7 BEST Birding Tour Companies in Panama! (2023)
Are you looking to go on a birding adventure in Panama?
That’s wonderful news. But here’s the thing:
DECIDING to go on a bird-watching trip is an easy decision. The hardest part is finding a reputable company that you feel comfortable traveling with.
Below you will find SEVEN highly-rated companies that offer birding trips in Panama.
Before picking a trip, make sure to pay attention to the itinerary! Some tours are for hardcore birders, where you can expect to be birding in Panama from sunrise to sunset. By comparison, other birding excursions are more relaxed and integrate other wildlife and cultural experiences. And lastly, some experiences in Panama are designed specifically for bird photography.
Each tour is unique, and none are better or worse. It depends on what YOU want (or what your traveling companion wants). 🙂
Lastly, please do your own independent research before selecting a birding trip in Panama!
My list is designed to point you in the right direction and narrow your choices. Before booking a trip, contact the companies directly to make sure they are a good fit for your travel needs. *Please note that the companies listed below appear in no particular order.*
#1. Cotinga Tours
Cotinga Tours is an owner-operated company that offers birding, nature, and FAMILY eco-vacations. They offer trips to all parts of Panama, so no matter what birds you want to see or where you want to go, Cotinga Tours should have something for you.Â
- To view a list of upcoming birding tours, click HERE.
And one thing I learned after talking to Paco Madrigal, who is the co-owner of Cotinga Tours, is that they can create a customized tour just for YOU and your group. For example, if you want to spend two weeks just looking for tricky birds, such as umbrellabirds or tody motmots, they can make that happen!
In addition, they have helped out many families organize incredible trips to Panama that might not want to look for birds 24/7. Instead, they can schedule plenty of time to hang out at the beach, experience local cuisine, or look for other wildlife, such as monkeys and sloths.
Cotinga Tours is LOCALLY based. One of the biggest benefits of booking with them is that more of your money stays in the country to support ecotourism and local employment. Just check out their list of guides, and you will see that they all live in Central America. Cotinga Tours prides itself in cultivating a team of the best birding and nature guides in the country.
Many of these trips are incredibly popular, so if you are interested, please fill out the form below, and Ashley from Cotinga Tours will contact you directly to answer questions, discuss pricing, etc.
You can also send Ashley a message HERE on Cotinga’s website. Make sure that you let them know that Bird Watching HQ sent you.
Use the code BWHQÂ to receive $75 per person off your trip!
#2. Birding Ecotours
Tell them Bird Watching HQ sent you and get $100 off your trip!
Birding Ecotours is one of the BEST birding tour companies in Panama, combining an incredible overall experience with a competitive price. Their typical birding tour focuses on small groups of between 6-8 people, along with staying at exceptional lodging and vehicles.
In my opinion, here are a few of the things that make Birding Ecotours different:
- Their guides are some of the best in the business. Highly personable and fun, but also excellent birders.
- Everyone at Birding Ecotours is extremely passionate about conservation. And they put their money where their mouth is, as they donate a minimum of 10% of net profit to local communities and bird conservation.
- Their CEO and founder (Chris) is an enthusiastic birder who has been in the birding tour business for a long time. He started Birding Ecotours in 2004 and has been running and growing the company ever since. You can read his story here.
To view a list of upcoming birding tours to Panama, click HERE.
And don’t hesitate to talk to them about creating a custom birding tour just for you or your group. Creating unique trips that mark off everything on your wish list gets Birding Ecotours very excited.
Many of these trips are incredibly popular, so if you are interested, please fill out the form below, and Birding Ecotours will contact you directly to answer questions, discuss pricing, etc.
You can also send Chris and his team a message HERE.
Make sure to mention Bird Watching HQ to receive $100 off your trip!* 🙂
*Some exclusions apply*
#3. Rockjumper Birding Tours
Rockjumper is one of the best birding tour companies in Panama.
Their stellar reputation comes from their commitment to quality trips led by excellent guides. The average ratio of tour leaders to guests is excellent, with most trips having a maximum of eight participants.
Rockjumper has birding tours in Panama for everyone. For example…
- Explore the famous rainforests and cloud forests, looking for hundreds of different bird species. Some of the best birds include Panamanian Tyrannulet, Veraguan Mango, Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker, and Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo. But you also have a chance to see Mantled Howler Monkeys, White-faced Capuchins, Ocelots, and sloths!
- An 11-day trip designed for birders on a budget that visits the most famous birding areas in Panama.
Pay attention to the itinerary because some trips are designed to maximize the number of species observed, while others are more relaxed and allow time to enjoy other unique cultural aspects of a region. And if you can’t find anything that meets your needs, you can work with Rockjumper to design your own trip.
If you want to learn more about a specific tour, discuss pricing, or have other questions, it’s best to speak with Rockjumper Birding directly. They have a team of birding experts ready to help!
- Fill out this form below, and it will get sent directly to Rockjumper!
Lastly, Rockjumper donates a minimum of $50 per scheduled tour to a conservation fund to support bird projects worldwide.
#4. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours
Founded in 1976, Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT) has been leading birding trips for almost 50 years. The company is not only one of the best birding tour companies in Panama but also one of the most respected.
VENT is committed to ensuring every part of your trip is a success. From quality, fun tour leaders to an efficient office staff that handles logistics, you are being held with experienced and helpful hands.
No matter what birds you see in Panama, VENT should have a trip that makes you happy.
One thing that sticks out to me with VENT is their willingness over the years to give back. The company is strongly committed to eco-tourism, and they use local guides, drivers, and tour operators whenever possible.
#5. WINGS Birding Tours
If you are a serious birder and want an unforgettable adventure in Panama, then going on a trip with Wings Birding Tours might be a perfect choice. Many other companies on this list try to accommodate people with different interests and physical levels and include things to do on their trips that don’t involve birding.
Wings Birding Tours makes no such promises. They know their target market and try to appeal to them as best as possible. In fact, If you have never been on a bird-watching tour before, they recommend that you contact them first before booking to make sure it’s a good fit.
Almost all of their trips are designed to see birds, regardless of where or when they are to appear. So prepare to be up early and spend your days having incredible adventures and doing a lot of walking. Your trip may take you onto uneven terrain, through lush vegetation, or up and down countless hills.
If you are ready for a hardcore birding adventure in Panama, then make sure to check out their trip list. They typically have multiple tours scheduled that are approximately two weeks in length and take you to many different habitats and ecosystems within Panama.
#6. Naturalist Journeys
Founded over 20 years ago, Naturalist Journeys offers numerous nature and birding tours to Panama and many other places around the globe. On their website, you can see a calendar of their upcoming birding trips to Panama.
A typical trip by Naturalist Journeys tries to incorporate different aspects to your adventure. The guides are not obsessed with seeing a bird just to check it off a list. Instead, the goal is to savor each experience by immersing yourself in the local Panamanian culture while enjoying the camaraderie of your fellow travelers.
What’s neat is they also offer Independent Birding Ventures (IBVs), which are trips where YOU design the itinerary and pace yourself. You just tell Naturalist Journeys what you are looking for, and they plan the entire thing.
#7. Field Guides Birding Tours
I can almost guarantee you will find your dream bird-watching trip to Panama with Field Guides Birding Tours. They have many adventures in Panama every year, which explore almost every part of the country.
I like that they have trips that cater to all interests, whether you are a hardcore birder who wants to see as many species as possible or someone who wants to do more than just birding. Pay close attention to each tour’s itinerary to make sure it’s a match for you.
Final Thoughts About Birding Tours in Panama:
I hope today that you found a birding tour in Panama that intrigues you. I did my best to find a variety of companies that offer many different birding experiences, including many trips that cater to bird photography.
The next step is contacting the company directly and deciding the best option for your adventure!
- RELATED:Â 24 COMMON Birds Found in Panama!
I’d love your feedback below if you have gone on a birding trip before in Panama.
