Plan Your Trip - Panama - page 58

» Mantled howlers Greeting sunrise and sunset with booming calls that resonate for kilo-
meters, howlers are incredibly vocal. Their antics are also good storm indicators.
» Jaguars The largest cat in the Americas, jaguars are incredibly rare and elusive, though
their evidence is all around, from dried spoors to fresh tracks.
» Parrots and macaws Panama has more than 20 species, including five macaws. Big
macaws can be identified by their huge bills, bare facial patch and long, tapered tails.
» Toucans The spectacular multicolored bill is a giveaway. This powerful tool is full of air
cavities and quite lightweight. A serrated upper mandible helps grip slippery fruits and in-
timidate other birds.
Bird-Watching
With more than 900 bird species in Panama, all you need to do to spot feathered friends
is to get a good pair of binoculars and hit the trails. Two popular spots include Pipeline
Rd in Parque Nacional Soberanía and Burbayar Lodge in Panamá Province. Panama Au-
dubon Society ( Click here ), located in Panama City, organizes the annual Christmas
bird count on Pipeline Rd, and runs bird-watching expeditions throughout the country.
White-Water Rafting & Kayaking
Whether you take to the water by raft or kayak, Panama boasts some excellent opportun-
ities for river running. The most famous white-water runs are the Ríos Chiriquí and
Chiriquí Viejo. The unofficial river-running capital of Panama is the highland town of
Boquete. Sea kayaking centers are Bocas del Toro and Chiriquí Provinces.