The richness of Panama's natural environments and its vast protected lands make it a prime destination for birdwatchers and nature lovers. Nestled between Costa Rica and Colombia, bordered by the Caribbean Sea on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, Panama benefits from a strategic geographical location that has fostered the existence of a large number of animal and plant species.

Passionate about birds and nature? Our guides know the best spots.

From the Panama Canal Zone to the east of Darien, passing through Torti, the humid forests of Soberanía National Park, and the legendary Pipeline Road, you will have the opportunity to traverse world-class observation areas where many regional endemic species live. For photographers, numerous facilities will be available: gardens and hummingbird feeders, such as in Cerro Azul, the Gamboa area, and the Metropolitan Park of Panama City, which is home to several species of manakins, tanagers, and other colorful neotropical birds, as well as many aquatic species along the Panama Canal. Here, you will find numerous representatives of the most distinctive neotropical families: woodcreepers, toucans, jacamars, motmots, manakins, antbirds, cotingas, tinamous, along with a plethora of tanagers, tyrant flycatchers, and parrots.

Panama
10 days
From 2495 US$
Birding tours Birding tours
Photo and bird watching tours Photo and bird watching tours

Your travel expert

Xavier Amigo

Responsible for naturalist, botanical and ornithological travel. Responsible of fixing and professional contact.

Xavier Amigo
xavier@ecuador-experience.com
Contact our expert
10 10 days

Day 1: Arrival in Panama City

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You will be welcomed at the Panama City airport by your bilingual local guide and transferred to the hotel, located in the former canal zone. The place is in a beautiful area surrounded by nature and offers easy access to the main birdwatching sites of the Panama Canal rainforest. Depending on arrival times, we will have the opportunity to begin our first observations around the hotel with some typical species of the area. Before dinner, the guide will give an orientation presentation about the upcoming trip. Overnight in Panama City.

Private transfer, specialised bilingual guide, overnight stay.

Dinner.

Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Common Black Hawk, Short-tailed Nighthawk, Least Nighthawk, Buffon's Hummingbird, Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, Great Curassow, Common Ground Dove, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Lafresnaye's Piculet, Black-bellied Wren, Plain Wren, Plain-brown Woodcreeper, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Black-crowned Antshrike, Yellow-olive Flycatcher, Crowned Slaty Flycatcher, Tawny-crowned Greenlet, Panama Flycatcher, Choco Tyrannulet, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Thick-billed Seed-Finch, Dickcissel, Indigo Bunting, Yellow-throated Vireo, Yellow-tailed Oriole, White-vented Euphonia.

Day 2: Pipeline Road - Ammo Ponds - Gamboa

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We will start the trip with a bang. After an early breakfast, our specialised guide will pick us up at the hotel to guide us through the famous Pipeline Road. Located about 45 minutes west of the capital, just past the village of Gamboa, Pipeline Road begins at the edge of Soberanía National Park, which preserves about 22,000 hectares of tropical forest. Pipeline Road is a world-renowned observation site. It is among the best birdwatching sites in the Neotropics, and daily counts can be impressive: manakins, tanagers, trogons, woodcreepers, toucans, etc. With a list exceeding 400 species, it will probably be one of the best places during our stay to observe the birds of Central American rainforests. The lower part of Pipeline Road starts in a well-regenerated secondary humid forest, within which many patches of primary forest host rarer species. We will focus on these challenging species, and with a bit of luck, we might find two species of Tacro. By following the swarms of army ants, we will attempt to spot the numerous species of antbirds, which our guide will help us identify. In the afternoon, we will explore several complementary aquatic habitats around Gamboa, in search of the Oriole Blackbird. Return to our hotel at the end of the day. Overnight near the Panama Canal.

1 1 1
0h30 per journey

Private transport, specialised bilingual guide, all meals included, overnight stay.

Great Tinamou, White-throated Crake, Wattled Jacana, Anhinga, Pinnated Bittern, Striated Heron, Long-winged Harrier, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Black-throated Trogon, Mealy Amazon, Bare-throated Pigeon, Mangrove Swallow, Caribbean Motmot, Black-crowned Antshrike, Barred Antshrike, Spotted Antbird, Tawny-throated Leaftosser, Dusky Antbird, White-flanked Antwren, Spotted Antpitta, Spot-crowned Woodcreeper, Golden-collared Manakin, Yellow-thighed Manakin, Black-crowned Tityra, Blue Cotinga, Pale-billed Woodpecker, Black-breasted Puffbird, Collared Aracari, Keel-billed Toucan, Masked Tityra, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Piratic Flycatcher, Lesser Greenlet, Gray-headed Tanager, White-shouldered Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Variable Seedeater, Scarlet-rumped Cacique.

Day 3: Old Gamboa road & Plantation trail

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This morning, we will explore another hotspot in the Panama Canal ‘corridor’ in search of additional species, among the highland forests, water points, and edges of secondary forests. During this new birdwatching walk along the old Gamboa road, we will effortlessly explore the old Gamboa road, which passes through shrub habitats and secondary forest as well as pastures and other open areas. Plantation Road is located about 8 km south of Gamboa and begins along the main road. The evergreen forests in this area are even more beautiful than those of Pipeline Road. Here too, we will look for columns of army ants followed by many antbirds and leaftossers. Plantation Road has an open shrub layer with easy viewing, especially for mixed flocks on the forest edge. The trail sometimes runs alongside a pretty stream where we will look for additional species. Thanks to some openings in the forest, we will be able to scan the canopy free of vegetation to try to spot some other typical birds of this open shrub layer. Unlike Pipeline Road, no vehicle traffic is allowed, which will make photography easier for us. Scanning the ponds at the top of the road can be productive for searching for kingfishers, crakes, and herons. Return to our hotel near the canal at the end of the day.

1 1 1
0h20 per journey

Private transport, specialised bilingual guide, all meals included, overnight stay.

Wood Stork, Great Potoo, Boat-billed Heron, Green Heron, Spine-tailed Swift, Garden Emerald, Barred Antshrike, Fasciated Antshrike, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Great-tailed Grackle, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Black-tailed Trogon, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Lafresnaye's Piculet, Bicolored Antbird, Scaled Antpitta, Olivaceous Flatbill, Sulphury Flycatcher, Black-chested Jay, Black-and-blue Seedeater, Masked Tityra, Golden-hooded Tanager.

Day 4: Cerro Azul - The Hummingbird House

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Today, we will leave early for a new destination: Cerro Azul (750 metres altitude). Located an hour northeast of the capital on the foothills of Chagres National Park, this region of elfin cloud forests features many observation sites that complement and differ from those visited on previous days. We will start our day with several stops along the road ascending towards the higher areas of Cerro Azul. We will explore several viewpoints and lagoon edges to diversify the species observed. We will then continue the visit with a photo session at the hummingbird gardens, where the feeders are often very productive and can include some rare species such as the Violet-capped Hummingbird, as well as many other opportunistic species, warblers, woodpeckers, tanagers, and euphonias. We will spend the rest of the day exploring the cloud forests adjacent to the village of Cerro Azul and then part of Chagres National Park (1000 metres altitude). The elevation of this area will allow us to add several highland species to our list. In the late afternoon, we will return to our hotel near Panama City airport.

1 1 1
1h30 per journey

Private transport, specialised bilingual guide, all meals included, overnight stay.

Crested Guan, Purple Gallinule, Least Grebe, Southern Lapwing, White-necked Jacobin, Green Hermit, Violet-capped Hummingbird, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Long-tailed Hermit, Bronzy Hermit, Buffon's Hummingbird, Crowned Woodnymph, Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, Charming Hummingbird, Spotted Antbird, Orange-bellied Trogon, Song Wren, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Keel-billed Toucan, Broad-billed Motmot, Brown-capped Tyrannulet, Fasciated Antshrike, Golden-crowned Warbler, Olive-backed Euphonia, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Shining Honeycreeper, Green Honeycreeper, Flame-colored Tanager, Crimson-backed Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager, Yellow-faced Grassquit, Stripe-headed Brushfinch, White-vented Euphonia, Red-crowned Woodpecker, Crimson-backed Tanager, Streaked Saltator.

Day 5: Cerro Azul - Bayano - Rio Tortí

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Early morning departure from our hotel to take National Route #1, a section of the famous Pan-American Highway, towards the province of Darién, one of the most enigmatic and inaccessible neotropical bio-regions. Our first stop will be along the Llano-Cartí road, offering excellent birdwatching opportunities, including several rare tanager species, taking advantage of the first light of day. We will also take time to look for wrens, flycatchers, puffbirds, woodcreepers, antbirds, and manakins. We will have a picnic along the road before continuing to the small rural town of Tortí, where we will first visit the riverbanks. The hotel in Tortí is located in a world-class birdwatching area, and we will complete our observations depending on the arrival time. We will also visit a hummingbird garden where the feeders are very productive and attract species not found elsewhere on this route. Overnight in Tortí in a standard hotel.

Private transport, specialised bilingual guide, all meals included, overnight stay.

Common Black Hawk, Cocoi Heron, Great Blue Heron, Glossy Ibis, Purple Gallinule, Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo, Tropical Screech-Owl, Amazon Kingfisher, Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Golden-chinned Parakeet, Lance-tailed Manakin, Golden-collared Manakin, Sclater's Antwren, Pacific Antwren, Black Antshrike, Yellow-headed Oriole, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, Moustached Antwren, Clay-colored Thrush, Ringed Kingfisher, Black-and-white Becard, Bran-colored Flycatcher, Lesser Elaenia, Lesser Greenlet, Long-tailed Hermit, Black Phoebe, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-green Vireo, Chestnut-headed Oropendola.

Day 6: Tortí - San Francisco

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The forest around the Tortí area offers us numerous alternatives to explore its avian richness, particularly the endemics of the lower Darién. San Francisco is a private reserve that protects one of the few remaining lowland forests in the eastern province of Panama, outside the Bayano region, and it is connected to the forests of the Maje range, visible from the main trail. It is home to many bird species of the Darién, which will be our targets today. We will look for manakin leks along the trail and take time to patiently wait for certain forest hummingbirds to arrive at the heliconia flowers, which are very common along the route. The trail crosses several streams where we will look for the curious Long-tailed Hermit, one of the most aesthetically pleasing tyrants of the Neotropics. We will search for certain fruiting trees that can attract an interesting variety of frugivores such as toucans, cotingas, flycatchers, euphonias, tanagers, dacnis, and honeycreepers. We will return to our hotel at the end of the day for a well-deserved night of rest. Evening meal and dinner at the same hotel in Tortí.

1 1 1
0h40 per journey

Private transport, specialised bilingual guide, all meals included, overnight stay.

Great Tinamou, King Vulture, Black Hawk-Eagle, Black-and-White Hawk-Eagle, Short-tailed Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Great Curassow, Spine-tailed Swift, Collared Aracari, Black-headed Parrot, Black-breasted Puffbird, Spotted Antbird, Pucheran's Woodpecker, Scaled Antpitta, Sclater's Antwren, Griscom's Antwren, Spotted Antbird, Yellow-thighed Manakin, Yellow-green Tyrannulet, Brownish Tyrannulet, Bright-rumped Attila, Crowned Slaty Flycatcher, Tawny-crowned Greenlet.

Day 7: Tortí - Metetí

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During our stay in the Metetí region, we hope to see many rare and highly isolated species. This area is perfect for those seeking South American species not found in the rest of Central America. Over the years, this region has become one of the best places in the world to find both the impressive Harpy Eagle and the Crested Eagle, two of the most astonishing raptors in the world. Our chances will of course be determined by the activity of the nests, which is not guaranteed. If the status of a Harpy Eagle nest is active, we will take an hour-long boat ride deeper into the Darién to admire this majestic bird. Metetí is also one of the best places to search for many near-endemic species. We will also explore several areas around the village in search of some Darién specialities. The savannah areas and riparian wetlands also host several additional species. After dinner, a night outing will allow us to search for several species of nightjars along the roads, as well as owls and great horned owls. Evening meal and overnight stay in a hotel in Metetí.

Private transport, specialised bilingual guide, all meals included, overnight stay.

Little Tinamou, Grey-lined Hawk, Harpy Eagle, Crested Eagle, Veraguas Dove, Stripe-throated Hermit, Buffon's Hummingbird, Charming Hummingbird, Cuvier's Hummingbird, Golden-headed Manakin, Velvet-fronted Euphonia, Ruddy Quail-Dove, Red-lored Amazon, Pied Puffbird, Great Jacamar, White-flanked Antwren, Black-bellied Wren, Orange-bellied Trogon, Sharpbill, Yellow-breasted Flycatcher, White-browed Gnatcatcher, Rufous Nightjar, Great Potoo, Great Horned Owl, Mottled Owl.

Day 8: Metetí - Panama City

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Last morning of birdwatching around the Metetí area to complete our list. Depending on the missing species, the guide will offer us different visit options. The biological corridor of this geographical sector functions as an altitudinal and latitudinal crossroads, linking ecosystems from east to west, from the Pacific to the Caribbean, and connecting lowland and foothill areas. It is an important area for birds, hosting many endemic species of the low and highlands of Darién. We will thus explore the outer surroundings of the Metetí area, from the high parts to the village environs, before heading back to the Panamanian capital where we will spend our last night.

Private transport, specialised bilingual guide, all meals included, overnight stay.

Barred Forest-Falcon, Black-bellied Wren, Grey-cheeked Nunlet, Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Red-rumped Woodpecker, Blue Ground Dove, Red-throated Caracara, Band-rumped Swift, Black-throated Mango, Grey-cheeked Nunlet, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Red-billed Scythebill, White-headed Wren, Spotted Antbird, Bare-crowned Antbird, Scaly-throated Leaftosser, Great-tailed Grackle, Variable Seedeater.

Day 9: Panama Canal

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Our last day of birdwatching in Panama will begin with a boat excursion on the famous Panama Canal. The brief passage alongside the ships and cargo vessels transiting through this narrowest point of the isthmus will be an opportunity to talk a little about what has become one of the most iconic constructions in Central America. After this short historical pause, our boat will allow us to explore a part of this unique watershed, offering a new perspective of the canal area and the possibility of adding a few different species to our list, while discovering the various ecosystems: mangroves, forests and riparian vegetation, small islands, and vegetated coves. In addition to the many aquatic and marine birds, different species of monkeys may be observed in the treetops. At the end of the day, our transport will take us to our accommodation in Panama.

Private land transport, group river transport, specialised bilingual guide, all meals included, overnight stay.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Brown Pelican, Pinnated Bittern, Laughing Gull, Royal Tern, White-tailed Kite, Osprey, Bat Falcon, Magnificent Frigatebird, Scaled Pigeon, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Mealy Amazon, Mangrove Swallow and Rough-winged Swallow, Groove-billed Ani, Plain Wren, Streaked Flycatcher, Lesser Greenlet, Yellow Warbler.

Day 10: Panama City - Tocumen Airport

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The day will begin with a visit to the ruins of Panama Viejo, the old Panama, northeast of the city, where the remains of the first city founded by the Spanish on the Pacific coast of the American continent are located. We will then head to Casco Viejo, with its Spanish colonial architecture, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980. The old town offers numerous colonial traces that testify to Panama’s preeminent position as the nerve centre of the Pacific coast during the Spanish colonial era. It was also the neighbourhood where the French workers hired by Ferdinand de Lesseps to build the Panama Canal lived. Through its colourful cobbled streets, squares, and public parks, Panama’s history is still preserved: France Square, which offers a magnificent view of the modern city, the Las Bovedas promenade, the San José Church with its beautiful Golden Altar, and the "Arco Chato" are part of Panama's historical heritage. Today, many artists have made it their home, gradually replacing the working-class families. For lunch, there is an option to enjoy delicious ceviche at the fish market, accompanied by a natural fruit juice. At the end of the day, our transport will take us to Tocumen International Airport, where the journey will end.

1 1
1h00

Private land transport, group river transport, specialised bilingual guide, lunch included.

Dates of the next departures

Dates
Status
From Jan 04 to Jan 13, 2025
Trip full
From Jan 18 to Jan 27, 2025
Open to booking

You want a personalized departure date? Contact us. Request a personalized date

Dates Status
From Jan 04 to Jan 13, 2025 Trip full
From Jan 18 to Jan 27, 2025 Open to booking

Prices per person

Year 2 travelers 4 travelers 6 travelers 8 travelers
2024 4,480 US$ 2,995 US$ 2,495 US$ 2,250 US$

You are a group of travelers and want a special rate? Contact us. Request a personalized quote

Included

  • Private transport (fuel, road taxes, parking fees, vehicle and passenger insurance).
  • Entry fees to the natural sites mentioned in the itinerary.
  • All meals from the first evening to lunch on the last day, including picnics for certain hikes.
  • All transfers as mentioned in the program.
  • Specialised bilingual guide throughout the trip.
  • Accommodation in a double room with a private bathroom.
  • 24/7 assistance

Not included

  • International flight.
  • Excursions and activities indicated as optional in the program.
  • Some dinners (expect between 12 and 18 USD per person per meal).
  • Single room supplement (380 USD per person).
  • Drinks not included during and outside meals.
  • Personal expenses and tips.
  • Personal insurance and bank fees related to payments.

Payment and reservation terms

To make a reservation for your tour, please confirm your agreement in writing to the local agent of Nature Experience.

A deposit of 30% of the invoice amount will be required at the time of booking. The balance payment must be made no later than 45 days before your arrival, under the same conditions.

The agency declines all responsibility for the execution of the confirmed services in the event of non-compliance with the above payment terms.

Your guide for this trip

Ángel Martínez

Ángel Martínez

en es fr
Ángel has worked for many years as a cultural and adventure guide throughout Ecuador. He spent several years in France, particularly in the Alps, where he perfected his knowledge of the language of Molière. As an experienced amateur photographer, he quickly fell in love with the sumptuous landscapes and biodiversity of his country. He will always be available to take you to the best continental and insular photographic spots at the best times.

Characteristics of the trip

Travel theme

Birdwatching and photography tour

Accompaniment

Bilingual specialised guide

Group

From 2 to 8 passengers

Arrival city

Panama City

Departure city

Panama City

Food

Local and international meals

Accommodation

Standard hotels and birding lodges

Transport

Private

Physical condition

Easy

Best season

All year round (preferably the dry season, which runs from December to March).
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