Tour Leader: Robert Wilcox
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): USD4,800 * GBP3,832 * EUR4,606 * AUD7,716
The gateway between South and Central America, Panama’s privileged location makes it one of the most spectacular birding destinations in the world. With a unique combination of Neotropical specialities from both North and South America, this is also an incredibly friendly land, where the sun rises over the Caribbean and sets in the Pacific.
On our Best of Panama tour, we will explore some of the most accessible rainforests and high-altitude cloud forests the country has to offer. The native flora is simply stunning, and more than 10,000 species have already been identified within the country! Around 930 bird species – more than the number found in North America and Europe combined – make their home in this tropical paradise. With roughly 29% of its territory protected within 15 nature reserves, Panama is fast becoming a must-visit destination for birders and nature travellers the world over. We look forward to having you join us on this unforgettable birding and wildlife experience in the tropical forests of Central America!
Panamanian Tyrannulet; Veraguan Mango; Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker; Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo (rare); Blue Cotinga; Rosy Thrush-Tanager; Keel-billed & Chestnut-mandibled Toucans; Yellow-eared Toucanet; Purple-throated Fruitcrow; Spot-crowned Barbet; Black-eared Wood Quail; Fasciated, Russet & Black-crowned Antshrikes; Red-capped, White-ruffed, Lance-tailed, Blue-crowned & Golden-collared Manakins; White-whiskered & White-necked Puffbird; Spotted, Dusky, Bicolored, Ocellated & White-bellied Antbirds; Black-faced Antthrush; Dot-winged, White-flanked, Slaty, Moustached & Checker-throated Antwrens; Red-lored & Northern Mealy Amazons; Blue-headed & Brown-hooded Parrots; Slaty-tailed & White-tailed Trogons; Scaled, Black-crowned & Streak-chested Antpittas; Bay-headed, Speckled & Black-and-yellow Tanagers; Green Shrike-Vireo; Black-chested Jay; Speckled Mourner; Spot-crowned Antvireo; Black-and-white & Ornate Hawk-Eagles; Crested Owl; Barred Forest Falcon; Scarlet-thighed Dacnis; Spotted Barbtail; Black Guan; White Hawk; Red-faced Spinetail; White-vented Euphonia. Hummingbird fans: Rufous-crested Coquette, White-tipped Sicklebill, Band-tailed Barbthroat, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Green Thorntail, Violet-capped, Violet-headed & Snowy-bellied Hummingbirds, Green Hermit, White-tailed Emerald, Green-crowned Brilliant, Purple-throated Mountaingem, Snowcap (rare).
Mantled Howler Monkey; White-faced Capuchin; Ocelot; Brown-throated & Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth.
rainforest, cloudforest, marshes, rivers
mostly tropical conditions; warm and humid
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader
Moderate. Suitable for most birding / wildlife interest levels. Both extensions are moderate with some more taxing (optional) elements. A good level of fitness is necessary.
Comfortable.
Mostly easy, with several trickier forest species. Garden & lodge birding typically provides good visuals of most species.
280+
Panama Canal, pristine rainforest
Worthwhile to good. Several fruit & hummingbird feeders. Photography more difficult within closed forest canopy.
We thoroughly enjoyed this tour with Alex and Edwin leading us. They were both excellent guides and ensured we got the maximum out of the trip. The reduced number of hotel changes made for the 'relaxed ' sense of the tour but the birding was full on . Edwin was also a very good driver. Thank you to all involved. We hope you do some more relaxed trips !
This was my first international birding tour experience, and so while I have no basis for comparison, I was completely satisfied by this tour. The guides were excellent. Their knowledge was near encyclopaedic, and most importantly, never-ending. I would actively seek to go on tour with Tuomas Seimola again.
Forrest is truly a pleasure. His bird-finding skills, both by sight and ear, are phenomenal, but even more striking is his singular personality and people skills. Always enthusiastic. Not only would I travel with Forrest again, I preferentially would select a tour if he was guiding.
The team of Alex and Edwin is superb & unbeatable. Working as a team, they hear, find, locate and show us every bird. They operate cooperatively working the laser lights and scopes, so that all of us get to see the birds. Not they stay cool and calm so who were looking for the bird have time to locate it. Huge bonus is their delightful sense of humor.. We shared many a good laugh. Truly, a great trip!! Kudos !!
Both guides and trip were great. Especially glad that Adam Walleyn offered to stay at the Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo location and skip lunch if any others wanted to also skip lunch to try to view the bird. Only two of us skipped lunch to stay with Adam and all three of us got to see the bird.
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