Romancing in the Gulf of Chiriqui

Take advantage of the COPA Stopover and explore one of Panama’s best kept secrets: The Gulf of Chiriqui.

Day 01: From Tocumen International Airport, take a flight to the capital of Chiriqui, David. From here, head to the small fishing town of Boca Chica, on the Gulf of Chiriqui. The natural beauty of this place is astounding, and still unknown. Check in to a charming boutique hotel and relax.

Day 02: The Gulf of Chiriqui is known for its amazing wildlife and stunning natural beauty. Certainly, a must is to explore part of this! Accompanied by a local captain, sail out and visit some of the islands, feel the warm tropical breeze and the sand between your toes. Go snorkeling, beach combing and enjoy a romantic picnic lunch.

Day 03: Enjoy a morning at leisure. In the afternoon sail slowly through the mangroves along the tranquil river as you observe a variety of birds and other present wildlife. This unique ecosystem is often under looked, but it’s a key environment for many species, whether they are under the ocean or soaring the skies. Finish off with a drink and appreciate the sunset.

Day 04: Unfortunately, your stay has come to an end. But hopefully, you’ll come back soon to discover more of what Panama has to offer. Check out, and head back to David for your flight back to Panama City.

Contact us for rates and more information. info@ecocircuitos.com

Little getaway in a fresh start Eco Lodge, in Cocle Province.

By Juliette Darmon

From panama, early on the morning, we set out to discover a fresh start Eco Lodge, in Cocle province: Villa Tavidá

After three hours’ drive, we arrived in this little paradise, where the tranquility and calmness overwhelmed us.

At once exiting the car, we were immersed in a relaxing universe, so quiet, pleasant and restful, where the nature is the queen, so far away from the capital.

After an overview of the site, we were discovering the thalassotherapy area, made up of massage rooms, little sport corner, two saltwater Jacuzzis, and a relaxing place in front of a wonderful nature view.

A library area very friendly and decorated with several old objects is likewise ready to be discovered.

You will also have the possibility to take a mud bath, excellent for the skin, and to rinse yourself afterwards in the large and amazing waterfall, located so close. A unique and wonderful experience we don’t have the chance to live everyday!

As I was, you will be pleasantly surprised by the calmness which reigns in this little paradise.

It’s the perfect place to have a break and forget about our stressful daily life. Just close your eyes in front of Mother Nature and let you dream!

Afterwards, I could go down in the rainforest and looking for the Tavidá waterfall. In the middle of nature, we could have a bath and enjoy the current time.

Even if, we were actually already wet because of the waterfall water sprays…!

Tips: Beware of the current!

After this little getaway, we had lunch in the lodge restaurant, adorned with bamboos and plants, where I could taste delicious Panamanian dishes, as well as a cheesecake with its awesome maracuja jam.

I really recommend you to draw up there and even stay one night! Their large rooms with terrace, are still immersed in a relaxing atmosphere. Not to mention the shower… While you shampoo, you will admire the rainforest and its waterfall! And I swear that it’s weight in gold!

Slight advantage: a lodge area is entirely dedicated and equipped for disabled people, with special rooms.

Like me, let yourself surprise by this charming little paradise, and you will feel relive!

Contact us http://www.ecocircuitos.com

info@ecocircuitos.com

Meet “our” Green Iguana

By Meret Schueschke

We have recently acquired a new visitor to our office: A Green Iguana who lives in the trees behind our building and occasionally stops by in front of our window.

Green Iguanas can be found in the rainforests of Central America and the Caribbean, as well as in parts of South America.  Even though they seem slow at first, they are surprisingly agile and (as I can observe from the office as I write this) very good climbers.  And if they ever happen to fall, they can survive falls from as high as fifteen meters (50 Feet)!Iguanas are quite good swimmers as well (they use their long tails for moving along) and usually live near water.

Counting their long tails, these Lizards can grow to a length of almost two meters (6 feet) and can be up to 5 Kilos in weight.  During the day they move through the branches of the forest, where they forage for fruit and leaves. Usually the Green Iguana is a very peaceful animal who prefers to flee before it has to fight, and it can even cast off its tail to get out of a dangerous situation. If escape is not possible, the Iguana can use its long tail like a whip to defend itself.

We were, of course, wondering whether “our” Iguana is a male or female, but our operations manager Laura could help us out there: The one in front of our window is a male, recognizable by the thick spines on his back and the dewlap under his chin. During the mating season he shakes his head up and down to show off this dewlap and attract females.

In Panama and Costa Rica, the Iguanas have received the nickname “Gallina de Palo” or “Chicken of the Tree”, in reference to the fact that the local cultures have been using these lizards as a popular food source.  These days, Iguanas are not commonly eaten anymore, but they now face another danger: the American pet trade. Apparently, Green Iguanas are hugely popular as pets, and their species has been reduced to the point that they have been added to the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Appendix II, which means “their trade must be controlled so as to not harm the species in the future”.

The Green Iguana is a truly fascinating creature and watching it climb a tree is definitely a thing worth seeing.

IRONMAN 70.3 Panama

Participants from USA

Amador Causeway

participants from Brazil

Date: Sunday, February 16, 2014

Location: Panama City, Panama

Start Time: 6:50 am (pros) & 7:00 am (amateurs)

Launched in 2012, IRONMAN 70.3 Panama brings you to one of the seven modern wonders of the world; the Panama Canal! Compete amongst the best of the best in this Latin American Pro Championship.

With a fast swim, unique transition, rolling hills and flat run course, this race is the perfect storm. With exceptional organization, volunteer support and the opportunity to stay at the magnificent Trump Ocean Club International Hotel & Tower, this race is a must do!

Athletes will swim 1.2-miles in the Pacific Ocean, off the shores of the Panama Canal, also known as the “Eighth Wonder of the Modern World,” and under the Bridge of the Americas. Athletes and visitors alike will bask in the warm temperatures and enjoy amazing views. Cyclists will take a 56-mile trip across the Bridge of the Americas and onto the Pan American Highway. On the way back, athletes will travel through Panama City’s downtown by the “Cinta Costera” (Coastal Strip). The 13.1-mile run course will take athletes on the “Amador Causeway.” From here, athletes and spectators will enjoy seeing the Panama Canal and view of the city.

There are 40 qualifying slots for the IRONMAN World Championship 70.3 in Henderson, NV

Course

Swim

Participants will swim 1.2 miles (1.9 km) in the Pacific Ocean, specifically within the banks of the Eighth Wonder of the Modern World, “The Panama Canal.” The Bridge of the Americas, which connects Central & South America, opened in the 1960’s and stretches over a mile long over the Panama Canal. Athletes and spectators will enjoy the amazing backgrounds at this stage of the race. Water temperatures are expected to be around 78° Fahrenheit (26° Celsius). The transition area is located next to the Biodiversity Museum, built by renowned architect Frank Gehry, and close to the swim start.

Bike

Athletes will endure a 56-mile (90 km) bike ride. First leaving the area of the Amador Causeway and continuing along the west side of the country. Once again, the Bridge of the Americas will witness the event when participants ride across of it in route to the Pan American Highway. During this part of the bike course, athletes will travel through the forest that protects the biodiversity and Panama Canal watershed. On the way back to the Transition Area, athletes will pass by Panama City’s downtown area along the “Cinta Costera” (Coastal Strip), which is surrounded by state of the art buildings that emerge on the shores of the Bay of Panama. For sure this part of the Bike Course will be an athlete’s favorite and spectator friendly for its beautiful surroundings.

Run

The run course will take athletes on a 13.1 mile (21 km) run through the “Amador Causeway”, a major tourism area surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, where athletes and spectators can watch the ship transit in and out of the Panama Canal while enjoying the beautiful view of the modern and cosmopolitan Panama City. Runners will return to the transition area to start the second and final loop.

Did you know the Shining Honeycreeper?

The Shining Honeycreeper is a small bird in the tanager family. It is found in the tropical New World in Central America from southern Mexico to Panama and northwest Colombia. It is sometimes considered to be conspecific with the Purple Hon eycreeper, but the two species breed sympatrically in eastern Panama and northwest Colombia.

This is a forest canopy species, but also occurs in forest edges and secondary growth. The female builds a shallow cup nest in a tree, and incubates the clutch of two eggs.
The Shining Honeycreeper is 10 cm long, weighs 11 g and has a long black decurved bill. The male is purple-blue with black wings, tail and throat, and bright yellow legs. The female has green upperparts, a greenish-blue head, buff throat and buff-streaked bluish underparts. The immature is similar to the female, but is greener on the head and breast.

For birding itineraries and day tours contact us at info@ecocircuitos.com

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