While South American nations like Brazil and Colombia have earned worldwide acclaim for their high levels of avian diversity, North America is no slouch when it comes to top-tier birdwatching destinations either. Case in point: Panama, a verdant Central American country that offers a particularly diverse array of landscapes in spite of its small size. During a visit, guests can marvel at all sorts of colorful passerines alongside dazzling hummingbirds and soaring raptors\u2014and to discover all three in one fell swoop, it\u2019s best to head to Chiriqu\u00ed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Measuring in at just under 6,500 square kilometers, this sprawling province lies in the westernmost reaches of Panama, serving as a Pacific coast alternative to the neighboring tourism hub of Bocas del Toro. During a visit, guests can discover a wealth of waders along the mangrove-filled southern coast, but most birders tend to focus on the forested highlands found in the northern reaches of the country, with\u00a0Mount Totumas Cloud Forest\u00a0offering some of the finest birdwatching opportunities in all of the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a lengthy drive along an unpaved mountain road, guests can arrive on property grounds and marvel at the on-site hummingbird feeders, with garden emeralds, violet sabrewings and purple-crowned fairies being just a few species that might make an appearance\u2014but that\u2019s barely scratching the surface of all that the lodge has to offer. There are over thirty kilometers of hiking trails to explore across its 161 hectares, with many species wandering over from the bi-national Parque Internacional La Amistad that\u2019s found nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During a hike, visitors can marvel at colorful creatures like the flame-colored tanager, red-legged honeycreeper and fiery-billed aracari, but for many birders, the resplendent quetzal serves as a particular megatick. A member of the trogon family, this dazzling bird is known for its striking appearance, with both males and females displaying long, iridescent emerald feathers. And beyond birds, visitors can also spot mammals like the mantled howler monkey and kinkajou, while evidence of jaguars and other cats has been discovered in the recent past via Mount Totumas Cloud Forest\u2019s trail camera system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In between birding sessions, Mount Totumas Cloud Forest also offers its fair share of cozy amenities that make it well-worth visiting even for casual ecotourists. While accommodations span from The Cabin\u2014a rustic lodge that comes equipped with a full kitchen and multiple hammocks\u2014to the six-meter-tall Tree House, guests are likely to spend the bulk of their time at the Bellbird Lodge. In addition to serving as a top spot for hummingbird watching, this cozy cabin also offers plush suites and a top-tier dining program, with many of the dishes crafted using ingredients from the on-property garden. Beyond the Bellbird Lodge, guests can also take a dip in the local hot springs or sample fresh coffee that\u2019s grown at the property\u2019s nearby farm\u2014but of course, that\u2019s just scratching the surface of all that Chiriqu\u00ed has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve had your fill of birdwatching, there\u2019s a wealth of activities to enjoy around the nearby community of Volc\u00e1n. For visiting gastronomes, the community offers a particularly idyllic dining experience in the form of\u00a0Restaurante Cerro Brujo, a charming dining venue that\u2019s been operating for decades in the eastern reaches of the town. Upon arrival, visitors are welcome to stroll along the estate\u2019s verdant gardens before sitting down for a meal, with dishes like oven-roasted lamb, herb-infused duck confit and sopa de mondongo all crafted with fresh ingredients harvested by chef and owner Patricia Miranda Allen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Further west, coffee aficionados can swing by\u00a0Ceriana Caf\u00e9\u00a0to indulge in a coffee tasting in full view of the region\u2019s towering volcano, while those in search of a more urban escape should be sure to book a stay at the\u00a0Hotel Ciudad De David, a polished property in the heart of Chiriqu\u00ed\u2019s largest city. While the venue comes equipped with more than 100 cozy guest rooms, visitors can also pay a visit to STYLO, an on-site dining venue that offers a diverse array of dishes spanning from siu mai to Galician-style octopus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Panamanian destinations like Soberan\u00eda National Park and Isla Iguana draw birders in droves thanks to their rich avian diversity, but for anyone hoping to experience the lush beauty of the nation\u2019s cloud forests, Chiriqu\u00ed is tough to beat. In addition to classic Latin American species like the collared trogon and yellow-throated toucan, the province also offers its fair share of fascinating highland inhabitants ranging from the large-footed finch to the long-tailed silky-flycatcher\u2014and to sweeten the deal, the region\u2019s hospitality industry is top-notch as well. As autumn begins to set in across the United States, there\u2019s no better time than the present to begin planning your next cold weather getaway, and for a truly memorable trip, don\u2019t miss out on the pristine beauty of Chiriqu\u00ed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n