• • Explore the Panama Canal and the Chagres River
• • Snorkel in the Caribbean waters of Bocas del Toro
• • Historical journey through the old parts of Panama City with the chance to obtain traditional handcrafts and souvenirs at the arts and crafts market

 

Details

 

 

 

 

Dec 25, 2009 - Jan 2, 2010  
Mar 13 - 21, 2010 
June 26 - July 4, 2010  
July 17 - 25, 2010 

 

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart U.S. / Arrive Pamana City
Upon arrival in Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, you will be met by your guide outside the customs and immigration area at the airport. Your guide will transfer you to the hotel where you will enjoy a welcome dinner and trip orientation.
• Overnight: Gamboa Rainforest Resort

Day 2 - Panama Jungle Boat Adventure
Early this morning you will be transferred to the marina, where you board a specially equipped expedition boat. The voyage takes you across Gatun Lake in the Panama Canal passing by gigantic cargo ships transiting the waterway and making contrast with the natural surroundings. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to 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 species. The expedition boat will allow for close approximations to rainforest covered islands in Gatun Lake to search for White-faced Capuchin, Howler Monkey, Spider Monkey and the endemic Red-napped Tamarin. You will have a picnic lunch on an island with extraordinary views of the Panama Canal and the natural surroundings. This afternoon is on your own to enjoy Gamboa.
• Overnight: Gamboa Rainforest Resort
• All meals included

 

Day 3- The Chagres River & Embera People
Early this morning drive to El Corotu on the shores of Madden Lake. The main reservoir of drinking water for the cities of Panama and Colon, Madden Lake also supplies 40% of the water required for the operation of the Panama Canal. Here, you board a motorized piragua (dugout canoe) and travel up the Chagres River to the Embera indigenous village of Embera Drua. The boat journey takes you through the rainforest of the 320,000-acre Chagres National Park, which is the largest of the National Parks protecting the Panama Canal Watershed. Along the Chagres River, you may be able to spot 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 you will be greeted with dancing and music. You will learn about Embera customs and their relationship with nature. There will be handcrafts available for sale and you will have a chance to paint with the traditional jagua, a natural dye the Embera use to adorn their bodies. After a picnic lunch you visit the nearby waterfall where you can take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the Chagres River before heading back to Gamboa.

• Overnight: Gamboa Rainforest Resort
• Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

 

Day 4-Summit Natural Park-Miraflores Locks-Chiriqui Highlands
This morning you will visit Summit Natural Park where you will tour the botanical gardens and also enjoy the highlights which include the natural exhibits of the Jaguar, Baird’s Tapir and Harpy Eagle. You continue to the Miraflores Locks in the Panama Canal to learn about its history and marvel at this engineering accomplishment. The canal still operates pretty much as it did when it was inaugurated in 1914 the SS Ancon steamer was the first ship to transit the Panama Canal. In the afternoon you catch a flight from Albrook domestic airport to David, the capital of the Chiriqui province. Chiriqui is known as “Panama’s breadbasket” and contains some of the most breathtaking highland scenery in Central America. Transfer by van to the eastern side of the dormant Baru Volcano to the quaint town of Boquete with its countryside dotted with flower, fruit and vegetable farms, coffee plantations and extraordinary cloud forest environments.

• Overnight: Finca Lerida Lodge
• All meals included

Day 5 - Cloud Forest Canopy Tree Trek or River Floating Tour
This morning you will do a canopy tree trek on a zip line that that allows you to contemplate the rainforest from fourteen different canopy platforms while smoothly soaring in the heights of the cloud forest from one treetop to another. You will glide through the trees and encounter a world unknown. You will discover a fascinating perspective of wildlife that you had never appreciated. Native species of flora and fauna can be observed. You will marvel at the sight of a great variety of orchids, trees and wildflowers that are found throughout the area.

There will be an option to go on a river floating tour down the Chiriqui River for those who don’t go zip lining today. This optional tour has an additional cost and must be arranged in advance.

• Overnight: Finca Lerida Lodge
• All meals included

Day 6 - Chiriqui Highlands - Bocas del Toro
After a good night’s rest you pack your belongings and get ready for the 4 hour drive to Bocas del Toro. You will be literally traveling from the cloudforests to the coral reefs. You will stop along the way several times to stretch your legs, play some games and enjoy the scenery. On arrival to Almirante on the Caribbean coast a boat will be waiting for you to be transferred to Colon Island where you will spend the next two nights. This afternoon, weather permitting, you visit Swan's Cay, a rock protruding from the depths of the Caribbean Sea, which serves as rookery for Red-billed tropic birds (the only place to be found in Panama) and Brown boobies. You will enjoy beach time at Boca del Drago and search for colorful starfish. Along the coastline, you make stops at coral reefs and mangrove isles for snorkeling.

• Overnight: Bocas Inn
• All meals included

Day 7 - Salt Creek Village - Bastimentos Marine National Park
Located along the northeastern coast of Panama on the Caribbean Sea, the San Blas Islands are the home of the Kuna Indians. Determined to protect their unique culture, the Kunas were granted regional autonomy forming the Comarca (autonomous territory) of Kuna Yala where to this day an indigenous congress rules. Kuna women spend countless hours stitching the very colorful reverse appliquéd cotton mola which is part of their daily wear. Essentially, the Kuna are fishermen, but they also farm coconut, corn, rice, cocoa, yucca and other staples.

Today you will depart by small plane to San Blas at the crack of dawn. To enhance the interaction with the Kuna, travelers will go without the Naturalist Guide. A representative of Uaguinega Lodge will greet you upon landing at the airstrip and will transfer you to the lodge by boat to check in and have breakfast. Uaguinega Lodge is located on Uaguitupo (Dolphin) Island, about ten minutes from the Achutupo airstrip. Owned and operated by a Kuna family, the accommodations at Dolphin Lodge are rustic but comfortable in traditional Kuna-style huts with cozy beds, indoor bathrooms and a hammock on the front porch. Meals are served in the Bohio dining room overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

After breakfast you will visit the Kuna village of Achutupo in the company of a local guide that will offer an excellent opportunity to learn about the Kuna culture and traditional ceremonies. Visit the communal house of “Sahilas” (Kuna chiefs) where the chiefs are responsible for enforcing the law of the community as well as offering advice on other aspects of life - including marital problems! Learn about the building of the typical Kuna house, their economy, the famous mola, and the processing of sugar cane into the alcoholic drink known as chicha. Return to the lodge to relax at one of the hammocks and to have lunch. Later this afternoon you will go snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea to look for stunning marine life.
Overnight: Bocas Inn

• All meals included

Day 8 - Panama City
Early morning transfer to the mainland where you will catch the plane bound for Panama City. Upon arrival you will meet your Naturalist Guide who will take you to El Corotu on the shores of Madden Lake. The main reservoir of drinking water for the cities of Panama and Colon, Madden Lake also supplies 40% of the water required for the operation of the Panama Canal. Here, you will board a motorized piragua (dugout canoe) and travel up the Chagres River. The journey will take you through the rainforest of the 320,000-acre Chagres National Park, which is the largest of the National Parks protecting the Panama Canal Watershed. Along the Chagres River, you may be able to spot 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 you will be greeted with dancing and music. You will learn about Embera customs and their relationship with nature. There will be handcrafts available for sale and you will have a chance to be painted with the traditional jagua, a natural dye the Embera use to adorn their bodies. After a picnic lunch you will head back to Panama City.
Overnight: Hotel El Panama

• All meals included

 

Day 9 – Panama City
A morning flight will take you back to Panama City where the activities today include a visit the ruins of Old Panama and Casco Antiguo. After lunch at a local restaurant you will visit the Smithsonian Marine Exhibition at Culebra Point at the entrance to the Pacific side of the Panama Canal and the International Handcraft Market where crafts from Panama and other Latin American countries are available. Tonight you enjoy a farewell dinner at your hotel.
Overnight: Hotel El Panama

• All meals included

Day 9 - Panama / Depart
Early morning transfer to Tocumen International Airport in Panama City for your international flight.

• Meal: Breakfast

 

What’s Included

What’s Not Included