbirds.
Time permitting, we may take a tour of the nearby Dracula Orchid Farm. Here we will we enjoy the sight of more than 2,000 different species of these colorful flowers while keeping our eyes open for Silver-throated Tanager, Black-faced Solitaire, and Slaty Flower-piercer.
Day 3: La Amistad International Park
Breakfast will find us in La Amistad International Park, an area which is jointly protected by Panama and Costa Rica. Endemism is high in this Important Bird Area (IBA) and we will have a good chance to see many birds that are restricted to the Talamanca Range. While some of these birds are relatively drab, such as the Dark Pewee or Yellowish Flycatcher, this area also hosts some of the gaudiest birds in the world, including myriad hummingbirds and brightly colored tanagers, Emerald (Blue-throated) Toucanet, Spangled-cheeked Tanager, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, and the gorgeous Resplendent Quetzal.
We will have lunch at a restaurant operated by a local women’s cooperative within the park, where we will taste some great local flavors while on the lookout for passing mixed species flocks that could contain many of specialties we may have missed at this point or other species like Ruddy Treerunner, Buffy Tufted Cheek, Prong-billed Barbet and more.
Later, we will stop at some nearby hummingbird feeders where more than a dozen species may be present – including White-throated Mountain-gem, Talamanca Hummingbird, Violet Saberwing, Snowy-bellied hummingbird, the tiny Scintillant Hummingbird, and maybe even a Fiery-throated Hummingbird.
Day 4: Highlands of the Barú Volcano National Park
Early today we will explore the forests along the Los Quetzales Trail within Barú Volcano National Park. Because of its importance in preserving unique elements of the flora and fauna, UNESCO has declared this area a Biosphere Reserve. In the cloud forest we may spot Buffy Tufted-cheek, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Sooty-capped Bush-tanager, Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher, and Large-footed Finch. Flowering bushes along the trail may yield White-throated Mountain-gem as well as other regional endemics like Stripe-tailed and Volcano Hummingbirds.
Time permitting, we may take a tour of the nearby Dracula Orchid Farm. Here we will we enjoy the sight of more than 2,000 different species of these colorful flowers while keeping our eyes open for Silver-throated Tanager, Black-faced Solitaire, and Slaty Flower-piercer.
Day 3: La Amistad International Park
Breakfast will find us in La Amistad International Park, an area which is jointly protected by Panama and Costa Rica. Endemism is high in this Important Bird Area (IBA) and we will have a good chance to see many birds that are restricted to the Talamanca Range. While some of these birds are relatively drab, such as the Dark Pewee or Yellowish Flycatcher, this area also hosts some of the gaudiest birds in the world, including myriad hummingbirds and brightly colored tanagers, Emerald (Blue-throated) Toucanet, Spangled-cheeked Tanager, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, and the gorgeous Resplendent Quetzal.
We will have lunch at a restaurant operated by a local women’s cooperative within the park, where we will taste some great local flavors while on the lookout for passing mixed species flocks that could contain many of specialties we may have missed at this point or other species like Ruddy Treerunner, Buffy Tufted Cheek, Prong-billed Barbet and more.
Later, we will stop at some nearby hummingbird feeders where more than a dozen species may be present – including White-throated Mountain-gem, Talamanca Hummingbird, Violet Saberwing, Snowy-bellied hummingbird, the tiny Scintillant Hummingbird, and maybe even a Fiery-throated Hummingbird.
Pricing
Note: Although we will do our best efforts to fulfill all the activities described in this itinerary, there is always chance that activities may have to be changed or conducted in a different order due to unpredictable weather, road closures, or other unforeseen events. Additionaly, our local birding guides may suggest other alternatives to take advantage of a sudden opportunity in order to maximize birding opportunities.
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