The Best of Panama

After breakfast in the hotel, we will head to Panama Vieja's ruins, on the edge of the city, dating back to the 17th century. We will then head off to visit the famous Panama Canal, an incredible feat of engineering, one of the greatest and most expensive in history. We will stop at the Visitor’s Centre of the Miraflores Locks, where we can appreciate the ships sailing along the canal. We will head to the Amador Causeway, offering one of the city’s most impressive panoramic views of the canal. We will then stop off at the Mercado de Abasto market, which the city’s largest fruit and vegetable market and where the countries best products arrive. We will then enjoy lunch in a typical restaurant in the seafood market, where of course, the menu is the catch of the day. We will finish the tour in the Old Quarter of Panama City, the UNESCO World Heritage site of San Felipe.

We will begin early in the morning by visiting the railroad station to take a classic train to Colón. Panama’s railroad was built during The California Gold Rush to transport goods and gold from the Atlantic to The Pacific. The railway follows the course of the canal and passes along the historic Culebra Cut and the spectacular Gatún Lake. The water from the lake is responsible for the lush vegetation in the area.  The visitors centre allows us to see the mammoth ships that pass through the canal, navigating the complex system of locks, as they pass through each section of this magnificent canal. We will be able to appreciate the current expansion works on the canal to allow the transit of even bigger ships along its waters. We will then head to Portobelo, founded in 1597 as a Caribbean terminal for the Isthmus of Panama's trade route. This quaint city surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and rolling hills still preserves remnants of a glorious past. Its colonial wooden houses around the ruins of San Fernando fort and San Jeronimo fort are the main attractions of the city. We will then return to our hotel for the evening.

Today we will drive along the Pan‐American Highway and then to the northern mountains. We will be able to see a large natural sculpture of a sleeping Indian (la India Dormida) on the hilltop overlooking the village El Valle.  El Valle enjoys spring-like temperatures all year round, making it the perfect place to visit.  We will stop at the Chorro Macho Waterfall, Piedras Pintadas, the local flower and handicraft market, the Nispero Zoo, the local orchid nursery and the Butterfly House. We will then return to the city for dinner and to spend the evening.

 After Breakfast, we will head to the pier on the Gatún River, near Buena Vista, to board a motorized canoe, which will take us to the community of Emberá Quera. We will pass through the lush green rainforest and hopefully spot its inhabitants, such as monkeys, butterflies, herons and turtles. Indian Chief of the community will greet us on our arrival and will explain the history of the Tribe. The Emberá are native people of the Darien jungle region, close to the Colombian border. They inhabit the shores of the river in small communities of “tambos”. We will end our tour with a visit to a monkey island to see its incredible tree-dwellers. For lunch, we will enjoy traditional cuisine, accompanied by a local show of traditional music and dance.

Today we will visit the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, where our guide will take you to see the forest from a totally different perspective, seated in an aerial tram system. Sailing quietly through the tree canopies, we can appreciate the jungle sounds and tranquillity of the tropical rainforest. Our guide will explain all about this stunning region's wildlife and plants as our ride arrives at an observation tower on the hilltop. From here, we can appreciate a panoramic view of the Chagres River, the Panama Canal, an Embera Indigenous Village and the town of Gamboa.

Today we will leave the city and head to the beach with a fight to the Isla Colon in Bocas del Toro. Bocas del Toro Islands are found towards the west of the country, close to the Costa Rica border. These islands  The archipelago is formed by six main islands: and by a number of coral reefs and islets boasting idyllic beaches, palm trees, a spectacular barrier reef, several sea species, emerald‐green waters, mangroves and lush tropical rainforests. Each island has its own qualities and natural beauty, offering a water-based transport system, where water- taxis are the only means of transportation

The following two days are to spend as relaxed or as active as you like with pristine and stunning beaches and a number of water sports to enjoy.                                                   

The following two days are to spend as relaxed or as active as you like with pristine and stunning beaches and a number of water sports to enjoy.                                                   

Today is the final day of the tour and we will head back to the airport of Isla Colon for flight to Panama City for your international flight back home or on to your next exciting destination!