Join world-famous landscape photographer, Tom Till, and Moab Photo Tours owner, Jon Fuller, on this excursion to photograph the beauties of tropical Panama. While not as well-known as neighboring Costa Rica, Panama has equally lush rainforests with similar tropical wildlife to photograph. Additionally, Panama has colorful indigenous cultures – the Kuna on the San Blas Islands, and the Embera in a rainforest village. Panama also has a rich historical heritage, including old Spanish forts, ruins of old Panama City, and the Panama Canal itself. Hone your photographic skills under the tutelage of Tom and Jon as you photograph Panama's beauties, from verdant tropical rainforest and wildlife to its colorful indigenous tribes, from its 400 year old Spanish ruins to its more modern history centered around the Panama Canal.

Panama is a photographer's paradise. Nature photography subjects include tropical birds like toucans and parrots, colorful frogs, monkeys, sloths, iguanas, spectacular tropical flowers and equally colorful hummingbirds. You will learn how composition, natural light, flash, movement, and color allow you to produce magical images. In addition, you can learn more advanced techniques such as daylight tele-flash photography, natural-looking daylight fill-flash, macro photography, and landscape HDR, as well as general landscape and wildlife techniques. In addition to the nature photography subjects, we will visit two different indigenous cultures in their home territories. We will visit the Embera tribe at their village in the jungle on the shores of a lake and take a dugout canoe ride up a river to photograph a waterfall. We will also fly out to the beautiful San Blas Islands, set in the the crystal clear Caribbean Sea, to visit the very colorful Cuna Indians. Both tribes are very interesting as well as quite photogenic. We will follow Panama's rich history, photographing old Spanish forts built to guard against pirates, the stone ruins of old Panama City, sacked by Henry Morgan, the pirate, in 1671, and the Casco Viejo section of Panama City, with its French influence resembling the architecture of old New Orleans. We'll photograph the world-famous Panama Canal and its surrounding history as we transit a section of the canal, passing through the Miraflores and the Pedro Miguel locks. If you have a non-photographer spouse or traveling companion who would like to come along, they will still have a great time hiking and watching the wildlife, the culture, and the history as we photograph them. To see more images of Panama click here. Join us in Panama for a very diverse photographic experience.

2012 Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Panama City. Overnight: Country Inn and Suites Panama Canal. (No meals included.)

FLy into Panama's Tocumen Airport, where you will be met by representatives who will transport you to the Country Inn and Suites Panama Canal Hotel, where you will meet Jon Fuller and Tom Till. This hotel, located on the site of the former Ft. Amador, has the best view of the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal with the arching Bridge of the Americas framing the entrance.

Day 2: Panama City and Canal tour. Overnight: Country Inn and Suites Panama Canal. (B,L)

This morning head to the Miraflores locks of the Panama Canal to observe the "eighth wonder of the world." Locomotives tie onto the mammoth ships and pull them through the locks to lessen the chance of mishap. Explore the exhibits here that tell the story of the canal's history. After lunch on the causeway, you will next visit Casco Antiguo Panama's "second" city, whose Spanish and French architecture reminds one of its past citizens. Last, you will finish up the tour with ruins of Panama La Vieja, where loads of Peru's gold once crossed. Later the pirate Henry Morgan came in search of the famed gold, and after Morgan's attack in 1671, Casco Antiguo was built. This afternoon you will be dropped off at your hotel.

Day 3: Embera Drua Community. Overnight: Melia Panama Hotel (B,L)

Today we visit Chagres National Park and the indigenous Embera Drua community. We board a motorized canoe to take us deep into Chagres rainforest. The park’s protected waters supply nearly 80% of Panama City’s drinking water. The canoe takes us to an Embera settlement. Let these intriguing and inviting people introduce you to their culture as they share with us their knowledge of botany, craftsmanship, and traditional music and dance. Try Embera’s traditional body painting that colors the skin with the purplish juice from a jagua fruit. Enjoy lunch with the Embera community. We spend the rest of the afternoon with a guided tour of the tropical park. We will then cross the isthmus to the city of Colon, where we'll stay at the Melia Panama Hotel.

Day 4: Achiote Road Tour and San Lorenzo. Overnight: Melia Panama Hotel (B)

This birding excursion to the Atlantic side of Panama is the most scenic drive in central Panama. From the road we will see the remnants of the old sea level French Canal, drive through wooded hills and will be able to reach the Gatun Locks. The woodland along the road is noted for Trogons, Motmots and numerous other forest and woodland birds. We will hike along the very scenic Trogon Trail, looking for birds, sloths, and other wildlife. After lunch at a local restaurant, we will visit the ruins of Fort San Lorenzo. San Lorenzo was built of coral on a high bluff at the mouth at the Chagres River in the late 16th century. The fort was meant to protect the final leg of the "Camino de Cruces," one of the trails the Spaniards had developed across the isthmus to carry South American treasure to the Caribbean to be shipped to Spain. This fort was captured by Henry Morgan, the English pirate, on his way to sack the city of Panama in 1671.

Day 5: Portobelo. Overnight: Gamboa Rainforest Resort (B,L)

Portobelo was christened Belporto (Puerto Bello, beautiful port) by Christopher Columbus in November 1502 and described by his son Ferdinand as "a very large, beautiful bay". The Admiral came back the following April and had to abandon one of his ships, the 'Vizcaina', in the cove. Inca gold, plundered by the Spainards in Peru, was brought by ship to Panama City, and then overland to Portobelo Bay. It was kept there until the treasure fleet sailed to Havana and then to Spain. Portobelo and the surrounding coasts were Sir Francis Drake's favored destination. To protect the gold from Drake and the other pirates, a series of five forts were built, surrounding the harbor. The forts with their old cannons, as well as the village of Portobelo with its historic church, will be our photographic subjects today. After our visit to Portobelo, we will drive to Gamboa, on the banks of the Panama Canal.

Day 6: Panama Canal Transit. Overnight: Gamboa Rainforest Resort (B,L)

This morning we go by boat on a partial transit of the Panama Canal. Our exploration of this engineering wonder begins at the north end of the Gaillard Cut where builders faced unprecedented challenges as they carved their way through the continental divide's solid rock for nearly 9 miles. At the southern end of the Cut we'll enter the Pedro Miguel Locks, taking us into the man-made Miraflores Lake. Next, we'll be lowered 18 meters in the Miraflores Locks as we make our entrance into the Pacific Ocean. Disembark at the Flamenco Marina and return to Gamboa.

Day 7: Pipeline Road Tour. Overnight: Country Inn & Suites Panama Canal (B,L)

One of the best places to see birds in Panama is Pipeline Road, renowned around the world for its abundance and variety of rare birds. We will spend the morning visiting the Rainforest Discovery Center, with it's canopy observation tower, hiking trails, and numerous hummingbird feeders. In the afternoon, we'll visit the Summit Gardens Zoo before traveling back to Panama City.

Day 8: San Blas Islands. Overnight: Dolphin Lodge (B,L,D)

Take an early flight from Panama City to the Achutupu Airstrip. Meet your local guide, and travel by boat across the calm lagoon waters to the Dolphin Lodge. Spend some time unwinding with a stroll through the private island, or relax in your cabin until breakfast is served. Bread, jam, eggs, sausage, coffee and juice; it is simple and satisfying. The fine white beaches are perfect for sunbathing and a good book, but be sure to take advantage of the water with some snorkeling and swimming. Enjoy a light lunch back at the lodge, then visit the neighboring secluded beaches for some additional relaxation. For the adventurous, Dolphin Lodge also offers artisan fishing and canoeing opportunities. At night, dine under the stars on baby lobster and other scrumptious local dishes. As you turn in, let the warm Caribbean breeze and the quiet lapping waves put your senses at peace. The San Blas Islands, with their white sand beaches and palm trees make excellent photographic subjects, as do the very colorful Kuna people.

Day 9: Visit with the Kuna People of San Blas. Overnight: Dolphin Lodge (B,L,D)

After a light breakfast, spend the afternoon getting to know the native communities and the Kuna people. Explore the local crafts and politics, and have the opportunity to meet a local chief. Further your experience of the unique and affectionate Kuna people with a tour to Achutupo, a Kuna burial ground. Feel free to photograph as much of the engaging landscape as you wish, but be respectful to the people. Permission is needed if you would like to take their picture. Also, it is customary for the Kuna people to charge you a dollar for their photo. Return to the lodge for lunch, and spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying a return trip to the sandy beaches and crystal waters of the private islands, or hike around neighboring islands for fantastic bird watching. Parakeets, parrots, and hummingbirds are just some of the hundreds of species that migrate to the San Blas islands. After dinner, enjoy a final look at the starry night before turning into bed.

Day 10: Return Panama City. Overnight: Country Inn and Suites Panama Canal (B)

Rise early for breakfast, and then take a boat back to Achutupu where you will catch your return flight to Panama City. Once back in Panama City, you will have some free time to shop and explore on your own.

Day 11 Return home. Overnight: In your own bed!

Cost of this 11-day photo tour is $4495.00, based on double occupancy.

Single supplement: $575 (if applicable)

The Itinerary Includes:

10 nights accommodations

Meals as indicated by B, L, or D. Most hotels offer a continental breakfast that may not be listed above.

Activities as listed - transportation in an air-conditioned bus with private driver and entrance fees included.

Two professional photo guides.

Airport arrival/departure transfers

The Itinerary Above Does Not Include:

Optional excursions during free time

Travel insurance

International Flights

International departure tax

Gratuities

Recommended Budgeting (per person):

$150 Meals not included

$90 Optional Excursions

$ 5 Panama Tourist Card fee

$25 International Departure tax

Money for souvenirs and gratuities