Best of Panama

Begin with a city tour at the Panama Canal, then watch ships transit the waterways at the Panama Canal Visitors’ Center at Miraflores Locks. The three-floor exhibit halls provide information about the history, engineering and current events related to the Panama Canal. Drive through the former Panama Canal Zone managed by the United States from 1903 to 1999. Old military bases have been turned into residential neighborhoods, universities and one of the most important commerce hubs in the region, combining airports, container ports and cargo railways that support the Panama Canal operations.

Visit the Smithsonian Affiliate Biodiversity Museum, designed by the world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, and learn about the biodiversity and natural history, eco-awareness, conservation and Panama’s extraordinary natural treasures in various unique exhibition galleries. Continue to Casco Antiguo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, for lunch followed by a historical walking tour. In 1673, after a devastating pirate attack, Panama City was moved nearly five miles west of its original location to a small peninsula at the foot of Ancon hill. Several buildings within the district are identified as important for the country’s 17th-20th century heritage. Most outstanding are the churches, especially the metropolitan cathedral with its five aisles and timber roof, the Presidential Palace, the House of the Municipality, the National Theater, the Ministry of Government and Justice and the Municipal Palace.

Enjoy dinner with your guide at a local restaurant in the old town enjoying Panama City’s culinary diversity, local tastes and international fusion.

Begin this morning with a 1.5-hour transfer across the Isthmus to Gatun River near Colon. Board a motorized piragua (dugout canoe) and travel through lush forests to the Embera indigenous village on the shores of the Gatun River, spotting little blue and green heron, great egret, anhingas, neotropical cormorant, amazon, ringed and green kingfishers, along with keel-billed toucans and ospreys flying above. At the Embera village, be greeted with dancing and music, learn about Embera customs and their relationship with nature, and have a chance to be painted with the traditional jagua, a natural dye the Embera use to adorn their bodies. After a traditional Embera lunch head to the Agua Clara Locks of the Panama Canal Expansion just outside Colon.

Built in the middle of the jungle on the Atlantic side, the Agua Clara Locks were inaugurated on June 26, 2016. The $5.25 billion project included dredging works on both ends of the canal and the route itself in order to increase water depth and the straightening of bends along the route that allow larger ships to transit through the canal. The new locks were designed to reuse up to 60% of the fresh water that would flow into the ocean by using recycling water basins.

Return to Panama City’s domestic airport to catch a 50-minute late afternoon flight to David, capital of the Chiriqui province, in western Panama. Chiriqui is “Panama’s breadbasket” and contains some of the most breathtaking highland scenery in Central America. After arrival to David Airport, continue to the western side of the Baru Volcano and spend the next two nights at Los Brezos Hotel.

Today visit Finca Ceriana, a privately protected area for the conservation of flora and fauna strategically located between the highlands and lowlands of Chiriqui. One of its unique characteristics is the number of bird species and other animals from the upper and lower mountain areas. The property is part of the biological corridor that hosts the famous volcano lagoons and a large variety of animal and plant species. Once at Finca Ceriana, walk through beautiful trails while an expert guide discusses the rare birds of the 180+ species that live in this forest. Stop at the Canopy Tower for coffee and cookies to admire the cloud forest and relax. Walk along trails up a hill for a magnificent view then to the farm for a gourmet picnic and wine under beautiful cedar trees. Visit the sugar cane mill and learn about the sugar cane process and taste fresh sugar cane juice and other sugar cane products. Return back to the hotel late afternoon.

This morning, take a comprehensive tour of the Janson’s Coffee estate at their farm in the mountain range of Baru Volcano and the surrounding valley. Learn about planting, harvesting, processing, roasting and packaging of the world class coffee Del Fino and Geisha, grown on the Janso’s coffee farm. Janson coffee is grown at the perfect altitude in rich volcanic soil, processed by utilizing the best that tradition and technology have to offer, and has won many prizes.

Lunch in the charming mountain town of Boquete, situated on the Caldera River. Take an exciting canopy zipline tour in the afternoon and contemplate the rainforest from 14 different canopy platforms while smoothly soaring in the heights of the cloud forest from one treetop to another. Glide through the trees to discover a fascinating perspective of wildlife and marvel at the native species of flora and fauna including a great variety of orchids, trees and wildflowers.

This afternoon arrive at the hotel in Boca Chica. Nestling amidst a stunning tropical paradise, Bocas del Mar Hotel in Boca Chica offers the perfect base for discovering the region. This is the gateway to the Gulf of Chiriquí Marine National Park with its many luxuriant green islands, palm-tree-fringed white beaches and an incredible variety of wildlife, right on the hotel’s doorstep.

Awaken yards from the ocean and enjoy breakfast with panoramic views over the bay. Get ready to venture to a neighboring island for a day of beach relaxation and underwater exploration with snorkel and fins. This Pacific Gulf is home to thousands of pristine islands and unspoiled beaches and is nearby world-renowned sport fishing grounds and scuba diving. The National Park covers 60 square miles of islands and ocean and is known for its green iguana lizards, humpback whales, dolphins, many species of turtles, stingrays, monkeys, and hundreds of types of exotic birds and tropical fish.

In the months from late June through early October, enjoy the opportunity to be part of the magical whale season when thousands of Humpbacks migrate northwards from their summer feeding grounds around Antarctica, arriving in this Pacific region of Panama where they breed and give birth to their calves in the warm, shallow and safe waters near Cala Mia.

Return to the hotel to relax or enjoy the fresh-water swimming pool with beautiful sunset views over the bay. Or opt for optional activities such as horseback riding, bird watching, deep sea fishing or relaxing spa treatments with stunning views over the Pacific Ocean (additional cost).

Several rivers empty into the sea by Boca Chica and help support a maze of mangroves. The mangroves are good places to spot birds and reptiles and are especially fun to explore on kayaks. Head out with your naturalist guide for a kayaking outing this morning and enjoy the calm waters, lush nature and biodiversity of this beautiful part of Panama. After lunch at the lodge, catch your afternoon flight back to Panama City. Tonight, dine at a local restaurant within walking distance from the Bristol hotel, with your guide.

Early this morning, voyage across Gatun Lake in the Panama Canal on a small expedition boat, passing gigantic cargo ships transiting the waterway. Spot green iguana and three-toed sloth resting on tree branches, crocodile, osprey in the hunt for peacock bass, snail kite and keel-billed toucan, among other wildlife. Gatun Lake, formed to give way to the Panama Canal in 1914, was the largest man-made lake in the world, at the time of its creation. The flow of all the rivers within the Panama Canal Watershed is contained in Gatun Lake to provide water for the operation of the locks system. Aboard today’s expedition boat, enjoy an up-close explorations of rainforest-covered islands (former hilltops) in Gatun Lake to search for white-faced capuchin, mantled howler monkey, Central American spider monkey and Geoffrey’s tamarin.

Later, board a 250-passenger ferry for the Partial Panama Canal Transit and sail at 85 feet above sea level. Shortly after departure, the ship enters Gaillard Cut, the narrowest section of the Panama Canal. Take the opportunity to look at the work’s progress on this extraordinary engineering venture. The ship will reach Pedro Miguel Locks, where the vessel will be lowered 30.8 feet into Miraflores Lake. 1.2 miles later arrive to Miraflores Locks where the transition from fresh water to salt water takes place in the locks’ chambers. Due to the Pacific Ocean’s extreme tidal variations, Miraflores Locks’ miter gates are the tallest of the locks system. In two steps, the vessel will be lowered 54.5 feet into the Pacific Ocean. Then sail under the bridge of the Americas, which reunites the land divided by the Panama Canal as part of the Pan-American Highway. After disembarking at Flamenco Island, transfer back to the Bristol hotel downtown. Enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel’s famous Salsipuedes restaurant.

Today be picked up at the lobby of the hotel 2.5 hours prior to your scheduled departure flight and transferred to Tocumen International Airport, or continue your adventure independently.