Panama trip | On birding adventure in the Darien NP

Today, you’ll be on the lookout for Panama’s national bird, the harpy eagle. This region is home to the largest population of this rare and majestic bird in the whole of Central America. If a nesting site is available during your trip – whether an active nest or a young bird that has fledged – we will definitely include this in the itinerary.

You’ll start the day very early (well before sunrise) and drive to Yaviza, the southernmost point of the Pan-American Highway. At first light, you’ll board a traditional ‘piragua’ – a hollowed-out log canoe – and glide across the calm waters of the Chucunaque and Tuira rivers. A mosaic of scrub, grassland, mudflats and sandy beaches unfolds along the banks. The area is teeming with birds! Think of various species of heron, the white and green ibis, and both the crested and black oropendolas.

Once you arrive in El Real, you’ll scan the open areas for birds such as the spotted-breasted woodpecker and the elusive great potoo. There, you’ll meet a local driver who’ll take you further south to the start of a trail on the edge of the Darién National Park. This wide path winds through the lowland rainforest and partly follows a river. With a fair bit of luck, you might come face to face with a harpy eagle or even a crested eagle, two mighty birds of prey that roam these dense forests. Having hopefully had a successful morning, you’ll take a break and enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by nature.

After lunch and a rest, you’ll make your way back to El Real at a leisurely pace, before travelling back to Yaviza. During the drive along the Pan-American Highway, we’ll keep our eyes peeled – twilight is the perfect time for wildlife activity and surprises!

El Salto Road winds its way about 6 kilometres north from the Pan-American Highway and ends at the mighty Río Chucunaque. This open road, surrounded by dry forest, is a fantastic place to search for a range of remarkable birds typical of the region. Here you’ll be on the lookout for species such as the golden-green woodpecker, the rare double-banded tit, the colourful blue-and-yellow macaw and the chestnut-breasted macaw, as well as both species of oropendola. At the end of the road, a forest track leads you into a low-canopy forest, where the adventure really begins. With a bit of luck, you’ll spot the mysterious bald-headed antbird, a graceful hummingbird, the olive woodpecker, the striped-headed mouse-woodpecker and the agile forestelaenia.

Adjacent to El Salto Road lies the grounds of the Fundación Tierra Nueva. Fundación Tierra Nueva is a non-profit organisation whose primary mission is to work towards the sustainable development of the communities in the Darién rainforest. The grounds are home to a technical college specialising in agricultural applications. You will explore the trails across this vast, forested area, hoping to spot species such as the striped-headed mouse-woodpecker, the variegated flycatcher, the slate-grey falcon, the white-capped wren and the impressive great hokko.

Today is once again dedicated to searching for rare birds. Start at Las Lagunas Road, which runs 12 kilometres south from the Pan-American Highway and winds through open farmland and dry scrubland. The road eventually crosses a stream and ends at a couple of small pools. Along the way, we hope to spot species such as the red-breasted warbler, spotted woodpecker, yellow-breasted flycatcher, blue-headed parakeet, striped cuckoo, sugar glider, and both the laughing falcon and the Aplomado falcon. With a bit of luck, you might also spot a pygmy cuckoo or a shy little cuckoo; both have been sighted along this route before.

At the lagoons, you might well see the variegated water tyrant, the hooded heron, the magnificent yellow-capped blackcap and the extraordinary black-capped donacobius. This is a fantastic habitat for all these remarkable birds.

Later in the day, you’ll also travel to Quebrada Felix, situated at the foot of the Filo del Tallo Hydrological Reserve, just a short drive from Canopy Camp. It offers an exciting new opportunity to spot some of Panama’s most sought-after bird species. Surrounded by tall trees and mature lowland rainforest, you’ll walk alongside and through a rocky stream, searching for rare species such as various woodpeckers, the Black-crowned Antpitta, the Scaly-throated Leaf-scraper and the White-fronted Trappist. This is also an excellent spot to see species such as the striped tiger heron, the colourful green-brown kingfisher, the two-coloured antbird, the banded grey-tailed flycatcher and many more. Even the harpy eagle and the American black eagle have been spotted here.

In the morning, you’ll visit the Emberá community of Lajas Blancas, which has a population of over 1,000. Just 15 minutes away, the area surrounding this community offers fantastic birdwatching opportunities and the chance to discover countless endemic species of the Darién!

During the dry season, a bridge over the Chucunaque River provides easy access to mature secondary forest, where you’ll search for species including the banded grey-tailed flycatcher, the red-tailed sunbird, the cinnamon-billed cardinal, woodpeckers, manakins and many more. Beyond the community, the road continues deeper into the forest. There, vast stretches of both secondary and primary rainforest await discovery during your unforgettable Panama wildlife adventure!

You will then continue on to Nuevo Vigía, an Emberá community north of the Pan-American Highway, surrounded by beautiful secondary dry forest and two small lakes. An ideal habitat that attracts a fascinating variety of birds. The community is accessible by canoe. A lovely canoe trip takes you along the Chucunaque and Tuquesa rivers. Keep your eyes and ears open for species such as the chestnut-breasted, crested and black oropendolas, the spotted-breasted woodpecker, the yellow-tailed tropeal, the white ibis, various herons and other waterbirds.

In the village of Nuevo Vigía, you’ll meet local craftspeople who weave colourful masks and bowls from palm leaves, and carve animals and plants from cocobolo wood and tagua nuts. These beautiful handmade products make excellent souvenirs. Afterwards, enjoy a tasty picnic lunch in the village and round off the day with even more fantastic birdwatching along the riverbank and in the scrubland around Nuevo Vigía, before returning to Canopy Camp.