March 18 - Panama City
Upon arrival at Tocumen Airport you will transfer to your hotel. Overnight Country Inn & Suites Dorado
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March 19 - San Blas Mountains
After breakfast, your day begins with a field trip to Metropolitan Nature Park, perhaps the only forest reserve within a major capital city in Latin America. Despite its proximity to Panama City, it boasts a rich avifauna, with birds species including Yellow-backed Oriole, Crimson-backed Tanager, Rufous-and-white Wren, White-bellied Antbird, and Lance-tailed Manakin. You will continue birding at Panama Viejo and Costa del Este, the first colonial settlement on the Americas’ Pacific Coast, founded in 1519. Located at the Upper Bay of Panama, it is a vital part of the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN). After lunch you’ll depart for the San Blas Mountain Range. Overnight Hotel Burbayar (BLD)
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March 20 - San Blas Mountains
Today you will begin the exploration of the San Blas Mountain Range. As you bird along El Llano Carti Road, keep your eyes peeled for Sulphur-rumped Tanager, Tawnycrested Tanager, King Vulture, and Scarlet-thighed Dacnis. In the afternoon, you’ll proceed into the deep woods at the Ibe Igar trail, looking for Speckled Antshrike, Thicket Antpitta, Slate-colored Grosbeak, Olive-backed Quail-Dove, and many others. Overnight Hotel Burbayar (BLD)
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March 21 - San Blas Mountains
Today you will continue exploring the San Blas Mountain Range and hike the Inna Igar trail looking for Sapayoa, Green Manakin, and White-vented Euphonia. In the afternoon, return to the Llano Carti Road to add more species to your list. Overnight Hotel Burbayar (BLD)
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March 22 - Gamboa
After birding in the morning and a leisurely breakfast, you will make your way to Gamboa Rainforest Resort. Enjoy birding on the hotel grounds this evening. Explore the Waterfall trail looking for Southern Nightingale-Wren, Olive Tanager, and Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo. Overnight Gamboa Rainforest Resort (BLD)
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March 23 - Gamboa
Today you will depart with a boxed breakfast for the world famous Pipeline Road at Soberania National Park, a 55,000 acre woodland where nearly 400 species of birds have been recorded. Later you’ll travel to the Miraflores Lock for lunch and exploration of the museum, hopefully seeing a ship passing through the lock. Later in the afternoon you will bird at the Ammo Dump Ponds. Overnight Gamboa Rainforest Resort (BLD)
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March 24 - Volcan
Today you’ll start birding at Plantation Road followed by a sightseeing visit of the Canopy Tower from its observation deck, which allows for close up looks at the occupants of this inaccessible stratum of the rainforest. Birds like Green Shrike-vireo, Yellow-crowned and Paltry Tyrannulet,
usually invisible from the forest floor, are more easily seen from this fantastic observation platform. This afternoon, take a flight to David and transfer to your hotel in Volcan. Overnight Hotel Dos Rios (BLD)
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March 25 - Volcan
You will begin your highlands discovery by traveling to Finca Hartman. This birding destination offers great birding in a transitional area between the highlands and the lower foothills of the Talamanca mountain range. Finca Hartmann is a farm land used primarily for growing shade-grown coffee under towering remnant rainforest trees. Several dirt roads provide access to areas ranging in elevation from 400 to 6000 feet, thus providing a good altitudinal gradient for birding; Over 280 species have been recorded in the area including the near endemic Turquoise Cotinga, Whitecrowned Parrot, and White-throated Thrush. Following lunch at Finca Hartmann, enjoy afternoon birding at Nueva Suiza Creek. Overnight Hotel Dos Rios (BLD)
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March 26 - Volcan
Today, you will travel to Cerro Punta to explore the area of El Respingo and Los Quetzales Trail at Baru National Park. This area is good for the rare and beautiful Resplendent Quetzal, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Volcano Hummingbird, Blackfaced Solitaire, and more. In the afternoon, pay a visit to Cielito Sur Bed and Breakfast for hummingbird observation. Overnight Hotel Dos Rios (BLD)
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March 27 - Panama City
Your morning in the highlands begins with birding at the Volcan Lakes, tracking birds such as Slaty Spinetail, Whitethroated
Flycatcher, Fiery-billed Aracari and Masked
Yellowthroat. In the afternoon you will return to Panama City on your flight from David. Enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel tonight. Overnight Crowne Plaza Hotel (BLD)
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March 28 - Farewell!
Transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)
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