Highlights of Avian Panama

Birdwatching in Panama is a truly rewarding experience. With over 950 species of birds found in an area of less than 50,000 square miles that are easily reached, avid and the beginner birders alike will enjoy a unique avian adventuture

2008 Departure Dates: January 12-19, February 9-16, April 5-12, December 20-27

2008 Prices:

• $1920 per person/based on double occupancy
• $450 single supplement
• Prices valid until Nov 30, 2008

Please add 5% mandated government service charge for these departure dates--$96 for double occupancy; $23 for single supplement

Pre or post trip extensions available to Cana, Darien National Park and Punta Patiño Nature Reserve, the realm of the Harpy Eagle

Note: This is a fully escorted tour with specific departure dates. Private tours and trip extensions can be arranged on request. Latin American Escapes also specializes in designing custom itineraries.

Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE PANAMA.  On arrival to Tocumen International Airport we will be met by an Ancon Expeditions of Panama representative and transferred to our hotel in Panama City. This evening we will enjoy a welcome cocktail and briefing with our Naturalist Guide.  Night at HOTEL EXECUTIVE

Day 2 PIPELINE ROAD – SUMMIT PONDS – MIRAFLORES LOCKS This morning we drive to Pipeline Road in Soberania National Park. Soberania is home to more than 400 species of birds. Before entering the road we bird the scrub habitat near Ammo Dump ponds looking for Crimson-backed Tanager, Rufescent Tiger Heron, White-throated Crake as well as several Tyrannulets and Greenlets. Located within this protected area Pipeline Road is where the Panama Audubon Society established a world record Christmas bird count by identifying 385 species of birds in a 24-hour period. As one of the most accessible rain forests in the world, Pipeline Road is a great place to look for birds like Slaty-tailed, Black-throated Trogons, Golden-collared Manakin, White-bellied Antbird, Semiplumbeous Hawk, Black-breasted Puffbird, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Blue Cotinga, Pheasant Cuckoo as well as army ant-swarm followers. A picnic lunch will be served at Summit Ponds. Here we will look for the Boat-billed Heron, Rosy Thrush Tanager and other Pacific woodland species. Afterwards we will visit Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal to learn about its history and marvel at this engineering accomplishment. The canal still operates pretty much as it did when it was inaugurated almost 100 years ago. The SS Ancon steamer was the first ship to officially transit the Panama Canal, on August 15, 1914  Night at HOTEL EXECUTIVE (BLD)

Day 3 METROPOLITAN NATURE PARK – OLD PANAMA MUDFLATS – JUAN DIAZ MANGROVES Today we visit the Metropolitan Nature Park (the only protected rain forest within capital city limits in Latin America). With an impressive list of 260 bird species the possibilities are great. Specialties include Lance-tailed Manakin, Rosy Thrush-Tanager, Orange-billed Sparrow, Green Honeycreeper, Rufous and White Wren and many others. We will also look for the endemic Red-napped Tamarin in the trail named after this tiny primate. Tide level permitting we will visit the Old Panama Mudflats for a chance to see Collared Plovers, Short-billed Dowitchers, Marbled Godwit, Whimbrel and others. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. We continue to bird at Juan Diaz scrub and mangrove area where we look for Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Ruddy-breasted Seedeater, Northern-scrub Flycatcher, Mangrove Black Hawk, Mangrove Warbler, Sapphire-throated and Scaly-breasted Hummingbirds, Rufous-browed Peppershrike among others. We will also stop at Costa del Este in search of Black-necked Stilt, Least Sandpiper, Southern Lapwing, Cocoi Heron, Yellowlegs, and Night-Herons. In the afternoon, we drive to Burbayar Lodge located in the pre-montane rainforest of the Kuna Yala foothills. Night at BURBAYAR LODGE (BLD)

Day 4 BURBAYAR This morning we will bird the network of trails surrounding Burbayar Lodge. The avifauna here is very rich and includes foothill and Eastern Panama species such as Sapayoa, Speckled Antshrike, Black-headed Antthrush and many more. Also look for the endemic Striped-cheek Woodpecker, Swallow-tailed Kite and Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer.Night at BURBAYAR LODGE (BLD)

Day 5 BURBAYAR – CHIRIQUI CLOUDFOREST.  This morning we bird the road that leads to the Nargana Forest Reserve. This road is very productive for foothill specialties that include Black and Yellow, Rufous-winged, Bay-headed, Olive and Hepatic Tanagers. Depart Burbayar after lunch and head for Albrook airport in Panama City to board our flight to David, capital of Chiriqui Province. Chiriqui is known as “Panama’s breadbasket” having some of the most breathtaking highland scenery in Central America. Transfer by van to the western side of the Baru Volcano to the town of Volcan. Night at HOTEL DOS RIOS (BLD)

Day 6 LA AMISTAD INTERNATIONAL PARK AND WORLD BIOSPHERE RESERVE Shared with neighboring Costa Rica and recognized in 1982 as a Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site, La Amistad is located at a point on the Central American land bridge where flora and fauna from North and South America reach their maximum species mix, with great ranges in altitude, precipitation, soils and temperature. We spend the morning hiking and exploring La Amistad in the area of El Retoño in search of Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Andean Pygmy-Owl, Barred Becard and many other western highland species. After lunch at a local restaurant we drive to Baru Volcano National Park located in the Talamanca mountain range. Baru is the highest point of the country at 3,475 meters above sea level. Baru Volcano and La Amistad parks are part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. Here we will search for Buffy Tuftedcheek, Resplendent Quetzal, Ochraceous Pewee, Silvery-throated Jay, Hummingbirds and other highland species. Night at HOTEL DOS RIOS (BLD)

Day 7 TAPIR’S CANYON - QUEREVALO ROAD – PANAMA CITY This morning we will stop at Tapir’s Canyon and Bajo Frio Road in search of Lesser Elaenia, Bay-headed Tanagers, Crested Oropendola, American Dipper, and a myriad other species. After lunch we start our descent to David and drive through some rice, corn and sugar cane fields along Querevalo Road. We will keep an eye out for Brown-throated Parakeets, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Dickcissels, and other grassland birds. We reach the airport in the late afternoon in time to board our flight back to Panama City. Upon arrival transferred to the hotel. Farewell dinner. Night at HOTEL EXECUTIVE (BLD)

Day 8 DEPART PANAMA.  Today we are picked up at the lobby of the hotel 2.5 hours prior to our scheduled departure flight and transferred to Tocumen International Airport. Fly home (B)

EXTENSION TO PUNTA PATIÑO PRIVATE RESERVE

Day 8 DEPART PANAMA OR CONTINUE TO PUNTA PATIÑO PRIVATE RESERVE.  Those leaving today will be transferred to Tocumen International airport 2.5 hours prior to flight time. Those continuing to Darien will proceed to Albrook domestic airport where we board our scheduled flight to La Palma, capital of the Darien province, located at the mouth of the mighty Tuira River. At La Palma board our expedition boat which takes us to the Ancon Expeditions lodge at the private 65,000 acre Punta Patiño Nature Reserve, overlooking the Gulf of San Miguel where we settle into our private cabins.

This afternoon we hike the Piedra Candela trail where our guide will describe the importance of this tropical dry forest. This type of forest is quickly vanishing due to deforestation. We can return to the lodge or stay at the beach to see the spectacular sunset.

This evening we will take a short walk to the wetlands in search of the Capybara, the world’s largest rodent with its northernmost range being Panama. We will also look for caiman, owls and other nocturnal species.  Night at PUNTA PATIÑO (BLD)

Day 9 THE MOGUE RIVER AND THE HARPY EAGLE.  This morning we embark on our motorized dugout canoe and head for the Mogue River. We will look for the Roseated Spoonbill, Ibis, Osprey and Raccoons fishing along the river. The trip up river takes us through millenary mangroves making the boat ride extraordinary. We arrive at the village of Mogue where its inhabitants greet us. After the formalities and presentations we will head into the primary rainforest. We will be looking for a recently discovered Harpy Eagle active nest. From a safe distance as not to disturb the chick or scare the mother we will have the opportunity to have one of the most rare encounters with nature. The Harpy Eagle, Panama’s National Bird and the most powerful bird of prey in the Americas is endangered. Controlled visits to the area are generating income to the nearby village, which in turns creates an interest for the protection of the birds and their habitat.

We return to the village in the afternoon where we mingle with the Embera people and learning about their customs and traditions.

Tonight we will sleep in the guest “Tambo” (thatch roof stilted house). We may opt to sleep in hammocks or screened tents with mats (provided). Night at the MOGUE VILLAGE (BLD)

Day 10 RETURN TO PANAMA CITY.  We say goodbye to our new friends early this morning as we head back to La Palma where we will board our plane and return to Panama City. Upon arrival to the airport we are transferred to our hotel. Night at the HOTEL EXECUTIVE (B)

Day 11 DEPART PANAMA.  Transfer to Tocumen International Airport 2.5 hours prior to flight departure. (B)

B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner

TRIP CLASSIFICATION: Moderate/long hiking 3-5 hours per day over variable terrain, slippery, muddy. Accommodations vary from hotels, comfortable lodges and tent camp (on the extension).

INCLUDED: Lodging, all land, air and water transportation within Panama. All airport/hotel transfers on scheduled arrival and departure dates, meals as specified in the itinerary (B - breakfast; L - lunch; D - dinner), entrance fees, guides’ services and expenses, and services of an in-bound land operator for airline confirmations and tour operations.

NOT INCLUDED: International airfare, airport departure taxes ($20 per person), tourist card ($5 per person), meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, telephone calls, room service, etc.), gratuities

NOTE: The post extension itinerary is subject to change due to tidal or weather conditions. In this event the itinerary of the post tour extension may be inverted. Weight restrictions apply to luggage in both commercial and chartered flights within Panama. A maximum of 25 lbs. of checked luggage per person is allowed. Arrangements can be made with Ancon Expeditions of Panama to store luggage that will not be needed during a particular leg of the trip. Excess baggage charges assessed by commercial carriers are the responsibility of the passenger.

EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST: Binoculars (preferably 7x35 or larger), Birds of Panama book, camera with extra batteries & film, flashlight with extra bulb and batteries, bathing suit, insect repellant, sunscreen, hat, day pack, water bottle, lightweight/quick dry cotton clothes, windbreaker, hiking boots, sandals, sneakers, rain gear, money in small denominations, toiletries & personal medications. The Naturalist Guide carries a spotting scope. A complete list of recommended clothing and equipment for this trip will be sent to you once your departure has been confirmed.

Trip Notes:

• Latin American Escapes, Inc. offers special contract airline rates to Latin America from most cities in the US, as well as special airpass rates for tickets with-in Latin America. Please ask for a quote based on your trip itinerary.
• NOTE: Weight restrictions apply to luggage in both commercial and chartered flights within Panama. A maximum of 25 lbs. per person of checked baggage is allowed. Arrangements can be made at the Panama City hotel or to store luggage that will not be needed. Excess baggage charges assessed by commercial carriers are the responsibility of the passenger.

To confirm reservations:

A deposit of $300 per person is required to confirm reservations. In addition, the following payment procedures apply:

Payment for airline tickets is due at the time tickets are issued, but no later than time of final payment.

Last Minute Bookings: Last minute reservations (less than 30 days before departure) will be accepted, subject to availability, if payment has been received, and documents can be delivered. Any special communication costs and delivery charges will be at the client's expense.

Revision Fee: Revision fees will apply once the initial deposit has been received. Charges will vary based on itinerary, and extent of changes, with a minimum charge of $50. Changes requested after documents have been issued (generally with-in 30 days) will incur a minimum $100 change fee, plus additional services requested.

International bookings: We gladly accept bookings from passengers outside the US. However, an additional surcharge of $50 per booking is applied to cover additional shipping charges.

CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS--At the time we receive written notification that you must cancel your trip, money will be returned less the following cancellation fees:

Note: A change in travel dates is considered a cancellation

Trip Documents: Trip documents will be forwarded approximately 3 weeks prior to travel, and once all payments and completed application forms have been received.

Risk and Responsibility

In arranging these trips, Latin American Escapes, Inc. acts only as the agents for the owners, contractors and suppliers actually providing tour services for these trips with whom Latin American Escapes, Inc. has no legal connection or joint ownership. These local tour operators attempt to conduct these trips as described in the preceding itineraries. However, it is possible that due to transportation schedule changes, weather, delays and unforeseeable acts of God, humans or nature, itineraries may vary from what is described. Participants are responsible for extra costs due to travel delay or itinerary changes for reasons beyond our control and assume all risks, whether identified in advance or unforeseen, as described under Limitation of Liability, and Trip Member Responsibility, located in our Terms and Conditions, which all travelers agree to sign. Traveler's insurance is not included, but is offered, and is strongly recommended. CST # 2023695-40.