Panama

Ultimate Wildlife 14-Day EcoTour

Our most value-packed itinerary emphasizing wildlife and bird watching "off the beaten path." It includes Gamboa Rainforest Resort, Kayaking the Panama Canal, Soberania National Park, Rainforest Discovery Center, Chiriqui Cloudforest, snorkeling the crystal-clear waters of Bocas del Toro, an amazing Wildlife program at a remote African-style tented camp in the Legendary Darian Gap, cultural exchanges with indigenous peoples, and much more! This is our signature wildlife adventure, with many of Wild Planet's special touches, including:
. The most value of any professional wildlife tour in Panama, including wildlife viewing in more than 4 National Parks and Wildlife Preserves, with rainforest hiking, islands, snorkeling, beaches, cloud-forests, remote rainforest preserves, rainforest canopy experience, and much more!
. Expert Local Naturalist Guides
. Beautiful Rainforest Lodges and Beachfront Cabanas Some featured in Conde Nast, 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.

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1 Arrive in Panama

Upon arrival in Panama City you will be met at the Tocumen International Airport and transferred to your hotel to rest after your long journey.

DAY 2 Chiriquí Highlands

Wildlife: Monkeys, queztals, jaguar, ocelotuma and more.

Early in the morning transfer to Albrook domestic Airport for your 1 hour flight to David. You will be met by our representative who will transfer you to Volcan, west of Volcano Baru. Enjoy lunch at a local gourmet restaurant, Cerro Brujo, then begin the 2 hour journey to Mount Totumas, a private 400 acre cloud forest reserve. The journey will start on a paved road and continue by windy dirt road, crossing many small streams until you reach a fantastic 4WD road with incredible views of the cloud-forest, and great opportunities to spot wildlife and birds. Upon arrival, short orientation followed by an afternoon hike on the reserve.

Mt. Totumas is located in the buffer zone directly bordering La Amistad National Park. For this reason there are still apex predators like Jaguar, ocelot and Puma (all of which the lodge regularly spots on its camera-traps!) along with 3 species of monkeys and some of the most sought after charismatic bird species of the cloud-forest, including the Resplendent Quetzal.

DAY 3-4 Mount Totumas - Hiking and Wildlife Viewing

Enjoy a shared guided hike in search of wildlife and enjoy the untouched fauna, then sit back and view wildlife and birds right from the deck of your lodge perched on a ridge overlooking the valley with spectacular views of La Amistad National Park and the cloud-forest canopy in the foreground!

DAY 5 Land and Boat Transfer to Bocas del Toro Archipelago

Today you will be transferred by land and boat from Boquete to Bocas del Toro Archipelago. You will pass through the Talamanca Continental Divide and enjoy the amazing landscape of the Panama highlands. Enjoy the spectacular view of areas of the Palo Seco and La Fortuna Natural Reserves during your land transfer. Upon arrival to Almirante (Bocas del Toro Mainland pier), you will board a water taxi that will take you to Isla Colon. (Ground Transfer approximately 3 1/2 hours, Boat transfer approximately 30 minutes.) Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and check in.

DAY 6-7 Bocas del Toro Archipelago

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.

Each day enjoy a choice of one included tour from your lodge. Choices include:

* Visiting some of the most exotic and isolated virgin beaches located in the different Islands of the Archipelago.

* Snorkeling at the Coral Reefs of the bay to see lots different kind of corals, tropical fishes and starfishes.

* Boat rides through the island to visit indigenous communities.

* Hiking in the rainforest to see the flora and fauna.

* Motorized canoe river trips to search the slots and the white face monkeys.

* Boat tours to meet dolphins in their natural habitat.

* Visiting Bocas town to buy some handcraft and admire its afro-Caribbean colonial architecture style.

DAY 8 Bocas del Toro / Panama City

After a morning of activities at the lodge, transfer to the pier, in time to catch your flight returning to Panama City. Upon arrival, you will be greeted and picked up at the airport before transferring to the Canal Zone and overnighting at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort.

DAY 9 Panama Canal - Rainforest Discovery Center - Soberania National Park

Wildlife: Toucans, sloths, monkeys.

Early this morning meet your Naturalist Guide at the hotel lobby and transfer to the marina where you will board an expedition boat and depart on an adventure that will include a voyage across Gatun Lake in the Panama Canal passing by gigantic cargo ships transiting the waterway, making contrast with the natural surroundings. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to spot Green Iguana and Three-toed Sloth resting on tree branches, Crocodile, Osprey in the hunt for Peacock Bass, Snail Kite and Keel-billed Toucan among other wildlife.

Gatun Lake was formed to give way to the Panama Canal in 1914. With a surface of 423 square-kilometers, at the time of its creation was the largest man-made lake in the world. The flow of all the rivers within the Panama Canal Watershed is contained in Gatun Lake to provide water for the operation of the lock system. More than 52 million gallons of fresh water are used for every ship that transits through the Panama Canal from one ocean to another.

Your expedition boat will allow for close approximations to rainforest covered islands (former hill tops) in Gatun Lake to search for White-faced Capuchin, Mantled Howler Monkey, Central American spider monkey, and Geoffrey’s Tamarin. Enjoy the extraordinary views of the Panama Canal and the natural surroundings. Boxed lunch on boat included. This is a shared tour (10 person max).

This afternoon meet your Naturalist Guide for a 10 minute ride to Soberania National Park’s world famous Pipeline Road, where Audubon Society held its world Christmas bird count record for 19 years straight, with 357 species of birds identified in a period of 24 hours. Your first stop will be at the Rainforest Discovery Center where you enjoy spectacular views of Soberania's vastness and canopy bird species from the 32 meters (100 feet) observation tower. Standing above the canopy, we witness the morning flight of Keel-billed Toucans, Red-lored Amazons and the silent and stealthy movement of Mantled Howler Monkeys. You continue to explore the network of trails surrounding the Discovery Center and enjoy the hummingbird feeders that provide up close and personal views of 10 species of hummingbirds!

During World War II a pipeline was built along the Panama Canal to transport fuel from one ocean to the other in the event the waterway was attacked. Fortunately, it was never used. The now abandoned gravel road built to maintain the pipeline provides excellent walking access to Soberania's 22,000 hectares (55,000 acres) of tropical rainforest. The park boasts an impressive list of 525 species of birds including the Black Hawk-eagle, Black-cheeked woodpecker, Black-breasted Puffbird, Broad-billed

Motmot, Blue Cotinga, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Masked Tytira, Violaceous Trogon, Fasciated Antshrike, Shining honeycreeper, and a great array of North American migrants. Soberania is also home to 105 species of mammals including large felines, Tamandua, Two-toed and Three-toed Sloth, 4 species of monkeys, Agouti, and more, some of which are listed under CITES (endangered species) and 59 endemic plant species in 4 life zones.

Wild Planet Adventures Exclusive!

Wildlife Program at Darien Tented Camp

DAY 10 Bayano Lake & Arrival at Darien Canopy Camp

After an early breakfast we meet our guide and head east to the famous Darien, Panama’s Eastern-most province and one of the most biodiverse areas of the Americas. The 5-hour journey to the Canopy Camp includes a rest at Bayano Reservoir; where we scan the lake for Cocoi Heron, Ringed Kingfisher and Pied Water-Tyrant along the water’s edge. As we continue the journey, we often spot Tayra, White-nosed Coati and Mantled Howlers. After a delicious Panamanian lunch in Torti, we continue to the Canopy Camp, arriving in late afternoon. Explore the grounds prior to cocktail hour, followed by a delicious dinner in the open-air dining room. Dinner at CANOPY CAMP DARIEN.

DAY 11 Nando’s trail & Filo del Tallo, Night Hike for Nocturnal Animals

Wake to the sounds of toucans, parrots and oropendolas that adorn the treetops, Mantled Howlers roaring in the distance, and hummingbirds that visit the feeders during breakfast. Butterflies begin flying once the sun heats up the day and add even more color to the vibrant gardens. We may see an agouti or Tayra roaming around the grounds. After breakfast, enjoy a guided nature walk along Nando’s trail, starting beside the tents. This beautiful trail immerses us in the beautiful lowland tropical rainforest of Darien, home to green-and-black Poison Dart Frogs, Crested Forest Toad, dozens of species of birds and mammals including White-faced Capuchin, Geoffroy’s Tamarin and Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth. Our night cameras have captured several images of ocelots in this trail. There are many birds, mammals, butterflies, plants and other species to enjoy here! Our guide will point out the wildlife and share about the forest ecology and the exquisite wildlife of Darien.

After lunch and a siesta, we will meet again and drive to the northwest entrance of Filo del Tallo Hydrological Reserve. The trail crosses a small creek and passes through part of the reserve, then climbs upward to a plateau into mature forest. Around the creek we will search for frogs and interesting insects, small lizards and bird life including Buff-rumped Warbler and Black-throated Trogon. Geoffroy’s Tamarins and Red-tailed Squirrel are common here, and if we are lucky, a Jaguarundi may cross our path. Search for Golden-headed Manakin, Dull-mantled Antbird, Great Curassow, White-bellied Antbird, Red-throated Caracara and Black-tailed Trogon, to name a few. The butterfly activity can be quite good here. After our walk we head back to the lodge for dinner.

After dark is the best time to see much of the mammal life in the Neotropics. Many species are primarily nocturnal, including several species of opossums, Rothschild’s Porcupine, Panamanian Night Monkey, Silky Anteater, Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth, Kinkajou, Olingo and the Neotropical cats—Margay, Ocelot, Puma and Jaguar. Tonight we will meet after dinner for a night walk in hopes to find some of these nocturnal creatures. Along our walk, we are also likely to see rain frogs, Marine Toad, Turnip-tailed Gecko and other reptiles; and owls—Mottled and Black-and-white owls are fairly common around Canopy Camp.

DAY 12 Quebrada Felix & Tierra Nueva Foundation

We will meet at sunrise this morning for coffee or tea and a hearty breakfast. Our day starts at Quebrada Felix, nestled in the base of the Filo del Tallo Hydrological Reserve. Surrounded by tall trees and mature lowland forest, we walk the rocky stream in search of some of Panama’s beautiful wildlife. This area boasts great habitat for Bush Dog, Red Brocket Deer, Northern Tamandua and several species of lizards and snakes. The shallow stream at this time of year is a great place to search for frogs among the river rocks. Crested and Solitary eagles have even been spotted here, a great testament to the mature forest of the area. Birds we are likely to encounter include Black-crowned Antpitta, Speckled Mourner, White-fronted Nunbird, Royal Flycatcher and the endemic Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker. It is also a great spot to find Fasciated Tiger-Heron and Green-and-rufous Kingfisher. Along the riverbed, charming butterflies such as Many-banded and Glossy daggerwings and Blind Eighty-Eight can be seen in sunny patches. After lunch and siesta during the hottest part of the day, we will explore the trails of the Tierra Nueva Foundation, in hopes of finding Red-rumped Woodpecker, Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Spot-crowned Barbet, White-headed Wren and the magnificent Great Curassow. Dinner at CANOPY CAMP.

DAY 13 Expedition to Harpy Eagle nest (full day)

One of the most spectacular birds of fabled Darien is the Harpy Eagle—Panama’s elusive National Bird. Powerful and majestic, Harpy Eagles live in intact dense lowland rainforest, now within the protected borders of Darien National Park and surrounding mature forest. Today we will start very early, long before sunrise, and drive to into the interior of Darien and board a cayuco on the Chucunaque River, the largest river in Panama. There is plenty of wildlife to see along the riverside— Spectacled Caiman may be seen basking on the riverbank and if lucky, a shy Neotropical River Otter playing in the moving water. Emerald Basilisk, Black River Turtle, Spectacled Parrotlet, Cocoi and Capped herons, Green Ibis, Amazon Kingfisher, Pied Water-Tyrant and both Crested and Black oropendolas are also likely along the river, while the spectacular Black-collared Hawk may be found cruising overhead.

As we carry on, the forest begins to thicken. We arrive at the trailhead and from here we walk to the nest site. This trail is wide, traversing through the rainforest. We watch for Slender Anoles and Panamanian Whiptails, along with dozens of species of butterflies as we walk this trail. It is along this trail where we will approach the huge nesting tree where the mighty Harpy Eagle has recently raised a chick. With some luck, we may see an eaglet in the nest or on the tree branches, or even an adult or two nearby. Hopefully with some success this morning, we can rest and have a picnic lunch in the field, and continue to look for wildlife along the trail. Other large forest eagles, including Ornate Hawk-Eagle and Crested Eagle, can also be found in the area, as well as White-faced Capuchin monkeys, Tayra, Collared Peccary, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Gray-cheeked Nunlet, Red-throated Caracara, Chestnut-backed Antbird, and more. After lunch and a break, we will retrace our steps and start our way back to the Canopy Camp for dinner.

DAY 14 San Francisco Reserve / Panama City / Home

After breakfast, return to Panama City. En-route stop at San Francisco Nature Reserve, a private wildlife reserve covering 1,300 acres which protects the headwaters of the Darien’s most important rivers. The reserve has a variety of habitats including primary, secondary and riparian forests, forest edge, fields, farmland, ponds and wetlands. During our morning here, we will explore the some of the different habitats along the road which are home to dozens of species of mammals, and even more butterflies and insects. We also hope to find birds such as Broad-billed Motmot, Collared Aracari, Russet-winged Schiffornis, Royal Flycatcher, White-fronted Nunbird and Blue Ground-Dove. After lunch in Torti we continue back to Panama City. Drop off at Tocumen International Airport in time for flight home.