Early in the morning we are picked up at the lobby of our hotel by an Ancon Expeditions of Panama Naturalist Guide and transferred to Soberania National Park in the Panama Canal Watershed. We will reach world renowned Pipeline Rd. by vehicle and start our hike from the entrance. Pipeline Rd. is the site where Audubon Society held its world Christmas bird count record for 19 years straight, with 357 species of birds identified in a period of 24 hours.

During World War II, a pipeline was built along the Panama Canal to transport fuel from one ocean to the other in the event the waterway was attacked. Fortunately, it was never used. Today, the road built to maintain the pipeline provides excellent access to primary rainforests within Soberania National Park. Only 45 minutes from Panama City, Soberania's 55,000 acres boast some 525 species of birds including the Black Hawk-eagle, Black-cheeked woodpecker, Black-breasted puffbird, Broad-billed motmot, Blue cotinga, Purple-throated fruitcrow, Masked tytira, Violaceous trogon, Fasciated antshrike, Shining honeycreeper, and a great array of migrants (during the North American winter months).

Soberania is also home to 105 species of mammals including large felines, Tamandua, Two and Three-toed sloth, 4 species of monkeys, Agouti, some of which are listed under CITES (endangered species) and 59 endemic plant species in 4 life zones.

By late morning we take a short drive nearby Summit Botanical Gardens where we have a picnic lunch and visit the Harpy eagle and Baird’s tapir naturalistic exhibits.

We do some last minute birding around Summit Ponds before returning to our hotel.

WHAT TO BRING: Binoculars, camera, cap or hat, sunscreen lotion, insect repellant, light clothing, light raincoat, good traction footwear, bird book.

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