Panamá is the real isthmus where North and South America meet. Is the narrowest area in the Americas.
The biogeographic importance of that land is out of question.
Species from South America used the narrow corridor towards the north, while North American species went exactly in the contrary direction.
Furthermore, many islands became mountains in that time, and speciation produced many endemics. Panama (of 75.000km2), with Costa Rica (50.000 km2) is the most diverse country in the world in herp species by surface. Panama counts nowadays with 190 species of amphibians and 250 of reptiles).
Panama is land of lush rainforests, high peaks surrounded by cloud forests and hot, dry lowlands. We intend to explore just a few locations to understand how diverse and important this country is for the conservation of amphibian and reptiles, among many more beings.
We will explore the lush highland forests of the center of the country, looking for endemic dendrobatids (poison frogs) such as blue, green and white morphs of Dendrobates auratus, the arboreal Oophaga vicentei, Andinobates minutus, A. fulguritus, maybe even some of the rarest toads in the world, the Harlequin toad Atelopus varius and Atelopus limosus. Also home of strange lizards like Echinosaura panamensis and beautiful transparent frogs such Hyloscirtus palmeri and many glassfrogs. In two more locations we can also look after several snakes like vine snakes (Oxybelis aeneus, brevirostris and fulgidus), bird snakes (Phrynonax poecilonotus and P. shroepshirei), tiger rat snakes (Spilotes pullatus) corals like Micrurus mosquitensis, and viper like the eyelash, Bothriechis schlegeli, the terciopelo or X (Bothrops asper ) or even the magnificent bushmaster (Lachesis stenophrys and/or L. acrochorda).
Gallery
Gallery
Meet The Team
César L. Barrio-Amorós
(Doc Frog)
Scientific director and photographer
Spanish herpetologist who dedicated his life to the understanding and conservation of nature.
Cristian Porras Ramirez
Founder, Managing Director and Photography Director
About the tour
Note: *If the flight from origin arrives to Panama city at evening, we recommend to arrive one day in advance and stay in some hotel close to the airport (better if they have pick up service from the airport). The tour will start picking up everybody at the Airport on Midday of day 1.
**After arrival to Panama City, we recommend having already in advance a reservation in a nearby hotel from the airport, to leave the next day. Usually those hotels have a free pick up and delivery to the airport.
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Will the tour be cancelled if one or more participants are unable to join?This tour will run with as few as the minimum amount of participants explicit for every tour. Less than this number (usually 4 people for expeditions, 2 for tailor made tours and night walks). In the case many people cancel (due to major force reason or sickness) and only one or two persons remain, we will run the tour.
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Will you pick us up at the airport upon arrival?Yes, we will.
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What kind of trouser is needed?You can bring any durable but lightweight trousers that are easy to dry.
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Can you get rubber boots for me?We suggest you bring your own rubber boots as you should test whether they fit comfortably before arriving, where you will use them every day. You can also buy very cheap rubber boots in the local market, to avoid bringing them. (Boots are included on some night tours).
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What herping gear do you recommend?Important to bring a durable waterproof lamp with replaceable batteries , a rain coat, and your own camera; bug spray (better not based on deet).
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Is there a chance to arrange a private tour?Yes, most of the tours we offer are private. Contact us for a private tour not open to other people (https://www.crwild.com/tailor-made-herping-tours).
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How are the tours paid and how do I book my spot? ?Tours are paid and reserved online. Reserved online with a deposit of USD 600 on the website or by international transfer. The remaining balance at least 60 days before departure.
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What time do the walks take place?Walks can take place both, during day, evening and night.
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Which vaccination certificates do I need?The three most important vaccines to get before visiting the tropics are against yellow fever, tetanus, and hepatitis. However, you do not need a vaccination certificate to access any reserve or national park during this tour.
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What if there is no other participant willing to share a room?If you are willing to share the room, you do not have to pay the single supplement fee, regardless of whether you end up sharing the room or not.
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Day 1Day 1: Arrival in Drake Bay You'll arrive in Drake Bay on the morning flight from San Jose at 9 am. We'll take you to your hotel, and you'll have the rest of the day to explore the beaches and forests around the area. In the evening, after dinner, we'll take you on a guided walk through the jungle to spot nocturnal creatures such as red-eyed treefrogs, tree frogs, rain frogs, glass frogs, and nocturnal reptiles such as snakes.
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Day 3Day 3: Corcovado National Park After breakfast, we'll take you on a boat to Corcovado National Park, where we'll go on a guided walk to spot crocodiles, tapirs, coatis, four species of monkeys, sloths, scarlet macaws, and many other species, including pumas. Corcovado National Park is famous for its rich biodiversity, with 5% of the world's biodiversity found within its boundaries.
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Day 5Day 5: Osa Rainforest We'll move to another lodge in the heart of the Osa Rainforest, which is surrounded by one of the world's most spectacular jungles. Here, we'll explore the area's primary rainforest, home to the black-headed bushmaster, three species of poison frogs, and an array of other species. You'll have the chance to observe impressive trees (Pandora like!) that shelter the fauna, from orchids to mushrooms.
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Day 2Day 2: Whale and Dolphin Watching August is the peak season for humpback whales in Costa Rica, and Drake Bay is the best spot to observe them, along with dolphins, false orcas, and even true orcas. After breakfast, we'll take you on a private boat ride with an expert guide who has been observing and photographing cetaceans in the area for over 20 years. You'll have the rest of the day free, and in the evening, you can choose to go on an optional night walk (not included).
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Day 8Day 8. After breakfast, we said goodbye. Flight back to San Jose.
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Day 7Day 7. Return to Drake, and we walk to the beach and bathe in a river with crystalline waters right next to where sea turtle nests are sheltered. Rest of day free in Drake. Possible night out (not included).
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Day 6Day 6. The area has innumerable trails through the jungle where we can take photos of the exuberant nature of the region, from mushrooms to orchids and all possible fauna. At night we will also continue in search of the famous bushmaster and other nocturnal creatures (which may include Bothrops asper and its predatorthe mussurana Clelia clelia, Bothriechis schlegelii, Nothopsis rugosus, etc etc).
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Day 4Day 4: We'll head to Rancho Quemado, a hotspot for the black-headed bushmaster, one of the rarest snakes on the planet. Although it's not guaranteed that we'll spot this elusive creature, we'll spend the next three nights in the area (in two spots), exploring during the day and at night to see a variety of fauna, including vipers like the eyelash, fer de lance and white-tailed hognose, endemic to the Osa Peninsula. We'll also have the chance to observe birds, mammals (the area is perfect for observing the white-lipped peccary), and various frogs, salamanders, and lizards.
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