We highly recommend you to visit:

Achiote Road

Our lodge is located near internationally recognized birding spots such as Achiote Road . This is what a recent article in the New York Times had to say about Achiote Road :
"This unlikely setting ( Achiote Road ) is the prime birding site in Panama , where more than 340 species are counted during the annual 24-hour Atlantic Christmas Bird Count. At Achiote road you can find mealy parrots, orange-chinned parakeets, a flock of more than 100 swallowtail kites, two white hawks fighting overhead, a whole family of howler monkeys — a constantly changing show."
Nobody Here But the Birds- New York Times , April 2002.

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Fort San Lorenzo and Fort Sherman

The road to Fort San Lorenzo and Fort Sherman is a great place for birding; there are two good trails that turn off to the left: Black Tank Road and Skunk Hollow Road . These are good places to watch birds like the Pheasant Cuckoo, assorted tanagers and honeycreepers, and if you're lucky you might also find our great Plumbeous Hawk.

Fort Sherman is at the wetter Caribbean end of the Canal Zone . In 1997, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) constructed a canopy crane to study the old-growth forest at Ft. Sherman . In collaboration with investigators at STRI and the University of Panama , the Insect Diversity Project plans to run canopy and ground Malaise traps at this crane site in the near future.

Fort San Lorenzo is a magnificent example of 17th- and 18th-century military architecture, this Panamanian fort on the Caribbean coast forms part of the defense system built by the Spanish Crown to protect transatlantic trade ; so rapidly had the traffic in gold, pearls, and slaves developed that the Spanish Crown decided upon the establishment of forts for the protection of this traffic. Already the importance of the river Chagres had become fairly established as a highway of transportation of this wealth of gold from Old Panama. The defense of the Chagres was therefore of very great importance and for that motive, Fort San Lorenzo was built.

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Pipeline Road

Pipeline Road is considered by expert birders to be one of the best birding locations in all of Central America if not the world. It's possible to see 300 species in a single day and a world record of 450 species in 24 hrs. Pipeline Road was the site of the 1985 world record Panama Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count (385 species of birds were identified in 24 hours). Pipeline road is located within the limits of Soberania National Park . Soberania's 293,000 acres boast nearly 400 species of birds including the Black Hawk-eagle, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Black-breasted Puffbird, Broad-billed and Rufous Motmot, Blue Cotinga, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Masked Tytira, Cinnamon Becard, Fasciated Antshrike, Shining Honeycreeper, and a great array of migrants (during the North American winter months). Soberania also contains 150 species of mammals including fourteen listed under “CITES” (endangered species) and 59 endemic plant species in four life zones.

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Plantation Trail

Plantation Trail is a prime birding route within Soberania National Park . This road provides good access to both forest and forest-fringe birds typical of lowland forest. For the most part, the forest is clear of underbrush along the road, making it a good area for seeing elusive birds such as tinamous and leaf-tossers. 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) RuddyWoodcreepers.

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Semaphore Hill

Semaphore Hill is a short mile-long paved road passing through lowland forest protected by Soberania National Park in the area that was once part of the US military base in the canal zone. This short stretch of road offers excellent birding and features many species representative of lowland forest.

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Summit Gardens

Summit Gardens provides visitors with a opportunity to view many of the animal species found in Panama , as well as others found in the Central & South American region. Summit Gardens also has an impressive exhibit/museum of the beautiful Harpy Eagle, with interesting facts and photos of these magnificant birds of prey. As well, a male and female Harpie Eagle are on display just out back, which can be observed throughout the day.

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Embera Indians

Through a peaceful ride in a dugout canoe, and a short trek through the jungle, you will have the opportunity to learn from a magical culture.

The Emberá Indians live much as they did when Columbus arrived in the 1500's. You will soon forget the outside world as you are immersed in their cultural dance and music. Visitors are invited to explore the area's abundant variety of birds and wildlife during a jungle trek that includes a visit to local waterfalls. The Emberá possess amazing botanical knowledge, you will be amazed when you learn their important contributions to modern medicine. You can get your body painted as the Emberá does, with a natural fruit dye called Jagua. You will also have the opportunity to view and purchase famed Emberá handcrafts.

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Fort Portobelo

Portobelo is one of the most magnificent places that evidence the Spanish Colonization in America . It was a very important place for commerce. It was also the place for great battles between the Spanish and pirates like Sir Francis Drake, when he tried to capture the towns of Portobelo and “Nombre de Dios”.

The ruins of the Custom's House, built in 1611 by order of the King of Spain, was used to store the gold and silver brought from Peru to Portobelo, the most important trading center in the region during the 17th Century.

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Cerro Azul / Cerro Jefe

These mid-elevation sites attract a very different mix of birds than lower elevation birding sites in the canal zone and vicinity. The park protects a large expanse of humid forest, the largest remaining in Panama Canal watershed. Very rare and exotic birds can be found, such as the Violet-capped Hummingbird ( Goldmania violiceps).

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Soberania National Park
This park contains excellent hiking trails, including the Camino de Cruces - the cobblestone road by which Peruvian gold was transported on its way to Spain . ( 22,104 hectares ).

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Chagres National Park
This park preserves the main watershed of the Panama Canal . About 80% of the water needed for the canal's operation, and all the drinking water for Panama City , originates in this watershed. The park includes the Rio Chagres, Lago Alajuela, much of the Camino Real, and the traditional settlements of the Emberá Indians. This park is also the site of an elfin forest. ( 135,000 hectares ).

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Metropolitan National Park
This park is only 15 minutes away from Panama City , it has numerous nature trails and is the site of extensive tropical rainforest research. Although close to the city, it is home to more than 250 species of birds and 40 species of mammals. The view from the top of Cerro Mono Titi is spectacular, offering a panoramic view of the city, the port of Balboa , and the nearby “Parque Nacional Camino de Cruces” ( 265 hectares ).

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Camino de Cruces National Park
Just 30 minutes from Panama City, this splendid park ( 4,950 hectares ) was created in 1992 and its location between the Soberania National Park to the north and the Metropolitan National Park to the south guarantees the flow of species from the other two parks while at the same time protecting the east bank of the ecological basin of the Panama Canal. Multiple species of birds and mammals can be seen in this lush rainforest.

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Barro Colorado Island

Since it's mainly an advanced research laboratory, only a limited amount of tourists are allowed to enter the facilities with a proper guide during the day.

It is part of the Barro Colorodo National Monument , an ecological natural reserve administered by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute since 1946. It is about 1500 hectares and STRI's primary site for the study of lowland moist tropical forests . . There is an inventory of 1369 plant species, 93 mammal species (including bats), 366 avian species (including migratory) and 90 species of amphibians and reptiles.

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Colon City

Colón City is located at the Caribbean end of the Panama Canal . It is the second largest city in Panama , was surrounded by, but not part of, the former Panama Canal Zone . Colón is an important port, commercial center, and tourist destination. It was made a free trade zone in 1953 and is the world's second largest duty-free port (the principal tourist attraction). The city was founded in 1850 because of the construction of the trans-Panama railroad and was named Aspinwall until 1890.

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