Panama – America’s latest holiday hotspot?

Delight in exploring this lesser known part of Central America, renowned for its many varieties of flora and fauna, its intact Amerindian tribes, and one of the world’s greatest engineering feats – the Panama Canal.

Wildlife enthusiasts will not be disappointed with a trip to the small country of Panama, a nation largely untouched by tourism, easy wildlife viewing and which surprisingly boasts even more bird species than neighbouring Costa Rica.

Reef and Rainforest Tours, an operator specialising in upmarket natural history holidays, features three sample tailor-made Panama itineraries: Panama’s Natural and Cultural Highlights of appeal to those with a broad range of interests; The Wildlife and Wilderness of Pristine Panama for avid natural history fans; and A Gentle Journey Around Panama for those wishing to enjoy nature on a more relaxing trip.

Panama is best known for one of the world’s greatest engineering achievements, the Panama Canal, and over the years many have visited the canal and colonial Panama City. However, the rest of the country reamins largely untouched by tourism and visitors feel completely safe when visiting the rainforests, national parks and mountain villages, as well as resorts on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts.

With over 1,000 bird species, including the mighty harpy eagle, the elusive quetzal, five macaw species and 52 types of hummingbird; 1,500 mammal species (there are only 5,000 in the world); the vast wilderness of the Darien, and a thriving Amerindian culture, including the semi autonomous Kuna people of the San Blass region and the Embera of Darien, Panama is a unique holiday destination for those interested mainly, but not only, in natural history.

The 15-day Panama’s Natural and Cultural Highlights tour includes wildlife spotting on Gatun Lake, hiking in Nusagandi Nature Reserve for rare fauna and flora, exploring the wilds of the Darien, visiting an authentic Kuna village, walking in a colonial town and staying in an Embera village near a harpy eagle nesting site. This tour costs from £3082.

The 16-day Wildlife and Wilderness of Pristine Panama tour, for adventurous wildlife enthusiasts, reveals the best natural locations above and below the sea, taking in the famous Canopy Tower, a lodge in deepest Darien, untouched Coiba Island for spectacular marine life, and a small Pacific island on which to relax at the end. This tour costs from £3,275.

The 14-day Gentle Journey Around Panama tour seeks to give travellers an overview of Panama’s many attractions including the wildlife on Gatun Lake in the Canal Zone, a chance to spot the quetzal bird in the cloud forests close to the wonderful mountain village of Boquete, visiting the Bocas del Toro islands in the Caribbean as well as touring old Panama City and the famous canal. This tour costs from £2,895.

All prices above are per person, are based on 2008 departures with shared double or twin accommodation and include international flights with Iberia, domestic transport, transfers, accommodation, most entrance fees, guide services, guide services and most meals.

For further information visit Reefandrainforest.co.uk.