It is often said that time flies. Indeed, it does! We are close to the end of 2009 and my memory goes back to those days in January of 1999, more than ten years ago, when the first guests arrived at the Canopy Tower. I remember the thrill of seeing the visitors walk up to the Observation Deck for the first time to observe the virgin rainforests of Soberanía National Park, extending for miles in every direction around the Tower. “WOW! Incredible! Amazing!” were the first sounds and words visitors exclaimed. They still do. Nothing has changed in this regard. I remember the immense satisfaction, pride and gratitude I felt when pictures of the Canopy Tower appeared in the National Geographic Magazine (April 2000) and on the front page of the Wall Street Journal (January 11, 2000), including a “dot” picture of me with my red Tilley hat—the only Panamanian, other than the infamous General Noriega, to have received such a distinction! My wife, Denise, was at the Paris airport that day waiting for a flight to Panama, and you can imagine her surprise when she picked up the newspaper and saw my picture on the front page!
I also remember the curious combination of exhaustion and exhilaration I felt after the first birders, a VENT group led by Dr. Robert S. Ridgely, departed the Canopy Tower on January 20, 1999, after a hugely successful 7-night tour. I had done everything for that group, from going to the airport and helping in the kitchen, to carrying a scope on the outings, checking the towels in the bathrooms, having breakfast, lunch and dinner with the guests and answering the increasing number of emails coming through that wonderful invention, the internet. I had slept on the living room couch that entire week, as the Tower only had seven bedrooms at the time and all were occupied. Thus, I was the last to retire and the first to be up in the kitchen helping with breakfast. Then, I went immediately up to the Observation Deck, identifying birds with the guests and listening to the “dawn chorus.” When the group finally departed, I fell in bed with a bad cold and slept for 20 hours straight—this time in my own bed!
It has been a wonderful decade, in many more ways than one! The Canopy Tower has become an icon in the birding world, a “mecca for bird enthusiasts” (New York Times, April 21, 2002). It is now the core of an ecotourism organization, comprising two very different experiences at two unique eco-lodges (The Canopy Tower and The Canopy Lodge, with a tree-top adventure adjacent)—both employing 47 Panamanians. Additionally, a third lodge is in the dream stage! The wonderful birding at these locales has drawn many thousands of birders to Panama, providing much-needed job opportunities to other ventures. And, most importantly, it has given me the time and resources to invest in conservation causes throughout Panama. In short, it has been a rousing success, thanks to the Almighty God who directs all our actions, to our staff of loyal and dedicated employees and to you, our friends and customers who have chosen the Canopy Tower for your birding vacation.
Come to Panama. We will all be on the lookout for you.
All the best,
Contact Raul:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
"What a smart bird!" That's the response you often hear when a birder sees this handsome fellow the first time! This large-headed, eight-inch beauty is an oily blue-black above, with a broad black chest band and with a conspicuous white ear patch, a white throat and a narrow white collar; the underparts are white as well, with blackish barring on the sides. The overall impression is that this puffbird is attired for a formal dinner! It ranges from central Panama to NW Ecuador.
While many puffbird species are rather quiet and reserved, the Black-breasted, though at times difficult to spot in concealing foliage, makes his presence known with a series of 10 or more wheeel whistles, followed by 3 or so wheew notes at a lower pitch before ending with a few wheet-whew couplets gradually fading away. In territorial disputes, a rasping chah-chah-chah-chah is heard (Willis, 1979). Black-breasteds are quite common in the treetops and forest midlevels and, interestingly, are known to follow army ants. Typical of the puffbirds, Black-breasteds dig out their breeding cavity in termite nests. Nests are begun in March, with incubating & feeding of young continuing as late as July (Willis, 1969).
This striking bird may be seen from the Canopy Tower observation deck, Semaphore Hill, Pipeline Road and Plantation Trail. Central Panama is the northern-most range for this bird, so we invite you to come to see it for yourself!
In commemoration of our 10th Anniversary we are offering a special price of US$999, valid during the next 30 days, to customers who book a one-week stay in our lodges from April 15 thru September 15 of 2010. This is an opportunity which, literally, happens only once every 10 years. Please contact Raul directly at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
and, if you are a repeat customer, he will give you an even better deal! This is our way to say thank you for your patronage!
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Recently, the Canopy Tower received a group of students studying "English as a Second Language" to experience a full nature tour in English, rather than in their native tongue. Led by our top guide, Carlos Bethancourt, these students earned scholarships to study English for two years in Panama. Our idea was to introduce them to the world of ecology and to emphasize how learning a new language opens so many doors. We can relate to this, as many of our guides were given the opportunity to work with us at the Canopy Tower because of their English skills—although the most important thing was their love for nature. It is very important to encourage young students to get involved with nature, ecology and our environment, as they are the future of our country!
The scene upon arriving at the Canopy Lodge for the first time is one not soon forgotten, and this year was certainly no different. Four tray feeders scattered about the garden and adjacent to the dining room were literally swarming with birds. Powder-blue Blue-gray Tanagers were perhaps the most common visitors (we had 35 in view at once!), followed closely by Clay-colored Thrushes.
A burst of velvety-crimson revealed the presence of a pair of resplendent Crimson-backed Tanagers which immediately drew a chorus of oohs and aahs from the crowd. Very quickly a small flock of Red-crowned Ant-Tanagers ventured out of the forest to one of the feeders. A Chestnut-headed Oropendola swooped in, and then came a troop of Dusky-faced Tanagers, followed by a Red-legged Honeycreeper, a Buff-throated Saltator, and a Black-striped Sparrow. Where to look next? A stunning male Flame-rumped Tanager demanded our attention, only to be ignored seconds later when the real show-stopper, a Rufous Motmot, arrived with a flourish. The incredible combination of emerald, rufous, violet, and black of this bird is truly breathtaking.A Snowy-bellied Hummingbird buzzed about the garden, at one point chasing a Bananaquit who dared to feed from "his" flowers. Tennessee Warblers hit the feeders and were followed by a pair of Red-crowned Woodpeckers.
Rob Pilley, Zoologist and Producer at John Downer Productions, Ltd.
JDP is a media company specializing in wildlife television, feature films and commercials. It has won numerous international awards for its innovative approach to filmmaking. It is currently developing a very exciting new project for the BBC in which they look at migratory bird species around the world and use them as "pilots" to view the world’s most impressive landscapes and spectacles from the birds eye view. Rob and his team came to the Canopy Tower in October in order to film the fall migration of raptors.
They used radio controlled helicopters and gliders with cameras onboard in order to actually "fly with the birds" as they passed by.
Rob Piley preparing the glider
Charles Sample of Venice (FL) Audubon Society
October 18-29, 2009
This is the third time that Charlie Sample and his group of birders from Florida have stayed with us, twice in the Canopy Tower and this time in the Canopy Lodge.
Upon his return to the US, Charlie posted these comments about his stay in tripadvisor.com
Our group, Venice Audubon, consisted of 12 birders. We were treated royally from arrival through to the last day. We all had beautifully decorated, very comfortable and spacious rooms. The food , 3 full meals a day, was lavish, well prepared and delicious. The meal service was excellent in the outdoor covered dining area with full view of the forest, mountain and adjacent stream. We birded in the morning and afternoon of each day through the mountain area with two fantastic bird guides. we observed 237 species in the El Valle area. Overall we would give the Canopy Lodge, staff and bird guides a "FIVE STAR" rating. Raul has a first class operation from business office, to Canopy Lodge/Tower and Adventure. Raul has provided a unique nature experience in an astonishing place for all to partake.
Adam Riley, Founder of Rockjumper Birding Tours
This is one of the top birding companies in the world. It is based in South Africa. Adam came to see our installations in preparation for the first tour to Panama offered by his company, it will be in November 2010.
“We had a great trip and were really impressed by your set up there, very professional”.
In the Press 
Dear friends,
