Panama Bird Watching
Welcome to the taste2travel Panama Bird Watching feature!
Date Visited: March 2016
Introduction
A break from the Caribbean island blogs…
I recently had the opportunity to visit the beautiful Panamanian town of Boquete.
A Green violet-eared hummingbird at Finca Lerida.
Location
Panama
Boquete lies 60 km from the border with Costa Rica, in the Panamanian highlands. The town sits at an elevation of 1,200 metres, giving it a mild climate. As a result, Boquete has become a popular retirement destination for North Americans.
The town also attracts many tourists because of the wide range of activities available in the surrounding area. You can climb a volcano, go rafting, hike through the mountains, soak in hot springs and much more.
A Green violet-eared hummingbird at Finca Lerida.
Boquete is also a major coffee-growing region. The local cafés serve some exceptional coffee.
The highlands around Boquete are lush and green. The weather changes constantly as clouds and rain sweep in from the Caribbean Sea, cross the mountains and move towards the Pacific Ocean. These conditions create excellent bird-watching opportunities in the surrounding forests.
Sightseeing
Finca Lerida
The Gambling bird at Finca Lerida.
Located 5 km up a steep hill behind Boquete, Finca Lerida sits at an elevation of 1,600 metres. A Norwegian engineer who had worked on the Panama Canal established the finca in 1924. He and his wife were looking for a place with fresh, clean air where they could enjoy their retirement.
A Gambling bird striking a pose at Finca Lerida.
Today, Finca Lerida operates as a luxury hotel with a restaurant and coffee shop. Lush, well-maintained gardens surround the property and attract a wide variety of birds.
A Female Scintillant hummingbird flying through the rain at Finca Lerida.
Geisha Coffee
The estate remains primarily a coffee plantation, and you can see the coffee beans being processed next to the coffee shop. Finca Lerida is particularly famous for growing the “Geisha” coffee bean. At around US$260 per kilo, it was the most expensive coffee in the world.
The famous Geisha coffee at Finca Lerida.
Quetzal Spotting
Six kilometres of walking trails wind through the slopes above the estate and lead deep into the highland forests. Along these trails, you have a chance — although there are no guarantees — of spotting the elusive Quetzal.
The elusive female Quetzal.
I hired a guide, Eddy, and spent several hours searching the forest for the Quetzal.
The equally elusive male Quetzal.
We got lucky! We found a male and female sitting almost side by side in two different trees. Eddy told me he had never seen anything like it. The birds remained there for about 15 minutes, giving me plenty of time to photograph them.
The resplendent male Quetzal.
Eddy was very excited and told me that I was extremely lucky to see the two birds together. When we returned to the finca, he shared the news with the staff.
It was a very good morning.
Nesting Hummingbird
The tiny female Scintillant hummingbird is just 5-cm long.
After the walk, I spent some time in the finca’s garden photographing hummingbirds and other birds.
A female Scintillant hummingbird at Finca Lerida.
A female Scintillant hummingbird had built a nest on a coat rack outside one of the guest rooms. She was sitting on two tiny eggs.
A coat rack serves as a nesting site for a Scintillant hummingbird at Finca Lerida.
Each hummingbird egg is about 1.5 cm long.
Each Hummingbird egg is about 1.5 cm in length.
A nesting female Scintillant hummingbird.
Accommodation
If your budget allows, you can splurge on a stay in the beautiful rooms at . Otherwise, Boquete offers plenty of more reasonably priced accommodation, ranging from hostels to hotels.
I stayed at , which I would recommend.
Boquete has many hotels and hostels, so you may not need to book too far in advance. If you prefer to arrange your accommodation before arriving, you can find plenty of options on .
Eating Out
Finca Lerida has an excellent restaurant onsite. While you are there, make sure you try the estate’s coffee, which is available from the coffee shop.
As a popular tourist destination, Boquete has plenty of restaurants, cafés and bars.
I especially recommend the craft beers at . They also have a help-yourself popcorn machine, which keeps everyone happy.
Visa Requirements
Some nationalities require a visa to enter . Check the visa requirements for your nationality before travelling.
Getting There
By Air
International flights to Panama arrive at . The airport serves as a major regional hub, with daily connections to destinations throughout the Americas and beyond.
By Road
You can enter Panama from Costa Rica by crossing the border either on the Caribbean coast, from Puerto Viejo to Sixaola, or inland via the Pan-American Highway at Paso Canoa.
From either crossing, you will need to travel through the city of David. Frequent buses connect David with Boquete, which lies in the mountains.
Getting Around
Boquete is compact and easy to explore on foot, with most places within walking distance.
Additionally, taxis and buses are available when required.
That’s the end of my Panama Bird Watching Guide.
Finally, if you wish to leave feedback or comments, you can do so using the form below.
Safe Travels!
Darren
Further Reading
Other travel reports from the region: