BOTA

2013 Eco-tour to Panama with Jorge Lezcano, Bamboo Botanist.

Panama is considered the junction where South American meets North American flora and fauna. The incredible diversity of plants and animals are easy to view in nearby parks and the Canal Zone reserve. Our route will take us to cool mountains near Panama City and west to Fortuna, Volcan and Continental Divide Parks to view rare herbaceous and woody bamboos. Our lowland tour is along the historic Canal Zone to Summit Park, Gamboa, Soberania Park and Municipal Parks where we see historical and new native bamboo collections, research facilities and reserves. In addition, these bamboo areas are known as excellent birding sites, so we have engaged Advantage Tours to to provide a naturalist guide our group. Tour dates: May 31-June 11, 2013 Number of Participants: 10-15 persons In Panama tour cost: $2095 with double occupancy (add $500 for single occupancy) includes park fees, transportation, lodging and meals. (There are only 2 single occupancy rooms available) Airfare and Travel Insurance: Participants Responsibility IMPORTANT INFORMATION The designated hotel for the start and finish of the tour is Soberania Research Station and Lodge located in Soberania National Park. You need to make your own flight reservations to arrive in Panama City by the night of May 31, 2013. You will be picked up and driven to The Bamboo Walk at Summit Park our lodge in Soberania National Park about 40 minutes away. Websites: bamboooftheamericas.com, advantagepanama.com USA Coordinators Gib Cooper, Executive Director of Bamboo of the Americas (BOTA) and Sue Turtle, BOTA Treasuer. Do you have a tour question? E-mail Gib Cooper BOTA tour Leader Jorge Lezcano, Field Botanist and BOTA grant recipient. Tour manager Guido Berguido, Advantage Tours, Panama Day 1 - Fri May 31 st : Arrival in Panama City, Transfer to Gamboa (No meals) Day 2 - Sat Jun 1 st : Pipeline Road and Summit Botanical Gardens (B-L-D) Day 3 - Sun Jun 2 nd : Sabanitas de Colon - Finca Sanchez (B-L-D) Day 4 - Mon Jun 3 rd : Cerro Azul -CERRO JEFE (B-L-D) Day 5 - Tue Jun 4 th : Soberania or Madden lowland forest (B-L-D) Day 6 - Wed Jun 5 th : Penonome - Posada La Vieja day trip Day 7 - Thu Jun 6 th : Fly to David- Fortuna & Continental Divide, o/n David (B-L-D) Day 8 - Fri Jun 7 th : Day trip to Boquete - Transfer to Volcan, o/n Dos Rios (B-L-D) Day 9 - Sat Jun 8 th : Baru Volcano Nat Park -Dracula Orchid Farm- Santa Clara (B-L-D)

Day 10 - Sun Jun 9 th : Fly to Panama City, Metropolitan Nature Park- CANAL AT MIRAFLORES (B-L-D) Day 11 - Mon Jun 10 th : Return to Summit Municipal Gardens- Meeting - Free Time Day 12 - Tue Jun 11 th : Departure back HOME or continue extension (B) Payment Schedule and Terms: Participants need to provide their own roundtrip air travel and travel insurance to Panama City, Panama (PTY). There is a minimum limit of 10 and a maximum of 15 participants. Seats are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Your reservation is secured by a $200 deposit or full payment of $2095 to BOTA's Treasurer, Sue Turtle by Jan. 14, 2013. Final payment is due by March 1, 2013. If the tour is cancelled your payment will be refunded. Payment is by check made out to ABS-BOTA and sent to: Sue Turtle, BOTA Treasurer 30 Myers Rd., Summertown, TN 38483-7323 Payment question? E-mail Sue Turtle: botatreasurer1@aol.com Tel: 931-964-4151 There are only 2 single supplement spaces available. Your total payment for one of these is $2595 Final confirmation is determined (1) by March 1, 2013 payment of $2095 in full with completed registration form, (2) receipt of a copy of your airline ticket purchase and (3) your travel insurance policy number by April 30, 2013. The confirmation of your airline ticket and insurance must be received in the office of BOTA Treasurer, Sue Turtle by midnight April 30, 2013. Mail or E-mail copies are acceptable. Jorge Lezcano is a botanical student studying grasses. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Panama and received a grant for his graduate studies in the USA at Arizona State University. Jorge is a recipient 2 field study grants from th AZH/BOTA Summit Park program to collect native Panamanian bamboos for the new living collection at Summit, herbarium specimens for Dr. Mireya Correa at University of Panama and DNA samples for Dr. Lynn Clark at Iowa State University. He has been working with Dr. Omar Lopez of the Center for Ecology and Applied Science at his office at Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Gamboa. Jorge is from the Volcan area to the west where his family owns a ranch. Health Requirement All guests must be in good physical condition for day hiking. Elevations will vary from sea level; a hot and humid 90-95 F, to 8-9,000 feet in the Continental Divide with steep terrain and warm temps during the day of 70 to low 80s F and 50-60 F at night. You need to be able to walk distances of a mile or more. Persons with heart disease or intestinal problems are advised to stay home. Special dietary requirements are your responsibility so please advise us of your personal needs. Deadlines for Joining the Tour Jan. 14, 2013 Preliminary: RSVP: Reserve your seat on the tour by depositing $200 or full payment of $2095 for double occupancy or $2595 for single occupancy via a check in the mail to ABS-BOTA. March 1, 2013- Final deadline: Complete payment and registration form. April 30, 2013 Final deadline: To confirm your airline ticket and travel insurance with your arrival and departure schedule in Panama City with Sue Turtle, BOTA Treasurer. May 31, 2013 by 9 p.m. Be present at Soberania Research Cennter Lodge. June 11, early A.M. Breakfast and orientation with bags packed and ready to go to the airport with your luggage. The Part B SPECIAL - 4 Day Extension tour June 11-15 Chucanti Rainforest Adventure. (Please request brochure for the extra cost and trip details information. E-mail Gib Cooper)