Panama to Costa RicaP R I S T I N E PA R K S A B OA R D T H E VOYAGER

FEBRUARY 22 – MARCH 4, 2019

MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON

Mass Audubon’s roots were established in 1896 by Founding Mothers Harriet Lawrence Hemenway and Minna B. Hall, who persuaded ladies of fashion to forgo the cruelly harvested plumage that adorned their hats. Noted ornithologist William Brewster was enlisted as the Massachusetts Audubon Society’s first president (1896-1913) to advance legislation to restrict the killing of birds and sale of their plumage.

Environmental education and advocacy for conservation were driving forces from our beginnings. Mass Audubon continues 120+ years later, as a strong conservation leader. Mass Audubon Natural History Travel program began in the early 1960’s with the mission to share world-class birding with broader education about the natural world.

We—as an organization and individuals—are deeply committed to getting people connected to nature. However, the effects of climate change are evident, and we, as travelers, are often conflicted with our desire to explore new places while wanting to be responsible stewards of the natural world. Mass Audubon works to fight climate change, but we know we can do even more.

So in fall 2017, we teamed up with NativeEnergy to offset the carbon costs of all flights for Mass Audubon’s tours. NativeEnergy calculates the carbon footprint of all Mass Audubon tour related flights. These funds then finance carbon-reducing projects with strong social and environmental benefits.

Corcovado National Park

Emberá village Bay-headed tanager Orchid

MASS AUDUBON HAS BEEN TAKING TRAVELERS TO COSTA RICA AND PANAMA FOR OVER 40 YEARS!

But rarely do we get the opportunity to explore these fascinatingly diverse birding destinations by ship! This new and very special cruise - aboard the yacht Voyager - explores the rich Pacific coast – beginning at the world-famous Pipeline Road and remote Darién National Park in Panama.

We continue northwards to spend a day at Isla de Coiba - one of the last relics of tropical moist forest in Pacific Central America. Cruising north along the coast, we will have time to fully explore Coiba National Park, gorgeous Piedras Blancas National Park, Terraba-Sierpe Reserve, and ending at one of our favorite places: Carara National Park in Costa Rica. Along the way, we will be birding, snorkeling, river rafting, and learning.

For those who wish to extend their journey, ask us about our Costa Rica Birding tour: March 5- 15, 2018 with Jeff Collins, Director of Conservation Science at Mass Audubon.

Fatimella Emesis butterfly Emberá children Turquoise-browed Motmot

Coiba National ParkYellow warblerThree-toed sloth

DAILY ITINERARY

Day 1 • Friday, February 22 ARRIVAL IN PANAMA CITY Fly today from your home to Panama City on independent flight arrangements. No matter what time you arrive we are there to meet you and take you to Gamboa Rainforest Lodge located about an hour from the airport.

Day 2 • Saturday, February 23

SOBERANÍA NATIONAL PARK & GATUN LAKE / EMBARK VOYAGER Those who would like an early start will meet your naturalist guide and fellow birders over coffee, pastries and fruit before heading to Soberanía National Park. Our first stop will be on Pipeline Road, where the Audubon Society held its world Christmas bird count record for 19 years straight, with 357 species of birds identified in a period of 24 hours. The now abandoned gravel road built in World War II to transport fuel from one ocean to the other to maintain the pipeline provides excellent walking access to Soberanía’s 55,000 acres of tropical rainforest. The park boasts an impressive list of over 530 species of birds including the Black Hawk-eagle, Black-cheeked woodpecker, Black-breasted Puff bird, Broad-billed Motmot, Blue Cotinga, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Masked Tytira, Violaceous Trogon, Fasciated Antshrike, Shining honeycreeper and a great array of North American migrants.

Soberania is also home to 105 species of mammals including large felines, Tamandua, Two and Three-toed Sloth, 4 species

COSTA RICA

PANAMA

Panama City

Gamboa Rainforest Lodge

Golfito

Peruto Caldera San José

Drake Bay

Corcovado National Park

Piedras Blancas National Park

Coiba National Park

Soberanía National Park

Carara National Park

Darien National Park

Punta Alegre

EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS

Travel by small-ship for seven nights, ensuring access to remote areas.

Explore famed national parks, including Soberania, home to over 530 species of birds & 105 species of mammals, as well as the remote Darien, one of Central America’s most ecologically diverse areas.

Swim & snorkel off the island of Granito de Oro.

Discover the cultural traditions of the Emberá people.

Add to your life’s birding checklist at locations throughout! Piedras Blancas National Park is an important gathering point for many birds from North and South America.

Red-legged honeycreeper

of monkeys, Agouti and 59 endemic plant species in 4 life zones. Also, visit the Rainforest Discovery Center where you enjoy spectacular views of Soberania National Park’s vastness and canopy bird species from the 100-foot observation tower. Standing above the canopy, witness the morning flight of Keel-billed Toucans, Red-lored Amazons and the silent and stealthy movement of Mantled Howler Monkeys. You continue to explore the network of trails surrounding the Discovery Center and enjoy the hummingbird feeders that provide up close and personal views of 10 species of hummingbirds!

After early morning birding, we return to the lodge for a full breakfast and a bit of time to refresh before checking out and enjoying a trip by boat across Gatun Lake which is part of the Panama Canal. Green iguana, Three-toed sloth, American crocodile, Snail Kite and Osprey in the hunt for peacock bass are generally seen here.

Drive into town for lunch in a local restaurant. Later we visit the Biodiversity Museum which is a Smithsonian affiliate museum and serves as a gateway to information about the natural history of the Isthmus of Panama. The building was designed by the world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. The Flamenco Marina is only a few minutes away and this is where our ship is ready and waiting for us to embark. We have dinner aboard Voyager and begin sailing overnight to the Darien. B,L,D

Day 3 • Sunday, February 24 PUNTA ALEGRE, DARIÉN NATIONAL PARK Following breakfast, local boats take us from the ship to explore some of the mangroves and estuaries of this part of Panama’s remote Darien region. This National Park of 1,400,000 acres is situated in the eastern part of the country, bordering Colombia and is the largest protected nature area of Central America and the Caribbean. In the mangroves, there’s a good chance of spotting Roseate Spoonbills, Amazon Kingfishers, White ibises and herons, as well as waders such as Willets, Whimbrels and Spotted sandpipers.

Lunch is back aboard ship and in the afternoon the Emberá people of the Mogue River have invited us to visit their community. The journey up river takes us through red, black and button mangroves making the boat ride extraordinary in itself. Look out for Neotropical Cormorant, Sswallow-tailed Kite, Mangrove Black-hawk, Green Heron and Snowy Egret along with Rufescent Tiger heron stalking through the undergrowth. Green kingfisher, Mangrove Yellow Warbler and crab-eating raccoons are common along with iridescent Blue Morpho butterflies. Dinner is again onboard the Voyager and this evening we reposition to another part of the Darien. B,L,D

Day 4 • Monday, February 25 PUNTO PATIÑO NATURE RESERVE, DARIÉN NATIONAL PARK On the southern shore of the Gulf of San Miguel, this 65,025-acre wildlife preserve is owned by the National Association for the Conservation of Nature (ANCON), a Panamanian non-profit conservation organization. It is the largest private nature reserve in Central America consisting largely of rare primary and secondary dry deciduous tropical forest. It contains species-rich primary and secondary forest, and is one of the best places in Panama to spot Harpy Eagles. This morning we observe Blue-footed Boobies in a nearby rookery along with mangroves where birds, marine life and other wildlife make their home. We also explore estuaries and shorelines from our small boats before lunch back on board.

Harpy eagle

Gamboa Rainforest Lodge

In the afternoon we land at Punta Patino beach to explore trails within the Punta Patino Nature Reserve. This 65,000-acre reserve is the largest private nature reserve in Central America consisting largely of rare primary and secondary dry deciduous tropical forest. Present along the trails and open areas are Orange-crowned Oriole, Yellow-crowned Euphonia, Gray-headed Chachalaca, Piratic Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole, Blue Dancis, Pale-vented Pigeon, White-tipped Dove, Blue-headed parrot, and Crowned Woodnymph among other species. Later in the afternoon, the Voyager departs the Darien and begins the longest sailing period of our trip. B,L,D

Day 5 • Tuesday, February 26 SAILING THROUGH THE DAY TO ISLA DE COIBA We have a relaxing day as we sail across the Gulf of Panama and arrive at Isla de Coiba in the afternoon. Coiba Island is one of the last relics of tropical moist forest in Pacific Central America, a site of great beauty, great marine and terrestrial diversity and preserving endemic and endangered species. Walking in Coiba National Park is breathtaking and distinctive. On the main island, 80% comprises “untouched” tropical rainforest. Most trails go through mature, secondary and of course primary undisturbed rain forest. It is a mature forest that is generally easy to walk through. The coral reefs exemplify successful reef growth under sheltered but very restricted conditions and

serve as a refuge and source of species replenishment for other islands, including the Cocos and Galapagos, during and after El Niño disturbances. Enjoy a nature walk with our naturalists to introduce you to the islands this afternoon. B,L,D

Day 6 • Wednesday, February 27 COIBA NATIONAL PARK Spend the day exploring Coiba National Park. Begin on the island of Granito de Oro. This tiny speckle in the vast ocean features a white-sand beach, a handful of coconut trees and an army of hermit crabs. Few places allow swimmers and snorkelers to walk into calm waters and into an amazing world of coral and fish life directly from the beach. You will immerse yourself in the rich tropical waters of Coiba to explore the reef and its inhabitants. Snorkel the coral reef where sightings of Snapper, Grouper, Jack, Moray eels and the benign White-tipped shark are not uncommon. Walk along Los Monos Trail. The trail includes sections of virgin primary forest where a number of bird species can be observed such as Bi-colored Hawk, White-throated Thrush, Lance-tailed Manakin, Coiba Spinetail and the endemic Brown-backed Dove among others. Later this afternoon, head toward the central station of the old penal colony where you are free to roam the installations of the once notorious prison. Abandoned cells, chapels, a cemetery, dining halls and the original 1919 main prison building still stand the test of time.

Afterwards explore the Hot Springs Trail flanked by steep primary rain-forest on the south side and Mangrove forest on the north side of the trail, a wide variety of flora and fauna can be found. The first 50 meters are full of Heliconia and plenty of hummingbirds, including the Blue-throated Goldentail and the Scaly-breasted Hummingbird. The main attraction here is the endemic Coiba Spinetail, more often observed here than anywhere else on the island. The endemic Brown-backed Dove is also easily found on this beautiful trail as well as both Howler and White-faced Monkeys. Big Espave trees along with huge Balsa trees sporadically line the trail. Scarlet Macaws are also often heard and/or seen flying between the two primary habitats. Once at the thermal hot pools, look for soaring King Vultures among the many other feathered friends in the sky. The pools are hot and typically not that inviting to jump in. Perhaps a soaking of the feet is something more inclined for the hot, sweaty, adventurer. Return to the Voyager this evening for dinner. B,L,D

Day 7 • Thursday, February 28 GOLFITO, COSTA RICA AND PIEDRAS BLANCAS NATIONAL PARK Arrive in Golfito this morning and clear customs and immigration procedures this morning and then visit La Gamba Field Station. With a stunning diversity of flora and fauna, the gorgeous Piedras Blancas National Park is a significant natural

Fiery-billed Aracari

reserve and wildlife refuge located in the Puntarenas province. The National Park connects with the Corcovado National Park to form and safeguard an important and ecologically diverse biological corridor in the Golfo Dulce. Due to its climate, this area is lush and verdant all year long. There are hundreds of rare plant, animal, and insect species found in this forest, as well as a large number of amphibians and other reptiles. Some of the more common birds and animals found here are Howler Monkey, the White-nose Capuchin, Coatis, toucans and Scarlet Macaws.

Considered by many to be one of the best bird watching parks in the country, the Piedras Blancas National Park is an important gathering point for many birds from North and South America. Today we will explore trails from Playa Nicuesa. Species we hope to encounter are Violaceaous Trogon, Red-capped Manakin, Long-tailed Hermit, Fiery-billed Aracari, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, Green Honeycreeper and many others. Return to the Voyager this evening for dinner and sail around the Oso Peninsula this evening. B,L,D

Day 8 • Friday, March 1 DRAKE BAY / TERRABA-SIERPE RESERVE Discovered by Sir Francis Drake during his travels around the world in the 16th century, Drake Bay packs natural beauty that has stood the test of time. Located on the

northern side of the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica where seclusion, stunning vegetation and calm waves describe this locale. Explore the largest protected mangrove area in Central America this morning. The Terraba-Sierpe National Humid Forest Reserve mangrove forest and swamp covers an 85 square mile area between the deltas of the Terraba and Sierpe Rivers. This river boat trip adventures into countless channels crisscrossing this vitally important ecosystem, which fringes 25 miles of coastline. Expect to encounter caiman, American crocodiles, primates, river turtles and coatis. This trip is a birders delight expecting to see the Yellow Mangrove warbler, the Common Potoo, and frigatebirds to name a few.

Spend the night with dinner on the Voyager this evening and sail to Puerto Caldera. B,L,D

Day 9 • Saturday, March 2 PUERTO CALDERA / CARARA NATIONAL PARK We disembark this morning, say goodbye to our friends on board the Voyager and travel to Carara National Park, an 18 square mile Pacific coastal rainforest. Because Carara is in a transition zone into the tropical dry forests of the northwest, it is an exceptionally rich area for biodiversity and an area that some would argue provides the best birding in the country.

Keel-billed toucan Coral reef Hibiscus flower

Golden-hooded tanagerRufescent tiger heronWhite-faced capuchin

The forest in Carara can be pumping throughout the day and shy birds seem easier to see here than elsewhere. The Park is home to 200 pairs of nesting Scarlet Macaws and this is our best chance to see one of these striking birds. There are a number of specialties shared only between southwestern Costa Rica and nearby Panama, including Black-hooded Antshrike, Fiery-billed Aracari, Beryl-crowned Hummingbird, Riverside Wren and Orange-collared Manakin. Greater Tinamou are also found here.

Overnight at Villa Lapas which is located very near the Carara National Park and the Rio Tárcoles mangroves. B,L,D

Day 10 • Sunday, March 3 CARARA NATIONAL PARK This morning is devoted to birding in Carara National Park. Carara is considered a sanctuary for Scarlet Macaws, as well as many more species of birds like Tiger Herons, Egrets, Sand-pipers, Stilts, Tanagers, Honeycreepers, Trogons, Toucans and much more. Also found in this 13,000 acre National Park are collared peccaries, agouti, kinkajous, anteaters, White-faced Capuchin Monkeys, Mantled Howler Monkeys, Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloths and Brown-throated Three-toed Sloths. We start our morning birding on trails to look for Black-faced Antthrush, White-whiskered Puffbird, Chestnut-backed Antbird, and other shy species. The lower Pacific slope

mountains have some drier habitat with different birds, and we might see Rufous-naped Wren, White-fronted Parrot,or the spectacular White-throated Magpie-Jay. Golden-browed Chlorophonia is a dazzling highland species as is the Golden-hooded Tanager.

An afternoon boat trip on the Río Tárcoles and into nearby mangroves offers the chance to see a variety of birds such as shorebirds, herons, Turquoise-browed Motmot, American Pygmy Kingfisher and even the impressive Scarlet Macaw. The Río Tárcoles, which borders the Park and flows into the Pacific Ocean, is a perfect way to witness many bird species, mammals, and other critters especially endangered American crocodiles close-up as this area is home to 2,000 of these animals, some reaching 20 feet in length.

Overnight at Villa Lapas where we have a festive farewell dinner. B,L,D

Day 11 • Monday, March 4 SAN JOSE TO USA Some great things must come to an end but not if you choose to extend your time in Costa Rica. We travel today to the airport in San Jose for flights back to the USA and home. B,L,D

FEBRUARY 22-MARCH 4, 2019

PRICE PER PERSON

Category CDouble Occupancy $5,799

Single Occupancy $7,299

Category BDouble Occupancy $6,299

Single Occupancy $7,899

Category B (Riveriera Deck) Double Occupancy $6,599Single Occupancy $8,399

Category A Double Occupancy $6,899Single Occupancy $8,599

Category P Double Occupancy $7,899Single Occupancy $9,999

Owner’s Suite Double Occupancy $8,899Single Occupancy $17,798

Port Tax $450 Limited cabins available with no single supplement fee. Call for details.

White-throated Magpie-Jay

Tamandua

Carara National Park

YOUR EXPEDITION YACHT Voyager

The exclusively chartered, intimate MY Variety Voyager is a sleek yacht launched in 2012. Guests are accommodated in 36 stylishly appointed, ocean-view cabins. Meals featuring international cuisine are served alfresco or in single, unassigned seatings in the ship’s inviting dining room, where passengers can enjoy unobstructed views of the passing scenery and coastline through floor-to-ceiling windows. Located on the Ocean’s Deck, the open Bar and Lounge offers stylish shaded seating and is the ideal spot for reading, relaxing or stargazing. Other public areas include a library, shaded outdoor dining area, sun deck, and a mini-spa and fitness area.

Outdoor lounge

Sun deck bar

Main lounge Dining room

CATEGORY C Twin or double bed cabin located on the Marina Deck offering oversized twin port holes, bathrooms with marble floors as well as glass and Corian showers.

CATEGORY B Twin or double bed cabin located on the Marina Deck offering oversized twin port holes, bathroom with marble floors as well as glass and Corian showers.

CATEGORY B - RIVERIERA DECK Twin or double bed cabin located on the Riveriera Deck offering double windows, bathroom with marble floors as well as glass and Corian showers.

CATEGORY A Twin or double bed cabin located on the Riviera Deck offering double windows, bathroom with marble floors as well as glass and Corian showers.

CATEGORY P Twin or double bed cabin located on the upper Horizons Deck offering double windows, all finished with marble throughout the bathrooms and more luxurious fabrics and special amenities.

OWNER’S SUITE Located on the Horizons Deck, this double-bedded cabin is the finest on board with two double windows, a seating area and luxurious private bathroom. Double or twin bed plus a sofa bed.

Category C cabin

Category B cabin

Category A cabin

Category P cabin

Owner’s Sui

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A RESERVATION CONTACT:

Massachusetts Audubon Society Karen O’Neill

208 South Great Road Lincoln, Massachusetts 01773

(800) 289-9504 or (781) 259-2166 travel@massaudubon.org