Montezuma Oropendola— Photo: Natalia Decastro Gonzalez

Great birding complemented by luxury accommodations and the flora and fauna of these beautiful Caribbean islands.

The Tranquilo Bay Eco-Adventure Lodge and six luxury cabins are on Bastimentos Island, adjacent to a large preserve. Huge, colorful Montezuma Oropendolas are very common. There are trails on the property, as well as good birding from the lodge porch and open areas on the grounds. One day will be spent birding the 7-mile-long Soropta Canal that was built to transport bananas from Costa Rica plantations. The rare Nicaraguan Seed-Finch occurs along the canal. That afternoon we will visit Swan Cay, which has breeding Red-billed Tropicbirds and Brown Boobies.

On three days we will take a boat to Chiriqui Grande where a van will take us on a very bird-rich road from sea level to 6,500 feet. Three full-day visits are needed due to all the potential species present in various ecosystems along this road. A half-day will be devoted to birding the trails at the Chocolate Farm. One full day will be spent on the mainland around the banana-producing town of Changuinola. Our last half-day is left open for birding the many trails on the property, visiting the bird bathing pool in the forest, or partaking of snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, or just relaxing.

In Panama, Stub-tailed Spadebill is restricted to the five islands in the archipelago, and we will make every effort to find one. In addition, we will search for these potential species: six kingfishers, four trogons, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Collared Aracari, two toucans, three cotingas, Three-wattled Bellbird, two parakeets, six parrots, three puffbirds, four manakins, Black-chested Jay, seventeen hummingbirds, Bare-necked Umbrellabird, eight woodpeckers, and many more.

All nights in luxury cabins with air-conditioning at Tranquilo Bay Eco-Adventure Lodge, except for first and last nights at a hotel in Panama City; excellent meals and WiFi in main lodge; travel to various islands and mainland birding sites by boat; trails next to large preserve; some mosquitoes and chiggers; can be warm at mid-day, but cools off at night.