Splendid Panama Travel

Our driver will pick you up at Tocumen International Airport on time, and then send you to a well-selected hotel. During the rest of the day, you could rest in the hotel to get over jet lag for the upcoming 11-day Panama tour itinerary or stroll around downtown on your own. The hotel is located in the heart of the Obarrio neighborhood and you can take a walk around the nearby city park and visit a catholic church named Parish National Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, within walking distance from the hotel.


Accommodation: Holiday Inn Panama Distrito Financiero

In the morning, we will drive north to Chagres National Park, passing through the tropical rain forests, and then embark on a motorized dugout canoe to the village of Embera Drua. Local Embera people will wait for you there and the adventure starts. Before arriving at the village, you may drop by a pristine waterfall where you can enjoy cool water and beautiful scenery. After arrival, enthusiastic local people will welcome you with their traditional dance and music. Then accompanied by the guide, you can learn about the ancient culture and living habits of the local people, and appreciate their exquisite handicrafts. You will also have the chance to draw the traditional jaguar painting on the body, a natural dye used by locals to decorate their bodies. Apart from communicating with the locals, you will enjoy a local lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit Chagres National Park on foot to see many kinds of animals and plants. Finally, go back to the hotel at the end of day.

Please Note:
It is recommended to wear hiking sandals or sports shoes for your forest hiking and don’t wear beach sandals or flip flops as you may walk by slippery rocks.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Panama Distrito Financiero

The Panama Canal is a must-see spot for tourists visiting Panama, so this morning we will arrange for you a Panama Canal cruise. In the early morning, you will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to Flamenco Marina Pier. From here you will board the cruise, passing through two locks - Miraflores Locks and Pedro Miguel Locks on the way, where you can experience the ship being raised about 18 meters and 9 meters above the sea level. After passing the Pedro Miguel Locks, you will view the Centennial Bridge, the second major bridge crossing the canal after the Bridge of the Americas. After marveling at the magnificent structure, you will finally reach the destination Gamboa Dredging Division in the middle of the Panama Canal and disembark. Afterward, we will drive for 2 hours to the Caribbean coast and take a boat for about 40 minutes to the San Blas Islands. Arriving there, check in at a local hotel on a private island.

Please Note:
1. The 6-hour northbound cruise tour we selected will depart in the early morning but the actual departure time will be decided by Panama Authority based on the canal’s operation condition.

2. Breakfast and lunch will be served on the cruise but we suggest taking some of your own food.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Yandup Lodge

You are free to arrange your time today. San Blas Islands are long time inhabited by more than 30,000 Guna Yala people. You can visit the Guna Yala community on your own to learn about the culture and lifestyle of the local residents. Guna Yala community still keeps a matriarchal social structure, placing women at the center of society. It is interesting to realize the totally different social structure and traditions. However, it is kindly reminded to ask permission before you take photos with them. Though local people are friendly and hospitable, someone may not like to be photographed. Apart from interacting with the local people, you may also have a chance to enjoy their traditional art, mola, and the colorful hand-made textile. You can also wander around the beach or have an island-hopping tour to partake in various water activities. We recommend Fragata Island, Perro Island (Dog Island), Chichime Island, or Starfish Island. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Yandup Lodge

In the morning, you will take a boat and return to Panama City. The guide and the driver will firstly guide you to Panama Viejo, the historical ruins of the first Panama City. It was built by the Spanish people but later attacked by pirates. Today you can see the Cathedral tower and visit the old Panama Museum to trace back the history. Later, you will be transferred to Miraflores Locks to see the engineering miracle, the Panama Canal. Your guide will check the ship transit schedule at the official website ahead to make you catch the scene where large cargo ships and cruises make their way through the canal locks. At Miraflores Visitor Center, besides overlooking ships at the observation deck, you can also watch a short film to learn more about the canal. After that, you will be guided to stroll around the Casco Viejo (San Felipe), Panama City’s atmospheric old town area, to appreciate gorgeous Spanish-style buildings like the France Square, and some centuries-old cathedrals.

Dinner Suggestion: 
Today’s last stop is the Caso Viejo, and it is a good idea to enjoy a fancy dinner in the historical district. Here we recommend some best dining choices for you. Casa Casco comes first as it not only offers a fantastic rooftop dinner but also is the best place to overlook the old Panama City. You can also just enjoy a cup of drink and see the sun go down. The second one is Casa Blanca, which is also a great restaurant serving lovely food and a romantic atmosphere with lively music. Santa Rita is another top choice in the old town and it features sea food and Spanish cuisines, well worth a try. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Panama Distrito Financiero

The driver will take you to the airport in the morning for the flight to David in about one hour. Upon arrival, the local driver will wait for you at the Arrival Hall of the airport, then drive for about 45 minutes to send you to Boquete. In the afternoon, the guide will lead you to visit a coffee plantation and you can learn the whole produce process of picking, cleaning, roasting and grinding coffee. Then, visit one of Boquete's local farms and you'll see a clean and modern organic coffee farm.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Ladera

We will start hiking after breakfast. Follow the Quetzales trail, one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Central America, and look for animals such as the quetzal, the bell bird, the hummingbird, and the proboscis raccoon. In the afternoon, you will take the Zip Line Tour at Chiquiri Cloud Forest, where you will have an exciting experience and a new perspective on the breathtaking natural scenery of Baru Volcano National Park as you slide through the zipline over the canopies. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Ladera

In the morning, we will drive about 3.5 hours (185 km) to the Almirante wharf first and then take a boat to arrive at Bocas del Toro in about 30 minutes. On the way, we will visit Los Cangilones, a beautiful natural swimming pool that is famous in Gualaca.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Playa Tortuga Hotel & Beach Resort

Today we will take a boat to the Dolphin Bay, where you will see many lovely dolphins playing in the water freely. Next we will head to the Coral Cay for snorkeling and in search of stingrays and other colorful tropical fish. In the afternoon, go to visit Red Frog Beach in Isla Bastimentos, one of the most beautiful beaches on the island of Bocas del Toro. You will be left some free time to join marine activities such as snorkeling, sunbathing, or surfing here. We will go back to the hotel in the late afternoon. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Playa Tortuga Hotel & Beach Resort

You can move freely in this morning and continue your beach-combing. In the afternoon, the driver will send you to the airport so that you can take the flight to Panama City. The local driver will pick you up on time upon your arrival and drop you off at the hotel. 

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Panama Distrito Financiero

Your itinerary will come to an end today. The driver will send you to Tocumen International Airport according to your flight timetable. May you have had a great time with us and a great experience in this holiday. Have a nice trip home!

Meals: Breakfast