The Panama Canal is located in the center of one of the world’s most biologically diverse areas and is surrounded by a substantial stretch of protected areas within the Panama Canal watershed. Here, close to two-thirds of the more than one thousand bird species registered in the country can be found. This Panama bird watching tour around this famous waterway focuses on the fantastic avifauna found here!
Though the inter-oceanic route of the Panama Canal is what makes it most famous, there is much more to this watershed than meets the eye. It extends from the highest elevations of the surrounding hills and mountains and is traversed by a forest corridor from the mangroves and dry forests on the Pacific slope to the wetter Caribbean slope forests. And, nestled in the middle of all this, is the gorgeous Gatun Lake, home to a number of aquatic birds, as well as mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
In eight days we will visit both coasts, as we traverse through different landscapes in search of the more than 650 birds that live around the Panama Canal zone.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL
We will meet you upon your arrival to Tocumen International Airport (PTY), Panama City, Panama for transfer to your hotel. There will be time to check in and relax before a short orientation and our first dinner together.
DAY 2: CERRO AZUL
Today we being our Panama bird watching tour by visiting the upper basin (~2,800ft) of the Chagres River – the largest river in the Panama Canal watershed, along the boundaries of Chagres National Park. The gated community of Cerro Azul is the ideal place to find the endemicStripe-cheeked Woodpecker.In addition, we will focus on findingYellow-eared Toucanet,Blue Cotinga,Black-and-yellow Tanager,Tawny-capped Euphonia, andWhite-ruffed Manakin,among many other species.
We will also visit some private gardens with bird feeders which will give us a great chance to seeRufous-crested Coquette,Violet-capped Hummingbird,Violet-headed Hummingbird,Snowy-bellied Hummingbird,Shining Honeycreeper, andRufous Motmot.
Shining Honeycreeper
DAY 3: METROPOLITAN NATURAL PARK and BAY OF PANAMA
Our journey across the Isthmus will focus on the Pacific Ocean side. This morning, we will visit the Panama Bay to explore the shores and mangrove forests in the area. At low tide we will visit the mudflats of the Old Panama City Ruins to enjoy the spectacular wintering concentration of shorebirds like Collared Plovers,Short-billed Dowitchers,Marbled Godwit,Whimbreland others.
We will continue our birding a the Embarcadero de Juan Diaz. The mangroves here provide habitat for some important species including Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Ruddy-breasted Seedeater,Northern Scrub-Flycatcher, Common Black Hawk (Mangrove), Yellow Warbler (Mangrove), Sapphire-throated and Scaly-breasted Hummingbirds,Black-necked Stilt, Least Sandpiper, andCocoi Heron among others.
We will then visit Metropolitan Natural Park, a surprisingly productive Panama bird watching site. It is the only tropical forest in Latin America located within city limits. Here, we will be on the lookout for more Panama City birds such as:Lance-tailed Manakin,Yellow-green Tyrannulet,Rosy Thrush-Tanager,Crested Caracara,Yellow-crowned Parrot,Yellow Tyrannulet, andRed-crowned Ant-Tanager.
To end the day, as time permits, we will ascend the highest point of Panama City – Ancon Hill. Ancon was also the name of the first official ship to transit the Canal. From the top of this mountain that overlooks the city and the Canal, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire Bay of Panama.
DAY 4: SOBERANIA NATIONAL PARK
The world-famous birding route, Pipeline Road, is located where the Chagres River and Gatun Lake meet. During World War II an oil pipeline was built to transfer fuel from one ocean to the other in case the Panama Canal was ever attacked. The Canal was never assaulted and today the preserved road is an easily accessible path that leads into the heart of a Neotropical forest. Pipeline is well known for its trogons – five of them can be seen on a very lucky day: Slaty-tailed Trogon,GarteredandBlack-throatedare the most common.
Black-tailed Trogon
We will be alert for a melancholy sound emanating from the forest floor, letting us know that Streak-chested Antpittais nearby. We will also search on the ground or on very low perches, for army ant-followers such asOcellated Antbird,Bicolored Antbird,Chestnut-backed Antbirdand, if we are very lucky, the prizedRufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo! Today will surely be a highlight of our Birds of the Panama Canal tour.
DAY 5: SAN LORENZO PROTECTED AREA & ACHIOTE ROAD
Today we get an early start as we travel to the Caribbean Sea, at the other end of the Panama Canal. We will explore the forest around the mouth of the Chagres River in the Protected Area of San Lorenzo – one of the best birding sites is Achiote Road, where we will search for the regional endemics found only in Panama and Colombia – theSpot-crowned BarbetandWhite-headed Wren. We will also look forBlack-tailed Trogon,Pacific Antwren,Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher, andBare-crowned Antbird. To end the day, we visit the Ruins of San Lorenzo Fort which was built to protect the mouth of the Chagres River during the Spanish Empire between the 17thand 18thcenturies.
DAY 6: PANAMA RAINFOREST DISCOVERY CENTER, SUMMIT POND & PLANTATION TRAIL
Today we return to Pipeline Road early this morning for a stop at the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center. Here we climb the tower to get a “birds-eye-view” of the rainforest and perhaps a peak at ships passing through the Canal. We will also visit the area’s hummingbird feeders to see some of the buzzing visitors, such asViolet-bellied Hummingbird,Blue-chested Hummingbird,Crowned Woodnymph,Long-billed Hermit and many others. This will provide us with an amazing Panama bird watching experience! In the afternoon, after our lunch and a pleasant rest, we will visit the Summit Pond and Plantation Trail to seek forBoat-billed Heron,American Pygmy Kingfisher,Rosy Thrush-Tanager,Jet AntbirdandPale-eyed Pygmy-Tyrant.
DAY 7: ALTOS DE CAMPANA NATIONAL PARK & MIRAFLORES VISITOR CENTER
In the most western part of the Panama Canal watershed is the Altos de Campana National Park and the headwaters of a tributary of the basin, the Trinidad River. We will explore the area’s trails as we search for some Central American endemics such as Stripe-breasted Wren,Orange-bellied TrogonandBlack-crowned Antpitta. On top of this, we will get to enjoy the magnificent landscapes of this region. Around noon we will head back to our hotel for a quick rest before gaining first-hand experience of the Panama Canal’s operation and history during our visit to the Miraflores Visitor Center.
Wattled Jacana
DAY 8: GATUN LAKE & DEPARTURE
Today we will visit Gatun Lake – the last major part of the Panama Canal on our tour. Encompassing more than 40% of the waterway and the most important water reservoir for the canal’s operation, Gatun Lake is probably the most picturesque place on this famous waterway. Exploring the lake by boat, we will search for some aquatic species such asLimpkin, Wattled Jacana, Purple Gallinule,Snail Kite, and Pied-billed Grebeamong others. In the lake, we may also have a chance to get up close to enormous container ships and intricate sailboats in transit through the canal. We will return to our hotel to enjoy our last lunch together. We will check-out of the hotel and transfer to Tocumen Internal Airport, where our Panama bird watching tour will conclude.
BIRDS
Great Tinamou
Gray-headed Chachalaca
Squirrel Cuckoo
Pheasant Cuckoo
Rufous-crested Coquette
Scaly-breasted Hummingbird
Garden Emerald
Snowy-bellied Hummingbird
Violet-capped Hummingbird
White-throated Crake
Southern Lapwing
Wood Stork
Magnificent Frigatebird
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
Black Hawk-Eagle
Semiplumbeous Hawk
Crane Hawk
Slaty-tailed Trogon
White-tailed Trogon
Whooping Motmot
American Pygmy Kingfisher
White-necked Puffbird
Great Jacamar
Spot-crowned Barbet
Yellow-eared Toucanet
Black-cheeked Woodpecker
Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker (endemic)
Cinnamon Woodpecker
Crimson-crested Woodpecker
Laughing Falcon
Blue-headed Parrot
Mealy Parrot
Fasciated Antshrike
Moustached Antwren
Pacific Antwren
Jet Antbird
Ocellated Antbird
Black-crowned Antpitta
Streak-chested Antpitta
Black-faced Antthrush
Black-striped Woodcreeper
Straight-billed Woodcreeper
Lance-tailed Manakin
Golden-collared Manakin
Purple-throated Fruitcrow
Blue Cotinga
Russet-winged Schiffornis
Speckled Mourner
Golden-crowned Spadebill
Yellow-green Tyrannulet (endemic)
Southern Bentbill
Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher
Brownish Twistwing
Lesser Kiskadee
Scrub Greenlet
Green Shrike-Vireo
Mangrove Swallow
White-headed Wren
Stripe-breasted Wren
Fulvous-vented Euphonia
Tawny-capped Euphonia
Rosy Thrush-Tanager
Orange-billed Sparrow
Scarlet-rumped Cacique
Red-throated Ant-Tanager
Speckled Tanager
Rufous-winged Tanager
Black-and-yellow Tanager
Shining Honeycreeper
Slate-colored Grosbeak
Bay Wren
Crimson-backed Tanager, known locally as “Sangre de toro”
Common Tody-Flycatcher
Plain-colored Tanager
Violet-bellied Hummingbird
Pheasant Cuckoo
Green Honeycreeper
Collared Aracari
Montezuma Oropendola
TOUR BASICS
Guide:Edwin Campbell Single Supplement: US$325 Lodging:Comfortable and clean hotels and inns Food:Quality, fresh, local ingredients prepared in Panamanian and International styles Weather:A humid climate in all areas. Temperature varies according elevation, cold in the high area and warm in the lower elevations. Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Most days will include a fair amount of walking within undulating terrain.
* With smaller groups, an additional fee will be charged.
