Day 1
Upon arrival at the airport in Panama City we will load up and transfer to the Canopy Tower, our home for the next 6 nights. Here you’ll have time to settle in, relax and, when you’re ready, head to the observation deck for your first taste of Panamanian birding. The deck is located on top of our lodge and overlooks the dense canopy of Soberania National Park. From here watch fo Keel-billed Toucan, Blue Cotinga, Green Honeycreeper, Brown-capped Tyrannulet, Bat Falcon and more! As the evening progresses we’ll sit down to dinner and have an orientation with our local guide who will accompany us throughout the tour. Night at Canopy Tower.
Streak-chested Antpitta
Day 2
Grab a coffee and head to the observation deck to watch the incredible sunrise and of course, the birds! Wake up with Blue Dacnis, Shining Honeycreeper, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, Thick-billed and Fulvous-vented Euphonia, Crane Hawk and so many more. After breakfast we’ll take a walk on property to explore the forests from ground level, returning to the lodge for lunch. The afternoon will be spent at Ammo Dump Ponds searching for Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Little Blue Heron, Wattled Jacana, Amazon and Green kingfishers, Snail Kite, Purple Gallinule, Greater Ani and Lesser Kiskadee just to name a few. Night at Canopy Tower.
Day 3
After an early breakfast at the Tower, we will waste no time and head to the world famous Pipeline Road! This old road, built to service a pipeline installed along the Canal during WWII, is now overgrown by protected mature secondary forest. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded on Pipeline Road. Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Whooping Motmot, White-necked Puffbird, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Purple-crowned Fairy, Crowned Woodnymph are just a few of our targets here. After lunch we’ll be birding some other nearby hotspots including Old Gamboa Road. Night at Canopy Tower.
White-vented Plumeleteer
Day 4
Today we’ll be driving an hour or so to Cerro Azul, a small mountain range outside of Panama City where we’ll spend the majority of the day. Here we’ll have some new, higher altitude species such as Black-faced Wood-Quail, Yellow-eared Toucanet, the endemic Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, King Vulture, Spotted Woodcreeper, White-ruffed Manakin, White-vented Euphonia and more. ON our way back to the lodge we’ll visit mangroves and mudflats outside of Panama City to find waterbirds. Night at Canopy Tower.
Day 5
Today we find ourselves exploring the dry forests of Metropolitan Park in Panama City. Here we’ll find species such as Green Shrike-Vireo, Masked Tityra, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Yellow-crowned Euphonia and the remarkable Rosy Thrush-Tanager! We’ll aslo have a chance of finding some great mammals including Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth, near-endemic Geoffroy’s Tamarins and Panamanian Night Monkeys. In the afternoon we’ll be back in the Gamboa area as well as at the lodge. Night at Canopy Tower.
Day 6
Today, we’ll be treated to a full day birding along Pipeline road, but this time we’ll be aboard by a comfortable 4×4 vehicle (the Bird Mobile), allowing us to penetrate further into this birding hotspot. Tiny Hawk, Streak-chested Antpitta, Russet-winged Schiffornis, Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon, Black and Ornate hawk-eagles, White-tailed Trogon, Rufous and Speckled mourners, Great Jacamar, Pheasant Cuckoo, Ruddy Quail-Dove, Brown-hooded Parrot, Short-billed Pigeon and Black-mandibled Toucan are just some of the birds we will hope to see today. Night at Canopy Tower.
Canopy Tower
Day 7
After breakfast we’ll bid farewell to the tower and being our journey to the Darien! The majority of the day will be spent driving but we’ll stop frequently for birds along the road and at several preserves. After lunch we’ll see the landscape quickly turn more and more remote as we enter the depths of the Darien! We’ll pass native villages and all kinds of exciting wildlife! We’l arrive at the Darien Camp early in the evening with enough time to get settled and bird the grounds. Now,when we say “camp” we’re not talking about a outing with the boy/girl scouts. We’ll be treated to all the amenities and comfort of a regular eco-lodge with full service meals, great beds, spacious tent style rooms and private bathrooms. The only difference is, we’ll be smack in the middle of one of the most diverse jungles on the planet! Night at Canopy Camp Darien.
Day 8
We’ll spend the entire day explore the trails and roads at our camp today. The incredible diversity here will immediately be apparent with Royal Flycatcher, Black Antshrike, White-fronted Nunbird, Semiplumbeous Hawk, Gray-cheeked Nunlet, Double-banded Graytail, Olive-backed Quail-Dove and so many more! Night at Canopy Camp Darien.
Day 9
After an early breakfast, we will board the Canopy Camp’s rugged “El Arpia” bird-mobile and spend the morning at El Salto Road. Double-banded Graytail, Blue Cotinga, Orange-crowned Oriole, Crane Hawk, Blue-and-gold and Chestnut-fronted Macaws will be our targets. In the afternoon we will visit a nearby lagoon in hopes of finding Pied Water-Tyrant, the beautiful Yellow-hooded Blackbird and the extraordinary Black-capped Donacobius. Night at Canopy Camp Darien.
Harpy Eagle
Day 10
More birding in the Darien today, this time around the town of Yaviza, the main cultural center of Darién. We’ll also visit some small lakes and villages cleaning up more and more of the Darien specialties like Gray-cheeked Nunlet, Spectacled Parrotlet, Black-tailed Trogon, Striped Cuckoo, Black-bellied Wren and Little Tinamou. Night at Canopy Camp Darien.
Day 11
Today we’ll be headed even deeper into the Darien, this time by boat! We’ll leave our camp pre-dawn to make it to Yaviza by dawn. We’ll bird d during the hour long boat ride down the Chucunaque River before arriving at the small town of El Real. This is the gateway to the Darien national park and offers a host of new and exciting birds for us. But perhaps the most exciting will be the chance to see the mythical Harpy Eagle! These majestic birds, along with their slightly smaller cousin the Crested Eagle, have both bred in this vicinity in recent years and can be found with some luck! We’ll be back to El Real in time for our sunset cruise back to Yaviza. Night at Canopy Camp Darien.
Day 12
After a good night’s rest we’ll be birding once again in the area around the Darien Camp. Hoping to fill out our list with any species we’ve missed so far on the trip! Night at Canopy Camp Darien.
Day 13
Yellow-tailed Oriole
This will be our last morning at Darien Camp. We’ll load up and head out fairly early to get in some quality birding on our way back to Panama City. Several stops before lunch will be our last chance for any eastern Panama specialties. After lunch we’ll be biridng our way to the airport with stops along the way. By early evening we’ll arrive at our hotel, just minutes from the airport. Here we’ll say goodbye to our local guide and tally up the trip list. Night at Riande Aeropuerto Hotel
Day 14
Transfer to airport after breakfast for departure. The tour concludes this morning.
Don’t have two weeks? We can split this tour in half for you.
Contact us at for more information.
Trip Reports
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Photos
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Entering Panama
As a general rule for international travel, your passport should be valid for at least six months after the date the tour ends. US, Canadian, and British citizens only need a passport to enter Panama. Citizens of other countries may need to acquire a visa. Be sure to contact the Panama Embassy if you have any questions.
Exiting Panama
All exit and entrance fees to Panama are typically minimal and included in the cost of your airline tickets.
Country Information
Panama is a stable and safe place to visit and has been for some time. As with any country, the large cities (in this case Panama City) can be dangerous but we will not be spending much time there on this tour. The national language spoken in Panama is Spanish although English is widely spoken in the tourism industry. For more information visit the U.S. Department of State’s Panama relations page here.
Health Considerations
There are no required inoculations when visiting Panama from most countries. However, it is a good idea to make sure your tetanus vaccinations are up to date. According to the CDC there is some risk of malaria in eastern Panama as well as typhoid, hepatitis A and yellow fever..Vaccinations are available for typhoid, hepatitis A, and yellow fever and there are malaria drug available for malaria prevention. You should consult your doctor or a travel clinic to decide whether or not these medications are appropriate for you. Special medications (your prescriptions) may not be available during the tour so it is important that you bring enough to cover your needs for the entire trip plus additional time in case of emergency or unexpected travel delays. You can review the CDC latest advisories for Panama here.
Biting insects can be prevalent at certain birding sites however they typically do not cause a problem during the tour. The leaders will advise you whenever it is necessary to apply insect repellent.
To avoid intestinal issues, we recommend that you only drink bottled water while on this tour. All our lodges use only bottled water and have water available to fill your personal water bottle at all times. There will be bottled water available throughout the trip. Other bottled drinks are also fine to drink. Please bring your own water bottle to use throughout the trip. Some travel clinics will recommend taking along an anti-biotic in case of intestinal issues.
Climate
During the dry season rain is occasional and usually short lived. We may encounter a storm or two so it is important to bring a light rain jacket or umbrella but we do not expect rain to be a major problem. The climate in Panama is quite tropical and pleasant with highs usually in the 80’s to 90’s and lows in the high 70’s. Some mornings may be cool at higher elevations, especially if it rains. Long sleeved shirts are recommended because of the exposure to the sun, but short tees are fine if you choose. It is relatively humid at all times – the thing that makes this tolerable is that you are bird watching, so who cares.
Dress
Dress is casual throughout. Being in a tropical environment, it is a good idea to bring lots of light weight non-cotton clothing. Once cotton is wet, it will not dry! While shorts and t-shirts will be okay for lodges and leisurely hikes, it is always a good idea to bring lightweight pants and long-sleeve shirts to help prevent bug bites and protect from the sun. A sturdy, sun protective hat is also important in the harsh tropical sun. Be sure to bring a lightweight rain jacket in case of rain and/or a chilly evening, and of course sturdy boots for hiking.
Group Size
Maximum group size is 12 participants. We typically have 2 guides for this tour.
Tour Pace
As with any birding tour, we will have many early mornings and full days. Most of our birding will be on short, fairly easy hikes. Hikes through the jungle often feature lots of tree roots, slippery rocks and occasional mud so it is important to have proper footwear.
Food
The lodges provide excellent, local meals with fresh, local produce and vegetarian options available. Travel lunches will be either a pack lunch from the lodge or will be taken a local, well reputed restaurants.
Transportation
Transportation will be in a van throughout the trip. It is important that all participants be able to sit in any seat in the tour vehicle. We will also use open-air vehicles on some bird outings.
Accommodations
Accommodations are at locally run eco-lodges throughout trip. All of our lodges cater specifically to birders and are well known for their pleasant and helpful staff, excellent food, and best of all the great birds and bird feeders right on site! Our first lodge, Canopy Tower provides a wonderful opportunity to be eye level with many canopy dwelling birds that are otherwise difficult to see. Our second lodge, the Darien Camp is less of a camp and more of a second home in the middle of the remote jungle. We will be sleeping and dining in beautiful, sturdy and spacious tents with deck floors and all the amenities that you would find at a regular lodge. The birding at both lodges will be spectacular right out your front door!
Before deciding to register for this tour, please read over the the following information as well as the “What To Expect” tab on this page. After you have read and understood the all important tour information please fill out the Registration Form at the bottom of this page and complete you payment under the “Payment” tab. Please note that your spot on the tour is not reserved until we have received your deposit in full. If you need help or have questions at any time feel free to contact us via email or phone.
What’s Included
The tour price includes all travel from the point of departure (Tocumen International Airport, Panama City, Panama) all lodging while on the trip, all meals unless otherwise noted, tour materials, and all services of the tour leaders. Tips for included meals, porters, drivers, and other service providers are also included.
Lodging is booked on double occupancy, most lodging in the U.S. can allow us to arranged for single rooms at an additional charge; lodging outside of the U.S. is usually in small locally-owned lodges and will almost always be double occupancy. If you are traveling single we will match you to appropriate roommates and can discuss any changes once the group has established. Double occupancy means that you are sharing your room with another individual, single occupancy means that you are paying for the room for just yourself, and you do not want a roommate.
Items that are not included in the tour price are as follows: passports, visas, airfare , departure taxes, immunizations, baggage charges, telephone calls, alcoholic beverages, laundry services, room service, snacks, emergency evacuation fees and medical fees, and other personal purchases you desire to make in the course of the trip.
Travel to Point of Departure
Your fees include travel arrangements for the trip at/from point of departure. For example if your trip begins in Albuquerque, NM, you will need to make arrangements to get to Albuquerque, NM. From that point we will pick you up and provide all other transport. If you are traveling internationally we will provide you with suggested airline and travel times for you to book your flight. We will provide specific information about arrival and departure times in the trip packet sent to you after registration. If you would like assistance with your travel plans please feel free to contact us and we will help you out.
Gratuities
Tips for local guides on international trips are highly encouraged. Local guides are incredibly valuable and knowledgeable and often underpaid. It’s important to show our support and appreciation for these individuals.
Tips for BRANT guides are not required, however if you wish to pay a gratuity to your guide please do at any time (during or after the tour). Rest assured that any tips we received are distributed fairly to your guides.
Restrictions On Participation
In general there is only one absolute restriction to a nature tour, you absolutely cannot collect any plants, artifacts or animals during the tour.
Otherwise, there are no restrictions. We only ask that you let us know about any potential limitations or safety concerns that may hamper your ability to participate in any aspect of the desired tour. For example, walking difficulties, diabetes, asthma, angina, diet limitations, applicable phobias, etc. should be noted on the registration form. Our tours are typically not physically demanding however the level of physical difficulty for each tour is available under the “Pace of Tour” section of each tour. If there is any question about your ability to participate on a tour we would be more than glad to provide more information that you and/or your doctor may need to help make that decision. All hikes, on all tours, will be round trip, that is returning to the vehicle start point unless otherwise noted, allowing any participant to ‘sit one out’ if they feel inclined to do so. In addition to any walking, participants should be mindful that they will be required to be able to sit in any seat on our tour vehicles.
Tour Confirmation
Tour confirmation occurs at the time of invoicing or 3 months prior to the tour departure date. This tour will be confirmed no later than January 22nd, 2016.
Tour Cancellations
In the event a tour is cancelled by BRANT (due to civil unrest, natural disaster, low participation, etc.) we will offer you an alternate tour option (same time/similar birding targets) or refund the full amount of your tour deposit and price.
Price Increase
Projecting the cost of a tour package months in advance is not an exact science. If unexpected increases do occur it may be necessary to charge participants up to 10% increases of the tour price. If greater than 10% increases are necessary, participants may withdrawal from the tour without penalty.
Refunds, Transfers, and Cancellations
We hope that you will be able to join us on this tour, however, if circumstances cause you to cancel your trip we understand. If cancellations are made 3 months before the start of your tour, your deposit, less the non-refundable amount, will be refunded to you. If cancellations are made after 3 months before the departure date, your deposit is not refundable. If cancellation is made 45 days or less before the departure date all deposits and payments are non-refundable.
BRANT will allow a one-time transfer of a deposit to an upcoming tour date as long as the transfer takes place at least 45 days prior to tour departure date. Once a transfer has been made you will no longer be eligible for a transfer or refund of any amount at any time should you cancel again. Please contact us to discuss this option.
Registration Form
Please fill in all required fields. Remember that you must pay your deposit in addition to submitting this form before your spot on the tour is secured.If you have any questions or problems please contact us at anytime.
If you would prefer to fax or mail your registration form you can click here to print a hard copy. Our fax number and mailing address can be found here.
Don’t have two weeks? We can split this tour in half for you.
Contact us at for more information.
Panama – Darien Camp & Canopy Tower Registration Form
Don’t have two weeks? We can split this tour in half for you.
Contact us at for more information.
Cost
The price of this tour may vary by the selected tour date. Pricing is as follows:
April 16th, 2016
$5,845 (+ tax)
Single Occupancy Supplement – TBD
Deposit Due at Registration – $1,450
Payment
Deposits can be made either online via PayPal or by check. Payments by check carry a significant discount, applied at the time of invoicing.
Make checks payable to BRANT Tours and mail them to the following address
7522 Edith Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM
87113
To pay the deposit online select your departure date below and click “Buy Now”
April 16th, 2016
Trip Material
After you successfully register for a trip we will send you an information packet that will include:
- Detailed tour itinerary
- Bird (or wildlife) checklist
- Study/reference sheet
- What to bring sheet
- Receipt for deposit and invoice for remaining balance owed
- Information regarding travel to and from tour departure location
- Liability Waiver
Although your guides will be able to identify all of the wildlife for the area you are visiting, it is always a good idea for you to study up on the expected wildlife for your trip. If you want more information about any aspect of your trip prior to departure please contact us and we will be happy to answer any questions and/or recommend any reference guides
Liability Waiver
BRANT has selected known areas in the US and internationally, we cannot, however, guarantee anyone’s personal safety. For the most part ecotourism is done in remote, outback, and jungle like areas. The terrain is often rugged and local services and government assistance is not available in an emergency. In many out of the US areas there may not be phone or internet services for a day or two at a time during the trip. (However, in most established lodges internet service is readily available.) Therefore, we require that you accept your personal responsibility and agree to release us from liability for your safety within the limits of the law by completing the Assumption of Risk and Liability Agreement provided in your tour registration packet. This agreement must filled out and returned to us prior to the departure date of your tour. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE LIABILITY WAIVER TO PARTICIPATE ON ANY BRANT TOUR!
You can return the liability waiver to us via post or fax at anytime prior to your trip.
Liability Waiver (click to download PDF)
Health Preparations
Health precautions for trips in the US are minimal to none. If you have a health condition that requires medication please have the prescription filled for more than the numbers of days your trip encompasses, carry it in the original bottle, clearly labeled with instructions. If you have a health condition that you feel may affect your participation on the trip please discuss this with us so we can advise you and/or provide you with information to discuss with your physician.
Trips outside of the US may require immunizations. You can check with your physician and/or your local Travel Clinic. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) will also have complete information concerning health precautions and immunizations that are necessary for traveling outside of the US. They may be contacted by phone, 877-FYI-TRIP, or web site: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. If you have any additional questions about immunizations please feel free to contact us.
Trip Insurance
Please check with your insurance agent for coverage you may already have and any limitations on national and/or international travel. Travel insurance may be purchased from several reliable companies; Travel Insured International (travelinsured.com) and Travelex (travelexinsurance.com) are two to consider. Travel insurance is purely voluntary and not required to participate on BRANT tours.
