Volcán Barú National Park

🇵🇦 Panama

🐦 Quetzals and Solitaires on Volcán Barú

⏱ 1–2 days 🥾 Challenging trails

🌍 #161 Global · 3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #29 in Central America #77 in Tropical Forest

Chiriquí Highlands, Panama 1047 spp. recorded

Volcán Barú National Park protects Panama's highest peak (3,475 m) and the cloud forests that blanket its slopes. The park is one of the best places in Central America to see the Resplendent Quetzal, especially along the Quetzal Trail (Sendero Los Quetzales) connecting Boquete to Cerro Punta.

8.803° N 82.534° W

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

Resplendent Quetzal

Pharomachrus mocinno

40–50% · Likely

White-throated Mountain-gem

Lampornis castaneoventris

70–80% · Very likely

White-nosed Coati

Nasua narica

30–40% · Possible

Black-faced Solitaire

Myadestes melanops

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Gray-breasted Wood-Wren

Henicorhina leucophrys

60–70% · Likely

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

60–70% · Likely

Slaty Flowerpiercer

Diglossa plumbea

60–70% · Likely

Yellow-thighed Finch

Atlapetes tibialis

60–70% · Likely

Mountain Thrush

Turdus plebejus

60–70% · Likely

Collared Redstart

Myioborus torquatus

60–70% · Likely

Flame-throated Warbler

Oreothlypis gutturalis

50–60% · Likely

Clay-colored Thrush

Turdus grayi

50–60% · Likely

Black-cheeked Warbler

Basileuterus melanogenys

50–60% · Likely

Talamanca Hummingbird

Eugenes spectabilis

50–60% · Likely

Lesser Violetear

Colibri cyanotus

50–60% · Likely

Wilson's Warbler

Cardellina pusilla

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

White-nosed Coati

Nasua narica

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Red-tailed Squirrel

Sciurus granatensis

30–40% · Possible

Mantled Howler Monkey

Alouatta palliata

20–30% · Possible

Cacomistle

Bassariscus sumichrasti

20–30% · Possible

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

Choloepus hoffmanni

10–20% · Possible

Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

Sphiggurus mexicanus

Insufficient data

Central American Red Brocket

Mazama temama

Insufficient data

Chiriqui Olingo

Bassaricyon gabbii

Insufficient data

Common Opossum

Didelphis marsupialis

Insufficient data

Central American Squirrel Monkey

Saimiri oerstedii

Insufficient data

Tayra

Eira barbara

Insufficient data

Great Fruit-eating Bat

Artibeus lituratus

Insufficient data

Central American Agouti

Dasyprocta punctata

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Resplendent Quetzal

Pharomachrus mocinno

40–50% · Likely

White-throated Mountain-gem

Lampornis castaneoventris

70–80% · Very likely

Black-faced Solitaire

Myadestes melanops

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Gray-breasted Wood-Wren

Henicorhina leucophrys

60–70% · Likely

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

60–70% · Likely

Slaty Flowerpiercer

Diglossa plumbea

60–70% · Likely

Yellow-thighed Finch

Atlapetes tibialis

60–70% · Likely

Mountain Thrush

Turdus plebejus

60–70% · Likely

Collared Redstart

Myioborus torquatus

60–70% · Likely

Flame-throated Warbler

Oreothlypis gutturalis

50–60% · Likely

Clay-colored Thrush

Turdus grayi

50–60% · Likely

Black-cheeked Warbler

Basileuterus melanogenys

50–60% · Likely

Talamanca Hummingbird

Eugenes spectabilis

50–60% · Likely

Lesser Violetear

Colibri cyanotus

50–60% · Likely

Wilson's Warbler

Cardellina pusilla

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Emerald Swift

Sceloporus malachiticus

40–50% · Likely

Black-speckled Palm Pit Viper

Bothriechis nigroviridis

20–30% · Possible

South American Milksnake

Lampropeltis micropholis

20–30% · Possible

Thick Graceful Brown Snake

Rhadinaea calligaster

Insufficient data

Kempton's Anole

Anolis kemptoni

Insufficient data

Side-striped palm pit viper

Bothriechis lateralis

Insufficient data

Mesaspis monticola

Abronia monticola

Insufficient data

Humble Anole

Anolis humilis

Insufficient data

White-throated Gecko

Gonatodes albogularis

Insufficient data

Green Iguana

Iguana iguana

Insufficient data

Costa Rica Montane Pitviper

Cerrophidion sasai

Insufficient data

Common Mussurana

Clelia clelia

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Giant Marine Toad

Rhinella horribilis

Insufficient data

Dunn's Robber Frog

Craugastor monnichorum

Insufficient data

Guayaquil Dwarf Frog

Engystomops pustulosus

Insufficient data

Magnificent Web-Footed Salamander

Bolitoglossa magnifica

Insufficient data

Golden-groined Robber Frog

Pristimantis cruentus

Insufficient data

Cerro Utyum Robber Frog

Craugastor podiciferus

Insufficient data

Banded-thighed Rain Frog

Craugastor melanostictus

Insufficient data

Musical Rain Frog

Pristimantis museosus

Insufficient data

La Loma Robber Frog

Pristimantis caryophyllaceus

Insufficient data

American Cinchona Plantation Tree Frog

Isthmohyla rivularis

Insufficient data

Peralta Frog

Lithobates taylori

Insufficient data

Yellow-flecked Glassfrog

Sachatamia albomaculata

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦜

Resplendent Quetzal Nesting Season

FebMarAprMay

The Resplendent Quetzal—the male trailing iridescent emerald tail streamers up to a meter long—becomes far easier to find as pairs excavate and defend nest cavities in dead trees along the Los Quetzales Trail. Watch for them darting to wild avocado trees, where they pluck fruit whole and swallow it in mid-flight to feed their chicks.

Resplendent Quetzal

Pharomachrus mocinno

40–50% · Likely

🐦

Highland Songbird Chorus

MarAprMayJun

During the breeding season the cloud forest fills with the ethereal, flute-like song of the Black-faced Solitaire, an unassuming grey bird whose voice carries like a slow-ringing bell through the mist. The Mountain Thrush joins in, and their overlapping melodies make the forest easier to hear than to see.

Black-faced Solitaire

Myadestes melanops

50–60% · Likely

Mountain Thrush

Turdus plebejus

60–70% · Likely

🐦

Highland Hummingbird Season

NovDecJanFeb

Highland hummingbirds like the White-throated Mountain-gem and the tiny Volcano Hummingbird gather in numbers around flowering shrubs and feeders on Barú's upper slopes, jostling and chasing rivals in glittering aerial skirmishes. It is one of the best chances to watch several montane species compete side by side at a single bloom.

White-throated Mountain-gem

Lampornis castaneoventris

70–80% · Very likely

Volcano Hummingbird

Selasphorus flammula

20–30% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

50–60

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

60–70

50–60

Resplendent Quetzal

30–40

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

10–20

10–20

20–30

10–20

20–30

10–20

White-throated Mountain-gem

70–80

80–90

70–80

80–90

70–80

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

50–60

White-nosed Coati

40–50

30–40

20–30

20–30

30–40

0–10

40–50

30–40

40–50

10–20

40–50

30–40

Black-faced Solitaire

40–50

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

40–50

40–50

20–30

30–40

40–50

Gray-breasted Wood-Wren

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

80–90

80–90

60–70

70–80

70–80

50–60

60–70

50–60

Rufous-collared Sparrow

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

40–50

70–80

60–70

Slaty Flowerpiercer

50–60

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

50–60

30–40

70–80

50–60

Yellow-thighed Finch

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

Mountain Thrush

50–60

50–60

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

40–50

60–70

60–70

40–50

60–70

50–60

Collared Redstart

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

40–50

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

Flame-throated Warbler

50–60

60–70

60–70

40–50

60–70

60–70

40–50

60–70

50–60

40–50

60–70

50–60

Clay-colored Thrush

40–50

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

40–50

40–50

30–40

40–50

70–80

40–50

Black-cheeked Warbler

40–50

50–60

50–60

30–40

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

50–60

40–50

40–50

Talamanca Hummingbird

50–60

60–70

40–50

60–70

30–40

60–70

50–60

50–60

30–40

30–40

70–80

40–50

Lesser Violetear

60–70

60–70

40–50

40–50

20–30

50–60

40–50

40–50

40–50

30–40

60–70

50–60

Wilson's Warbler

70–80

70–80

60–70

40–50

0–10

0–10

0–10

0–10

50–60

40–50

70–80

70–80

Animal Events

🐦 Highland Songbird Chorus

🐦 Highland Hummingbird Season

🦜 Resplendent Quetzal Nesting Season

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good

🐦 Quetzals and Solitaires on Volcán Barú

🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

609

🐒 Mammals

217

🦎 Reptiles

137

🐸 Amphibians

84

1047 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

59 Threatened 71 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

62%

📊

Coverage (185 species at ≥5% of 1047 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

18%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (12 bird)

47% Global avg

0%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

122

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

5

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

32

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