DESTINATION | DATE | PRICE |
---|---|---|
Panama, Central America | Mar 22 – 30, 2024 | $3,495 |
Think Panama and what springs to mind? The canal? Cigars and straw hats? Beautiful beaches? Probably all of that and more. This lovely Central American nation is much more than that. It’s a land of wildlife, rich rainforests, remote indigenous communities, paradise-like beaches, and verdant volcanoes. It has an unspoiled nature and a mostly non-touristy vibe without the crowds. Three million years ago, the Isthmus of Panama emerged from the sea as it divided an ocean and joined two continents together, triggering one of the most important natural evolution events in the history of the world. Today, this narrow land bridge in Central America is home to more species of birds and trees than the whole of North America. From clear turquoise seas to the coffee farms and cloud forests, we’ll enjoy it all. We’ll snorkel in the Caribbean, enjoy cultural tours, visit the Panama Canal, enjoy a rich culture, zip line in Boquete, hike, whitewater raft and more. Come along on this local immersive adventure and discover the beauty of Panama.
We’ll be arriving throughout the day into Panama City, Panama. A private airport transfer will take you to our hotel where we’ll meet up as a group, get checked in to our hotel and enjoy a Welcome Dinner together. You may wish to arrive a day early depending on flight length and times. Our hotel is centrally located in the city and in complete harmony with the environment to bring comfort, relaxation and tranquility. The amenities are great here with option for room service and swimming pools that offer a great way to relax. Overnight Panama City.
After breakfast we say farewell to Panama City and leave for Guna Yala. We’ll transfer by boat to Isla Naranjo Chico, Mamartupo, a beautiful little island surrounded by gorgeous white sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters. There are a handful of private cabanas on the lush green grass which have shared bathrooms. We’ll have lunch and get settled in. This afternoon we’ll enjoy the beautiful private beach, and snorkel in the clear waters discovering many types of beautiful fish, starfish, turtles and coral. This is a small property with all meals included, and alcohol for purchase. Tonight we’ll dine family style enjoying a beautiful sunset and tiki torches lighting our dining experience. Perhaps a fire on the beach before bedtime. Overnight Isla Naranjo Chico.
On each trip I've shared with you I've watched as the women you gather together become a community and learn to love, share and become more tolerant and accepting of the differences in the world. -- Lou, Vancouver
After our homemade breakfast, we’ll set out on a hike to enjoy the natural beauty of this small island. We’ll see the Santa Maria and Palm trees, walk out on a sandbar on a wonderful beach, and see local flora and fauna. We’ll lunch back at our property, then we’re off on an excursion and cultural immersion in a local Guna village. We’ll experience the Danza, which is the traditional dance and music of the Guna. We’ll have an opportunity to shop the local Molas, often used as “living history books”, showing hidden symbols of medical plants, protective symbols or legends and stories. Typical Mola colors, such as burgundy, orange or black are referring to the vegetable colors as used for body painting. Back at our property we’ll have time for a swim and enjoy another delicious meal. Overnight Isla Naranjo Chico.
After breakfast, we’ll pack up and transfer back to Panama City. We’ll lunch in the city, then it’s off to visit the Panama Canal! The Panama Canal is an artificial waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The construction of the Panama Canal is where the expression “Another Day, Another Dollar” comes from, as the workers were rumored to be paid a dollar a day for their labor. The length of the Panama Canal is fifty miles from the deep waters of the Atlantic to the deep waters of the Pacific. We’ll learn about the history and the current usage of this most important canal for international commerce. Transfer to and check into our favorite hotel, maybe a dip in the pool, and enjoy dinner. Overnight Panama City.
After breakfast, we’ll take a short flight to David, then transfer to Boquete. We’ll lunch, then it’s off to zip line in an Eco-adventure park. Glide through the canopy of century old cloud forests, high above the pristine rivers and waterfalls that make up the incredible natural landscapes bordering the National Park La Amistad and the famous Baru Volcano. The wildlife within the treetops is immense and varied. We will observe the diversity of native species including small animals and birds. With a bit of luck, we may even get the chance to see monkeys and the famed quetzal. In addition, you can marvel at the great variety of orchids and wildflowers that we find throughout the area. We’ll check into our hotel for three nights and enjoy a delicious dinner. Overnight Boquete.
After breakfast, we’ll head out for an all day excursion to hike in the cloud forest followed by a coffee tour. Our visit to this sustainable family farm includes a delicious farm-to-table lunch. The hike is approximately a three-mile loop roundtrip around the farm and mostly virgin forest to a beautiful waterfall. Your trek pole is included. The coffee is also grown here, and we’ll be given a proper coffee roasting demonstration with a chance to taste the global award-winning Geisha coffee. We’ll transfer back to our hotel after this full day of active fun, get cleaned up and enjoy dinner. Overnight Boquete.
After breakfast, we’re off on a thrilling whitewater rafting experience on the Chiriqui Viejo River. Our transfer to and from the river is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours so we’ll have the opportunity to view the Panamanian countryside. We’ll have our safety briefing, get in our rafts and enjoy three to four hours on the river. We’ll have Class III rapids so every experience level is welcomed. The guides are great, and we’ll take a break while they prepare our lunch. After this thrilling experience, we transfer back to the hotel to arrive around 4:30pm. There are beautiful gardens close to our hotel, and if you’d like to explore the town a bit there are many small shops. Boquete is spread out a bit so being close to downtown for restaurant and shopping is the best. We’ll have dinner and overnight Boquete.
After breakfast, we’ll fly back to Panama City with a transfer to Casco Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To understand the cultural, social and architectural development of Panama City, we’ll learn how it evolved since its transfer in1673 to the new site protected by a great wall. This is a free afternoon to visit museums, art galleries, shops, buy typical Panamanian hats called the Pintao hat, enjoy the plazas, and visit the grounds of the Palace of Las Garzas. Lunch is on your own. Enjoy the view of the Old Town from the roof bars of hotels and restaurants. We’ll meet back up as a group to check into our hotel. We’ll get cleaned up and enjoy a delicious Farewell Dinner with our road sisters as we recount our amazing time together in beautiful Panama. Overnight Panama City.
After breakfast, transfer to the Panama City airport, or choose to stay and play on your own.
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