Panama’s Famous Canopy Family

After departing from home airports in the early morning, we’ll arrive in the mid-afternoon in Panama City. After clearing customs and retrieving luggage, we’ll head out towards the famous Canopy Tower. Following an afternoon orientation, we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the observation deck from the top of the tower.

Night: Canopy Tower

Meals: D

In the early morning, we’ll climb to the top of the tower and witness dawn from the observation deck. Birding from high in the canopy is both a relief on the neck and a spectacular way to see species such as Green Shrike-Vireo, Blue Cotinga, and more that are normally difficult to spot down low on the ground. After breakfast, we’ll venture down the access road to the hotel, exploring the shaded habitat for birds found both in the forest interior and edge habitats. From Black-breasted Puffbird to Black-throated Trogon and many more, there’s an impressive number of species to be found in the immediate area.

After returning to the tower for lunch, we’ll head out in the afternoon to some local ponds and the surrounding habitats. We’ll search for the elusive White-throated Crake while also keeping our eyes open for Greater Ani, Lesser Kiskadee, American Pygmy-Kingfisher, and more. We’ll return to the tower before dinner to relax and review the species list for the day.

Night: Canopy Tower

Meals: BLD

After breakfast, we’ll head a short distance away to world-famous Pipeline Road. Built during World War II as a petroleum line in case the canal was compromised, the road became famous in 1977 when, during a Christmas Bird Count, 314 species were found in the area around it. Ever since then, birders have flocked to experience the diversity for themselves. Great Jacamar, Pheasant Cuckoo, and Crimson-crested Woodpecker are just some of the species we’ll be searching for, while also keeping eyes peeled for any army ant swarms and all the birds that are attracted to the hunt. With bird activity sure to be high, we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch in the forest.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit the area around the summit gardens. Here we’ll hope to find species such as Common Squirrel-Cuckoo, Keel-billed Toucan, and others. The gardens and the flowering plants give us a chance at beautiful hummingbirds, including Snowy-bellied Hummingbird.

Night: Canopy Tower

Meals: BLD

Today, we’ll explore Plantation Trail, an area that is said to rival the impressive birding of Pipeline Road itself. This easy trail is a reliable spot to find the diminutive Golden-crowned Spadebill, and Black-chested Jays can normally be found in the parking lot. A wide variety of species can be found here, including woodcreepers, woodpeckers, antwrens, manakins, and more. Who knows what we might stumble upon!

After lunch, we’ll head towards the village of Gamboa, where a stop at a local bed & breakfast’s fruit feeders will give us up close views of colorful species, including Flame-rumped and Crimson-backed tanagers, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, and three species of honeycreepers. We’ll then visit the Chagres River, the main tributary of the Panama Canal, where our eyes will be peeled for a variety of kingfishers and herons, along with other water-loving species such as Mangrove Swallow.

Night: Canopy Tower

Meals: BLD

After again checking some local ponds for any species we may have missed, we’ll head onto Old Gamboa Road. Passing through a wide variety of habitats, specialties here include Blue Ground Dove, Jet Antbird, and Lance-tailed Manakin. With luck, we may even come across the unique Rosy Thrush-Tanager. Spectacled Owls are around as well, and we’ll check known roosting spots to see if any are in view.

The afternoon will include a visit to the Rainforest Discovery Center, where its 100-foot observation tower is a highlight. From the top of the tower, we’ll scan for soaring species, including Double-toothed Kite and Semiplumbeous Hawk, while canopy-loving species, including Scaled Pigeon, might be perched in the open. Walking along one of the forest trails, we might stumble upon a secretive Sungrebe in a small pond, while trogons, motmots, and more call from the understory.

Night: Canopy Tower

Meals: BLD

On our final morning birding from the observation deck of Canopy Tower, we’ll enjoy a relaxed breakfast before embarking on a two-hour drive to El Valle de Antón, arriving at Canopy Lodge in time for lunch. Built next to a mountain stream and at a higher elevation than the Tower, we’ll immediately notice the cooler temperatures. After an orientation about the property, there’ll be time to relax and enjoy the incredible feeders. Species such as Dusky-faced Tanager, Streaked Saltator, and Chestnut-headed Oropendola are just some of the birds that can be expected.

Night: Canopy Lodge

Meals: BLD

In the early morning, we’ll head up the mountain towards the ridgeline, offering views of the forested mountains and surrounding grasslands. If it’s a clear day, you can see both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans! Unique species that we’ll search for include Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch, Emerald Tanager, Barred Hawk, the endemic Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker, and Black Guan. Once we’ve exhausted our searching and built up an appetite, we’ll descend back towards the lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, we’ll spend time on a trail that winds through some of the last remaining stands of Pacific dry forest. Striped Cuckoo, Pale-eyed Pygmy-Tyrant, and Rufous-and-white Wren will be targeted, while Tody Motmot, Long-billed Gnatwren, and much more will hopefully be around. We’ll return to the lodge in time for some relaxation before dinner.

Night: Canopy Lodge

Meals: BLD

After an early breakfast, 4x4s will take us high into the mountains. Climbing into the cloud forest, at 3,600 feet above sea level, highland forest birds will be our targets for today. Yellow-eared Toucanet, Barred Forest-Falcon, Spotted Barbtail, and Tawny-crested Tanager are just some of the many species we’ll search for. We may even stumble upon the unique Brown-billed Scythebill, while Snowcap, White-tipped Sicklebill, and Band-tailed Barbthroat are just some of the local hummingbirds. A picnic lunch in the field will allow us to maximize our time in this incredible habitat, and in the mid-afternoon, we’ll descend back to the lodge for some downtime before dinner.

Night: Canopy Lodge

Meals: BLD

We’ll start the day 15 minutes from the lodge, where the blend of habitats holds great birds including Spot-crowned Barbet, Bay-headed Tanager, and Scarlet-thighed Dacnis. Rufous-crested Coquette and Crowned Woodnymph can be found feeding on flowering bushes. Lunch will again be at the lodge. The afternoon will include a visit to more habitats, allowing us a chance to connect with species we may have missed, before again enjoying the feeders at the Lodge.

Night: Canopy Lodge

Meals: BLD

In the morning, we’ll ascend Cerro Gaital, the mist-shrouded mountain visible from the Lodge. Northern Emerald-Toucanet, Collared Trogon, Rufous-capped Warbler, and White Hawk can all be found at this elevation, while Blue Seedeater, Violet-headed Hummingbird, and Black-headed Antthrush also inhabit the area.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit Valle Chiquito, recently accessible due to a newly paved road. A colony of Chestnut-headed Oropendolas can be found in one of the large trees, while Sepia-capped Flycatcher can be found along the rivers. Black Hawk-Eagle, along with Zone-tailed and Gray-lined hawks, may be heard calling while soaring, while Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Little Tinamou, and a variety of wrens move through the understory.

Night: Canopy Lodge

Meals: BLD

With a final breakfast and some last-minute birding at the lodge feeders, we’ll load our bags and begin the 3-hour journey back towards Panama City and the airport, ready to head home after an incredible experience with word-famous lodging.

Meals: B