PANAMA: The Canal Zone and Darien Jungle
March 1 to 11, 2012
Note: This tour is full. We are planning another tour in 2013
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Few places in the world offer a variety of natural habitats in such a small area like Panama. Slightly smaller than the state of South Carolina, Panama boasts more than 974 species of birds and contains habitats ranging from dry deserts where cacti are common, to lush tropical rainforests and mountain cloudforests where moss-covered epiphyte-laden trees abound. A diverse topography from coastal wetlands to mountain peaks rising more than 11,000 feet offers a rich avifauna that includes everything from massive wintering shorebird flocks to secretive treerunners and tapaculos in fog-shrouded montane environments. Additionally, Panama’s location at the crossroads of the Americas attracts bird species from both continents and is rich in endemic or near-endemic birds.
During this tour you will have the opportunity to explore several regions of the Republic of Panama. We’ll begin near Panama City in the central part of the Isthmus, then travel east to low-elevation mountains near Torti, and on to jungles in the wild and remote Darien Province.
ACTIVITY LEVEL: Easy to Moderate. The trip involves easy-to-moderate walking over flat to hilly terrain. On many days we will spend up to 6-7 hours walking and/or on our feet.
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PACE, WEATHER, AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS:
Our days in the field will usually begin about 6:30 a.m. and will end about 6:00 p.m. On many days, we’ll have an early breakfast followed by several hours of birding before lunch; on some days we may have an afternoon siesta to ride out the mid-day heat before returning to the field for late afternoon birding.
Temperatures will be warm to hot (and humid). Expect a temperature range from approximately 75-95 degrees. Rain or thunderstorms are a possibility, so raingear and or an umbrella is advised. Many tropical birders prefer an umbrella and fast-drying clothing as raingear doesn’t usually breathe—causing you to be as wet through perspiration as you would be through precipitation. The sun is very strong, especially in the Darien region: sunscreen and a brimmed hat are advised. Biting insects such as mosquitoes may be present at several locations.
Travel during this tour will be in a large, comfortable van. Tour size is limited to 11 participants. Terrain is generally flat with a few hills, and most walks are not strenuous but expect to be on your feet for up to 5-6 hours at a time.
Additional information about the tour, with specific meeting times, a list of participants, lists of things to bring, a reading list, a list of probable/possible birds, further information about weather, dress, health considerations, etc., will be mailed to all participants well in advance of the tour.
DATES: Thursday, March 1, 2012 (flights to Panama City, Panama) to Sunday, March 11, 2012 (flights home anytime)
PRICE: Cost for this tour is $2295 based on double occupancy. Single supplement, if you request single occupancy, or we are unable to find a suitable roommate for you, is $385. A deposit of $500 will hold your place until January 1, 2012 when full payment becomes due.
PRICE INCLUDES: Accommodations for 10 nights, local guides and tour leadership, most meals while in Panama,and ground and water transportation in Panama, and entrance fees to all areas on the itinerary.
NOT INCLUDED: Airfare to/from Panama City, departure tax ($40), tourist card ($5), gratuities, items of a personal nature.
SEND DEPOSITS & OTHER PAYMENTS TO:
NJ Audubon Eco-Travel,
9 Hardscrabble Rd,
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
tel. 908-204-8998 x10
Or by email to
travel@njaudubon.orgPlease make checks payable to New Jersey Audubon.
TOUR LEADERS:
Scott Barnes began birding at the age of twelve and has been an avid naturalist ever since. Encouragement and learning came from his parents and many birders, including members of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club and staff of New Jersey Audubon. An interest in travel and natural history has led him from northwestern Alaska to the desert southwest to Trinidad and Tobago in search of plants and animals. Scott is an eBird regional editor and manages the NJ eBird portal, writes the “Voice of New Jersey Audubon” weekly rare bird alert, compiles the Sandy Hook Christmas Bird Count, is a ten-year member and former chair of the New Jersey Bird Records Committee, leader on See Life Paulagics boat trips, and assistant director for the NJ Audubon Eco-Travel. Scott has led NJ Audubon tours to nineteen states and four countries.
Guido C. Berguido operates Advantage Tours Panama, a birding and ecotourism company. He is a native of Panama City and holds a degree in Biology from the University of Panama; he is a Certified Interpretive Guide through the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) in the USA. For more than 15 years, he has led nature and birding tours for the most important tour operators in the region (including 2 NJ Audubon groups) and has partnered with the Smithsonian Institution and the Panama Audubon Society on environmental education and conservation activities. He has been instrumental in the creation of the Chucanti Private Nature Reserve in one of Panama’s most critical Important Bird Areas. Guido’s passion for Panama’s biodiversity and love of birding are immediately obvious!