Day 1 — Arrival in Panama City and Summit Rainforest Resort

Upon arrival at Tocumen International Airport, you will be met and transferred by private vehicle to Summit Rainforest Resort, located within easy reach of Panama City and surrounded by tropical forest.

If you arrive early, we will have time to explore the resort’s forest trails. The area offers excellent opportunities for observing mammals such as Geoffroy’s Tamarin, Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, and Central American Agouti. Birdlife is also abundant, with possible sightings of Collared Aracari, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Black-tailed Trogon, and many other lowland species.

The resort also features butterfly and frog enclosures. After dark, Red-eyed Tree Frogs can often be found along the trails, creating an excellent introduction to Panama’s nocturnal wildlife.

Dinner and overnight at Summit Rainforest Resort.

Day 2 — Lake Gatún and Soberanía National Park

Alternative: Cerro Azul hummingbird feeders

Option A: Lake Gatún and Soberanía National Park

We will begin with an early-morning boat excursion on Lake Gatún, the main reservoir of the Panama Canal. The lake is surrounded by lush rainforest and provides opportunities to observe both wildlife and the historic canal landscape.

Our primary focus will be on primates, including White-faced Capuchin, Mantled Howler, and Geoffroy’s Tamarin. A variety of waterbirds and forest species may also be encountered along the shoreline.

Later in the morning, we will visit the Rainforest Discovery Center, a private reserve within Soberanía National Park. Hummingbird feeders attract several species of lowland forest hummingbirds and provide excellent photographic opportunities. Trogons, motmots, manakins, and other forest birds may also be seen.

If conditions are favourable, we may encounter an army-ant swarm and the ant-following birds that gather around it. Possible species include Ocellated Antbird and, occasionally, the elusive Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo. Other wildlife in the reserve may include Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, White-nosed Coati, Central American Agouti, and Leaf Litter Toads (Rhinella alata).

Option B: Cerro Azul feeders

Alternatively, we will spend the morning in Cerro Azul, a forested residential area less than an hour from Panama City. Several feeders located on a private estate bordering Chagres National Park attract a variety of mid-elevation species and offer excellent opportunities for photography.

Possible subjects include Golden-hooded Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Crimson-backed Tanager, Velvety Manakin, several honeycreeper species, and secretive understory birds such as Black-faced Antthrush, Song Wren, and Chestnut-backed Antbird.

We will spend the remainder of the day exploring the gardens and forest trails at Summit Rainforest Resort.

Dinner and overnight at Summit Rainforest Resort.

Day 3 — Flight to David and the Chiriquí Highlands

After an early breakfast, we will take a short flight from Panama City to David, the capital of Chiriquí Province. The flight takes approximately 45 minutes. From David, we will continue by vehicle for about one hour to Cerro Punta in the Chiriquí Highlands, arriving in time for lunch.

In the afternoon, we will explore private gardens and feeders that provide excellent opportunities to photograph hummingbirds and other highland species. The region forms part of the Talamanca mountain range and is home to several species with restricted ranges.

Potential photographic subjects include White-throated Mountain-Gem, Purple-throated Mountain-Gem, Talamanca Hummingbird, Lesser Violetear, Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, Scintillant Hummingbird, Violet Sabrewing, Green-crowned Brilliant, Volcano Hummingbird, Thick-billed Euphonia, White-naped Brushfinch, Chestnut-crowned Brushfinch, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher, Mountain Elaenia, Slaty Flowerpiercer, and Acorn Woodpecker.

Dinner and overnight at Hotel Dos Ríos.

Day 4 — Chiriquí Cloud Forest

After breakfast, we will enter a private cloud-forest reserve of approximately 103 hectares, located near La Amistad National Park. The reserve protects pristine highland habitat and offers outstanding opportunities for both bird and wildlife photography.

Several mountain hummingbird species visit the feeders, including regional endemics and other characteristic birds of the Talamanca range. The elusive Wrenthrush and Silver-fronted Tapaculo may be found close to the lodge, while Resplendent Quetzals often perch only a few meters from the observation deck. Several pairs are known to nest within the reserve between mid-February and late April.

After dark, Central American Cacomistles and Northern Olingos regularly visit feeding areas. We will also set up lights and sheets to attract moths, beetles, and other insects. These can in turn attract forest birds during the early morning, including Streak-breasted Treehunter, Grey-breasted Wood-Wren, and Flame-throated Warbler. Other possible species include Collared Redstart, Yellow-thighed Brushfinch, and Large-footed Finch.

Hummingbirds are numerous, active, and often approachable. Excellent photographic opportunities may include Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Violet Sabrewing, Talamanca Hummingbird, Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, and White-throated Mountain-Gem, both in flight and on natural perches.

Dinner and overnight at Hotel Dos Ríos.

Day 5 — Cerro Punta and the Chiriquí Highlands

After breakfast, we will visit a private highland reserve known for its excellent birding and photography opportunities. Depending on conditions, we may search for Volcano Hummingbird, Scintillant Hummingbird, Slate-throated Redstart, Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, and other mountain species.

One of the day’s highlights is the resident population of the extremely elusive Maroon-chested Ground-Dove, which can provide exceptional viewing and photography opportunities. We will also look for Buff-fronted Quail-Dove and Spotted Wood-Quail, two secretive species of the highland forest.

After lunch, we will return to the gardens and feeders for additional photography of hummingbirds and other mountain birds. The pace will remain flexible, allowing us to make the most of changing light and bird activity.

Dinner and overnight at Hotel Dos Ríos.

Day 6 — Chiriquí Lowlands and transfer to Changuinola

After breakfast, we will leave the highlands and begin our descent toward the Chiriquí Lowlands. Depending on weather conditions and recent sightings, we may visit either Paraíso, approximately one hour away, or Volcán, around 30 minutes from Cerro Punta.

Here we will search for lower-elevation species such as Orange-collared Manakin, Spot-crowned Euphonia, Charming Hummingbird, Fiery-billed Aracari, and many others.

We will also visit a small family-owned property with an exceptional abundance and diversity of hummingbirds. The feeders regularly attract Long-billed Starthroat, Plain-capped Starthroat, Crowned Woodnymph, Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, Blue-throated Golden-Tail, and as many as 24 hummingbird species.

After lunch, we will continue by road for approximately four hours to Changuinola, in Panama’s western Caribbean region. This transition takes us from the cooler highlands into a warm, humid lowland ecosystem rich in tropical birds, frogs, and other wildlife.

Dinner and overnight at Bocas Ridge Hotel.

Day 7 — Changuinola: frogs, birds, and Caribbean wildlife

After breakfast, we will visit a nearby family-owned guesthouse and private estate with excellent opportunities for amphibian photography.

Possible subjects include Red-eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas), several Dendropsophus tree-frog species, Red-webbed Tree Frog (Boana rufitella), and a striking mainland form of the Strawberry Poison-Frog (Oophaga pumilio).

The surrounding habitat is also productive for Caribbean bird specialties. We may encounter Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Snowy Cotinga, White-collared Manakin, and several owl species. The day will be paced to allow time for careful compositions, behavioural observations, and close-up photography.

Dinner and overnight at Bocas Ridge Hotel.

Day 8 — Changuinola and return to David.

We will spend the morning exploring different areas around Changuinola in search of additional amphibian subjects. Our focus will include different colour forms of Strawberry Poison-Frog and Green-and-black Poison-Frog (Dendrobates auratus).

After lunch, we will begin the return drive toward David. This will be a relaxed transition day, allowing us to enjoy the changing landscapes as we travel from the Caribbean lowlands back toward western Panama’s central hub.

Dinner and overnight at Hampton by Hilton in David, conveniently located for the following morning’s flight to Panama City.

Day 9 — Morning flight to Panama City

After breakfast, we will take a morning flight from David to Panama City, arriving at approximately 10:35 a.m.

The tour concludes upon arrival in Panama City. Depending on individual flight schedules, additional airport transfers, hotel nights, or optional activities can be arranged separately.