Birding Panama: Four Habitats, One Unique Experience at Lago Bay

Here at Lago Bay, we’ve created a destination where nature, adventure, and sustainability come together seamlessly.

Lago Bay aligns with Panama’s national focus on sustainable tourism, blending luxury adventure with permaculture, biodiversity, and hands-on agro-tourism experiences. Birdwatching is a natural bonus. Our stewardship of the land combined with the four habitats found at Lago Bay creates a natural birdwatching addition.

Four Habitats at Lago Bay for an incredible representation of Panama's Birds.

Walk across Lago Bay, and you’ll discover four distinct habitats, all thriving side by side:

• Grasslands: Open fields filled with tropical fruit trees and permaculture gardens. Fantastic for the parakeets, parrots, finches and flycatchers.

• Lakes: Home to fish like tilapia, peacock bass, snook and tarpon make it popular with the ducks, herons, cranes, egrets and ospreys.

• Beach: Pristine Pacific coastline perfect for sunrise, nature walks and horseback rides. You'll see sandpipers, plovers and pelicans

• Mangroves: Vital coastal ecosystems where wildlife flourishes and waterways wind through lush greenery. Check out the cormorants, swallows and the apex predator...the black mangrove hawk.

Each habitat is carefully managed to work in harmony with the land, the wildlife, and our guests, offering unique experiences at every turn. The bird life is the most impressive.

A brief History of Lago Bay and why we have so many incredible birds.

The story of Lago Bay began in 2006. Like many farms in Veraguas, it was once used for cultivating rice and for ranching cows. In the grasslands, there was almost strictly a type of cow grass that is here dubbed 'Optimized Pasture'. This weed is good for cows. It helps to put on the weight and get the cows to market. For the surrounding environment however, the cow grass created a monoculture that basically stripped all of the soil of its nutrients. With the grass/cow cycle the soil became almost useless for a balanced biodiversity. We had to dig holes that were usually 3 feet by 3 feet cubes. We sourced the black soil from the lower areas of the farm and mixed both compost and fertilizer in with the the sandy black soil and called it...super soil.

Below in the lower areas of the farm was ideal for rice in the old days. Rice farmers, unfortunately, use an incredible amount of herbicides and pesticides for production. It took many years of planting diverse trees and shrubs to help rehabilitate the low lands.

Perhaps the most striking changes with the wildlife started with the creation of the Lago Bay lakes. While digging the lakes we luckily struck several underwater springs that created fairly clear water with plenty of oxygen. When stocking the lakes with tilapia and peacock bass, the fish life began thriving. Snook and tarpon became natural additions over the years. With the fish came a boom of reptiles, mammals and birds!

On the Northwest side of Lago Bay, sections of mangrove buttress up to create the best neighbor possible...nature. The Pacific Ocean runs along the longest stretch of Lago Bay for 2 kilometers of sandy beach that represents the protected Gulf of Montijo habitat. The entire Eastern side of Lago Bay faces Isla Cebaco, Isla Leones and one of the best sunrises in Panama.

Today Lago Bay has thousands of food producing trees for a permaculture experience that both animals and humans can enjoy. The variety of palms are also impressive with seeds rich in oil for many of the bird species. Our tropical hardwoods also help to create habitat and diversity. Thousands of ornamental bushes and shrubs produce flowers creating a food base attracting iguanas, butterflies and hummingbirds. Each home is surrounded by tropical gardens.

Lago Bay Vacation Homes in Nature

Our vacation homes let you wake up immersed in this biodiverse garden. Enjoy easy and private access to each habitat, stunning views, and comfortable, eco-conscious lodging that puts you right in the heart of Panama’s natural beauty.

Whether you’re strolling around our lakes, paddle boarding along the coast, learning about Lago Bay's sustainable permaculture or birdwatching in the mangroves, Lago Bay makes it easy to experience it all in one unique stay.

Birdwatching from your Balcony. The ultra-casual Birder in Panama.

So...in case this article hasn't emphasized enough...there really is an incredible variety of birds at Lago Bay. You can't help but notice...even if you're an ultra casual observer. If you don't happen to be a birder or if you don't like going for walks, don't worry. The birds will come to you. Whether you are drinking a cup of coffee in the morning or kicking your feet up with a cocktail at the end of a day after your Coiba tour, there is good news. If you stroll to your balcony, rooftop or patio, you are certain to be in for a good show. The parrots fly by in the hundreds both in the morning and in the afternoons. The magnificent frigates can be seen gliding over head. The caracaras are hunting throughout the day. You'll always have an opportunity to hear a quick tune from one of the many song birds nearby. Enjoy!

Your Visit

At Lago Bay, adventure and sustainability go hand in hand. With our permaculture and lake management integrated with the amazing wildlife and tropical gardens, our vacation homes offer a destination where you can relax within nature. Ask to borrow a pair of binoculars and enjoy an incredible birdwatching outing.

Experience Panama differently — four habitats, one unforgettable stay.

https://www.lagobay.com/stay