About Altos del María
Altos del María is a gated mountain community about 1 hour 20 minutes (113 km) from Panama City. Much of its 7,000-acre property looks and feels like a national park, with miles of quiet paved roads, trails, rivers, waterfalls and lookout points over the mountains and the Pacific.
We bird Altos de la Rioca, on the Continental Divide at about 1,100 m, and the road toward El Valle. The birds are similar to those of El Valle, with highland specialties like Emerald Toucanet and Black-crowned Antpitta.
What to expect
With an early start, expect to see 60 to 80 species by noon. By the end of the day, a final count of 90 or more is common.
Good access: the community's paved roads make for comfortable, easy birding, with lookouts over the forest canopy.
Birds to look for
This list comes from our own tours, plus sightings shared by friends and clients. It changes all the time, so send us your sightings at info@guidedbirdtours.com. For everything else, see the Central Panama bird list.
Specialties
- Emerald Toucanet
- Black-crowned Antpitta
- Tawny-throated Leaftosser (rare)
- White-tipped Sicklebill
- Red-faced Spinetail
- Orange-bellied Trogon
- Yellow-billed Cacique
- Black-faced Grosbeak
- White-vented Euphonia
- Shining Honeycreeper
- Pale-vented Thrush
- Ochraceous Wren
- Thrush-like Schiffornis
- White-throated Spadebill
…and many more, with a bird list similar to El Valle's.
What have we seen lately? Our guides log their sightings on eBird, the bird-checklist database run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. See our recent checklists from Altos del María and the rest of Panama.
Practical information
Weather
A spring-like climate all year, around 75 °F (24 °C), cooler in the early morning.
What to wear
Layers: a light jacket or fleece for the cool morning, then light clothes. Waterproof hiking shoes for muddy trails, a poncho, insect repellent and sunscreen.
What to bring
Binoculars, a notebook and a camera if you like. Your guide carries a spotting scope and a field guide, and we bring drinking water.
Staying nearby
Altos del María is easy as a day trip. Apartments can be rented in the community if you want to stay; ask us.
Food
There is no restaurant in the area, so we bring a packed lunch. Each traveler pays for their own meal.
Field guides we recommend
The Birds of Panama: A Field Guide by George Angehr and Robert Dean (2010), the main reference for Panama. An Illustrated Field Guide to the Birds of Panama by Ernesto Ponce and Giselle Muschett (2006), handy for quick checks.
