Tag Archives: soberania

Hotel Review: Radisson Summit Hotel & Golf Panama

Posted on by
Reply

The Radisson Summit Hotel & Golf Panama offers a rare chance to use points to stay in a location where you can watch birds from your balcony if you ask for the rainforest view.  It’s even better value for holders of the Club Carlson Visa from US Bank (not affiliate link).  Using the “last night free benefit”, 28,000 points gets you 2 nights here.

Getting here is pretty straightforwards from the airport in a rental car.  I just printed the Google map and memorized where I had to turn.  The one tricky thing is you need either cash or a card for the toll booths.  You can get a card from either the rental company (Alamo in my case) or the toll booth.  The hotel is situated on the outskirts of the Soberania National Park just a mile or so from the Panama Canal as the crow flies.

IMG_1414 IMG_1416 IMG_1417There is a free car park in front and a golf cart facility to the left.  The hotel attracts a lot of golfers.  The rooms are spacious and comfortable and some have a fantastic view of the rainforest.

IMG_1418 IMG_1419 IMG_1420 IMG_1421 IMG_1422There is a bar next to the reception and one floor up you will find a restaurant and a swimming pool.  You can even watch birds from the swimming pool, I saw 4 Brown-throated Parakeets (distinguishable by their long tails and noisy Aratinga screech) while we were swimming, not to mention a few Toucans & other birds.  Unfortunately, my camera isn’t waterproof so I missed the shots.

IMG_1424 IMG_1425

I love how they have photos of the local wildlife on this wall near the pool!IMG_1426 IMG_1427 The first morning we went to the Rainforest Discovery Centre & Pipeline Road.  The following morning we relaxed on the balcony for a couple hours and watched the mist rise from the rainforest and birds began to appear.  We saw lots of Toucans, Aracaris, Tanagers, Orange-chinned Parrots, Blue-headed Pionus Parrots and a few other birds I didn’t know.  Unfortunately, the sun was behind the area I was trying to photograph so more silhouettes!

IMG_1548 IMG_1549 IMG_1550 IMG_1553 IMG_1554 IMG_1555 IMG_1556 IMG_1561 IMG_1562 IMG_1565 IMG_1567 IMG_1569 IMG_1570 IMG_1571 IMG_1573 IMG_1574 IMG_1575 IMG_1577 IMG_1578Once the action quieted down, around 8:30-ish, we went down to breakfast, then had a walk on the trail behind the swimming pool.  This takes you through a small patch of rainforest and ends at a butterfly house.

IMG_1581 IMG_1582 IMG_1584 IMG_1586 IMG_1587 IMG_1588 IMG_1592 IMG_1594 IMG_1596 IMG_1597 IMG_1598 IMG_1602 IMG_1603When we checked out to move to a hotel near the airport for the last night, we were able to follow the hotel’s shuttle to Albrook Mall.  This prevented us wasting time getting lost as the city can be confusing to drive in.  All in all, we were really happy with this hotel and highly recommend it especially to eco-tourists given it’s location and views from the balconies!

The Birds Of Soberania National Park

Posted on by
Reply

Yesterday, I blogged about how to arrange a visit to Soberania National Park.  Now I will show you some of the birds you can expect to see there.  A comprehensive bird list can be found on the Canopy Tower’s website.  Of course you won’t see them all but with luck you can see some of the highlights.

RAINFOREST DISCOVERY CENTER OBSERVATION TOWER

I always prefer to climb a tower to have a bird’s eye view over the rainforest.  When you are at ground level in dense forest, bird sightings may be only a colored rustling in a tree or a fleeting glimpse as they fly over your head and disappear into the forest before you can aim your camera.  The observation tower here was good for sightings (from a distance) of Red-lored Parrots, Yellow-crowned Parrots, Blue-headed Pionus Parrots and Toucans.  In the last photo you can see a glimpse of a ship going through the Panama Canal!

IMG_1438 IMG_1441 IMG_1442a IMG_1446a IMG_1448a IMG_1449 IMG_1450 IMG_1451 IMG_1452 IMG_1458 IMG_1460 IMG_1462 IMG_1461

The construction of the tower is pretty cool too!  Since it is deep in the rainforest, you can’t get a photo of it from the ground except looking straight up or from the top looking straight down.

IMG_1436 IMG_1463 IMG_1464 IMG_1466 IMG_1467 IMG_1465IMG_1470Next we headed off down the trail towards the lake, got half way there and got rained out.

IMG_1471 IMG_1472We fled back to the main building and kept busy watching the jewel-toned hummingbirds.  We were the only people there until a tour group showed up on segways (not sure how they drove them over the bumpy Pipeline Road)!

IMG_1473 IMG_1474

RAINFOREST DISCOVERY CENTER MAIN BUILDING

IMG_1475 IMG_1476 IMG_1477 IMG_1478 IMG_1481 IMG_1483 IMG_1486 IMG_1487 IMG_1488 IMG_1489 IMG_1492 IMG_1494 IMG_1496 IMG_1498 IMG_1500 IMG_1502Rental cars can be safely driven here and parked in their car park.

IMG_1506

DRIVE TO GAMBOA

After leaving Pipeline Road, we drove past the Panama Canal to the Gamboa Rainforest Resort to check out the birds down by the river.  We had planned to have lunch there but the restaurant was closed.

IMG_1513 IMG_1515 IMG_1524 IMG_1525 IMG_1526

GAMBOA RAINFOREST RESORT

IMG_1537 IMG_1538IMG_1539

IMG_1539 IMG_1541 IMG_1542

IMG_1518 IMG_1523 IMG_1527 IMG_1528 IMG_1529 IMG_1531 IMG_1532 IMG_1534 IMG_1535GAMBOA BRIDGE

We had to drive across this rickety looking bridge that made me very nervous!  I crept along at 5km per hour with annoyed locals piled up behind me.

IMG_1543 IMG_1544 IMG_1545 IMG_1546

 

Soberania National Park, Panama

Posted on by
Reply

Soberanía National Park (Parque Nacional Soberanía) is a national park in Panama near the banks of the Panama Canal in the provinces of Panamá and Colón, some 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Panama City. The Chagres River runs through the park.

Established as a national park in 1980, the park covers 55,000 acres (223 km2).  The park is popular with birdwatchers due to the abundance of bird species in the park. Some 525 bird species are found here, including motmots, toucans, trogons, flycatchers, antbirds, woodpeckers, tanagers, and hawks. Among the rare bird species in the park are yellow-eared toucanets, crimson-bellied woodpeckers, sirystes, and rarely seen harpy eagles. Some of the best birding in the park is along Pipeline Road. Pipeline Road extends for several miles and passes through old-growth and secondary forest. Birds are best spotted here in the early morning.

GETTING HERE

You can use a Central American award to Panama City (PTY).  Then the best thing to do is hire a car so you have freedom to get around as you choose.  Since this park is so near the city, it can be easily driven to from wherever you are staying.

Soberania National Park, Panama

WHERE TO STAY INSIDE THE PARK

On points, you have 1 option which is on the outskirts of Soberania National Park, the Radisson Summit.  This was my choice since I could use only 28,000 Club Carlson points for 2 nights since I have the Club Carlson Visa card.  A pleasant surprise was that you get the free breakfast even when you use points!  Make sure you request a rainforest view room for a spectacular view!

You could also stay at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort which is closest to Pipeline Road & the Rainforest Discovery Center or the Canopy Tower which has nice packages that include guided birding excursions (not cheap)!

HOW TO VISIT THE PARK

You can make an independent visit or join a tour.  The Canopy Tower has day visit packages that include a trip up their 50 ft high observation tower and a guided bird walk.  Many people just rent a car and head off on their own down Pipeline Road.  Be aware that this is a very rough road and you will only get a few miles without 4WD.  There are plenty of birds to see along the way.

IMG_1509 IMG_1508 IMG_1507 IMG_1512My choice, dictated partly because we only had a small car from Alamo and also because I like to watch birds from towers was the Rainforest Discovery Centre.  If that link doesn’t work (they need to renew their domain), try Google cached version here.  It costs $30 entry but you get a $5 credit to spend in the small gift shop.  The staff know all the local species and can identify them for you.  You also get access to a 32 metre high observation tower with platforms every 8 metres and over 1.2 km of walking trails.  There are educational posters & clean restrooms in the main building and hummingbird feeders that keep these delightful little birds close at hand.

IMG_1428 IMG_1429 IMG_1430 IMG_1432 IMG_1433 IMG_1434 IMG_1435 IMG_1473 IMG_1474In tomorrow’s post, I will show you some of the birds we saw that I managed to photograph both from the tower and the main buidling’s deck.

 

Golden-hooded Tanager (Tangara larvata)

Posted on by
Reply

IMG_9691a IMG_9798The Golden-hooded Tanager (Tangara larvata) is a neotropical species that inhabits humid forest and forest edges. It belongs to the speciose genus Tangara and is often considered to belong to a superspecies with the Masked Tanager (Tangara nigrocincta) and Blue-necked Tanager (Tangara cyanicollis).

This tanager is a resident breeder from southern Mexico south to western Ecuador.  Some of the easiest places to see this beautiful little tanager is at Selva Verde Lodge & Laguna del Lagarto Lodge in Costa Rica.  Use an award to Central America to get to San Jose.  The lodges can organize a private shuttle or you can use the local buses to get there.  They are also frequently seen in Soberania National Park in Panama as the video clips below show.

.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS BIRD

Wikipedia

Birdlife

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Selva Verde

VIDEOS

This is an adorable video of a baby Golden-hooded Tanager fledging.  I love how he works up his courage, then takes off!

This adult is preening, perhaps getting ready for his close-up!

Here’s a hungry little guy!

 

New Club Carlson Visa Gets 2 – 3 Free Nights Near Panama’s Soberania National Park

Posted on by
6

Panama is a fantastic place for birders!  Soberania National Park is less than an hour’s drive from the airport and there is even the Metropolitan National Park right in the city of Panama City!   The bird lists are very impressive!   Birders on a budget can stay at the Radisson Summit on points and drive over to the Canopy Tower for a day visit.  Birders with more to spend can also stay overnight.

There is a special way to get up to 3 nights FREE at the Radisson Summit or any of their other hotels with the Club Carlson Visa.  They currently have only a USA version of this card but they do say they will introduce cards in other countries.  ***Disclaimer, this is not an affiliate link, these links go direct  to Club Carlson’s site.  Just sharing an awesome deal!

The USA one with US Bank comes in 3 varieties:

Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa Signature card Highlights

  • 10 points per $1 spent in eligible net purchases at participating Carlson Rezidor hotels3
  • 5 points per $1 spent in eligible net purchases everywhere else3
  • Up to 85,000 Bonus Gold Points – receive 50,000 Gold Points after your first purchase plus 35,000 points once you spend $2,500 on your card within the first 90 days1
  • 40,000 renewal bonus points each year when you renew your card4
  • Bonus Award Nights – When you redeem Gold Points for 2 or more consecutive Award Nights, your last night is free.2Exclusively for cardmembers!
  • Your upgrade is automatic5 – Your Club Carlson membership will be upgraded to Gold Elite Status after you activate and use your card
  • Already reached Gold or Concierge Elite Status? You will receive 15 qualifying nights toward obtaining or maintaining Concierge Elite status after you activate and use your new card6
  • Enjoy all of these benefits for $75 Annual Fee

Club Carlson Rewards Visa Signature card Highlights

  • 6 points per $1 spent in eligible net purchases at participating Carlson Rezidor hotels3
  • 3 points per $1 spent in eligible net purchases everywhere else3
  • Up to 60,000 Bonus Gold Points – receive 50,000 Gold Points after your first purchase plus 10,000 points once you spend $1,500 on your card within the first 90 days1
  • 25,000 renewal bonus points each year when you renew your card4
  • Bonus Award Nights – When you redeem Gold Points for 2 or more consecutive Award Nights, your last night is free.2Exclusively for cardmembers!
  • Your upgrade is automatic5 – Your Club Carlson membership will be upgraded to Silver Elite Status after you activate and use your card
  • Already reached Silver, Gold or Concierge Elite Status? You will receive 10 qualifying nights toward obtaining or maintaining Gold or Concierge Elite status after you activate and use your new card.6
  • Enjoy all of these benefits for $50 Annual Fee

Club Carlson Business Rewards Visa card Highlights

  • 10 points per $1 spent in eligible net purchases at participating Carlson Rezidor hotels3
  • 5 points per $1 spent in eligible net purchases everywhere else3
  • Up to 85,000 Bonus Gold Points – receive 50,000 Gold Points after your first purchase plus 35,000 points once you spend $2,500 on your card within the first 90 days1
  • 40,000 renewal bonus pointseach year when you renew your card4
  • Bonus Award Nights – When you redeem Gold Points for 2 or more consecutive Award Nights, your last night is free.2Exclusively for business owners!
  • Your upgrade is automatic5 – Your Club Carlson membership will be upgraded to Gold Elite Status after you activate and use your card
  • Already reached Gold or Concierge Elite Status? You will receive 15 qualifying nights toward obtaining or maintaining Concierge Elite status after you activate and use your new card6
  • Enjoy all of these benefits for $60 Annual Fee

Remember, I am not a financial advisor so it is up to you to make sure you should have this credit card.

Club Carlson is a great program for non-frequent travelers as they have several promos throughout the year where you can earn points, so even if you don’t want the credit card, still join Club Carlson and be on their mailing list for promos.  Usually chain hotels suit eco-travelers best as gateway hotels but we are lucky that Club Carlson has a great option right near the Soberania National Park.

Depending on which card you get, you will have 1 or 2 free nights right off the bat!  But these cards have a little something extra!  Did you notice this part?

Bonus Award Nights – When you redeem Gold Points for 2 or more consecutive Award Nights, your last night is free.

This means that to get this (or any other Carlson hotel), you would redeem 38,000 points and get the last night free!  This effectively reduces rewards to half price, a fantastic deal any way you look at it!  I would recommend staying here 2 nights, birding along Pipeline Road and into Soberania National Park, then move to one of the other hotels in the city, go birding at the Metropolitan National Park and check out the Panama Canal, Panama Viejo or any of the markets, redeem one night and get the second night free.  This makes for 4 nights all up in Panama free!