Ultimate Darien Experience
5 days/4 nights at Cana Field Station
or 8 days/7 nights at Cana Field Station and endemic-rich Pirre Mountain Camp

The pristine valley of Cana in the eastern slope of Pirre mountain range is Darien National Park’s most productive birdwatching destination.  Nowhere else in Panama does nature express itself so abundantly than in this region of remote wilderness.

2006 DEPARTURE DATES: December: 7-11, 18-22, 22-26, 26-30.
2007 Departure Dates: January: 13-17, 24-28. February: 12-16, 16-20, 20-24. March: 23-27, 27-31, 31-April 7*. April: 14-18, 18-22, 22-29*. December: 5-9, 14-18, 18-22, 22-29*
* 8-day programs available for group departures bookings only.

The Ultimate Darien Experience and custom trips to Cana will be available on a request basis from April 29 to December 5, 2007.

2007 Rates: 5 Days/4 nights $1300 per person in double occupancy; 8 Days/7 nights $1600 per person in double occupancy; plus 5% government tax. Minimum of 4 people required for the tour.
Prices valid through November 30, 2007.

See here for the 8 days/7 nights Itinerary at Cana Field Station and the Pirre Mountain Camp

ITINERARY: 5 Days/4 Nights at Cana Field Station

Day 1    DARIEN NATIONAL PARK – SANTA CRUZ DE CANA
This morning we are picked up at the hotel by our Naturalist Guide for the short transfer to Albrook domestic airport where we board a chartered plane to Santa Cruz de Cana, in the heart of Darien National Park and World Biosphere Reserve, where we stay in a rustic but comfortable field station.  As we fly in we can admire the vast forest cover of Panama’s largest park (1.3 million acres).  Cana is located at the foothills of Pirre Mountain, which stands like an island in the most remote area of Panama.  Very few places in the world rival Cana in birding potential.  From the plane be on the lookout for King Vultures and Macaws.  After getting settled at the Field Station we explore the Boca de Cupe Trail and surrounding area.  Specialties here include Blue and Gold, Red and Green, Great Green and Chestnut-fronted Macaws, Black tipped Cotinga, Swallow Tanager, Red-throated Caracara, Streaked Antwren, Dusky-backed Jacamar, Ornate Hawk-Eagle and others. See here for more descriptions of the birding and trails at Cana.
Night at CANA FIELD STATION (LD)

Day 2                CANA FIELD STATION & SURROUNDING TRAILS
Today is a good day to explore the Mine Trail where rusting machinery was left to be overtaken by the jungle after the British Gold Mine ventures collapsed at the beginning of the last century. Specialties of this area include Great Curassow, Crested Guan, Dusky-faced Tanager, Olivaceous Piculet.    Also the Seteganti Trail with open scrub areas and mature forests are good for various Woodpeckers such as Crimson-bellied and Red-rumped, Red-billed Scythebill, Brown Violetear. 
Night at CANA FIELD STATION  (BLD)

Day 3                PIRRE CLOUD FOREST CAMP
Today we begin our slow-paced 5-hour hike to the Pirre Cloud Forest.  At 1,200 meters above sea level, the Pirre Cloud Forest is a good place to look for specialties such as Beautiful Treerunner, Tooth-billed Hummingbird, Slaty Antwren, Tody Motmot, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Rufous-breasted Antthrush, Immaculate Antbird, Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo, Pirre Warbler, Pirre Hummingbird, Pirre Bush Tanager, Greenish Puffleg, Orange-bellied Euphonia.   In the afternoon we hike to the top of Pirre Mountain in search of the Golden-headed Quetzal, Gray and gold Tanager, Sharpbill, Chlorophonia and several Tanagers among other highland species.
Night at PIRRE CAMP (Screened tents with sleeping mats) (BLD)
Day 4                PIRRE CLOUD FOREST – CANA FIELD STATION
After breakfast we will start our descent to the field station with more birding along the way.  This afternoon is spent looking for birds around the main camp.  Possibilities include Gray-cheeked Nunlet, Spotted Barbtail, Barred Puffbird, Yellow-green Tyrannulet, Jet Antibird, Black-crowned, Fulvous-bellied, Ochre-breasted and Scaled Antpittas, White-fronted Nunbird, Cinereous
Becard, Golden-headed Manakin.
Night at CANA FIELD STATION (BLD)

Day 5                DARIEN – PANAMA CITY
This morning, after some last minute birding from the airstrip, our charter flight takes us back to Albrook Airport in Panama City Panama City.  Transfer to our hotel (B)

ITINERARY: 8 days/7 nights at Cana Field Station and endemic-rich Pirre Mountain Camp

Day 1    DARIEN NATIONAL PARK – SANTA CRUZ DE CANA
This morning we are picked up at the lobby of our hotel and proceed to Albrook domestic airport where we board our chartered plane to Santa Cruz de Cana, in Darien National Park and World Biosphere Reserve.  As we fly in we will admire the vast forest cover of Panama’s largest park (1.3 million acres).  Cana is located at the foothills of Pirre Mountain, which stands like an island in the most remote area of Panama.  Very few places in the world rival Cana in birding potential.  From the plane be on the lookout for King Vultures and Macaws.

After getting settled at the Field Station we explore the Boca de Cupe Trail and surrounding area.  Specialties here include Blue and Gold, Red and Green, Great Green and Chestnut-fronted Macaws, Black tipped Cotinga, Swallow Tanager, Red-throated Caracara, Streaked Antwren, Dusky-backed Jacamar, Ornate Hawk-Eagle and others. 
Night at CANA FIELD STATION (BLD)

See here for more descriptions of the birding and trails at Cana.

Day 2    CANA FIELD STATION
Today we will explore the Mine Trail where rusting machinery was left to be overtaken by the jungle after the British Gold Mine ventures collapsed at the beginning of last Century. Specialties in this area include Great Curassow, Crested Guan, Dusky-faced Tanager, Olivaceous Piculet.   
Night at CANA FIELD STATION (BLD)

Day 3    PIRRE CLOUD FOREST
Today we begin our slow-paced 5-hour hike to the Pirre Cloud Forest.  At 1,200 meters above sea level, the Pirre Cloud Forest is a good place to look for specialties such as Beautiful Treerunner, Tooth-billed Hummingbird, Slaty Antwren, Tody Motmot, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Rufous-breasted Ant thrush, Immaculate Antbird, Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo, Pirre Warbler, Pirre Hummingbird, Pirre Bush Tanager, Greenish Puffleg, Orange-bellied Euphonia.
Night at PIRRE CAMP (Screened tents with sleeping mats) (BLD)
           
Day 4    PIRRE CLOUD FOREST
This morning we hike to the top of Pirre Mountain in search of the Golden-headed Quetzal, Gray and gold Tanager, Sharpbill, Chlorophonia and several Tanagers among other highland species.  Late afternoon birding around the Pirre Tent Camp.
Night at PIRRE CAMP (Screened tents with sleeping mats) (BLD)

Day 5    CANA FIELD STATION
After breakfast we will start our descent to the field station.  This afternoon is spent looking for birds around the main camp.  Possibilities include Gray-cheeked Nunlet, Spotted Barbtail, Barred Puffbird, Yellow-green Tyrannulet, Jet Antibird, Black-crowned, Fulvous-bellied, Ochre-breasted and Scaled Antpittas, White-fronted Nunbird, Cinereous Becard, Golden-headed Manakin.
Night at CANA FIELD STATION  (BLD)

Day 6    CANA FIELD STATION
Today we will bird the Seteganti Trail with open scrub areas and mature forests that are good for various Woodpeckers such as Crimson-bellied and Red-rumped, Red-billed Scythebill, Brown Violetear among other specialtie of the area.
Night at CANA FIELD STATION (BLD)

Day 7    CANA FIELD STATION
Depending on what we have accomplished on the previous days we will return to the Boca de Cupe trail and the Main trail.  This afternoon we will bird from the open areas of the airstrip.
Night at CANA FIELD STATION (BLD)

Day 8    DARIEN – PANAMA CITY
This morning, after some last minute birding our charter flight takes us back to Albrook Airport in Panama City Panama City.  Transfer to our hotel (B)
           

TRIP CLASSIFICATION: Moderate/long hiking 3-5 hours per day over variable terrain, slippery, muddy. Accommodations vary from field stations to tent camps. 

INCLUDED:  Lodging, all land, air and water transportation within Panama.  All airport/hotel transfers, meals as specified in the itinerary (B - breakfast; L - lunch; D - dinner), entrance fees, guides’ services and services of an in-bound land operator for airline re-confirmations and tour operations.

NOT INCLUDED: International airfare, tourist card ($5 per person), meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, telephone calls, room service, etc.) or gratuities.

NOTE:  Weight restrictions apply to luggage in chartered flights within Panama.  A strict maximum of 25 lbs. of checked luggage per person is allowed.  A daypack is allowed as carry-on.  Arrangements can be made with Ancon Expeditions to store luggage that will not be needed on a particular leg of the trip. 

EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST: Binoculars (preferably 7x35 or larger), Birds of Panama book, camera with extra batteries & film, flashlight with extra bulb & batteries, bathing suit, insect repellant, sunscreen, hat, day pack, water bottle, lightweight/quick dry cotton clothes, windbreaker, hiking boots, sandals, sneakers, rain gear, money in small denominations, toiletries & personal medications.  The Naturalist Guide carries a spotting scope.