2012 Panama Hotspots Tour

TOUR OVERVIEW

Our birding tour to Panama offers a unique mix of Central and South American bird species commingling in the area surrounding the Panama Canal combined with high elevation specialties and near endemic birds of western Panama. In the Canal Zone we'll bird famed Pipeline Road, Old Gamboa Road, Discovery Center, and Metropolitan National Park on the Pacific side and Achiote Road on the Caribbean side. In western Chiriqui Province we'll spend 1½ days birding Fortuna Road, a trail along the Continental Divide, and selected areas in the Caribbean lowlands. We'll also bird the private property at Finca Lerida, La Amistad Heritage Park, Volcan Baru National Park, and several other sites in the highlands. We'll stay in bed-and-breakfasts, ecolodges, and comfortable hotels throughout the tour.

PHOTOS OF SOME LIKELY SPECIES ON TOUR

TOUR ITINERARY

DATE	ACTIVITY	MEALS	ACCOMMODATIONS
1-Sun 02/26	Arrival	D	Balboa Inn
2-Mon 02/27	Morning bird famed Metropolitan National Park. Afternoon bird Old Gamboa Road.	BLD	Balboa Inn
3-Tue 02/28	Morning bird Pipeline Road. Afternoon transfer to Caribbean side. View hummingbirds at feeders.	BLD	Nattur Ecolodge
4-Wed 02/29	Morning bird Achiote Road. After lunch transfer to Pacific side.	BLD	B & B La Estancia
5-Thu 03/01	Morning bird Discovery Center. Afternoon fly to David.	BLD	Hotel Gran Nacional
6-Fri 03/02	All day bird Fortuna Road.	BLD	Finca Lerida
7-Sat 03/03	All day bird Finca Lerida.	BLD	Finca Lerida
8-Sun 03/04	Morning bird Continental Divide off Fortuna Road. Afternoon transfer to Volcan Baru.	BLD	Hotel Dos Rios
9-Mon 03/05	All day bird Volcan Baru area.	BLD	Hotel Dos Rios
10-Tue 03/06	Morning bird La Amistad Heritage Park. Afternoon fly to Panama City.	BLD	Balboa Inn
11-Wed 03/07	End of tour after breakfast. International flights home.	B	None

TOUR MAP

TOUR DESCRIPTION

DAY 1 - PANAMA CITY

International flights arrive in afternoon or evening. Participants gather at the Balboa Inn, reached by a 30-minute taxi ride from the airport. Everyone is met at the hotel by our tour leader. Those arriving a day early have free time to take a partial transit through the canal, explore the city, or relax at the inn. Night at Balboa Inn.

DAY 2 - METROPOLITAN PARK & OLD GAMBOA ROAD

Morning bird trails through dry forest of Metropolitan National Park. Trails are wide and fairly easy but do entail some uphill walking. The park is the best place to find the secretive Rosy Thrush-Tanager and the endemic Yellow-green Tyrannulet. We also hope to see the striking Lance-tailed Manakin. Afternoon bird Old Gamboa Road in the southern-most part of Soberania National Park. This road is closed to vehicular traffic and offers excellent birding through deciduous woodland. Summit Ponds near the road entance is good for water birds and often Spectacled Owl. Night at Balboa Inn.   Show Possible Species

DAY 3 - PIPELINE ROAD

Morning bird Pipeline Road, which offers some of the best birding in Central America. This famed road traverses diverse habitats in Soberania National Park including primary rainforest, secondary forest, swamps, and rivers. On a good day it's possible to see 100 species in this area. Walking is easy and traffic is non-existent as only park service vehicles are allowed on the road. After lunch, drive to Caribbean side of Canal Zone, arriving at Nattur Nature Center by late-afternoon. Following check-in, view hummingbirds visiting lodge feeders. We may also have time to bird the grounds before dark. Night at Nattur Ecolodge.   Show Possible Species

DAY 4 - ACHIOTE ROAD

Morning bird Achiote Road, a famed birding locale featuring several Caribbean slope specialties and a "must" for birders visiting the Canal Zone. Groups staying around Gamboa must get up very early to make the 2½ hour drive and still arrive by 6:00 AM. We won't have to get up so early because the drive is much shorter from Nattur Ecolodge. After lunch transfer back to B & B La Estancia on Ancon Hill, arriving by mid-afternoon to hopefully see Geoffrey's Tamarins coming onto the property to find food. Late afternoon view hummingbirds at feeders. Night at B & B La Estancia.   Show Possible Species

DAY 5 - DISCOVERY CENTER

Morning birding at the Discovery Center, located near Pipeline Road. The center has about a mile of trails through the forest, hummingbird feeders and a 40-meter observation tower. Many of the birds are similar to those we expect to see earlier along Pipeline Road, but the obervation tower gives us good vantage for soaring raptors and canopy birds difficult to see from the ground. Lunch in an area restaurant. Late afternoon fly to David, capital of Chiriqui Province. Night at Hotel Gran Nacional in David, located 10 minutes from the airport and best hotel in town.   Show Possible Species

DAY 6 - FORTUNA ROAD & CHIRIQUI GRANDE

After early breakfast, drive northward along Fortuna Road across the Continental Divide. Look for Red-fronted Parrotlet along the way, a rare and range-restricted species most likely seen before reaching the Continental Divide. Visit the Smithsonian Research Station. On the Caribbean slope walk forest trails at Willie Mazoo's Camp in the Palo Seco Forest Reserve. Farther downslope bird Mali Marsh to look for several specialty birds, especially Sooty Finch. Then continue to lowlands, birding near the Oil Terminal buildings outside Chiriqui Grande, a patch of remnant forest good for several lowland birds we won't see elsewhere. Night at Hotel Gran Nacional.   Show Possible Species

DAY 7 - FINCA LERIDA

Finca Lerida is a shade-grown coffee finca that has worked with the Smithsonian Institution for many years to provide facilities for field research. The cultivated portion of the finca is good for birds of more open habitats, while a forested hillside and ridgeline across the road provides fine birding along forested trails. Some trails are steep in places while others are fairly easy as they follow the contours of the ridge line. Early morning bird trails along forested ridge line above Finca Lerida, looking especially for Three-wattled Bellbird as well as other highland specialties. Remainder of day birding around the lodge and cultivated areas. Night at Finca Lerida.   Show Key Species

DAY 8 - FORTUNA ROAD & DAVID LOWLANDS

Early morning return to Fortuna Road, concentrating on some unmarked trails leading into the protected forest reserves. A gravel road off the main highway at the Continental Divide is good for raptors and provides access to a somewhat higher elevation trail. The trail is narrow and somewhat uphill but not difficult. We hope to find some specialties such as Black Guan and Three-wattled Bellbird. Mid-day lunch in David. Early afternoon bird lowlands looking for the endemic Veraguan Mango and other lowland specialties. Late afternoon transfer to village of Guadalupe on the slopes of Volcan Baru, arriving before dark. Night at Hotel Dos Rios.   Show Key Species

DAY 10 - VOLCAN BARU NATIONAL PARK

After early breakfast, drive up a rough road by 4-wheel-drive vehicle to Volcan Baru National Park. This area is sometimes good for Resplendent Quetzal. All morning birding there for highland specialties. Mid-day view hummingbirds coming to feeders at the lodge. Afternoon bird a nearby finca above Guadalupe, also a good place for quetzals. Night at Hotel Dos Rios.   Show Key Species

 

DAY 11 - LAGUNAS DE VOLCAN

Morning descend to a middle elevation forest and lagoon area west of Volcan. Look for target birds such as Masked Duck, Silvery-throated Jay, and Chiriqui Yellowthroat. The rare and local Black-breasted Wood-Quail is also possible. Lunch in area restaurant. After lunch return to David for late afternoon flight back to Panama City and a farewell dinner. Night at Balboa Inn.   Show Key Species

DAY 11 - END OF TOUR

Tour ends with breakfast at the hotel. International flights home.

ACCOMMODATIONS DURING TOUR

BALBOA INN

Balboa Inn is a small, newly remodeled Bed & Breakfast located at the foot of Ancon Hill not far from the Panama Canal Authority administrative complex. It's just 5 minutes from the domestic airport in a quiet, residential neighborhood. The B & B has a small dining area where a hearty, American-style breakfast is served. It features 9 rooms, all with private bath and hot water showers with good water pressure. Rooms have ceiling fans, room safes, and air conditioning. They've all been nicely redecorated.

NATTUR ECOLODGE

Nattur Ecolodge is located near Sabanitas about 20 minutes drive from the city of Colon. We stay there because it's conveniently located to Achiote Road, the best birding site on the Caribbean side of the Canal Zone. Those staying on the Pacific side have to wake up by 3:30 AM to reach Achiote Road at a reasonable time of morning. The lodge is environmentally sensitive, is located in a natural area with trees and gardens, and maintains feeders that lure several species of hummingbirds. It's owned and operated by an expert birder and caters to birdwatching and nature tour groups. It consists of a dining room and three chalet-style buildings, each divided into four private rooms. Each chalet has a common area where guests can relax as well as a small outdoor lounge. Rooms feature 2 double beds, good size private bath with hot-water showers, and floor fans but no air conditioning.

B & B LA ESTANCIA

B & B La Estancia is a small bed-and-breakfast with a total of 10 roms located on Cerro Ancon. The top of the hill is a 20-minute walk from the lodge offers wonderful views of the Bridge of Americas, Panama Canal, Amador Causeway, and Panama City. The gardens and surrounding forest are a pleasant oasis in the city where a variety of birds can be viewed from the balconies. A full breakfast is served on the premises each morning. Complimentary tea, coffee, and fruit are available during the day. Rooms are tastefully decorated and feature ceiling fans, air conditioning, twin or queen beds, and private bath. TOP

HOTEL GRAN NACIONAL

Hotel Gran Nacional is a newly renovated hotel located in the heart of David, the provinical capital of Chiriqui in western Panama. It features 3 restaurants including a pizzeria and barbeque as well as a full bar. Rooms are comfortable with one or two beds and private bath with hot water showers.

LERIDA ECOLODGE

Lerida Ecolodge is a coffee farm converted into an ecolodge. The proprietors have been involved in bird conservation and research for many years, and the finca has been a birding destination for over 70 years. A large forest tract on the premises offers superb birding for guests. The dining room offers traditional and international meals. The Old House was used by the original owners and has been converted into 3 suites and 2 bedrooms. A newly constructed lodge adds an additional 11 rooms. Each room has its own porch and a beautiful view of the valley. Rooms have double or twin beds and feature have private bath with hot water. Each room is individually decorated to improve the ambiance.

HOTEL DOS RIOS

Hotel Dos Rios is located about 45 minutes drive from the provincial capital of David in the highlands of western Chiriqui Province. The hotel is very nice and features a comfortable sitting area in the reception, full-service bar, restaurant with with both indoor and outdoor seating, and internet access. The gardens and a small tract of nearby forest attract a variety of birds to the property. The restaurant offers a la carte menus of Panamanian-style cuisine including beef and chicken, as well as pizza and seafood. Rooms are very clean and feature 2 double beds, private bath with hot water, and TV. Rooms are well ventilated and air-conditioning is unnecessary because of the mild temperatures. Windows in the rooms look out over the gardens.

LAURA FELLOWS

Laura L Fellows is co-founder of Exotic Birding LLC with Jim Wittenberger and conducts most of our tours as leader and tour coordinator. She has worked as a professional photographer since 1983. Laura's vision as a bird photographer is to portray birds and other animals as they live and behave in their natural environments. She published her vision of such "Environmental Portraits" in the December 2007 issue of Nature Photography magazine. Her photos have been used in biology textbooks and on professional websites. Before embarking on her current venture with Exotic Birding, Laura had 16 years professional experience as a commercial photographer and advertising studio manager for an internationally recognized studio in Atlanta. In that capacity she organized, coordinated and executed major photography assignments for numerous national advertising campaigns on location in the Caribbean, South America, Europe, and many states in the US. She founded and directed a photography workshop program in the Tuscany region of Italy, where she lived for 3 years. Through her efforts the workshop attracted many internationally renowned photographers as guest instructors. She speaks fluent Italian and is now gaining familiarity with Spanish. She has lectured as an invited speaker in the art department at the University of Georgia and many photo clubs, has exhibited her photographs in galleries, and has curated 5 photography exhibitions in the USA and Italy. Laura has enjoyed a life-long love and fascination for birds and nature. Some of her many photographs can be seen throughout our website.

ITO SANTAMARIA

Ito Santamaria is a member of a professional family of doctors and landowners that lives in Chiriqui province of western Panama. He speaks excellent English and is an expert birding guide who has led birding tours since 1999. He has guided tours many times with top North American birding tour companies and is very adept at finding and identifying even the most difficult birds to see in Panama. He first guided for us during our 2011 tour to Panama, and we are impressed with both his birding skills and his congenial personality.