Tour Leader: Robert Wilcox
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): USD3,100 * GBP2,466 * EUR2,972 * AUD4,959
Our Darién Extension will explore one of Central America’s most remote wildernesses. The Province of Darién is located east of the Panama Canal, on the border of neighbouring Colombia and nowhere else in Panama does nature express itself so abundantly than in this region of isolated wilderness! We will be spending our time in the little-explored northern forested lowlands of the Darién. Very few birders have visited here and already some very exciting species, including Panama’s national bird, the huge and majestic Harpy Eagle, as well as Crested Eagle, Red-throated Caracara, Bare-crowned and Dull-mantled Antbirds, Black Antshrike, Black Oropendola, Double-banded Greytail, Dusky-backed Jacamar, Spectacled Parrotlet, Grey-cheeked Nunlet and Spot-breasted Woodpecker, among dozens of other Darién and Choco avian specialities, have been found in the locations that we will be birding. Further surprises are no doubt to be expected!
Sapayoa; Rufous-winged Tanager; Sapphire-throated Hummingbird; Harpy & Crested Eagles; Red-throated Caracara; Bare-crowned & Dull-mantled Antbirds; Black Antshrike; Black Oropendola; Double-banded Greytail; Spectacled Parrotlet; Grey-cheeked Nunlet; Spot-breasted Woodpecker; Beautiful Treerunner; Yellow-hooded Blackbird; Blue Cotinga; Northern Royal Flycatcher; Black-tailed Trogon; Golden-headed & Golden-collared Manakins; White-fronted Nunbird; Yellow-breasted Flycatcher; Little & Dwarf Cuckoos; Slaty-backed Forest Falcon; Ornate Hawk-Eagle; Black-and-white, Mottled & Crested Owls.
Brown-throated Sloth; Mantled Howler Monkey; Crab-eating Fox.
lowland rainforest
hot 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.
250+
Worthwhile to good. Several fruit & hummingbird feeders. Photography more difficult within closed forest canopy.
Alex and local guide Edwin had excellent skills in locating birds using sound and sight. They found birds that seemed impossible to see. Forest birding doesn't always allow all the tour participants to see every bird. The accommodations were good to excellent.
First let me just say that the tour was excellent, the birding sites were interesting, the pace was perfect, Rob and both local guides were amazing. Top marks.
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.
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 !
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.
Panama - Highlights (Relaxed) 2024 - April 2024
Panama - Best of Birding 2022 - March 2022
Panama - Best of: Darien Extension 2022 - March 2022
Panama - Best of Birding 2019 - March 2019
Panama - Best of Birding 2018 - March 2018
Panama - Best of: Darien Extension III 2017 - April 2017
Panama - Best of Birding I 2017 - March 2017