The Best of Panamanian Culture

Today we will wake up bright and early 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.  In Colon, we will head to the little pier of Gatún River a  few minutes away from Buena Vista, to board a motorized canoe that will take us to the community of Emberá Quera, located on the Gatún River’s mouth.  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. The Chief of the community will greet us on our arrival and will explain the history of the Tribe. Discover the roots of Embera and Wuanaan ethnic groups, two of the indigenous people who inhabit the isthmus of Panama, on the Chagres River banks.  Just minutes away are the communities Ella Puru and Katuma, whose inhabitants will warmly welcome you, explain about their customs, lifestyle and culture. The Emberá are native people of the Darien jungle region, close to the Colombian border.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will head to Chitré. We will then head to the hotel Cubitá Boutique Resort & Spa. In the afternoon, we will visit the San Isidro Farm, where the best rum of Panama is produced: Ron Abuelo.  The route starts with the visit to an ancient colonial house belonging to the distillery’s founder: Mr. José Varela. The route continues along the plantations and at the farm mill, where you will see the different stages of the production process: the juice extraction, its fermentation and its distillation.  Later on, you will see the rum maturing process, which is done in little oak casks until it reaches different commercialized standards: Ron Abuelo Añejo, Ron Abuelo 7 Year Old Rum and Ron Abuelo 12 Year Old Rum, and Ron Abuelo Centuria (30 Year Old Rum).  Finally, there will be a rum tasting through which you will be able to sense their scent, aroma and intensity. You will also enjoy a typical Panamanian lunch before we return to the hotel.

Today, we will head out on a day trip to the Isla Iguana. We will head to Playa El Arenal, in the small town of Pedasí, where we will take a boat to the Isla Iguana. The Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge was created to protect fifty hectares of sea and land territory in 1981. The island is the natural habitat of a vast colony of man‐of‐war, birds, crabs and iguanas. Five species of sea turtles arrive to the shores to deposit their eggs and the white sandy beaches, crystalline waters and sixteen hectares of barrier reef are perfect for divers and snorkellers. The reserve protects seventeen species of corals and 350 species of tropical fish. We will head out on a snorkelling excursion to see the magnificent sub aqua landscapes and its inhabitants, followed by some time to relax on the beach. We will then head back to Pedasí for lunch and the onward journey to your hotel.

Early in the morning, we will head back to Panama City, visiting La Pintada, El Caño, Agua dulce, Nata y Parita along the way. Parita, is a 17th century colonial city decorated with pastel-coloured colonial buildings.  La Pintada, is renowned for the famous Panama painted hat production as well as handmade cigars. The hats are made out of acorns, boiled and then dried in the sun in order to make a delicate fibre, not to be confused with the traditional Panama hat, which is actually made in Ecuador!.  We will also visit the Basilica of Natá de Los Caballeros, in El Caño Archaeological Park, which is the oldest church in the country. The small museum has an impressive collection of pottery, arrowheads and chiselled stones that date back 5000 years. In Aguadulce, there is a sugar cane processing plant called Santa Rosa. The Salt and Sugar Museum are also worth a visit which offer incredible insight into these daily products. Near the town, there is a group of abandoned salt lakes that are home to grey herons, wood storks, and many mosquitoes!

Today is the final day of the tour and we will head back to Panama City in time for your ongoing flight back home, or onto your next exciting destination!