Panama A Majestic Feathers Birding Tour with Edwin Ramirez April 8 to 18, 2014 Price $3,980 I T I N E R A R Y

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1 Page 1 Nov 2013 Panama A Majestic Feathers Birding Tour with Edwin Ramirez April 8 to 18, 2014 Price $3,980 I T I N E R A R Y April 08 (Day 01) (D) Arrival-Panama City/ Participants arriving on April 8 will be picked up at the International Airport in Panama City and transferred by bus to the Holiday Inn, City of Knowledge. At 6:00 p.m. there will be a program briefing by Kathleen and Edwin followed by the Welcome Dinner. April 09 (Day 02) (B-L-D) Birding and Exploring the Metropolitan Nature Park and Miraflores Locks After breakfast your day begins with a field trip to the Metropolitan Nature Park. This park is perhaps the only forest reserve within a major capital city in Latin America. Despite its proximity to Panama City, it boasts a rich avifauna with bird species including; Yellow-backed Oriole, Crimson-backed Tanager, Rufous-and-white Wren, White-bellied Antbird and Lance-tailed Manakin. Lunch will be at a local restaurant followed by an afternoon visit to the Miraflores Locks. This Lock offers the most accessible views of the Panama Canal. At the locks, visitors are able to witness how the canal functions, see the operation of the locks and the mules that help to guide ships as they transit the canal. Dinner will be at a local restaurant and our lodging will be at the Holiday Inn. April 10 (Day 03) (B-L-D) Birding at Cerro Azul at Chagres National Park/Shore Birding at the Panama Bay Mudflats Our early morning birding will be at Cerro Azul, a private residential area located at Chagres National Park. We will be looking for mid-elevation species such as: Southern Nightingale Wren, Rufous-crested Coquette, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Olive Tanager and Brown-billed Scythebill. In the afternoon following a picnic lunch, we will bird the Panama Bay Mudflats. We will also take time to explore the ruins at Costa del Este, the first colonial settlement on the Pacific Coast of the Americas. This area is a vital part of the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network. Dinner will be at the Holiday Inn.

2 Page 2 Itinerary cont... April 11 (Day 04) (B-L-D) Plantation Road and Harpy Eagle Education Center Following breakfast we will bird the famous Plantation Road. This road is an old access to a cocoa plantation, but now it is a trail inside the Soberania National Park. At this location we are in search of: Golden-crowned Spadebill, Olivaceous Flatbill, Scaly-throated Leaftosser, Sunbittern, Northern Schiffornis, Harpy Eagle and scores more. Also included in this morning s adventure is the Summit Botanical Gardens and the Harpy Eagle Education Center. The garden is home to one of the greatest botanical collections in Central America. Birds frequent these gardens so of course there will be birding here. The Harpy Eagle display includes an education center devoted to Panama s national bird, and one of the most powerful birds of prey on earth. Lunch will be at the hotel. Late afternoon birding will be at the Ammo Dump Ponds. We transfer today to the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. Dinner will be at the resort. April 12 (Day 05) (B-L-D) The Achiote Road and Panama Canal Expansion Birding starts earlier today than usual so we will have a boxed breakfast while birding at the Achiote Road. Anhiote is another one of Panama s famous birding roads. The road runs along the Caribbean and is sure to provide some rare opportunities for bird sightings. Species that are regularly seen here include: Crested Oropendolas, White-headed Wren, Black-tailed Trogon, Spotcrowned Barbet, Pied Puffbird, Mealy Parrot and much more. Lunch at a local restaurant. An afternoon excursion to Panama Canal Expansion Observation Center where you will be able to see how the canal works as well as the new locks under construction on the Caribbean side. Return to the Gamboa Rainforest Resort for dinner. April 13 (Day 06) (B-L-D) Panama Rainforest Discovery Center and Pipeline Road Following breakfast we begin our day of birding at the Rainforest Discovery Center located at the world-famous Pipeline Road. The Center has a 100 ft. high observation tower. From here visitors can have a unique view of the forest canopy. Observation platforms are located at several levels along the climb to the top for resting and birding. Parrots, Toucans, Tanagers, Green-shrike Vireo, Blue Cotingas, and other residents of the forest canopy are here as well as great views of migrating raptors. Following our boxed lunch we will continue birding along the Pipeline Road. The species we are likely to see here include; Crested Eagles, Golden-collared Manakin, White-bellied and Bluethroated Anbirds, Pheasant Cuckoos and Hook-billed Kites. After wonderful birding on the Pipeline Road we will enjoy birding by boat on the Chagres River. We end our day back at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort for dinner and a good nights sleep. April 14 (Day 07) (B-L-D) Lodging continues at the Gamboa Rainforest Lodge Birding on this day: TBA

3 Lunch TBA Dinner at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort April 15 (Day 08) (B-L-D) Lodging and Birding in the Valle Anton Lodging TBA as well as the location of L and D. Bird list for the Valle Anton: April 16 (Day 09) (B-L-D) Lodging and Birding continues in the Valle Anton April 17 (Day 10) (B-L-D) Transfer back to Panama City After breakfast we depart for Panama City with many stops along the way for birding. Lunch at a local restaurant At the end of the day we will arrive at our lodging The Riande Continental Aeropuerto with many new birds added to our list. D TBA April 18 (Day 11) Bus transfers to the International Airport for flights home Breakfast if there is time before flight times. Please note: We reserve the right to change the route of this tour or accommodations due to severe weather or other unexpected occurrences such as strikes. In the unlikely even that it is necessary to change accommodations, every effort will be made to select lodging of equal quality or better. Update as of 11/20/13 it may be necessary to find different lodging for days 7, 8, and 9 in the same area. As of 11/30/13 the itinerary has been revised to include an additional night at the Gamboa Rainforest Lodge on day 7, and the addition of two nights in the Valle Anton days 8 and 9 with details TBA. Please note: Dates that appear in RED reflect a revision for last minute reservations and payment dates. Some of the hummingbirds of Panama from left to right: Green Hermit, White-necked Jacobin, Rufous-crested Coquette All Cameron page 3

4 Page 4 Included in the price of this tour: This is an 11 day birding tour that includes 10 nights of lodging, the services of two full time bird guides, all in country transportation and driver(s), photography assistance if desired, all meals beginning with dinner on April 8 and ending with breakfast on April 18, all entrance fees to national parks and other attractions as listed in the itinerary, double occupancy rooms (2 people and 2 beds per room) for a cost of $3,980* per person. *This amount is based on a minimum of 8 (eight) participants for the tour. If the tour does not have 8 participants either the final cost could be increased to cover the higher per person cost of a smaller group or the tour could be canceled. A full tour is 12 people. Single Room Supplement: Please add $750 (the single room supplement) to your total. Your desire to be a single (not to have a roommate) must be requested when you notify Majestic Feathers (Kathleen) that you want to reserve a spot on this tour. Please note that if you are traveling with us as a single, the primary responsibility for finding a roommate is yours. Through our advertising we will make an effort to find another single of the same sex interested in traveling with us the same dates and also interested in having a roommate. If a roommate has not been found by the date of payment for your tour; deadline 2/7/14, it will be necessary for you to pay the single room supplement to cover the higher single occupation cost of your lodging. The reservations deadline for this tour is 2/1/14. Our tours are very popular and it is highly recommended that you reserve your spot well ahead of the deadline. Once you have confirmed your participation by reserving a space(s) on the tour you will receive your sign up packet to complete, sign, and submit along with your full payment for the tour. The packet includes a general information form, a health and safety form, and a trip conditions, responsibility and waiver of liability and hold harmless agreement and release form. Full payment for the Panama April 8 to 18, 2014 $3,980 per person double occupancy or $3,980 plus the single supplement of $750 (total $4,730) if you are approved as a single, is due on or before February 7, Any payments made for this tour will not be refunded under any circumstances after February 14, It is at this point that participants should book flights into Panama City. *However do not, make any flight reservations until you receive word from Majestic Feathers (Kathleen) to book your flights. Recommendations for flights will be provided if desired. Not Included in the price of your tour: Airfare to and from the U.S. to Panama City, Panama. *Please do not make airline reservations early in the event that the tour does not have the minimum number of participants and is canceled. Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, and other personal purchases. The tourist fee of $5 (usually added to the price of airline tickets.) Small gratuities are optional and not an obligation but, in Panama are greatly appreciated for hotel staff, additional guides at museums and boat captains. Any items not expressly detailed in the written Trip Conditions and Waiver Form.

5 Page 5 (Not included in the price of the tour continued) Health Insurance, Medical Evacuation Coverage or Travel Cancellation/Trip Interruption Coverage. Health Insurance and Medical Evacuation Coverage are mandatory for this tour and can be purchased on the Internet. TravelEx and Insure and Go are two companies frequently used by past participants. Trip Cancelation Insurance is highly recommended. Participants must be in good health, mobile and able to participate in 4 to 7 hours of physical activity per day, the equivalent of walking up to five miles at a 2.5 mph pace over uneven ground. Birding at the Burbayar Lodge is conducted on forest trails or along the entrance road and requires the ability to hike in hilly terrain. Altitude is not a problem and will not be at any location in Panama. The trails at Burbayar are moderately steep in many areas, and hiking will involve a lot of up-and-down walking. Forest trails can turn very muddy. Burbayar Lodge is a rustic rainforest lodge where electricity is provided by a generator, therefore cabins have no A/C, and the use of devices such as hair dryers is prohibited. MEET YOUR GUIDE Edwin Ramirez is a native of Costa Rica. He is a naturalist and expert bird guide who has been leading tours throughout Central and South American for over 20 years. Edwin has facilitated birding tours for the ABA, Audubon Society, Road Scholar, Holbrook Travel Inc, and independently. Mr. Ramirez is the founder and President of The Foundation for Conservation and Bio-Cultural Restoration of Finca La Paz (Elvira Foundation). Elvira is an officially recognized NGO in Costa Rica. To learn more about Elvira please visit their website: Majestic Feathers is proud to support the Elvira Foundation. A percentage of the profits from a tour with Majestic Feathers is donated to this foundation. The field guide that we are recommending for this tour is: The Birds of Panama A Field Guide By Angeher & Dean Published by: Zona Tropical Publishing Co. We are so excited about your April 2014 tour with Edwin Ramirez in Panama! If you have any questions, please don t hesitate to ask! Contact: Kathleen Cameron majesticfeathers@gmail.com to place your reservation