PANAMA
Panama has awesome birds, and birders who want or need a relaxed pace or
easy trails can easily have a high quality birding experience.
In May of 2007, I toured a wide variety of habitats, covering many regions, with the
Panama La Verde Birding Circuit for the purpose of looking at various trails and lodges to
assess their suitability for birders with moderate limitations in mobility or endurance. I
am quite happy to report that even with moderate limitations, birders will have fantastic
views of an impressive number of birds and species, and the experience will be an
enjoyable one to cherish. To view a daily log and photos of this tour, visit
www.birdaz.com/blog; on the right hand side of the page, scroll down and click on
Panama La Verde.
At the lodges, each proprietor has made the effort to insure the comfort of the birder with
limitations. Rooms are available on the ground floor, and meals can be served in easily
reached settings or even, at some lodges, in your room if you so desire. Showers can
accommodate a plastic chair for your comfort, and grab-rails are available. Just request
this if you require it. Most lodges offer spa treatments, so after a day of birding, relax with
a nice massage! The lodges aren't just run-of-the-mill hotels, either. They range from a
highland chalet, a cozy room with a view of the jungle, a delightful storybook house in a
lovely garden, a villa perched on a hillside with sweeping views of the valley below, to a
handsome hotel in a quiet neighborhood in close proximity to world-class birding. Each
and every one of these lodges has fantastic birding right on the grounds...21 species in
25 minutes at one lodge while we were chatting one morning. What if we had stayed
longer and actually birded more?!? Meals are delicious and special diets can be
accommodated.
Birders can choose from published tours, or customize a tour with the help of Yenia
(Jen-ya) Mendoza, from ReConTur, S.A.. Yenia will take care of every detail to insure your
comfort and high-quality birding. Yenia, having been educated during her high school
years in the United States, is fluent in English as well as in Spanish, but even more
importantly, is a BIRDER who understands all aspects of birding, from lodges, to
transportation, to trails, to a guide who will be sensitive to your needs. Luis Paz, the
senior guide during my tour, spoke excellent English, was very personable, knew his
birds, and shared them beautifully. Don't forget to enjoy the mammals while in Panama.
Two species of sloths, several species of monkeys, and several species of squirrels,
etc., are not only possible but likely.
At this time, the entire circuit is not wheelchair accessible, but several of the lodges have
wheelchair-accessible rooms, and the birding from the grounds of all lodges is superb,
both in numbers of birds and numbers of species.
easy trails can easily have a high quality birding experience.
In May of 2007, I toured a wide variety of habitats, covering many regions, with the
Panama La Verde Birding Circuit for the purpose of looking at various trails and lodges to
assess their suitability for birders with moderate limitations in mobility or endurance. I
am quite happy to report that even with moderate limitations, birders will have fantastic
views of an impressive number of birds and species, and the experience will be an
enjoyable one to cherish. To view a daily log and photos of this tour, visit
www.birdaz.com/blog; on the right hand side of the page, scroll down and click on
Panama La Verde.
At the lodges, each proprietor has made the effort to insure the comfort of the birder with
limitations. Rooms are available on the ground floor, and meals can be served in easily
reached settings or even, at some lodges, in your room if you so desire. Showers can
accommodate a plastic chair for your comfort, and grab-rails are available. Just request
this if you require it. Most lodges offer spa treatments, so after a day of birding, relax with
a nice massage! The lodges aren't just run-of-the-mill hotels, either. They range from a
highland chalet, a cozy room with a view of the jungle, a delightful storybook house in a
lovely garden, a villa perched on a hillside with sweeping views of the valley below, to a
handsome hotel in a quiet neighborhood in close proximity to world-class birding. Each
and every one of these lodges has fantastic birding right on the grounds...21 species in
25 minutes at one lodge while we were chatting one morning. What if we had stayed
longer and actually birded more?!? Meals are delicious and special diets can be
accommodated.
Birders can choose from published tours, or customize a tour with the help of Yenia
(Jen-ya) Mendoza, from ReConTur, S.A.. Yenia will take care of every detail to insure your
comfort and high-quality birding. Yenia, having been educated during her high school
years in the United States, is fluent in English as well as in Spanish, but even more
importantly, is a BIRDER who understands all aspects of birding, from lodges, to
transportation, to trails, to a guide who will be sensitive to your needs. Luis Paz, the
senior guide during my tour, spoke excellent English, was very personable, knew his
birds, and shared them beautifully. Don't forget to enjoy the mammals while in Panama.
Two species of sloths, several species of monkeys, and several species of squirrels,
etc., are not only possible but likely.
At this time, the entire circuit is not wheelchair accessible, but several of the lodges have
wheelchair-accessible rooms, and the birding from the grounds of all lodges is superb,
both in numbers of birds and numbers of species.
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