Itinerary

Day 1 (Sat) Arrive Panama City   View Panama City accommodations picture gallery  Arrive at Panama City's Tocumen International Airport and be transferred to your hotel for the night.

Day 2 (Sun) Gatun Lake and Beautiful Boquete View Boquete accommodations picture gallery This morning, begin your Panama vacation adventure with a hiking tour of Soberania National Park to explore a lowland tropical forest. As you hike, keep your eyes open for the over 390 bird species that frequent the park including the Harpy eagle. You may also see two-toed sloths, howler monkeys, leaf-cutting ants, rhinoceros beetles and litter toads. Next, you'll travel to colossal Gatun Lake, created with the building of the Panama Canal. Though the lake is alive with barges, commuter ships and other large vessels, from your boat, you'll also be able to admire such Panama wildlife as jungle birds, monkeys and caiman. Following the excursion, you'll catch a late afternoon flight to the western highland city of David in Chiriqui Province to spend three nights in Boquete. Nestled in the foothills of the country’s tallest mountain, Volcan Baru, this charming town is surrounded by coffee plantations and one of Central America's largest nature preserves, La Amistad (Friendship) International Peace Park. This 407,000-acre park is overseen jointly by Costa Rica and Panama, and is one of the most unique, enjoyable experiences on Panama vacations. With slightly more than half of its area in Panama, the park is one of the country's most bio-diverse areas, containing seven of the twelve life-zones. The world's most beautiful bird, the Quetzal, is found here along with Harpy eagles and ninety species of mammals, including jaguars and pumas. (D)

Day 3 (Mon) La Amistad International Peace Park View Boquete accommodations picture gallery Early in the morning you'll depart Boquete for the four to six hour hike along Baru National Park's Sendero Los Quetzales, named for the resplendent Quetzal frequently seen there. Not interested in hiking all day? Stay in Boquete where there is much to do, including shorter hikes as well as excellent biking, coffee tours and horseback riding to complement your Panama travel. (B,L)

Day 4 (Tue) Free Day Boquete View Boquete accommodations picture gallery
To say the tropical forests around Boquette are 'lush' is an understatement
To say the tropical forests around Boquette are 'lush' is an understatement
Today is yours to enjoy as you wish with several one-of-a-kind experiences from which to choose. Whitewater rafting is exhilarating on the Chiriqui River, internationally renowned for its easily accessed non-stop Class III-IV rapids. The steep canyons and thick jungle provide a breathtaking setting for the adrenalin-packed trip. Other Panama adventure tour options include exciting zip-line travel through the rainforest canopy or a speedy mountain-bike ride through jungle vegetation. If you prefer more relaxing activities on your Panama vacation, you may choose from an assortment of excursions around Boquete. A local coffee plantation tour or birdwatching along nearby hiking trails is highly recommended. This cooler wet region will be a refreshing change from the warm coastal weather. (B)

Day 5 (Wed) Off to the Beach View Bocas Del Toro accommodations picture gallery Today your Panamanian guide will escort you through the Cordillera de Talamanca mountain range to the charming Caribbean town of Bocas del Toro on Isla Colon. Along the way you’ll visit Almirante to witness the impressive engineering work of the Fortuna Dam Bridge. From there, you'll board a water taxi and navigate through the Bocas archipelago's narrow canals, passing villages and mangroves, arriving in time for lunch. The rest of the day is yours to explore this interesting town on your own and soak up the relaxed Afro-Caribbean atmosphere, a Panama travel highlight. (B, L)

Day 6 (Thu) Isla Bastimentos View Bocas Del Toro accommodations picture gallery
The idyllic beaches around Panama's Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park are crowd free
The idyllic beaches around Panama's Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park are crowd free
Today you'll board a motor launch to explore some of the area's most idyllic beaches, forests and snorkeling venues. The island's midsection and surrounding waters are protected in the Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park, offering nature lovers an array of wildlife to observe, both terrestrial and marine. Here you'll find brilliant parrot fish, angel fish, red snapper, slender needlefish and many other species. Four species of sea turtles come ashore here to nest on the beach, and the forests are home to many endemic and endangered species such as neon-colored frogs, the red-billed tropicbird and two and three-toed sloths.
 
Your snorkeling tour begins at Dolphin Lagoon; an important feeding area for bottle-nosed dolphins. Then it's onto Coral Cay and a short walk through mangroves to reach Red Frog beach, where you may catch a glimpse of its endangered namesake. You'll enjoy a relaxing swim or lounge on the beach before heading to Hospital Point for more snorkeling. Formerly the primary medical center for the United Fruit Company, Hospital Point is now a popular locale for snorkeling and diving. Tonight, enjoy the laid-back night life of Bocas and its famed multi-hued sunset. (B)

Day 7 (Fri) Panama City and Canal View Panama City accommodations picture gallery
The ruins of Panama La Vieja
The ruins of Panama La Vieja
Your Panama travel continues with a short flight over vast jungles to the vibrant capital. You'll be met at the airport and taken to see the city’s major sights on the way to your hotel. These include: the ruins of Panama La Vieja, where much Peruvian gold was once transported, leading to the city's 1671 destruction by pirate Henry Morgan; Casco Viejo, Panama's "second" city, where the Spanish and French left an elegant architectural legacy; and the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal, considered the eighth manmade wonder of the world. You'll watch the canal in action as locomotives tie onto mammoth ships to pull them safely through the locks. Spend the evening in Panama City, strolling along the Canal’s famous causeway, conveniently located just steps from your hotel and dotted with restaurants, bars and cafes. (B)

Day 8 (Sat) Return Home Transfer to the Tocumen International Airport for your return flight home or arrange to spend a few more days here, visiting the San Blas Islands, learning about the Kuna Indians, taking a zip-line adventure through the rainforest canopy and more. We'd be happy to fill extra days with some fascinating Panama vacation extensions.

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