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WildWings, 577 Fishponds Road, Fishponds, Bristol. BS16 3AF.UK
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Holiday Information
Dates: 11th – 20th October (11th – 23rd with optional extension) 2008.
Leaders: Dominic Mitchell and local guides.
Cost: £2839 per person sharing a twin room.
No Single supplement! (note single rooms have shared facilities)
Deposit: £300
Max. Group size: 8 plus leaders (optional extension - 6 plus leaders)
Chiriqui Extension £695 per person sharing a twin, single supplement £45.
Price includes: International and internal economy class flights including pre-paid taxes, all ground transportation, all accommodation and meals, park entry fees, services of WildWings/ Birdwatch Magazine leader and local guides, bird checklist.
Price excludes: Travel insurance (available from £34.57), laundry bills, drinks, gratuities and other items of a personal nature.
Itinerary
Day 1: Depart London Heathrow in the morning for Panama via Miami, transferring for our first night at the Canopy Tower.
Days 2-4: This unique lodge lies in one of the best birding areas in Panama, and we will look for such exciting species as Boat-billed Heron, Bat Falcon, White-throated Crake, Great Potoo, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Jet Antbird, Northern Royal Flycatcher, Blue Cotinga, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Red-capped and Golden-collared Manakins and Yellow-backed Oriole, as well as a host of mammals. Nights at Canopy Tower.
Day 5: After a last inspection of the forest around the tower, we head west across the Panama Canal to El Valle and the Canopy Lodge, our base for the next three nights.
Days 6-7: In the cooler hills and forest around El Valle, species to be seen include White Hawk, Emerald Toucanet, Tody Motmot, Rufous-capped and Buff-rumped Warblers, and Bay-headed and Dusky-faced Tanagers. Scaled Antpitta and Dull-mantled Antbird are also possible, as is the rare Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo.
Day 8: Today we return eastwards across the Panama Canal to Sierra Llorona for a one-night stay. This superb lodge is set in extensive grounds which are home to species such as Pied Puffbird, Long-billed Starthroat, Chestnut-backed Antbird and Southern Nightingale-Wren. After dark there is also a possibility of Mottled Owl and Common Potoo.
Day 9: We will arise early on our last morning to enjoy a host of Caribbean slope birds in the forested zone between the canal and Achiote. The many possibilities include Crane Hawk, Double-toothed Kite, Northern Violaceous and Western White-tailed Trogons, Spot-crowned Barbet, Long-tailed Tyrant, Spot-crowned Antvireo, White-headed Wren, Blue-headed Parrot, Black-headed Saltator and Red-breasted Blackbird. By late morning we will return to Panama City, for onward flights via Miami back to London (arriving next day) or to David for the optional extension to Panama’s amazing Chiriqui Highlands.
Day 10: Arrive back at London Heathrow
OR
Chiriqui Extension: Resplendent Quetzal and much more
Days 9-11: after a short internal flight we will transfer to Los Quetzales Lodge, Chiriqui, for three nights. During the next two days we will look for many species absent further east in Panama, including Grey Silky-Flycatcher, Torrent Tyrannulet, Mountain Thrush, Collared Redstart, Flame-throated Warbler, Cherrie’s Tanager, Large-footed and Slaty Finches, Yellow-bellied Siskin and Resplendent Quetzal.
Day 12: We transfer to David for the return flight to Panama City and the onward flight to London Heathrow, arriving next day.
