Transpanama trail completed by Rick Morales

When the original pioneers began settling the land that is Panamá such a trail existed; however, to this day there is no single map outlining the original route or the settlements along its path.  By undertaking this project, the volunteers of TransPanama Foundation realize a tangible sense of participation in the making of Panamanian history.

Recently one of the top naturalist guides of Panama, Rick Morales, had an adventure of his life:  Trekking the Transpanama Trail from the border of Colombia to the border of Costa Rica.   It took him 2 months and 27 days of adventures and hard walk.  He encounter different towns and communities and had the opportunity to connected with the roots of Panama and the different beautiful people along his amazing trip.

We are proud to announce that Rick Morales is one of the senior tour operators working with EcoCircuitos Panama.  For more information on the transpanama check thelink.

For more information on trekking and adventures in Panama, contact us at info@ecocircuitos.com or call our toll free number 1-800-830-7142

New Birding Tour in Bocas del Toro

Tranquilo Bay is ready to announce the addition of guided birding trips on the Western Caribbean Slope to their excursions.

Tranquilo Bay has been birding the Western Caribbean Slope for many years and in 2008 hired two full time biologist, that combined have 16 years of experience working in the Province of Bocas del Toro.

In western Panama the Caribbean Slope of the Talamanca mountain range, Tranquilo Bay’s back yard, plunges some 11,000 feet from the high alpine forest of La Amistad National Park into the lowland rainforests bordering the Caribbean Sea, in a span of less than 40 miles. Within the areas we explore from our comfortable facility the altitude ranges from 7,000 feet to sea level in a zone where nearly 500 species of birds can be found. This extreme biodiversity and high level of endemic species is due to abrupt changes in altitudinal zones and extreme geographic features creating many distinct ecosystems, as well as, migratory corridors.

Tranquilo Bay is located on 100 pristine acres, adjacent to Bastimentos National Marine Park, amongst the convergence of 3 distinct ecosystems. This creates an extremely diverse and unique wildlife observation site where flora and fauna overlap from separate worlds increasing diversity. In a week it is possible to identify over 100 species of birds without leaving the property. There are several elevated porches throughout the facility, creating an incredible eye-level view. While birding onsite you might also encounter white-faced capuchin monkeys, night monkeys, two and three toed sloths, iguanas, caiman, butterflies, a variety of frogs and lizards, and within the canopy a collage of rain forest hardwood and fruit trees, lianas, mangroves, ferns, orchids and cycads.

Some common Birds Of Isla Bastimentos (Common favorites)
Gold Collared Manakin, Three Wattled Bell Bird, Violet Crowned Wood Nymph, Red Lored Amazon Parrots (by the hundreds), Green Ibis, White-Crowned Pigeon, Blue Dacnis, White Hawk, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Green Honeycreeper, Lineated Woodpecker among others.

EcoCircuitos Panama is proud to offer birding tours to Bocas del Toro with a great team of guides. For more information, contact us at annie@ecocircuitos.com or info@ecocircuitos.com

Panama Canal Watershed adventure

From $495.00 per person min. 8 people
Fix departure rates: Every Friday from October to December 2010

Day 1: Friday – Welcome to Panama & Sightseeing tour of Panama City
Welcome to Panama! Upon your arrival you will be met by an EcoCircuitos Tour Representative that will assist you during arrival and transfer. Before heading to your hotel in Panama City, you will have a short sightseeing tour of Panama La Vieja; the modern city of Panama; followed by a transfer to the hotel located in Amador Area. Once arrival to the hotel, please check-in and overnight. Lodging will be at COUNTRY INN AMADOR, Standard Room. (NO MEALS)

Day 2: Saturday – Embera Indigenous Encounter at Chagres River
Early in the morning you are picked up at the lobby of your hotel by our guide and transferred to El Corotu on the shores of Madden Lake. Here, you board a motorized piragua (dugout canoe) and travel up the Chagres River to the Embera indigenous village of Embera Drua. The boat journey takes you through the rainforest of the 320,000-acre Chagres National Park, which is the largest of the National Parks protecting the Panama Canal Watershed. Along the Chagres River, you may be able to spot Little Blue and Green Heron, Great Egret, Anhingas, Neotropical Cormorant, Amazon, Ringed, and Green Kingfishers, along with Keel-billed Toucans and Ospreys flying above. At the Embera village you will be greeted with dancing and music. You will learn about Embera customs and their relationship with nature. There will be handcrafts available for sale and you will have a chance to be painted with the traditional jagua, a natural dye the Embera use to adorn their bodies. After a traditional Embera lunch you will be heading back to Panama City. Optional: short hiking in a botanical trail at the community. Duration: 8 hours. Departure: 8:00 AM
Include: ground and river transportation, entrance fees to the Chagres National Park, traditional lunch at the community, donation and specialized guide.
What to bring: Sunscreen and insect repellent, Light synthetic clothes (easy to dry), walking shoes or river sandals, swimming suit, rain jacket and an extra pair of clothes.
Overnight at COUNTRY INN AMADOR, Standard Room. (B,L)

Day 3: Sunday – Panama Canal Morning Expansion Tour
Today you will have a tour to visit the project of expansion of the Panama Canal. Afternoon free for your relaxation and exploration of the city on your own. Overnight at COUNTRY INN AMADOR, Standard Room. (B)

Day 4: Monday – Transcontinental Railway & the Pirate Trail
Depart from the hotel at 9.00AM and start and cross the Isthmus via the Trans-Isthmian Highway. Stop at Gatún to explore the locks and the lake. Afterwards, cross the Panama Canal by drawbridge and keep going till Fort San Lorenzo. Constructed by the Spaniards in the 16th century, San Lorenzo was occupied by British pirates over the years due to its strategic location on the Chagres River. Sir Henry Morgan conquered San Lorenzo and used it as the entrance point to sack Panama City in 1671.
Afterwards you will be transferred to Colon Train Station for your ride back to Panama City.
The trip is every weekday throughout the year with departures at 5:15PM from Colon City to Panama City. Re-creating the experience of the famous California Golden steam age and enjoy the most beautiful scenery: observe the rainforest and the heart of the canal from the comfort of your train cabin. Include: Private transportation, Historical Guide, lunch in a local restaurant, train ride, entrance fees to Gatún Locks Visitor Center and San Lorenzo National Park. Tour Remarks: transcontinental train ride is only available during week days. Overnight in Country Inn Amador or similar, Standard Room. (B,L)

Day 5: Tuesday – Departure
At the appropriate time the tourists will be transferred to the Tocumen International Airport for their flight back home. They will arrive to the airport approximately 2 hours before their departure time. (B)

Arrival dates:
October 8, 22
November 12, 19
December 3, 10, 17

Ask for our 7 day program.
For more information annie@ecocircuitos.com
http://www.ecocircuitos.com