Panama - The Ultimate Wildlife Ecotour

8 Day Itinerary

A shorter version of our most popular itinerary emphasizing wildlife and bird watching "off the beaten path." For wildlife lovers who have only a week, the first 8 days are the same as our 14 day Panama Ultimate wildlife itinerary.

The most value of any professional wildlife tour in Panama, including wildlife viewing in more than 3 National Parks and Wildlife Preserves, with rainforest hiking, islands, snorkeling, beaches, cloudforests, volcanoes, Panama canal wildlife viewing, Ngoble Bugle indigenous village, orchid gardens, pampering at a tropical spa and much more!

Expert Local Naturalist Guides - Even biologists in some places

Breathtaking Rainforest Lodges - Some featured in Conde Naste, Travel & Leisure, and on Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel

Specifically designed to optimize the chances of seeing more wildlife by visiting a variety of different eco-systems, with no commercial "filler" activities.

Day 1 - 2 Kayak the Panama Canal

Highlights: View monkeys, sloth, toucans -- and giant ships-- right from your kayak!
Wildlife: 120 species of mammals, including 5 species of primates, plus hundreds of species of colorful tropical birds.

The Panama Canal protects a vast area of rainforest and wildlife. We’ll start with instruction and introductory paddle before slipping into our kayaks and paddling into Lake Gatun, the heart of the Panama Canal zone. Seated at water level in a kayak makes for an interesting perspective of the Panama Canal in action. Your guide will lead you to places of special interest, while educating you about the wildlife and rainforest that blankets the area.

Day 3 Chiriqui Cloudforest

Highlights: Orchid garden, volcano, picturesque spa, and one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Central America, a favorite of quetzals.
Wildlife: Wildcats, porcupines, coatimundi and nutria, resplendent quetzals, bell birds, trogons, hawks, hummingbirds.

Early in the morning you will be transferred to Albrook Domestic Airport to take a one hour flight to David. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative who will transfer you by vehicle to Finca Lerida. This Ecolodge is nestled in the middle of a coffee plantation and is surrounded by a private cloudforest reserve. You will wake up to the symphony of birds and to the aroma of their own home grown “Finca Lerida” Estate Coffee brewed specially for you. After check-in you will enjoy a hiking and birding tour with a naturalist guide on one of the trails. You will hike through unspoiled cloudforest, teeming with a great variety of flora and fauna. You will see ancient trees covered with moss, epiphytic plants and orchids. The cloudforest is home to some of the most colorful birds in the world such as: Orange-bellied Trogon, Three-wattled Bellbird, Turquoise-browed Mot Mot, Emerald Toucanette, and, of course, the coveted Resplendent Quetzal.

Day 4 Whitewater River Rafting

Highlights: Whitewater! Waterfalls, wildlife and lots of wet fun!
Wildlife: River otter, iguana, poison arrow frogs, tiger herons, ibis, mot-mots and more!

After an early breakfast you will start your rafting adventure. Choice of one of the sections of the Chiriqui Viejo River (Class III & IV) where you will enjoy the thrills and excitement of riding the rapids and floating the calm portions of one of the most beautiful rivers in Central America. The river passes through a spectacular canyon with breathtaking waterfalls that spill high off the canyon’s moss-laden walls and tumble into the river.

Day 5 Cloudforest Zip-line Canopy Tour

Highlights: Ziplines! Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the cloudforest and the transcendent sensation of flying amongst the clouds.
Wildlife: River otter, iguana, poison arrow frogs, tiger herons, ibis, mot-mots and more! Fox, coatimundi, trogons, toucans, parrots and 350 species of colorful cloudforest birds.

Zip on cables from platform to platform through a century-old cloudforest. The forest is set high above a gurgling river with cascading waterfalls that drip from canyon walls. Enjoy a thrilling traverse through the ancient trees on 11 different zip line cables!

This afternoon you will transfer to the tropical island paradise of Bocas del Toro.

Days 6 - 8 Bocas del Toro Archepelago

Highlights: World-class snorkeling on a tropical island paradise!
Wildlife: Dolphins, 4 species of endangered sea turtles, coral of every color of the spectrum, abundant fish including stunning queen angels, fairy basselets, rock beauties, green moray, damselfish and four-eyed butterfly fishes. Four species of primates including night monkeys, plus sloths, strawberry poison dart frogs, and seasonal visits from bellbirds and other rare wildlife.

Snorkel the barrier reefs of Bocas, including Bastimentos Island Naitional Marine Park, home to some of the most colorful coral --and abundant marine life– in all of Central America! Visit the authentic Ngoble Bugle indigenous village of Salt Creek, and hike with indian guides to the island’s wildlife-rich interior. Relax on pristine tropical beaches or by your beachfront cabana.

On day 8 you will return to Panama City in time for afternoon flights back home, or stay over in Panama City additional nights at extra charge.