Length of Tour
10-Days/9-Nights
Basic Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in Panama City
Day 2 – Fly to Bocas del Toro and begin our adventure
Days 3 through 6 – Tranquilo Bay Resort
Day 7 – Afternoon flight to Panama City
Day 8 & 9 – Summit Rainforest Lodge/Pipeline Road
Day 10 – Flights home
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in Panama City
Flight arrivals throughout the day… arrive at anytime but consider our early morning departure for Bocas del Toro on the following day!
Day 2 – Fly to Bocas del Toro and begin our adventure
An early morning departure will alow us plenty of bjrding time when we arrive at the lodge! We will begin with brunch then off we go to enjoy the trails and gardens!
Day 3 through 6 – Tranquilo Bay Resort
BIRDING
Each day we will explore another region, including a day trip to the mainland to explore up the slopes of the highlands for species not found lower down.
Birding in Panama, an area roughly the size of South Carolina, includes well over 900 recorded bird species, more than the U.S. and Canada Combined. The Province of Bocas del Toro hosts two overlapping Endemic Bird Areas, Central American Caribbean Slope and Panama and Costa Rica Highlands. A Panama birding tour is not complete without visiting western Panama’s Caribbean slope, one of the most important areas for restricted range avifauna in the world.
In western Panama the Caribbean Slope of the Talamanca mountain range, Tranquilo Bay’s back yard, plunges some 11,000 feet from the high alpine forest of La Amistad National Park into the lowland rainforests bordering the Caribbean Sea, in a span of less than 40 miles. Within the areas we explore from our comfortable facility the altitude ranges from 7,000 feet to sea level in a zone where nearly 500 species of birds can be found. This extreme biodiversity and high level of endemic species is due to abrupt changes in altitudinal zones and extreme geographic features creating many distinct ecosystems, as well as, migratory corridors.
Tranquilo Bay is located on 100 pristine acres, adjacent to Bastimentos National Marine Park, amongst the convergence of 3 distinct ecosystems. This creates an extremely diverse and unique wildlife observation site where flora and fauna overlap from separate worlds increasing diversity. In a week it is possible to identify over 100 species of birds without leaving the property. There are several elevated porches throughout the facility, creating an incredible eye-level view. While birding onsite you might also encounter white-faced capuchin monkeys, night monkeys, two and three toed sloths, iguanas, caiman, butterflies, a variety of frogs and lizards, and within the canopy a collage of rain forest hardwood and fruit trees, lianas, mangroves, ferns, orchids and cycads.
From your cabana, on the rainforests edge overlooking the Caribbean Sea, wake to the morning call of hundreds of Red-lored Parrots, the beautiful voice of flocks of Montezuma Oropendolas, and the mysterious sounds of the Green Ibis on the wing. Take coffee on your private elevated veranda as humming birds zip by, raptors hunt for their morning meal and brown pelicans share a few sardines with the magnificent frigates, just beyond the mangrove forest. Hundreds of trees, bushes, and flowering plants have been strategically blended throughout our living areas to attract a diverse variety of birds without the use of feeders.
Our central location in the archipelago allows us to explore freely, traveling by boat directly from the facility for all of our excursions. Due to dramatic geographic formations and Bocas del Toro’s dynamic environment the range of different bird habitats seem endless.
SNORKELING ON ONE OR TWO DAYS
Much of the marine park has never been explored under the surface, and many of the known underwater sites are as yet unnamed. Within the marine park, sea fan gardens, vibrant coral reefs, and over 200 species of tropical fish live amongst a dramatic sub-sea terrain, which seems to transform every few hundred yards.
Oceanic formations in the area include walls, freshwater caves, tunnels, pinnacles, coral spires and towers, Spur and groove, ocean impact reef, sandy ledges and protected patch reef.
Tranquilo Bay is centrally located in the archipelago and only a short boat ride away from a variety of depths and currents to accommodate all skill levels. All excursions depart directly from our facility where our staff will handle the preparation, maintenance and portage of the equipment. From the moment you arrive we will take care of your equipment for you. Save your energy to explore a new reef. Our boatmen will wash your gear and store it each day… You enjoy your vacation!
If snorkeling is the primary objective of your trip, note that the Caribbean Sea is calmer and there is less rain from February through June and September through November, September and October being the most consistent of all months.
The visibility, while most times is good, does not compare with that of other well known dive destinations such as Cayman Islands or Cozumel. That being said, most of the interesting formations here in Bocas del Toro are in shallower water. In many areas the maximum depth is 40 feet and the light penetration is excellent.
Just remember, you’re not coming here because it is the clearest ocean you can find, you’re coming to explore the most biologically diverse Caribbean marine park in Central America.
Day 7 – Afternoon flight to Panama City
After returning to Panama City we will transfer to Summit Rainforest Resort for the next three nights. We should have some daylight remaining to explore the grounds for Southern Lapwing as well as many tanagers, warblers and more.
Days 8 & 9 – Pipeline Road and More
The world famous Pipeline Road is well known for its amazing single-day bird counts… and we will have two days to explore sections of the road as well as enjoy the observation deck that allows views into the forest canopy.
Other nearby areas will also be explored to include wetland species, too.
Day 10 – Flights back to USA
