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PANAMA'S REMOTE DARIEN
Birdquest's Remote Darien birding tour is a compelling wilderness experience that offers some of the best birdwatching in Central America. Our Panama's Remote Darien tour not only visits Cana and Cerro Pirre, home to most of the Darien specialities, but also Mogue for the spectacular Harpy Eagle and Black Oropendola.
Tuesday 22nd January -
Saturday 2nd February 2013
(12 days)
Leader:
Matt Denton
Group Size Limit: 8
Tour Category: Easy for the most part, occasionally Moderate (and a long, partly steep, hike up Cerro Pirre)
The S-shaped isthmus of Panama, barely more than 50 miles across at its narrowest and no more than 130 miles at its widest, is one of the great crossroads of the world. In Spanish times it was the base for conquering expeditions northwards and southwards along the Pacific Coasts, and since the early days of the 20th century the impressive Panama canal has saved countless ships from having to make the long and hazardous voyage around Cape Horn.
What fewer people realize is that this narrow strip of land has played a key role as a faunal exchange route between the North and South American continents. The land that was to become southern Central America first emerged as a chain of volcanic islands some 50 million years ago, serving as faunal stepping stones for more mobile groups of creatures. Only within the last 3-4 million years a continuous land bridge was formed, allowing for even more life forms to pass between continents. Typical Neotropic bird families such as tinamous, jacamars, toucans, woodcreepers, antbirds, manakins and cotingas, began to move into Central America where today they diminish in numbers of species from south to north. Other groups including owls, swallows, wrens and thrushes, spread in the other direction and conquered South America. Meanwhile speciation in both areas continued unabated, and today Panama holds a diverse and fascinating mixture of Central and South American elements, in addition to a number of birds that are endemic or are only shared with adjacent Columbia, giving it the richest avifauna (an amazing 900 or so species occur in this small but bird-rich country) in Central America.
This fantastic tour concentrates on the remote remote Darien region of Panama, which is to this day largely roadless and a place where nature still thrives. One of the classic Neotropical wilderness birding destinations, for those who have experienced a visit to the Darien, it is surely one of their most cherished birding memories.
In 1513, Vasco Nunez de Balboa led an expedition on a 25-day trek through the jungle to the western coast of what later became know as Darien, proving that the land in this area was a narrow isthmus between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Spaniards called the trail that developed after Balboa’s pioneering efforts El Camino Real (The Royal Road).
The remote mountain from which Balboa first sighted the Pacific Ocean lies deep within the vast wilderness of the superb Darien National Park, where the isolated mountain tops have witnessed the evolution of a number of endemic and little known birds in the cool cloud and elfin forests that cloak their slopes. Furthermore, an interesting range of primarily South American species ‘spill over’ into the park’s verdant lowland jungles, including Harpy Eagle, three species of colourful macaws and a host of smaller but equally captivating birds.
Forming a natural boundary between Central and South America, the vast wilderness of the Darien harbours some 60 species of Panamanian birds found nowhere else in the country, quite a few of which are endemic or are only shared with a tiny fraction of neighbouring Colombia.
Our journey begins in the coastal lowlands where a narrow tributary takes us to a remote yet hospitable native village. On the rocky slopes above the village stand large emergent Cuipo trees, ideal for nesting Harpy Eagles, whilst the surrounding forest holds good numbers of arboreal sloths that provide plentiful food for a growing Harpy. The handsome Black Oropendola, occurring only in Panama and neighbouring Colombia, is also to be found here. A recently developed ecotourism project with the Emberá nation allows us to visit a very traditional community and experience a remote and little-visited corner of the Darien.
This short but fascinating experience in the lowlands will be followed by a much more comprehensive exploration of the forests surrounding Cana and Cerro Pirre, which are renowned for their rich bird life. The park boasts a galaxy of species, several of which have been extirpated from most areas in the rest of the country but which are still common here, such as the awesome Crested Guan, the emerald Great Green Macaw and the gorgeous Red-throated Caracara, whose raucous and far-carrying calls seem unbelievable until heard for oneself. Of particular note are such sought-after Darien endemics, near-endemics and very restricted-range specialities as Russet-crowned Quail-Dove, Rufous-cheeked Hummingbird, Black-breasted Puffbird, Pirre Warbler, Green-naped Tanager, Pirre Bush-Tanager and Beautiful Treerunner. We will also be on the lookout for the extremely wary Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo, though we shall think ourselves lucky if we manage to see this reclusive forest floor dweller.
Birdquest has operated tours to Panama’s Darien since 1998.
(Note: The above is a summary of the tour. For more information please download the detailed, day-by-day itinerary. The button is at the top right of the page.)
Accommodation & Road Transport: The hotel in Panama City is of normal Birdquest standard. At the Emberá village of Mogue we will stay for two nights in a simple but reasonably comfortable tented camp (with tents available for twin or single occupancy) set up by our local agents under the thatched-roof of a well-ventilated house on stilts (showers will be available). At Cana we shall be staying for five nights at a simple lodge with shared bathroom facilities and for two nights in a simple but reasonably comfortable tented camp (with tents available for twin or single occupancy) set up by our local agents on Cerro Pirre. Road transport (what little there is) is by small coach or minibus/passenger van.
Walking: The walking effort is mostly easy to moderate, but there is a long ascent to reach the camp on Cerro Pirre, which can be taken at a slow pace, and some sections are steep (and slippery after rain).
Climate: At this season it should be mostly dry and often sunny. It can be quite hot and humid in the lowlands, whilst at higher elevations it can be quite cool, especially at night. There may be some rain.
Bird Photography: Opportunities are worthwhile.
Tour Price: (provisional): $3940 Panama City/Panama City. Price includes all transportation (including all flights inside Panama), all accommodations, all meals, bottled water, some drinks, all excursions, all entrance fees, all tips for local drivers/guides and for accommodations/restaurants, leader services.
Single Room/Tent Supplement: (provisional): $606.
Deposit: 10% of the tour price (excluding any single supplement).
Air Travel To & From The Tour: Our in-house IATA ticket agency can arrange your air travel in connection with the tour from a departure point anywhere in the world, or you may arrange your own air travel if you prefer. We can tailor-make your itinerary to your personal requirements, so if you would like to travel in advance of the tour (and spend a night in an hotel so you will feel fresh when the tour starts), or return later than the end of the tour, or make a side trip to some other destination, or travel business class rather than economy, we will be happy to assist. Please contact us about your air travel requirements.
Birdquest LLC, 3721 Executive Center Drive, Suite 268, Austin, TX 78731
Ph: 512-343-1700, Fax: 512-343-1701
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