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COPYRIGHT:
All content on this Wildside Nature Tours, Inc. website, including photographs, text, and illustrations, is the property Wildside Nature Tours, Inc. No portion of the material on this Web site (including text, photographs, and artwork) may be copied, reproduced, or reused without the express written permission of Wildside Nature Tours, Inc. |
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Panama:
Chiriqui Highlands and Canal Zone
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Panama is best known for the Canal which connects the Atlantic and the Pacific shipping routes. However, it is now becoming known as a great travel destination, especially for birders and nature lovers, who come to explore its wonderfully diverse habitats. The Chiriqui Highlands, a mountain range shared with Costa Rica, is home to the Resplendent Quetzal, Elegant Euphonia, Orange-bellied Trogon and many warblers and tanagers. The Canal Zone offers the famous Pipeline Road, a world record holder for the most bird species seen in one day! We will traverse this incredible road, built during WWII, as well as many other great birding locations such as Summit Ponds, Semiphore Hill, Plantation Loop and Summit Gardens—where the Harpy Eagle breeding program is well under way. We also will venture to the Atlantic side to explore Achiote and Escobal Roads to add more species to our list—Red-breasted Blackbird, Dusky-faced Tanager and Saffron Finch just to name a few. We will finish out our trip to the Atlantic side by riding the Trans-Continental Railroad back to Panama City, always a fun experience. Still birding we will see many Snail Kites as we travel alongside Lake Gatun and the Canal.
Combine with Darien tour and save $200 off the total package price!
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Chiriqui and Canal Itinerary
Day 1 - Panama City
Miramar Intercontinental Hotel
Arrival in Panama and transfer to our hotel.
Day 2 - Flight to David/Volcan - Hotel Dos Rios
Morning transfer to domestic airport. for flight to David/transfer to Volcan. Arriving early afternoon we will bird the Volcan lagoons in the foothills of the dormant Volcan Baru.
Day 3 - Volcan - Hotel Dos Rios
Today we will bird El Respingo trail and El Retono Trail in the Talamenca Endemic Bird Area in search of Ruddy Treerunner, Large-footed Finch and Silvery-throated Jay.
Day 4 - Volcan - Hotel Dos Rios
Today's birding will include Finca Hartmann and the road to Costa Rica. This new birding destination is a transitional area between the highlands and the lower foothills of the western mountain range. We will look for Fiery-billed Aracari, Black-chest- ed Jay, White-tailed Emerald, Turquoise Cotinga and the rare Yellow-billed Cotinga.
Day 5 - Volcan - Hotel Panamonte
Morning birding in Tapir's Canyon in search of Black-headed Brush Finch, Riverside Wren and Buff-rumped Warbler before afternoon transfer to Boquete.
Day 6 - Flight to Panama City - Gamboa Rainforest Resort
Morning birding at Finca Lerida before afternoon light. Arrive in time for dinner at Gamboa lodge.
Day 7 - Gamboa - Gamboa Rainforest Resort
Morning birding on Pipeline Road in Soberania National Park. Soberania is
home to more than 400 species of birds! I.located within the Park, Pipeline Road is where the Panama Audubon Society established a world record Christmas bird count in 1985 by identifying 385 species of birds in a 24 hour period. Afterward we will continue to Summit Gardens for a picnic lunch and the Harpy Eagle Exhibit. The Blue Cotinga is also a regular visitor here.
Day 8 - Gamboa - Rainforest Resort
Today we will drive to the Caribbean coast to bird Achiote/Escobal Roads. Specialties here include Black-and-Yellow, Rufous-winged Tanagers plus the rare Tacarcuna Bush Tanager. We will return via the new scenic railroad that follows the Panama Canal, where Snail Kites can be seen floating over the water's edge.
Day 9 - Gamboa - Rainforest Resort
Morning birding on a different section of Pipeline Road before exploring Semaphor Hill Rd. and Plantation Loop, two other very popular stops. We'll look for more specialties here, especially ant followers.
Day 10 - Return to the USA
Early morning departures to USA
Accommodations
Hotel Dos Rios
This beautiful nature resort is located near La Amistad International Nature Reserve and other key birding locations in the Chiriqui cloud forests.
A stream runs through the gardens of this high quality facility with luxurious rooms and great food.
Hotel Panamonte
Run by three generations of Panamanians, the Panamonte is unique in its blend of European tradi-
tion and Latin American flavor. A fine collection of colonial art adorns the living room and small library.
Gamboa Rainforest Resort
A luxury resort located on the Panama Canal in the heart of the lushrainforest, Gamboa Rainforest Resort
is within easy drives to top birding locations such as Pipeline Road, Summit Ponds and Semaphore Hill The lodge itself is masterfully constructed and offers many educational opportunities. Meals are all buffet style with many incredible options.
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Trip Leaders:
Glenn Crawford
Kevin Loughlin |
2010
January TBA
2008 Cost
$2995 from Panama City
Limit 10 participants. Cool to warm days with some walking at higher altitudes (5000 ft.+). Warm to hot tropical days in the canal area. Most trails well groomed and easy.
Combine with our Darien Highlands and Canal Zone tour!
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Register Now
$500 Deposit per person required |
Full payment required 120 days prior to departure date.
Price based on double occupance. If a single room is preferred, a single supplement fee of $500 will be assessed.
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