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If you like guided tours, a professional Birdingpal guide can customize your tour, and you will see the birds you want. "A new day from Cerro El Gaital, El Valle"
You will enjoy the safety of travelling with a knowledgeable local, who knows where and how to get to the right habitat for all the wildlife.
You select the date for a trip to suit you, and you will not be just an other tourist: Your guide is also your travel companion, who will make sure you also experience the native people, scenery, culture, history and food, first hand.
You will enjoy the advantage of all the attention you get in a small group, for the same price or perhaps even less, than you will pay if you travel with the large tour groups from other countries.
Boosting the local economy by hiring a local guide through Birdingpaltours also promotes the importance of protecting birds and
their habitat in many countries around the world.
Remember, the next time you travel you do not have to miss the birdwatching, if your partner or travel companions are non birders; a local guide is flexible, and will easily accommodate other needs too.
Birdwatching in Panama
Panama have the most number of bird species (970+) than any similarly sized country in the Central and Caribbean region of the American continent.
Pacific Region: Here we will be birding the mudflats of Panama City, Panama Viejo, Costa del Este, The Metropolitan City Park, Diablo, Ammo Dump, Pipeline Road, Old Gamboa Road, Plantation Road, El Charco Trail, Gamboa Town and surroundings.
Caribbean Region: We will cover Gatun Damm, Gatun Drop Zone,Tiger Trail, Escobal Road,Achiote Road,
Providencia, El Trogon
Trail, shade coffe plantation trails, Fort Sherman, San Lorenzo National Park, Black Tank Road, Skunk Hollow Road, Galeta
Island, Margarita Tank Farm and Rancho Ramos.
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. "Male Black-throated Trogan"
"© Will and Gill Carter"
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
Tour I
12 Days dedicated to birding savannas, marches, lowland and foothills in the Tropical Forest, covering the most and least frequented birding hotspots and secluded areas of Central Panama (world known) like Pipeline Road, Old Gamboa Road, Plantation Trail, Fort Sherman, San Lorenzo National Park, Achiote Road and adjacent foothills of El Valle, Cerro Campana, Cerro Azul, Cerro Jefe and more.
Itinerary
Being conservative expect 300+ species during the trip.
Day 1.
Arrival and transfer to Panama City.
Overnight in Panama City.
Day 2.
Early birding the Metropolitan Nature Park close to Panama City.
Transfer and overnight in Achiote (B,L,D).
Day 3.
Early birding in Achiote and surroundings for White Hawk, White-headed Wren, Long-tail Tyrant. Owling for Black and White
Owl plus Spectacle Owl.
Overnight in Achiote.(B,L,D)
Day 4.
Early transfer to birding Fort Sherman (Black-tailed Trogon, Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Mangrove Warbler) and San
Lorenzo National Park (Yellow-rumped Cacique, White-thighed Swallow, Peregrine Falcon).
Transfer and overnight in to Gamboa (B,L,D)
Day 5. "Pipeline Road"
Early birding Pipeline (Black-breasted Puffbird, Great Jacamar, Black-throated Trogon) and ammo dump all day (Purple Gallinulet, White-throated Crake, Gray-necked Wood-Rail).
Overnight in Gamboa (B,L,D)
Day 6.
Early Birding Plantation Road and El Charco Trail (White-tailed Trogon, Blue-crowned Manakin, Blue-crowned Motmot).
Transfer and overnight in to El Valle (B,L,D).
Day 7. "Spectacled Owl"
"© P. Franche"
Early birding and a noon visit to the Indian Marketplace in El Valle (Orange-bellied Trogon, Spotted Woodcreeper, Orange-collared Manakin).
After lunch birding and Overnight in El Valle. (B,L,D)
Day 8.
Early transfer to and birding Campana (Yellow-eared Tucanet, White-throated Robin).
Afternoon birding, transfer and overnight in to Gamboa (B,L,D).
Day 9.
Birding El Charco Trail and visit the Botanical Summit Gardens (Chesnut-headed Oropendola, Liniated Woodpecker, Black-chested Jay)
in the Soberania National Park.
Overnight in Gamboa. (B,L,D)
Day 10. "Male Faciated Antshrike"
"© Will and Gill Carter"
Early birding Los Laguitos (Boat-billed Heron, Lesser Kiskadee, Amazon Kingfisher), Summit Garden and other secluded areas.
Transfer and overnight in to Cerro Azul (B,L,D).
Day 11.
Birding all day in Cerro Azul and Cerro Jefe (Purplish-backed Quail-Dove, Tropical Screech-Owl, Rufous-crested Coquette).
Transfer and overnight in Achiote (B,L,D).
Day 12.
Transfer to Tocumen International Airport for departure.
(B,L,D)= B stands for breakfast: L: lunch; D: dinner. When food is not specify is not included in the trip price.
12 days tour price is: 2 pax US$2725 per person. 4 pax US$2175 per person.
Single accommodations are available for an extra charge of US$575 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:
Guide, all ground transportation within Panama (from Day 1 to Day 12), all entrance fees to National Parks, all meals
(when apply) and all lodging (from Day 1 to Day 11 inclusive).
Excluded:
Government tax, gratuities, alcoholic beverages, items of personal nature, airport departure tax, or international and
local airfare.
Need more information please email us.
Notes:
The above birding itineraries are based on what are essentially popular routes for birders. It can be shortened or extended.
All the date of itineraries include arrival and departure dates.
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 or two please contact us for details.
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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. |
Thank you for considering a local Birdingpal guide for your next trip.
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
Complete package tour including air and ground fares is available upon request:
Many of our destinations require multiple flight connections, and it is very important you are protected if complications arise. Our experienced travel consultants are well trained in booking complicated itineraries, not only to obtain the most economical pricing, but also to make sure you are protected, should delays or other complications occur.
For a quote please request it on the form below.
Note: To ascertain tour availability and best pricing, select a week for departure date. e.g. Sep 01 - 07
Need more information please email us.