Discover Panama

Day 1

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 has the undeniable charm of Panama. The Central Hotel was built nearly 150 years ago in the heart of the city, facing the beautiful Plaza de la Independencia in Casco Antiguo (Old Town) – a designated World Heritage Site. The hotel is one of many historic buildings recognized by UNESCO for its architectural significance, and it was the first hotel in the country at the time of its opening in 1874.  Overnight Panama City. (D)

Day 2

After breakfast, we’ll discover the colonial heritage of Panama and visit the famous Panama Canal on a full day, privately guided tour.  We’ll meet our guide in the morning and head to the ruins of Old Panama. Here, climb up the Cathedral Tower and visit the Old Panama Museum to gain a better understanding of the history of this Central American nation. Next, we head to Casco Viejo, dating back to the seventeenth century, and listen as our guide describes the events that led up to the establishment of the capital in its current location. Here, take in the lovely colonial houses, picturesque narrow roads, and impressive churches as you make your way to the French Plaza. Our day continues as we transfer to the Miraflores Locks on Panama Canal, where large ships can be seen as they make their way through the canal. Marvel at this feat of human engineering and see informative exhibits. Now that you’ve worked up your appetite, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before venturing out to visit small towns surrounding the canal. In the late afternoon we return to our hotel in Panama City. Overnight Panama City. (B,L,D)

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

Day 3

After our early breakfast, we’ll transfer to El Corotu on the shores of Madden Lake. Here we will board a motorized piragua (dugout canoe) and travel through dense jungle up the Chagres River to one of the Embera indigenous villages for the day experience. The boat journey takes us through the 320,000-acre Chagres National Park, which is the largest of the National Parks protecting the Panama Canal Watershed. Along the Chagres River, you may be able to spot the little blue and green heron, great egret, anhinga, neotropical cormorant and green kingfishers, and ospreys flying above. Upon our arrival at the Embera village, we will be welcomed with traditional dancing and music. We’ll learn about fascinating Embera traditions and their close relationship with nature. They are master artisans, famous for their woven baskets and masks, as well as their qualitative wooden carvings of cocobolo and intricate tagua. There will be handcrafts available for sale and you will have the chance to be painted with the traditional jagua, a natural dye the Embera use to adorn their bodies. After a traditional Embera lunch we will head back to Panama City. Tonight is on your own to relax at the hotel or go explore the night life of Panama City.  Overnight Panama City. (B,L)

Day 4

After breakfast, we’ll be transferred to the airport for our flight to Boquete. Flight time will be approximately 45 minutes. We’ll arrive and we’re off to the Highlands. We will hike on one of the many scenic trails surrounding Baru Volcano National Park, home to diverse flora and fauna. Boquete and its surrounding areas offer excellent hiking options for all experience levels and abilities. We’ll hike about 3 hours through cloud forests and lush vegetation, visit waterfalls and admire the surrounding area while looking out for animals such as howler monkeys, sloths, deer, peccaries and hundreds of species of birds. Lunch at local restaurant, then we’re off for our coffee tour. The first coffee plants arrived in Panama at the beginning of the 19th century and were brought to Boquete, where the microclimate turned out to be ideal for coffee. Its great height, the influences of the oceans, the rich volcanic soil and the shadow of the Baru Volcano all contributed to the full development of the aromatic potential of coffee. We’ll tour one of the local farms where we will be able to admire a clean and modern environment of an organic coffee plantation, Our guide will explain the whole process, from the picking of the coffee cherries by the Ngäbe-Bugle Indians to its journey to your cup while you walk through the coffee fields. We will learn about the coffee plants and how the coffee beans are harvested and processed. The tour ends with a taste of the delicious product. We transfer to our accommodations to check into our boutique hotel for 2 nights, offering luxurious rooms with spectacular views of the surrounding gardens, cloud forests and mountains. And it is home to over 500 bird species which makes every walk across the property a birdwatcher’s dream come true. Dinner at the hotel.  Overnight Boquete. (B,L,D)

Day 5

After breakfast, we’re off for a full day of exciting fun! This adventure offers a heart-pounding excitement that makes Chiriqui a great rafting destination. Most often the Chiriqui Viejo River is selected for this tour, however, depending on rainfall and other factors, a different river may be selected. The route chosen by our experienced guides also depends on water levels. Before starting the rafting trip, we’ll get the standard orientation and safety speech by our guides. Then, we’re off for a full day of rafting the river with great photograph opportunities (splash case is on the pack list)! The rapids are Class II & III, wonderful for beginners and experienced paddlers alike.  We’ll stop for lunch and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Then it’s back in our rafts for the last section of the river and more thrills. At the take-out, we’ll change into dry clothes as we laugh at the fun photos from the day.  Transfer back to our hotel and enjoy another excellent dinner at our hotel.  Overnight Boquete. (B,L,D)

Day 6

After breakfast, we’ll pack up and transfer to our next adventure. Yes! Gliding on ziplines through the canopy of century-old cloud forests, high above the pristine rivers and waterfalls. We zip over this incredible collection of natural landscapes bordering the National Park La Amistad and the famous Baru Volcano. We’ll experience several ziplines through the trees with a canopy of flora and wildlife in this incredible adrenaline rush. After that excitement, we’ll board our boat from Almirante to Isla Colon. We’ll have lunch at a local restaurant this afternoon steps away from main street in Bocas Town, and a bit of time to explore the town as well. This island stay features some of the most beautiful beaches. Our boutique hotel, located on the southern tip of Isla Colon, features a ‘divers paradise’ and is built over the water with panoramic views. So cool. We’ll have dinner in Bocas Town. Overnight Isla Colón, Bocas del Toro. (B,L,D)

Day 7

After breakfast, naturally the best things to do in Bocas del Toro include being in, around, and on the water.  So we’re off on a full day to explore the beautiful beaches and reefs of Bocas del Toro. We will start by boat, heading directly to Dolphin Bay. This quiet bay is located about 15-20 minutes from the main island, Isla Colon. The abundance of fish and crustaceans in these waters make Dolphin Bay the perfect place for their habitat within the archipelago. If we are lucky, we may observe the friendly dolphins jump, swim and play in pairs and pods. Around noon the boat heads towards Coral Cay, a nice area for snorkeling. As you float weightlessly in the turquoise sea, witness hundreds of reef fish go about their daily business. This is also the place where we can delight ourselves with exquisite Caribbean dishes, offered by a panoramic restaurant on the sea. The menu varies depending on the day’s catch. (Lunch not included). Lastly, we’ll visit one of the islands of the famous Zapatilla Keys, named after their shoe-like shape. These two islands are within the Bastimentos Island Marine National Park and are surrounded by a coral reef teeming with marine life. The islands are covered with mangrove and surrounded by fine white sand and palm trees. Enjoy this unique paradise, walk along the shore, relax in the shade of a palm tree or explore the rich coral reef. Ah, now this is livin! Transfer back to our lodging to get cleaned up and enjoy dinner. Overnight Isla Colón, Bocas del Toro. (B,D)

Day 8

After breakfast, we’re off on a jungle hike in Bocas de Toro. Located only a few minutes from Bocas Town by boat, Isla Solarte offers an entirely different experience. Raw jungle and hiking paths make this island destination a must-see when staying in Bocas del Toro. On our 3-minute boat ride from Isla Colon to Isla Solarte we’ll pass through Solarte Gardens, a beautiful area off the coast of Solarte where many diving lessons take place. We will disembark at Pelican Dock and start the tour up the hills and across to the bluff overlooking Bastimentos. Along the way we will surely see leaf-cutter colonies, birds of all types, red frogs and some of the largest trees in the area. We may also spot three-toed sloths, rare birds and eagles, and much more. This hike is rated easy to moderate and will be about 3 hours total. We’ll enjoy our picnic lunch along the way as we marvel at this jungle jewel. This afternoon, we will be transferred to Bocas airport for our flight to Panama City. Flight time will be approximately 45 minutes. We’ll transfer to our hotel to get checked in and cleaned up. Tonight for our Farewell dinner we’ll enjoy a true Panama Folkloric dinner and show. Here we have the opportunity to taste the best Panamanian food made of corn, plantains, yucca, fish, tamale, sancocho (Panamanian chicken soup), pork, seafood, beef and veggie options as well.  The folkloric show presents diverse national dancers with their elegant garments. Some of the dances we’ll enjoy are the Punta, Travesado and Diablos Sucios – all performed with live music using Panamanian instruments. A beautiful way to say gracias and adios to our Panama adventure.  Overnight Panama City.  (B,L,D)

Day 9

After breakfast, or when the group’s departures are known, we’ll transfer to Tocumen International Airport for your departure flights. (B)

• 9 days/8 nights fully guided tour with an English speaking local Trip Leader
• US based Canyon Calling Representative
• All land/sea transportation as outlined in this itinerary
• In country flights as outlined in this itinerary
• Hotel accommodations, double occupancy
• Most meals as outlined in the itinerary
• All activities and activity guide gratuities
• All entrance fees, passes, and permits

• Round-trip transportation to/from Panama City, Panama
• A couple of meals as per the itinerary
• Alcoholic beverages and items of a personal nature
• Gratuity to your local Trip Leader at the end of the tour