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| Day 1: | Panama City. Arrive in Panama City. Depending on arrival, you may have a chance to explore Panama’s capital before meeting your guide for the adventure ahead. Overnight Hotel Executive or similar. |
| Day 2: | Panama City – Gulf of San Miguel – Punta Patino.Fly to La Palma, capital of the Darien Province. We then travel by boat to our lodge in the 65,000-acre Punta Patiño Nature Reserve, overlooking the Gulf of San Miguel. After lunch we head out on foot to explore the rainforest. Overnight at Punta Patino Lodge. (BLD) |
| Day 3: | Mogue River – Embera People. This morning we take a motorised dugout canoe and head for the Mogue River through mangroves, searching for species such as Roseate Spoonbill, ibis, osprey and raccoons fishing along the river. On arrival at the village of Mogue we meet its inhabitants and able to learn about their culture and traditions. The men are expert carvers of Cocobolo wood and the women weave extraordinary baskets from palm fibres with dyes from different plants. Enjoy the day exchanging experiences with the friendly local Embera people. Tonight we camp at the village. (BLD) |
| Day 4: | Mogue River – Pirre Station.Our journey up the mighty Tuira River this morning takes us to the town of El Real and the Pirre River at the entrance to the Darien National Park. Access to the Darien National Park Pirre Station depends on the water level of the Pirre River. If the water level is low we will hike from El Real to the Station, or if the water level permits we ride in our dugout canoe. Rushing waterfalls and crystal clear pools overwhelm our senses as the mighty Darien jungle envelops us. We will look for Dendrobates frogs and flocks of understory birds. Overnight at Pirre Park Ranger Station. (BLD) |
| Day 5: | Pirre Station. The area surrounding Pirre Station is home to many lowland species. We may see Scarlet-browed, Tawny-crested, Lemon-spectacled Tanagers, White-fronted Nunbird, and Gray-cheeked Nunlet among many others. Those interested in botany will be overwhelmed by the old ‘cathedral rainforest’ - Ceibas, Anacardiums, stranglers and more. This afternoon we can cool off in the Pirre waterfall with its natural water slide. Overnight at Pirre Park Ranger Station. (BLD) |
| Day 6: | Pirre Station - El Real. This morning we hit the trail early observing the bird activity that accompanies the army ant swarms. After lunch we continue hiking to El Real stopping en route at the Embera village of Pijibasal. At El Real we can enjoy the Bullerengue dancing that is popular in this Afrodarienite town. We may choose to sleep in the local hotel or perhaps set our tents for the evening. Overnight local rooming house or El Real Camp. (BLD) |
| Day 7: | El Real - Lepe. We board our motorized piragua again this morning and resume our journey on the Tuira River passing by Yaviza, the terminus of the Pan-American Highway. If time allows we visit the Embera villages along the river learning more about this fascinating culture. From our piragua we may be able to see Wood Stork, Laughing Falcon, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Gray-headed Kite, Bat Falcon, Rusty-margined Flycatcher and many others. After approximately 4 hours we arrive at the town of Boca de Cupe. It is from this town that the railroad took miners in and out of the fabled Cana Gold Mines. Now virtually uninhabited, Cana was home to more than 16,000 people less than 100 years ago. We can see occasional signs of the former infrastructure that was present in Cana during our hikes through the jungle. The paths of the former Cana railroad provide access on foot through the jungle to search for macaws and peccaries. Overnight at Lepe Camp. (BLD) |
| Day 8: | Cruzamono Station. This morning we start the hike up river to the Cruzamono Ranger Station. As we hike through the jungle we are able to see and hear a myriad of birdcalls and other sounds of the forest as well as maybe seeing footprints of mammals. Overnight at Cruzamono Park Ranger Station. (BLD) |
| Day 9: | Cana Field Station. We continue our hike today following the Cupe River. We look for White-headed Wren, Tody Motmot, Macaws, Red-throated Caracara, and many other species amidst the towering Cuipo (Cavallinesia platanifolia) trees and the giant anacardiums. The remoteness of this region and the dramatic forest around us offers possible sightings of large mammals like tapir, giant anteater, black spider monkey, white-lipped peccary and others. Accommodations at Cana are basic but comfortable with shared bathrooms and hot water showers. Overnight at Cana Field Station. (BLD) |
| Day 10: | Cana Field Station. Set amidst 19th century locomotives, winches, smokestacks and ovens, Cana is an explorer’s paradise. Relics of the recent attempts (late 1800s) to mine this wilderness area are reminders of how vulnerable even the most remote areas are to human exploitation. In 1996 the government of Panama outlawed all mining activity within Darien National Park turning the area of Cana into a natural haven. Overnight at Cana Field Station. (BLD) |
| Day 11: | Pirre Cloudforest. This full day slow-paced hike to our highland campsite (located at about 1200 metres above sea level) takes us through dramatic changes in the forest habitat. A virtual island of endemic and rarities, these forests are home to Golden-headed Quetzals, Yellow-green Grosbeak, Yellow-collared Chlorophonia, Beautiful Treerunner, Varied Solitaire, Pirre endemic species, Sharpbill, and many others. Follow the tracks of the tapir and be on the lookout for white-lipped peccaries. Overnight at Pirre Cloudforest Tent Camp. (BLD) |
| Day 12: | Cana Field Station. Today we explore this remote unspoiled cloud forest paradise. From the camp we climb another 640 metres and discover a forest covered by permanent mist. Rare species of flora are found here, and the jaguar is also present. Afterwards hike back to the Cana Field Station. Overnight at Cana Field Station. (BLD) |
| Day 13: | Panama City. Our midmorning flight takes us back to the city; upon arrival we will visit the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal and a craft market. We return to our hotel to freshen up for tonight’s farewell dinner at a typical Panamanian restaurant. Overnight at Hotel Executive or similar. (BLD) |
| Day 14: | Panama City. Tour ends. (B) |
Panama is a proud nation and one that respects its indigenous peoples. Our tours include a stay on the San Blas Islands. These islands are an autonomous region, controlled and governed by Kuna Indians.
The Indians determination to protect their heritage and environment lead to the Panamanian Government giving them the authority to form a "comarca" (Autonomous Territory) of San Blas, where an indigenous, independent congress still rules. No non Kuna people are allowed to settle here and the only hotels are Kuna run. The Kuna are fishermen; however, they also cultivate coconut, corn, rice, cocoa and yucca. Kuna women spend hours stitching the colorful reverse-appliqué cotton "molas" which you are able buy. By taking this tour you know that the money you spend is going directly to the Kuna people to help preserve their way of life.
Our tours also work closely with guides from the National Association for the Conservation of Nature, one of the regions most efficient and respected conservation organisations. Your participation on the tour supports the excellent work that this organisation is doing in the protection of Panama’s amazing abundance of flora and fauna.
We only employ local staff and unlike many operators we believe that to send a foreign Tour Leader along to accompany your trip is an unnecessary burden on your wallet and our carbon footprint. We believe that locals know best. Our local operators only use locally owned accommodation. This means your money stays in the area to benefit the local community. When possible we use local transport, (i.e. rail or bus) and we always use local restaurants, markets and shops. In doing this your travels are supporting and encouraging the development of local services.
We only work with operators who are as committed as we are to putting something back into the communities we visit. This may include giving a percentage of the profits from each tour to a foundation to help street children or local conservation projects. Furthermore, in order to allow our clients to make an informed decision on where a greater proportion of their money should be spent, we avoid including pre-paid full board meals where possible. Local restaurants and cafes then benefit.
Our groups average only six clients, and many tours operate on a private basis with just two travellers. This has much less impact when travelling through rural areas, reducing our environmental and social affects. Finally, to emphasis our commitment to Responsible Tourism all clients will receive a copy of our Travellers Code of Conduct with their travel documents.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
