Panama Butterfly Expedition with National Butterfly Center

Arrive into Panama City and transfer to the hotel. Meet your guide for a program orientation this evening followed by a Welcome Dinner at the hotel. Check-in starts at 3 pm.

Today we will spend the day exploring the secondary forest along with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) Butterfly Project in Gamboa. Our morning will be spent walking along the Pipeline Road followed by a visit to the STRI. At the STRI, attend a talk by one of the researchers to speak about their ongoing project involving neo-tropical butterfly species. Have lunch back at Gamboa Resort then take a walk on Gamboa Road. We will search for forest and understory butterflies in this lowland rainforest. Common and Menelaus Morphos patrol the wide gravel road, while Ruby-spotted Swallowtail, Apricot Sulphur, Pale-clubbed and Sky-blue Hairstreaks, Periander, Barne's, Shaus', and Irenea Metalmarks, Guyanan Sarota, Straight-lined Theope, Idea Tigerwing, Pale-banded and Eunice Crescents, Iphiclus Sister, East-Mexican Banner, Two-eyed Eighty-eight, Whitened Bluewing, Red and Variable Crackers, Many- banded Daggerwing, Terrestrial Satyr, Long-tailed Flasher, Broad Banded-skipper and the stunning Glorious Blue- skipper will be targets. Dinner tonight will be at the Corotu Restaurant. This evening, UV light activity on the hotel grounds.

Morning visit to Metropolitan Natural Park which offers a variety of habitats to explore. The drier forests and open areas of the park offer species like Tiger Mimic-queen, Hermes Satyr, Tropical Buckeye, Erato Longwing, Emerald-patched Cattleheart, Great White Longtail, Stigma Skipper, Uzza and Thamyra Satyrs, Polydamas Swallowtail, Blue-gray Satyr, Lasus Metalmark, Statira Sulphur, Panna Skipper, Tropical Checkered-skipper, Whitened Crescent and Brown, Plain and Great White Longtails. In the afternoon, explore Summit and Ammo Ponds that are part of the Soberania National Park. Together, these locations are a good spots to scan the grassy roadsides for Tropical Buckeye, Queen, Glassy-winged Skipper, Cassius Blue, Golden White, White Yellow, Bordered Patch, Pompeius Skipper, Banded Longwing, Mimosa and Yellow-rimmed Skippers. After dinner this evening, embark on a night safari in search of nocturnal wildlife.

Field trip to Sora in the mountains of the west side of Panama Province identified by its cool climate, nature and landscapes. This is a quiet and traditional town where we can find some species on the way to Anton Valley. Arrive in town in time for lunch then check-in to the hotel. Before dinner this evening, have time to explore the gardens on the hotel grounds and look for butterflies.

Depart this morning for Las Minas Road - a dirt road, used mainly for foot travel that extends through tropical scrubland and low canopy forest. It is a haven for butterflies! We will slowly walk the road and scan the roadsides for swallowtails, hairstreaks, brush foots and skippers, which are particularly abundant here. This area can be so active with butterflies that we barely make it a few hundred meters down the road! In the area the forest, field, scrubby pastures and gravel roads provide excellent habitat for a great diversity of butterflies. Later visit Valle Chiquito where, the roadside vegetation is perfect butterfly habitat. Aquamarine and Phaleros Hairstreaks, Zebra Longwing, Thamyra Satyr and Panna Skipper are common here. We will check under broad leaves for the stunning Pixie.

Morning field trip to Cerro Gaital (3,500') which is the namesake of Cerro Gaital Natural Monument, which protects more than 828 acres of mature cloud forest in the foothills of central Panama. After disembarking from the van, we will slowly explore the first short forest trail, where even in the morning mist, we may see Dark and Banded Owlbutterflies as they seek out their daytime roosts. Mimosa Yellow, Clearwinged Mimic-white, Blue-patched Eyedmetalmark, Tiger Mimic-queen and Blue-gray Satyr can be seen flying low in the cloud forest understory. We will reach a clearing and a small wetland, where a great variety of butterflies can sometimes be found, particularly hairstreaks, metalmarks and skippers-Cattleheart White, Togarna and Fine-lined Hairstreaks, Golden and Brightcentered Euselasias, Azure-winged Eurybia, Lasus Metalmark, Westwood's and Thamyra Satyrs, Red-headed Firetip and Trailside Skipper can be found here. Have lunch at a local restaurant then visit Cerro Cara Iguana - a seldom-travelled paved road provides a perfect means to butterfly the weedy, forest edges.

Depart for Panama City via the Pacific Lowlands from Pacific Riviera. We will drive towards the coast, stopping at any spots along the way that look promising for butterflies. We will check the forest and pasture edges for skippers, metalmarks, hairstreaks and tigerwings. Have lunch en route. Arrive at the hotel in the afternoon with time to explore the city. Farwell dinner this evening at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Check out is at 12:00 pm.