Ginnie Springs

We had a great weekend camping at Ginnie Springs. Our days were filled with floating down the river, snorkeling the springs, and having a beer or three. I also picked up Tufted Titmouse, Barred Owl, and Carolina Wren for my Bird a Day efforts.

Howler Monkey Fun

Our first Howler Monkey of the trip was the one seen above.  We watched a whole family cross above us on the Old Gamboa Trail.  It was a dream come true.

On our last day at the Tower we were given another surprise, a whole family of Howlers only feet away.  The mother of the family had a small baby clutching her stomach.  We watched the acrobatic family until it was time to leave.  It was sad to leave the Tower but the rest of our adventure was ahead with a trip to the Canopy Lodge.

It was a perfect goodbye to one of the best places ever.  Our little Howler family gave us a proper adieu and we were on the road again.

Sloth Times

All around Canopy Tower there were sloths to watch.  Most would sleep, some would scratch, some would even climb from one limb to another.

During rain showers, the sloths would tuck and hide.  The poor little wet sloths were so sad to watch in the rain.  They looked so miserable in the rain, drenched and tired.

But on sunny days the sloth would move and climb and this one even reached far out for a bite to eat.  It was great watching the sloths at Canopy Tower.  I have always wanted to see one of these little furry beasts and now I can say that I've seen them in all modes, except for crawling across a road but you can Youtube that if you want to see the saddest and most horrifying thing ever.  Sloths and roads should never go together.  They belong in the canopy, free to eat, climb, and hide from the rain.

Sloth/Monkey

Nothing like seeing new animals at eye-level.  From the top of the Tower we not only had up-close views of sloth and monkey but sometimes we even had them in the same frame!

Canopy Tower Birding

Now that you've seen the tower from the inside out, let's take a look at the birds.  Let me just say, every day was filled with colorful, beautiful birds.  Each day you wake to Collared Aracaris and Keel-billed Toucans flying from tree to tree.  Then you have a great breakfast before meeting one of the guides for a morning of birding.

If you're lucky you see things like Crane Hawk (above) or an army ant swarm will cross the path and things like Bicolored Antbird (below) and Oscellated Antbirds will fly about.  The birds in Panama seemed to have little fear of humans, instead they went about their business as if you were barely there.  

When you think of birding in the Neotropics visions of toucans, motmots, and antbirds abound.  At the Canopy Tower you will be given all of these and more.  Plus, you have some of the best guides ever to guide you down the trails and around the area.  Thank you to Eliecer, Carlos, and Alex for the great birding adventures.  

Inside Canopy Tower

The Canopy Tower has an assortment of rooms to choose from.  We had a double room with a place to hang clothes, a great big window and a spacious bathroom.  At noon we would cool down under the fan and at night we heard the sounds of frogs calling from the window.

From the bed we saw Keel-billed Toucans, Scarlet-rumped Caciques, and hummingbirds.  It was a dream come true.

On the top level was the dining area and lounge.  This is where our meals were served and the general relaxation took place on the couch.  In the evenings we had cold beers and tallied up our day birds.  The bookshelf was full of great books, the windows gave us nice views, and the company here each evening was entertaining.  We had many nice conversations around dinner and cold beers.  The Canopy Tower is a little rustic but it's completely charming.

Everything from the artwork to the wait staff, every detail had its place. 

If you want an adventure then visit Canopy Tower.  I promise that it will deliver you more than just lifers, it will be a lifetime experience.

Birdmobile Birding

The view from the top of Canopy Tower is pretty incredible but it doesn't stop there.  Once you go on your first trip with a guide in one of the Tower's modified vehicles you find that birding is even great from the road.  

Canopy Tower has two great vehicles for birding, the Birdmobile and the Rainfomobile.  Both give you unrestricted access to a 360 degree view while traveling down the road.  One of the best birds of our trip was seen right outside the gates of Canopy Tower.  Our group watched a family of Great Tinamou scamper through the forest.  If we had been inside a van, we would've missed the family. 

Other great lifers were also seen from the back of the trucks.  We had Southern Lapwings in Gamboa from the back of the Rainfomobile.  They were walking across the soccer field.  A quick reverse and our whole group were able to see them.

On our last day of birding at the Tower we were on our way to Ammo Ponds and from the top of the Birdmobile we spotted our lifer Gray-headed Kite below (that's a juvenile in case you wondered).  

The Canopy Tower offers world class birding.  From the Observation Deck to the Birdmobiles we were given the best opportunities at seeing birds.  Come back tomorrow to see the living quarters.

A View from the Top: Panama

The highlight of Canopy Tower is the view from the top.  On your first view you're taken away.  Not often will you ever in your life bird from the treetops and the Canopy gives you that experience each day.  It was definitely one of the major highlights of the whole trip!

Once through the trap door entrance you see nothing but sky and then miles of lush green rainforest.  The view is remarkable.  You can watch the boats slide through the canal, the parrots fly overhead, and the honeycreepers come within feet of your camera.

If you ever have the chance to visit Panama then you must visit the Canopy Tower.  It's one of my favorite places in the world.