No, they're whooping it up in honor of the mottled wood owl. The Canopy Tower stands in the biologically rich rain forest of the former Panama Canal Zone, off-limits until recently. But on New Year's Eve, after nearly a century of U.S. rule, the Canal is being turned over to Panama. Expectations are high that the transfer will nudge Central America's wealthiest nation into the tourism spotlight. When word spreads of Panama's unparalleled birding, snorkeling, and deep-sea fishing, ecotourism evangelists such as Arias de Para plan to be ready.
Guests come for the amazing birding and to take guided walks in the rain forest.
In the evenings, candles are lit on granite-topped dining tables, and guests shed their hiking boots for bare feet. All the recipes are supplied by Arias de Para's sister, Cuquita Arias de Calvo, the Martha Stewart of Panama, who has her own television show and cookbook. Talk drifts from the epic construction of the Panama Canal to the obsessive behavior of bird-watchers. All Rights Reserved. Users of this site agree to be bound by the terms of the American Express Web Site Rules and Regulations.