Panama - Canopy Tower

A group of 10 with 2 great and experienced local guides. We stayed at Canopy Tower and Canopy Lodge over the 2-week trip venturing out to varying habitats from both centres using a variety of vehicles to suit the road/trail and weather conditions. The various birds birds and wildlife constantly changed with many new species each day. Dawn to dusk always something new. Great food relaxed atmosphere amongst like-minded souls who became friends. Brilliant brochure and related website. Informative with many trip reports from previous trips so you are able to assess what’s involved. Office staff friendly, helpful by phone or emails. Admin efficiently dealt with. A late change to first outward flight details promptly (over a weekend) communicated with revised tickets dispatched by post and email on first office day. All logistics worked seamlessly from customer perspective.

M.C. Lincolnshire, Apr 23

A great leader and a small group of five worked very well. The whole trip was excellent. The early morning sunrise at the top of the tower was brilliant.

J.T. Cheshire, Apr 19

Birdwatching trip to Panama. A wonderful country. friendly people and a superb number of birds and mammals. Visit made all the better by having two excellent guides whose ability to find and recognise birds by their call, then locate and capture them in the telescope for all to see was outstanding. From the first day of booking to the final flight home everything went smoothly and efficiently. Absolutely faultless.

C.B. Lancashire, Nov 18

Canopy Tower is a very charming place to stay. Very good staff, nice places to relax, good food. Its an ideal holiday for couples like us, one of us (Simon) is a very keen birdwatcher and I like to see wild places but am also happy staying back in the lodge relaxing and reading. The trip to Miraflores locks was very enjoyable. Everyone in our group wanted to go there so its good that time is set aside for that visit.

S. & S. B - Oxfordshire, Nov 18

Canopy Tower was a delightful idea. The living area on the third floor was especially well done and the bedroom comfortable. The views from the roof were spectacular. Birding of passing migrants was excellent. Excellent management, excellent in field snacks, other food good. Service efficient. Panama is obviously a great birding country.

J.K. Yorkshire

The staff at Canopy Tower and Lodge were very helpful, and the guides at both places very skilled. For me the highlight of the trip was a clear and close sighting of a Pheasant Cuckoo - a very difficult bird not often seen.

P.B. West Yorkshire

...the holiday was superb: well-organised, friendly, knowledgeable and communicative guides, clean and comfortable accommodation, first-class cuisine. A holiday I shall be glad to strongly recommend to anyone with an interest in birding. Well done, and many thanks.

K.E. Norfolk

Both leaders were excellent, but I would like to particularly mention Danilo, our local guide for the El Valle extension... He knows the birds back to front (as well as their English names) and was a very pleasant individual to spend time with. His ability to locate and pin-point birds in the dense forest undergrowth was nothing short of astounding.

D.S. Co. Antrim

The trip was most enjoyable, the group worked together very well, I think a good time was had by all. Staff and catering at the Lodge were excellent. The local guide would take some beating...knowledgeable, courteous, always helpful and always with a smile.

C.R. Gwynedd

I had a week at the Canopy Tower, mostly birding, but we also saw several mammals, reptiles and butterflies galore. We went out each day the various sites, although the day started with a little birding on the observation deck of the Tower. This was an excellent place to view the rainforest surrounding the Tower. A very unspoilt area with the Panama Canal in sight from the deck. We also had the opportunity to visit the museum at the Miraflores Lock on the Canal, which was very interesting. The guide we had throughout the holiday was Alexis Sanchez who proved to be an exceptional guide. Not only did he find numerous birds for us, but he knew all their calls and could even replicate them himself. I have never known a guide do this so successfully before. Not only did he find all the animals but he looked after our needs in the field, providing lunches and cold drinks which were essential in the hot weather we experienced, The food at the Tower was excellent and drinks were available throughout the day, free of charge. This was important to ensure we stayed hydrated! The staff were all very friendly and the facilities were all very good, too. I have no complaints about this holiday whatsoever.

R.I. Surrey

I visited the Canopy Tower in Panama, birdwatching the rain forest along the pipeline road. Its a unique experience staying in the tower and starting the day watching birds in the forest canopy at eye level. Coffee is provided for first light to get you going then buffet breakfast. When you have had your fill of the birds in the canopy you can head down the hummingbird feeders at the entrance giving fantastic close views. Our guide Alexis Sanchez was always close at hand to help with identification and bird song. It was a first class holiday and i would recommend it to everyone as its not all about birds but mammals butterfly's and flowers as well. 

P.H. Tyne and Wear

We stayed in a former US radar station just outside Panama City, which made for a unique eco lodge. The viewing platform gave panoramic views across the rainforest. Although not deluxe, the lodge was comfortable, and the staff were welcoming and helpful. Food was excellent. The wildlife guide was particularly knowledgeable, helping us amass an extensive list of birds and other creatures. The weather held up well until the final afternoon when it showed us what it was truly like to be in a rainforest!

J.G. Wiltshire

Our local guide was excellent, finding, calling and identifying birds and ensuring everyone saw them...very professional. The Canopy Tower staff were friendly, courteous and helpful. The group was a happy, friendly and sociable one.

J.R. West Midlands

The trip was excellent - 245 bird species, 10 mammals and 11 reptiles. This was principally down to our guide Alex (Alexis) who was superb. He is an excellent birder - sightings, sounds and general identification. He combined these exceptional skills with a gentle and very pleasant character and took care to be inclusive of all the group members. The Canopy Tower is comfortable and clean, the food was superb and the birding from the tower was excellent. We were provided with tea, coffee and nibbles at 6am on the balcony and watched as the sun rose, before breakfast at 7.30am.

M.D. Bristol

I liked being in the same place for the whole 8 days. I felt I was really starting to get to grips with the bird identification by knowing what to look for and where.

R.F. Lothian

The local guide, field trips and general organisation were very good. I wish to make a return visit sometime in the future.

R.T. Devon

A really lovely place - comfortable, cosy, a great natural history library and the food was really delicious. I hated leaving. I was delighted with the number of mammals that we saw really well. It is an amazing place. The staff in the Canopy Tower were helpful and friendly, and everything was spotless. It was great not having to travel too far every day to see terrific new birds. The sites were close but with diverse birds and other wildlife. The bird guide was terrific - very knowledgeable about all aspects of natural history, good with people and a wonderful mimic of local bird calls. He made sure that we all saw the bird if at all possible. He was calm and relaxed, not rushing us, yet he was so enthusiastic and excited when we got a new bird or mammal. I really enjoyed this holiday. Thanks.

F.K. Dublin

Our guide, Alexis, was excellent. He met us at the Tower and explained everything to us. He was available to answer any questions. He was with us at the Lodge as well and provided brilliant guiding throughout. We also had Daniello with us on two days out from the Lodge, who was also an excellent bird guide. All the staff at both locations were excellent and very welcoming and friendly throughout. This was the first time we’ve been on a fully guided holiday and we enjoyed it a lot. The birding was amazing and the guides also allowed time to look at mammals and reptiles.

J.S. County Durham

Our guide, Alexis Sanchez was friendly and helpful and worked hard all tour to help us see the birds. The Canopy Tower is a very special place and I am very happy I visited it.

P.H. Tyne and Wear

I chose the holiday because it stayed in one place for a week but still gave lots of variety which it delivered in spades. The accommodation was much better than I had thought it would be. I was hoping the guiding would be good and I wasn't disappointed - Alexis was excellent.

A.H. London

Superb accommodation at both Canopy and Lodge, rooms and food excellent, guides good.

R.R. Antrim

Couldn't fault Alexis Sanchez. Brilliant at finding the birds, knowing their calls and replicating all the calls, not just a few. That is really impressive. He also organised everything food wise and drink wise. An exceptional guide.

R.I. Surrey