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Canopy Tower Lodge

Panama has some of the most easily accessed forests anywhere in the tropics. The Canopy Tower is located on top of Semaphore Hill, in a well preserved semideciduous tall forest in the heart of Soberanía National Park. It is at an altitude of 900 feet above sea level, and from its roof you can see the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal and the skyline of Panama City, just 30 minutes away. Its privileged position makes ideal as a base from which to start exploring the forests of central Panama, as well as the Canal and other historical attractions. At the base of the road up Semaphore Hill is Plantation Road, a good, easy graded dirt road where you can walk through more than three miles of mature forest. A ten minute drive takes you to the gate of the famous Pipeline Road which runs for 11 miles through wetter forests in the heart of Soberanía National Park.

The Canopy Tower has five levels that offer different views of the forest around it. The flat roof is a great place to watch the canopy, as well as the Panama Canal and, in the distance, the skyline of the city. The top floor, covered by a 30 feet high geotangent dome (a variation of Bucky Fuller's famous geodesic dome), is used as the main dining area, and is completely surrounded by panoramic windows. Settle down at a table next to the window. Above the endless tropical forest of Soberanía National Park, you may see a ship gliding through the Panamá Canal. The hooting of a distant troupe of monkeys may punctuate the birdcalls. You keep your field guide open on the table in front of you beside your rolls and fresh orange juice. In complete comfort, you greet the morning sun. Nothing obstructs your view. Through the unscreened open window, nature carries on its morning business.

The floors below house 12 two-person bedrooms with large windows and a full bathroom with hot-water showers each. Your bedroom is at treetop level, no more than 40 feet from the birds. In the cool Panamanian dawn you can feel Panamá's great rainforest awakening around you. Blue Cotingas and Green Shrike-Vireos, birds normally glimpsed high in the tops of trees, perch right outside your Canopy Tower room.Below the rooms, a mezzanine with more windows adds viewing opportunities of the lower levels of the forest canopy. Finally, the ground floor will house exhibits about the environment and the surrounding forest and the animals that live in it.

Don't worry if you are new to birding, this is a great place to start. Hundreds of species can be seen right from your window, most of them clearly illustrated in Panamá's excellent bird guides. The Canopy Tower is also a great place for those with a general interest in exploring the tropical forest. Giant, iridescent Morpho Butterflies flash their blue wings at you as you ride up the twisting road up to the Tower. Howler Monkeys startle you with a sudden roar overhead. Each shrub, tree and flower seems to be different from the last, reflecting Soberanía's extraordinary diversity.

The Canopy Tower was featured in the TV documentary, "Panama: Paradise Found?" produced by the National Audubon Society and TBS and hosted by Mariel Hemingway.

Birding Itinerary

Day 1 Pick up at Panama's International Airport. It takes only 45 minutes to drive to the Canopy Tower, located in the heart of Soberanía National Park. You'll be birding within an hour of landing! This evening we'll have an orientation meeting and will provide instructions on the use of the installation. Please note that the Program starts today with dinner and check-in begins at 5PM. If you plan to arrive earlier, an "early-check-in" charge may apply.

Day 2 AM: Canopy Tower and Semaphore Hill
The Canopy Tower is a prime location from which to observe the birds and other wildlife of the forest canopy. Since they are right at eye level it is usual to get fantastic views of birds you would hardly see otherwise. You don't have to leave the Tower to find birds, you don't even have to leave your bedroom! Tanagers, Toucans and Tityras can be seen right from your window. The dining area and the roof of the tower are better for finding elusive canopy birds, as well as Howler Monkeys, Tamarins and other mammals. All this without having to venture away from the Tower. Some of the bird species that we are likely to see from the observation deck are: Green and Red legged Honeycreepers, Green-shrike Vireo, Blue Cotinga , Scaled Pigeon, Mealy and Red lored Amazon, Keel-billed Toucan, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, flycatchers and many others. At mid morning we'll start exploring the forests of Central Panama and we'll walk down Semaphore Hill Road. This paved road is a little more than a mile long and passes through the forest of Soberanía National Park. Here you will get a chance to see birds and mammals that spend their lives closer to the forest floor, like antbirds and Agoutis. The bird list of Semaphore Hill Road is extensive, and includes birds from the forest interior as well as edge dwellers. Olivaceous Flatbill and White-whiskered Puffbird are common, and Slate-colored Grossbeak, Bay-headed Tanager, and Great Jacamar are seen frequently. Great Tinamou and Marbled Wood-Quail are heard often, but to see them takes a little more work. This road is also great for raptors: White, Tiny and Bicolored Hawks have been seen, and during migration it's easy to see more than 10 species of warblers and migratory songbirds in one morning. Spring migration is especially striking, as birds will be wearing their breeding plumages.

PM: Plantation Trail - Plantation Road, which starts right by the entrance to the road to the Tower, is a good, easy graded dirt road that passes through a mature forest for about four miles. The road follows a small creek, Río Chico Masambi, where sometimes a Louisiana Waterthrush spends the winter. We have also spotted Sunbitterns and Caimans in this creek. In most places the forest is clear of undergrowth, which makes it especially suited for observing shy, interior forest birds like Tinamous and Leaftossers. Golden-crowned Spadebills are regular around the creek, and White-breasted Wood-Wrens are very easy to find. When visiting Plantation Road you also have a good chance to find an army ant swarm and many of the birds that follow these swarms as they roam the forest floor. Spotted, Bicolored and Ocellated Antbirds, Gray-headed Tanagers, and Plain-brown, Northern Barred and (if you're lucky) Ruddy Woodcreepers. And if you're really lucky you may even find a Hook-billed Kite.

Day 3 AM: Summit Pond / PM: Old Gamboa Rd.
Old Gamboa Road is, you guessed it, the old road to Gamboa. At the beginning of this bird-rich area, you'll find Summit Ponds, where Boat-billed Herons nest and Capped Herons are seen regularly. Both Kiskadees, and both Green and Striated Herons are seen often, as well as the more common egrets. Going straight through the two ponds you'll be on Old Gamboa Road South, one of the birdiest spots around. This road passes through a variety of habitats, and has plenty of specialties: Blue Ground-Dove, Great Antshrike, Jet Antbird, Black-tailed and Royal Flycatchers, Lance-tailed and Golden-collared Manakins and Rosy Thrush-Tanager are a few highlights. Going North of the pond we will find species like, White-bellied Antbird, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Yellow-backed Oriole, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Yellow-headed Caracara, plus more.

Day 4 AM: Pipeline Rd (first half)
Pipeline Road is the best place in Central Panama to find forest birds, and plenty of them. Eight species of wrens, five trogons, four puffbirds, three motmots, many antbirds and even more flycatchers have been reported from the road. And if its 17 Km are not enough, there's plenty of side trails plus eleven creeks and rivers that can be followed into the forest. Army antswarms are found frequently, attended sometimes by Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo, and there are many Manakin leks right beside the road. Pipeline Road is also a great place for raptors: all three Forest-Falcons are heard if not seen with ease, and Tiny and Plumbeous Hawks and Ornate Hawk-Eagles have been reported a few times. A Harpy Eagle was seen one time right beside the road!

PM: Summit Garden and Harpy Eagle Exhibit
Summit Gardens is a park managed by the Mayor of Panama City. There is a small zoo where you can get a better look at King Vultures, Great Curassows and four species of macaws, as well as Jaguar, Spider Monkeys, and a host of other mammals. The botanical gardens are great for migratory warblers and other forest-edge species, and Blue Cotingas are seen every once in a while.
The Harpy Eagle is Panama's national bird and this park is the site of the Harpy Eagle Exhibit a "state of the art exhibit" sponsored by SONY Corp. which shows films about this magnificent bird, a full-size nest and several panels which trace the importance of the Harpy Eagle in Panamanian history and culture dating back to Pre-Columbian gold artifacts. There are also two live specimens of this bird in a gigantic aviarium. These birds are used in the Raptor Breeding Program of the Peregrine Fund which was recently moved to Panama from Boise, Idaho. View our Harpy Eagle slide show: first pictures of a released Harpy Eagle pair.

Day 5 AM: Ammo Dump
The Ammo Dump Pond is located just north of Gamboa, on the way to Pipeline Road. It is the best place to see the elusive White-throated Crake, as well as a host of other waterbirds. Least Grebes, Common Moorhens and Purple Gallinules are common, and Rufescent Tiger-Heron and American Pygmy-Kingfishers are around, but are not as easy to find. Sometimes you get a Limpkin and maybe even a Least Bittern, and lately a few Snail Kites have been reported.

PM: Chagres River - It is located at the east side of Gatun Lake, we'll be walking along the banks of the river to see other water birds, for example, Amazon Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, American Pygmy-Kingfishers, as well as, Blue-Crowned Motmot and Cinnamon Woodpecker. We could also see species like Gray-Necked Wood-rail, Green Herons, and Anhinga. In this area we have also often spotted alligators, turtles and capybaras.

Night Tour Owling - At night, the forest changes into a completely different world. More than eight species of Owls and Potoos have been seen on the roads around the Canopy Tower and many interesting mammals, which are active mainly at night, could also be seen. For example: Two-toed Sloth, Kinkajous and Rothschild's Porcupine. If we are really lucky we could see one of the wildcats that inhabit this forest, a Jaguarundi or even an Ocelot.

Day 6 Pipeline Rd (second half) / Full Day Trip
Back again to the Pipeline Rd., one of the premier birding sites of the Americas. The second half of Pipeline Rd. offers the possibility of new species because of its overlap with the Atlantic Area. We will be on the lookout for ant swarms, White-necked and Black-breasted Puffbirds, Antpittas, Great Jacamar, Black-tailed Trogon, Crane Hawk, Black Hawk-Eagle, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Black-striped Woodcreeper and even a Pheasant Cuckoo. We'll have picnic somewhere in the forest.

Day 7 Wrap-up day
We'll revisit some of the birding spots depending on what species we have missed or want to see again. This can also be the day to study the behavior of certain species.

Miraflores Locks (optional) - We'll visit the Visitor Center of the Panama Canal, one of the Eight Wonders of the Modern World. It is only 20 minutes from the Tower! Or you can stay in the trails and see more birds, it is up to you.

Day 8: Departure
After an early breakfast and a "good-bye" look of the forest from the Observation Deck, we'll take you to the International Airport for your flight home.

Naturalist Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival and transfer to Canopy Tower
Pick up at your arrival point. It takes only 45 minutes to drive to the Canopy Tower, located in the heart of the Soberania National Park. You'll be enjoying nature within a hour's pick-up! In the evening, one of our guides will provide an orientation well as instructions on the use of the installation.

Day 2 - Canopy Tower and Semaphore Hill
The Canopy Tower is a prime location from which to observe the birds and other wildlife of the forest canopy. Since they are right at eye level it is usual to get fantastic views of birds and mammals you would hardly see otherwise. Some of the bird species that we are likely to see from the observation deck are: Green and Red legged Honeycreepers, Green-shrike Vireo, Blue Cotinga , Scaled Pigeon, Mealy and Red lored Amazon, Keel-billed Toucan, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, flycatchers and many others. Regarding mammals, you will probably spot three species of monkeys (White-faced Capuchin, Howlers and Geoffrey's Tamarins) and the Three-toed Sloth. At mid morning we'll start exploring the forests of Central Panama and we'll walk down Semaphore Hill Road. This paved road is a little more than a mile long and passes through the forest of Soberanía National Park. Here you will get a chance to see birds and mammals that spend their lives closer to the forest floor, like antbirds and Coatis and Agoutis.

PM: Plantation Trail - Plantation Road, which starts right by the entrance to the road to the Tower, is a good, easy graded dirt road that passes through a mature forest for about four miles. The road follows a small creek, Río Chico Masambi, where sometimes a Louisiana Waterthrush spends the winter. We have also spotted Sunbitterns and Caimans in this creek. In most places the forest is clear of undergrowth, which makes it especially suited for observing shy, interior forest birds like Tinamous and Leaftossers. Golden-crowned Spadebills are regular around the creek, and White-breasted Wood-Wrens are very easy to find. When visiting Plantation Road you also have a good chance to find an army ant swarm and many of the birds that follow these swarms as they roam the forest floor.

Day 3 - Panama Canal and Gatun Lake Sailing
All aboard our new vessel, "The Snail Kite", for a 4-hour tour of the Panama Canal and Gatun Lake. You will get a first-hand look at the primary rainforest which borders the Canal providing the fresh water needed in its operation. We'll pass by Barro Colorado Island, administered by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), and will also visit the island where the Primate Reseach Center was located. Several monkeys still roam the island and can be seen from the boat. We will enjoy a snack in one of the many beautiful coves of Gatun Lake. Bring your swimming suit because you may want to take a dip in one of the islands along the way. Departure 8AM, return noon, snacks and beverages included.

Day 4 - Miraflores Locks, Lunch at Mi Ranchito Restaurant at the Amador Causeway, STRI Marine Center and Old Panama city.
We ll visit the Visitor Center at the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal, one of the Eight Wonders of the Modern World. There are four exhibition halls which include historic artifacts used in the construction of the Canal, interactive modules, video presentations, models of the Panama Canal, and objects used in Canal operations. You'll witness ships transiting thru the locks. Lunch at "Mi Ranchito" Restaurant: Enjoy the marvels of panamanian cuisine while viewing the city's syline from the The Amador Causeway. This palm-lined causeway extends from the Pacific Mainland whle connecting four small islands offshore. After lunch, we'll visit the Smithsonian Marine Exhibit in Naos Island. It offers visitors an open-air museum focusing mainly on marine science and education, conservation and interpretation of marine coastal environments.
Finally, we'll visit Old Panama or "Panama La Vieja" , where the ruins of Panama's first city lay which was built by the Spaniards in 1519. English pirate Henry Morgan sacked and destroyed the city in 1671.

Day 5 -- Pipeline Road
One of the premier birding sites of the Americas. Pipeline Rd. offers the possibility of new species because of its overlap with the Atlantic Area. We will be on the lookout for ant swarms, White-necked and Black-breasted Puffbirds, Antpittas, Great Jacamar, Black-tailed Trogon, Crane Hawk, Black Hawk-Eagle, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Black-striped Woodcreeper and even a Pheasant Cuckoo. We'll have picnic somewhere in the forest.

Day 6 - Parara Puru Indian Village
Imagine yourself arriving at the Embera Indian village in a dugout canoe located in the banks of the Chagres River; the primary source of water for the Panama Canal. The families of the Embera Indians emigrated from the Darien jungle and settled here more than a decade ago. However, their way of living and rich culture remains intact. You'll be surrounded by loin-clothed man, bare-breasted women wearing sarongs and vivacious children running around thatched huts. Their economy is based on fishing, hunting and the growth of crops. As an additional source of income, they sell handmade spears, carvings from tagua nuts and weave baskets. You'll enjoy a traditional lunch and native dances.

Day 7 El Valle de Anton
Today's day trip will take us to El Valle de Anton, known simply as "El Valle", a small village nestled in the crater of an extinct volcano which erupted millions of years ago. This lovely village situated at 2300 feet above sea level is only 2 hours from the Canopy Tower over a four-lane highway. The last stretch is on a scenic and windy road that takes you to the crater of the extinct volcano. The flora and fauna are different and the temperature is around 70F, eternal spring. We'll go straight to the Canopy Adventure, an exciting activity which allows the visitors to enter and explore the rain forest canopy using safe and modern climbing techniques. After an invigorating short climb to the top of the ridge through a bird-rich forest, you strap in and soar through the treetops, where you see a wealth of unexpected natural beauty and activity. Swooping from platform to platform high among the sturdy cloud forest trees, you pass over the stream and the Chorro Macho waterfall, 160 feet high. We'll have lunch in the recently opened, Canopy Lodge, next to a beautiful mountain stream and in the afternoon will visit an orchid collection and a tiny museum behind the Church which contains samples of pre-Columbian pottery and an geological explanation of the volcanic origins of the valley.

Day 8 Departure

Included: roundtrip airport transfers, allmeals as mentioned in the itinerary, lodging, entrance fees to national parks, room taxes, all internal transportation, bilingual bird/naturalist guides, internet service, wine with dinner. All our tours are lead by experienced, bilingual, birding guides who carry Leica binoculars and a Leica 77 mm scope.

Not included: tourist card ($5), international departure tax ($20), expenses of a personal nature (laundry, long distance calls, alcoholic beverages), tips

Extend Your Trip!
Canopy Lodge in El Valle de Antón: