Panama Three-Week Green Season Birding Tour
October 23 to November 13, 2021
Join Birding Instructor Marty Brazeau and other master naturalists to learn about the ecology of the tropical rain forest as you see some incredible tropical birds. You will:
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see migrating birds and warblers from the United States and many tropical birds
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visit Panama during the peak hawk migration
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stay in three different lodges
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enjoy great food and comfortable accommodations
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Interested? Email Marty Brazeau at scoutnaturalist@gmail.com
A native expert guide will show our group a wide variety of tropical birds.
In September Panama starts getting the first fall migrants, and this number climbs and reaches its climax around the middle of October and extending until the first week of November. This is the fall migration, a fantastic natural phenomenon when hundreds of thousands of raptors fly over the lodges (best seen at the Canopy Tower and Canopy Camp) on the way to their southern wintering grounds. This is one of the most impressive natural spectacles of Neotropical birding.
Dates and Lodges
Canopy Tower Oct 23-30
Located in Soberania National Park, 45 minutes driving from Panama City
Canopy Lodge Oct 30- Nov 6
Located in El Valle de Anton, 2 hours driving from Panama City
Canopy Camp Nov 7-13
located in Darien Province 4.5 hours driving from Panama City
Well known birding tour companies often book tours in October and November. It is usually sunny in the morning. Rains often come after lunch during siesta time. We then go birding after siesta time until dinner.
Tour Cost
The Canopy Tower is giving the Master Naturalist Panama tour a 15% discount and the rate is US$4,269.32 per person in double and single room.
We will spend the night of Nov 6 in the Airport Hotel, the distance between Canopy Lodge to Canopy Camp is more than 6 hours by car. And the Airport hotels are on the way to Darién. The rate in the Airport hotel for the night is US$110.00 for one room / 2 people and includes breakfast.
This trip is normally US$5,022.73 (taxes included per person)
Canopy Camp applies a single supplement for one person in a double tent, in green season the price is $55.00 per night.
The tour does not include:
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Air fare: We will work together to book a flight. The price should be more affordable than during the high season, (January-April)
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tips for guides and hotel, and alcohol
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travel insurance
Information Web Links:
The Canopy Tower prices are heavily discounted when we are visiting because many come to the tropics during the winter months to escape the cold, so demand is lower during the green season.
Tour Leader
Marty Brazeau is an academic advisor at the Community College of Baltimore County. He has taught birding classes for the college for the last five years. He has led several tours to Costa Rica, Belize, and Trinidad and Tobago. Marty is also active leading Scout Naturalist programs in Maryland. He has a YouTube birding channel linked above. You can email Marty at scoutnaturalist@gmail.com
Marty's first visit to Costa Rica in 1998. He is standing in front of a Great Kapok Tree.
Birds filmed by Marty in Costa Rica. Many of these birds also are found in Panama.
You will need to purchase this field guide. For tropical birdwatching, Panama offers an incredible amount of avifauna (bird biodiversity) with 1002 bird species identified in the country, which is more than the United States and Canada combined. There are 8 endemic species found only in Panama and 122 migratory species that have been identified.
Covid Information
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CDC recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated, because travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19.
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We require all persons on the tour to be fully vaccinated and use safety precautions when in public and away from the tour group.
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Click on the picture link to the right to see Covid safety measures in Panama. Currently you will need to be tested 48 hours before the tour.
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We also expect conditions in Panama to be better six months from now on our tour.
My almost filled Costa Rica tours next Spring have openings!
The itineraries for both tours are below.
Both tours have many good chances to see Resplendent Quetzals along with hummingbirds and trogons galore. The tours are guided by expert Costa Rican guides. Mario, the company leader has been leading Baltimore area birders on tours for many years.
This will be my 12th time in Costa Rica. Wonderful place to see birds.
First tour: March 19-29, 2022.
Second tour: March 30- April 9, 2022.
We have room on each of the tours.
10 pax $2450
12 pax $2350
Single supplement $650
Air fare is extra, usually between $450-$600.
We are not going during Easter so we should be able to get the lesser fare.
As usual, Tips for guides, and driver and hotel are not included.
All meals are included, except lunch on arrival. Meals start with dinner on the first day.
We stay in some nice hotels and the food is great.
Let me know if you are interested by emailing: scoutnaturalist@gmail.com
Marty