Birdwatching in Panama: Great Green Macaw in Cerro Hoya

Panama is known around the world for its canal, beaches and tropical forests. But beyond the country’s traditional tourist destinations, there is another Panama: wilder, quieter and more urgent. In the mountains of Mariato, on the Azuero Peninsula, some of the region’s last Great Green Macaws still survive.

At Panama Wildlife Conservation, we believe travel can be much more than observing landscapes or taking photographs. It can directly help protect threatened species, support local communities and generate scientific information for conservation.

That is why we have created a different kind of experience: a scientific birdwatching expedition in Panama, designed for people who want to discover Azuero’s biodiversity while actively contributing to its protection.

Beyond tourism: travel with purpose

A tourist visits a place. A scientific expeditionary leaves a positive impact.

The difference is impact.

When you join a PWC expedition, you do more than walk trails, explore forests and enjoy mountain landscapes. You help record sightings, support local guides, strengthen community-based tourism and fund concrete conservation actions.

Every observation matters. Every visit helps. Every person who joins this experience strengthens a conservation network that connects science, community and nature.

Cerro Hoya and Mariato: a vital refuge for Azuero’s biodiversity

The Mariato region, near Cerro Hoya National Park, is one of the most important areas for bird and wildlife conservation on the Azuero Peninsula.

Its humid forests, mountain ecosystems and remaining dry forest fragments form a landscape of exceptional ecological value. Threatened species survive here despite habitat loss, forest fragmentation and increasing human pressure.

For birdwatchers, Azuero offers something truly special: the chance to observe emblematic species in an authentic, little-explored landscape deeply connected to local communities.

Priority species in this region include:

• the Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus);
• the Glow-throated Hummingbird (Selasphorus ardens);
• the Azuero Parakeet (Pyrrhura eisenmanni);
• curassows, toucans, tanagers and other birds of Cerro Hoya’s forests.

But no species better represents the urgency of protecting this landscape than the Great Green Macaw.

The Great Green Macaw: a symbol of conservation in Azuero

The Great Green Macaw is one of the most impressive birds of the tropical forests of the Americas. Its powerful flight, deep call and majestic presence make it unforgettable for any birdwatcher.

But in Azuero, seeing one in the wild is also a reminder of how fragile its future has become.

The loss of large trees, forest degradation and the reduction of feeding and nesting sites have placed this species in a critical situation. Protecting it is not only about saving a charismatic bird. It also means conserving the forests that support endemic hummingbirds, mammals, amphibians, native plants and the local communities that depend on a healthy landscape.

That is why PWC’s Ara Panama Project works on monitoring, ecological restoration, environmental education and collaboration with local communities to help ensure that the Great Green Macaw continues to fly over Azuero’s forests.

What makes a PWC scientific expedition different?

This is not a conventional tour. It is an experience of scientific tourism in Panama, guided by a clear purpose: turning birdwatching into a tool for conservation.

During the expedition, participants learn directly from the PWC team, visit key birdwatching areas and understand the real challenges of field conservation.

Your participation helps to:

• record sightings of Great Green Macaws and other important birds;
• support monitoring of threatened species;
• strengthen the local economy through guides, accommodation and community services;
• directly fund the Ara Panama Project;
• promote responsible tourism in Azuero.

In other words, you do not come only to watch birds. You come to help protect them.

Science and community: the pillars of the expedition

Conservation does not work if local communities are left out. That is why PWC works alongside local partners, guides and tourism operators in Mariato to create experiences that benefit both biodiversity and the people who live near these forests.

We collaborate with local guides and regional allies so each expedition creates real economic opportunities. We also work to ensure nature tourism becomes a sustainable alternative to activities that degrade the forest.

During your visit, you can stay in welcoming places such as Hotel Heliconia, where local hospitality is combined with access to one of Panama’s most special natural areas.

This connection between science, community and responsible tourism is key to the future of Cerro Hoya.

What does the Cerro Hoya birdwatching expedition include?

Over the past few years, PWC has explored remote areas of Azuero to identify strategic birdwatching points, access routes and sites relevant for bird monitoring.

The expedition includes:

1. Local guides and field logistics

We work with people from the region who know the territory, the trails, the birds’ activity patterns and the local context. This creates a safer, more authentic and more respectful experience.

2. Guidance from PWC

Each expedition includes participation from the PWC team, who share information about the species, conservation projects, current threats and the work being done to protect the habitat.

3. Data and sighting records

Observations made during the expedition help maintain records of bird presence and other important information for biodiversity monitoring.

4. Direct support for conservation

Ten percent of the cost of your expedition is donated directly to the Ara Panama Project, focused on conserving the Great Green Macaw and protecting its habitat in Azuero.

Expedition details

Destination: Mariato and Cerro Hoya National Park, Azuero

Suggested accommodation: Hotel Heliconia

Cost: from $199 per night, per person

Impact: direct support for local guides and a 10% donation to the Ara Panama Project

Ideal for: birdwatchers, nature photographers, responsible travellers, students, citizen scientists and biodiversity lovers

Why choose Azuero for birdwatching in Panama?

Panama is one of the best countries in the world for birdwatching. However, many traditional routes focus on areas near Panama City, the Canal or the Caribbean.

Azuero offers something different.

Here, the landscape is more remote. Communities are more deeply connected to the land. Species tell stories of isolation, adaptation and survival. And every visit can have a direct impact on the protection of forests that still need more attention, more research and more defenders.

Exploring Azuero means discovering an authentic side of Panama. Exploring Azuero with PWC means helping to conserve it.

Be part of active conservation

The Great Green Macaw still flies over the forests of Cerro Hoya. But its future depends on the decisions we make today.

If you love birds, nature and purposeful travel, this expedition is an opportunity to live an unforgettable experience while directly contributing to the conservation of one of Panama’s most important regions for biodiversity.

Book your scientific birdwatching expedition in Cerro Hoya and join PWC in protecting Azuero’s Great Green Macaw.