Panama

The Canal Zone & the Chiriqui Highlands

March 15 - 25, 2025

With Holly Merker

One of the most biodiverse countries in the world, about the size of South Carolina, Panama boasts 1000+ species of birds. Widely known for its 51-mile long canal, famous as one of the most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken, all the transit here has led to a remarkable melting pot effect. As a result Panama’s cultural heritage is about as diverse as its wildlife and landscapes. But not just a transit place for humans, hundreds of thousands of birds follow the “S-shaped” isthmus in the March skies, threading the needle between North and South America over Panama. Hawks and songbirds are moving north, and braced by waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, they combine with colorful and mysterious resident birds to steal the show.

This 10-night trip showcases the best of Central Panama and the Western Highlands. We’ll spend the first four days in the “Canal Zone”, just an hour outside of Panama City, where lush tropical rainforests offer rich, dazzling birdlife, flamboyant butterflies, sloths, and several species of monkeys. On Day five we take an in-country flight to the province of Chiriquí. Here, retreating into the cloud forest there is a vastly avifuana. We nestle into the magnificent montane landscape for the 5 days of exploration, including an optional excursion up to Volcán Barú, Panama’s highest peak.

This 10-night tour is crafted to leave you feeling enriched with a deeper connection to nature, birds, and the extraordinary landscapes of Panama. Then, if you still yearn for more, there is the option of a separate 5-night tour into remote Darien to hike for the iconic Harpy Eagle.

Daily Overview