Begin your Panama trip exploring the highlands of Boquete near the Costa Rica border. Enjoy snorkeling around Bocas del Toro and hiking in cloudforest. Spend time on a cruise of the "8th wonder of the world," working our way through its impressive locks. Visit the charming mountain town of El Valle, and explore the surrounding forest on a canopy adventure. Spend an afternoon with the indigenous community, Embera, in Chagres National Park. Finish you trip with time in the remarkable San Blas Islands and meet the incredible local Kuna people.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Panama City
Arrive to Panama City. Overnight.
Day 2: Panama Canal and El Valle (L)
A morning bus ride takes you to the town of Gamboa where your vessel awaits to bring you on a partial transit of the Panama Canal. Your exploration begins at the north end of the Gaillard Cut - at the southern end of the Cut you'll enter the Pedro Miguel Locks, taking you into the man-made Miraflores Lake. Next, you'll be lowered 18 meters in the Miraflores Locks as you make your entrance into the Pacific Ocean. Disembark at the Flamenco Marina where you'll meet your transfer to El Valle. This 2-hour drive follows the famous Pan American Highway. Relax, and take in the celebrated views of Panama.
The beautiful mountain town of El Valle is located in the crater of an ancient volcano that erupted with such ferocity it blew off its top. It left a 3-mile-wide scar on the landscape – this crater is the largest in the Americas. El Valle’s spring-like climate is perfect for exploring the vast variety of trails that run past Indian petroglyphs, hot spring and waterfalls. Spend the night in a quiet bed and breakfast.
Day 3: Canopy Adventure (B)
This morning you'll have some free time to take an optional visit to El Valle's Handicraft Market. Local farmers, as well as Nobe Bugle, Wounaan and some Embera Indians come to the market to sell fruits, vegetables, plants and handicrafts. After this leisurely morning continue your Panama travels with a canopy adventure! At El Macho Falls you'll be zipped through a series of cables and pulleys to observe the landscape from four different platforms on a canopy adventure. At 220 feet above the forest floor, share this rare view with the animals sheltered within the canopy.
Spend the the rest of the day enjoying some of the sites. You can hike to the nearby "La India Dormida" mountain, visit the local zoo El Nispero, soak in the nearby hot springs, or just relax around the beautiful grounds of your bed and breakfast.
Day 4: Transfer to Gamboa (B)
After a leisurely morning, transfer to Gamboa Rainforest Resort. The rest of the day is free for you to arrange activities through the resort. Visit any of the local exhibits, including the Frog and Reptile exhibit, the Butterfly enclosure, or arrange to go on a rainforest aerial tram tour. Or enjoy the water by kayaking or boating out on Gatun Lake.
Day 5: Embera Drua Community (L)
Early this morning, transfer from El Valle to the Chagres National Park and the indigenous Embera Drua community. Board a motorized canoe to take you deep into the Chagres rainforest. The canoe takes you to an Embera settlement. Let these inviting people introduce you to their culture as they share their knowledge of craftsmanship, botany, and traditional music and dance. Try Embera's body painting that colors the skin with the purplish juice from a jagua fruit. After lunch with the community, spend the rest of the afternoon with a guided tour of the tropical park.
Day 6: Barro Colorado Island (L)
This morning continue your Panama travels to Barro Colorado Island. After a short ride to the town of Gamboa, board a boat to cross the massive Lake Gatun. Born out of the Panama Canal, Gatun’s creation displaced over 50,000 people and submerged acres of forest – it also formed Isla Barro Colorado. It is heavy with wildlife including howler monkeys, keel billed toucans, tapirs, sloths, anteaters, tiger herons, crocodiles and the stunning Morpho butterfly. Administered by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute since 1946 this area is considered the best-protected and most studied tropical rainforest in the world. Travelers are limited to a single trail that loops the island, to ensure the ecosystem remains well protected. You will also have the opportunity to explore the bays and forest-covered channels. From the boat, keep an eye out for Panama's thriving wildlife. Overnight Panama City.
Day 7: San Blas (B,L,D)
Take an early flight from Panama City to the Achutupu Airstrip on the San Blas. San Blas consists of over 360 islands off the Caribbean Coast of Panama, only 60 of which are inhabited. The islands are virtually self-governed by the local Kuna people. These friendly people are strong in tradition and their beliefs, devoting themselves to preserving their heritage, and environment. At the airstrip, meet your local guide, and travel by boat across the calm lagoon waters to the Dolphin Lodge. Spend some time unwinding with a stroll through the private island. Lunch and dinner feature delicious dishes of the day's catch. As you turn in, let the warm Caribbean breeze put your senses at peace.
Day 8: More San Blas (B,L,D)
Your time in San Blas is spent relaxing! Enjoying the sandy beaches and crystal waters of the private islands -- marine wildlife in the area includes dolphins, green and hawksbill turtles, sponges, lobsters and a large variety of reef fish. You can also hike around the neighboring islands for fantastic bird watching.
Day 9: Panama City and Boquete (B,L,D)
Early this morning you will fly back to Panama City for a tour of the ruins of Panama La Vieja, where loads of Peru's gold once crossed. Later the pirate Henry Morgan came in search of the famed gold, and after Morgan's attack in 1671, Casco Antiguo was built. Spend some time exploring Panama's "second" city, whose Spanish and French architecture reminds one of its past citizens. If you have sufficient time, you will last visit the Miraflores locks of the Panama Canal to observe the "eighth wonder of the world."
You will be transferred to the Albrook airport in time to catch an afternoon flight to the city of David in Chiriqui Province to enjoy two nights in the charming town of Boquete. Nestled at the foot of Volcan Baru, Boquete is surrounded by coffee farms and one of Central America's largest nature preserves - La Amistad International Peace Park.
Day 10: Free Day Boquete (B)
Today is yours to enjoy as you wish. Included in your package are either a whitewater rafting trip down the Chiriqui River, or a guided 4-6 hour hike on Los Quetzales Trail through La Amistad International Park. The Chiriqui river is world renowned for its easily accessed non-stop Class III-IV rapids. La Amistad Park contains some of the country's richest biodiversity with seven of the 12 life zones found here. Additional options include a zip-line tour through the rainforest canopy or speeding through the jungle vegetation on a mountain bike. If you prefer more relaxing activities, you can choose from an assortment of excursions around Boquete, like a local coffee tour or horseback riding.
Day 11: Off to Bocas del Toro (B,L)
Today it's off to the charming Caribbean town of Bocas del Toro on Isla Colon. You will be picked up and transfer back to the airport in David for your 25 minute flight to Bocas del Toro. Once there, you will need to grab a taxi and head to your new hotel. You'll arrive at Bocas mid-day, and enjoy a welcome to Bocas Lunch. The rest of the day is yours to wander this charming town and soak up the relaxed atmosphere.
Day 12: Barro Colorado Island and Snorkeling (B)
Board a motor launch to explore some of the areas most idyllic beaches, forests and snorkeling waters. The island's midsection and surrounding waters are protected in the Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park.
Your snorkeling tour begins at Dolphin Lagoon, which is an important feeding area for bottle-nosed dolphins. Then onto Coral Caye and Red Frog beach. Enjoy a relaxing swim, or lounge on the beach before heading to the popular Hospital Point for more snorkeling. Tonight, enjoy the laid back night life of Bocas town.
Day 13: Free Day Bocas del Toro (B)
Enjoy this day free to arrange other activities locally. You can arrange to go snorkeling at some other sites in the Archipelago, arrange to go kayaking, or go hiking on the mainland. The day is free to do as you like!
Day 14: Return Panama City (B)
This morning take a taxi back to the airstrip for your short flight over vast jungles back to Panama City. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy Panama City for your last night in the country.
Day 15: Return Home
Accommodations: 8 nights comfortable hotel, 2 nights bed & breakfast, 2 nights rainforest resort, 2 beachfront ecolodge
Food Includes: All meals as indicated (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner); most of our hotels offer free continental breakfast.
Transportation: Minibuses or jeep, motorized canoe, boat, train and 4 local flights.
An easy-paced Panama tour, suitable for almost any age. Plenty of time to explore the national parks and wildlife as well as the country's beautiful beaches and bustling capital city. Itinerary is designed to introduce the very best of Panama travel.
Start Dates 2008-09: Weekly departures; Fri-Fri
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Single Supplement: US$1085
Note: Internal flights Panama City-San Blas-Panama City-David-Bocas del Toro-Panama City are not included. Please add US$410/person (flight cost subject to change)
Personal Budgeting: Allow $220 meals not included, $150 optional excursions, $30 airport taxes
Pre & Post Tour Accommodations: Share US$60, Single US$120
Arrival/Departure Transfers: 1 person US$50 each, 2 or more people US$25/person
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount
Also see tour packages in:
Central America and Caribbean
Panama
Wildlife Viewing
Cultural Journey
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