THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Panama - page 405

Canopy Camp Border of Reserva de Filo de Tallo, beyond Metetí, off the Interamericana
264 5720, canopytower.com . Part of the Canopy “family”, this award-winning camp com-
prises eight luxurious African safari tents (with electricity and fans) on raised platforms that
extend to provide private observation decks. There's plenty of storage space made from loc-
ally sourced teak, also prominent in the main social and dining areas. Though aimed primar-
ily at birders, the eight-day package contains excursions of interest to the general nature-lover
too. Eight-day tour $3150.
Ecocircuitos 315 1305, ecocircuitos.com . Among their vast array of tours is a four-
day Darién Ethnic Expedition ($1040), which combines visits to Emberá communities with
a two-night stay at ANAM's ranger station at Rancho Frío in the national park. Minimum of
four people required.
Jungle Treks 6438 3130, jungletreks.com . Former ANCON Expeditions guide Rick
Morales now runs his own trekking outfit with local guides. The Deep Darién Adventure is
just that, involving two days' travel and six days of backpacking and camping - plenty of
sleeping in hammocks and eating dehydrated food - from Sambú across the Serranía del Sapo
before following the Río Piña down to the Pacific coast. Requires a minimum of four people.
Between $2500-2900.
Panama Exotic Adventures 6673 5381, panamaexoticadventures.com . Experienced
French-run organization offering the greatest variety of multi-day trips to the Darién (and
Guna Yala), often involving more camping and hiking. A five-day trip to the Golfo de San
Miguel includes a stay in their own lodge at the Reserva de Filo de Tallo near Metetí, a visit
to the Wounaan community of Puerto Lara, and camping on an island near La Palma ($1250).
An eight-day expedition takes in the Sambú area, with plenty of hiking in the rainforest and
visits to the Emberá villages of Villa Queresia and Pavarandó, before trekking over the Ser-
ranía del Sapo to Playa de Muerto ($1750). Minimum of four people required.
Panama Orgánica 6079 6825, panamaorganica.com . Small, reliable outfit offering cus-
tomized budget tours to hard-to-access areas such as the Darién and Guna Yala, working with
local communities and independent operators. Can also help arrange transport to Colombia
and day-trips from Panama City.
Panama province
Aside from the Altos de Cerro Azul, Panama province east of the canal is known more for
the continuing urban spread out towards Chepo and rampant deforestation than for any sight-
seeing charms. That said, Lago Bayano , some 90km east of Panama City and voted one of
the country's top ten attractions in a nationwide tourist-board poll, is worth at least a day's
sojourn, while the indigenous communities just off the Interamericana at Ipetí provide the
other main reason to stop en route to the Darién proper, though the relatively barren location
lacks the rainforest charm of other villages in Darién province.