An Independent Birding Venture (IBV) in Panama begins at Canopy Tower, a renovated radar installment that is as close as you can get to sleeping in the rainforest canopy. Tanagers, toucans, and tityras can be seen right from your bedroom window, as can troops of diminutive Geoffrey’s Tamarins moving quickly through the trees, and Three-toed Sloths moving at a far more leisurely pace. The dining area and the roof of the tower are unparalleled for great looks at elusive canopy birds, including Green-legged Honeycreeper, Collared Aracari, White-necked Puffird, Green-shrike Vireo, Blue Cotinga, and Keel-billed Toucan.

You also stay at Canopy Lodge, a sleek, modern lodge adjacent to the protected Cerro Gaital Natural Monument. In the gardens surrounding the lodge are species like Crimson-backed Tanager, Dusky-faced Tanager, Social Flycatcher, Yellow-faced Grassquit, Rufous-tailed and Violet-headed Hummingbirds, and Clay-colored Robin.
Guiding is provided by the deeply knowledgeable staff guides at both lodges.