Highlights
- Sleep in a hammock deep in the jungles of Chagres National Park
- Take a multiday trek along the ruins of the historic Camino Real
- Gaze onto the Caribbean from centuries-old fortresses in Portobelo
- Sail among the pristine islands of the San Blas archipelago by catamaran
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Panama City | Panama City |
| Day 2 | Transfer to Chagres National Park, Camino Real Hike (Day 1) | Chagres National Park |
| Day 3 | Camino Real Hike (Day 2): Along the Río Boquerón | Boquerón River Camp |
| Day 4 | Camino Real Hike (Day 3): Jungle Trek | Chagres National Park |
| Day 5 | Camino Real Hike (Day 4): End in Portobelo, Transfer to Panama City | Panama City |
| Day 6 | Transfer to San Blas Islands, Catamaran Cruise (Day 1) | San Blas Islands |
| Day 7 | Catamaran Cruise (Day 2): Culture & Beauty at Isla Diablo | San Blas Islands |
| Day 8 | Catamaran Cruise (Day 3): Snorkel & Swim at Isla Perro Chico | San Blas Islands |
| Day 9 | Catamaran Cruise (Day 4): Nature & Reefs at Isla Waili | San Blas Islands |
| Day 10 | Transfer to Panama City, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Panama City
Welcome to Panama! You'll arrive at Tocumen International Airport, where a representative will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Panama City. Panama's iconic capital and commercial center is like nowhere else in Central America. Big business and giant skyscrapers meet cobbled colonial streets and a mix of cultures formed by centuries of immigration and trade. The vibrant and historical UNESCO-listed Old Town, Casco Antiguo, is where many of the best bars, restaurants, and hotels are found.
Day 2: Transfer to Chagres National Park, Camino Real Hike (Day 1)
Today is the start of your multiday trek along the remains of the El Camino Real de Panama (known locally as the Camino Real). This ancient trail, once a cobblestoned colonial road through the primary rainforest of the Chagres and Portobelo National Parks, was used by caravans carrying treasure from Peru and Bolivia to the trade fairs of Portobelo. The Camino Real, or "the King's Highway," was built over 500 years ago as the Spanish began to pillage the Inca coffers. This "Royal Road" enabled the conquistadors to bring untold wealth back to waiting Spanish ships in the Caribbean.
This trek follows the original route, crossing the Isthmus of Panama from the Pacific Ocean, trekking through the dense jungle of the Alto Chagres, and finally reaching Portobelo on the Caribbean coast. Abandoned when the Panama Canal was completed in the early 1900s, much of the trail is overgrown or flooded, thanks to damming for the Canal, but still passable with the help of your guide and local villagers.
You'll be transferred from your Panama City hotel to Lago Alajuela in Chagres National Park. Here you can visit a local Indigenous village to learn about their deforestation and conservation efforts before taking a traditional canoe to the remains of the Camino Real at the lakeshore. From there, begin your trek of the Camino, covering 5 miles (8 km) over five to six hours. You'll sleep in another Indigenous community (mosquito net and tent/hammock included) to witness how they pursue a sustainable lifestyle within the park.
Day 3: Camino Real Hike (Day 2): Along the Río Boquerón
Today, you'll continue your trek along the old Camino Real. Named by "National Geographic" as one of the Americas' best experiences, this intrepid hike takes you from the ocean to the jungle, through remote villages, over mountains, and across rivers.
Your morning will begin with a boat ride on a flooded portion of the Camino Real before continuing the hike to the mountains. Enjoy a marvelous panoramic view of the Chagres National Park before following the road between the Pequení and Boquerón rivers toward a well-preserved Camino Real section near the small tributary river, Quebrada Peluca. Visit the Santa Librada community for lunch, and continue hiking along the Río Boquerón to reach camp. Relax in your hammock and recover from the long, eight-hour hike, covering nearly 10 miles (16 km).
Day 4: Camino Real Hike (Day 3): Jungle Trek
Today, you'll spend most of the day, around eight hours, walking under giant trees of the primary forest on the banks of the Río Boquerón. This section of the Camino goes up to the headwaters of the river, which then pours down the valley over countless waterfalls, including the Cascajal Boquerón. It's also the most challenging part of the jungle to traverse, as you'll climb up and over the very ridge Spaniards once crossed carrying their stolen treasure. The many pools along the river are ideal for a quick swimming break, much-needed in the heat and humidity of the jungle.
As you'll leave the rainforest behind tomorrow, this is your last chance to glimpse some of the region's plentiful wildlife; watch for wildlife such as monkeys, sloths, birds, and even jaguar tracks. After covering all 7 miles (11 km), you'll set up camp in the forest and rest up for your final day on the Camino Real, which will take you to the Caribbean Sea.
Day 5: Camino Real Hike (Day 4): End in Portobelo, Transfer to Panama City
Today, you'll hike the last segment of the Camino Real, finishing at the Caribbean. Walk along the Río Cascajal toward Portobelo, which Columbus discovered on his fourth voyage. Later, it was the site of the famous trade fairs of Portobelo and the starting point of the Spanish treasure fleet. Near the end of the six-hour hike covering nearly 7 miles (11 km), you'll be overwhelmed with a sense of accomplishment and awe when you see the sweeping views of the Pacific and spot the remains of Spanish colonization in the ruins around Portobelo.
Once the most important port in the Caribbean, Portobelo is known for its friendly people, lively music, and colorful dancing. If you have time, visit the UNESCO-listed colonial fortresses still standing in the village, watching over the bay. In the late afternoon, you'll be transferred back to your hotel in Panama City.
Day 6: Transfer to San Blas Islands, Catamaran Cruise (Day 1)
Today you'll be transferred 2.5 hours north of the capital to the San Blas Islands, off the Caribbean coast of eastern Panama. The islands of San Blas are a perfect blend of white sands, swaying palm trees, and clear turquoise waters. In addition to being an idyllic vacation destination, these islands are known for the local Guna Yala tribe. This Indigenous group has lived here for centuries and maintains its own government, along with unique customs, language, dress, and music, offering visitors an authentic Caribbean island experience.
The best way to see the islands is to take a catamaran cruise to explore the archipelago from the water. You'll spend the next four days and three nights sailing between various islands, witnessing local traditions, snorkeling, kayaking, swimming, or just relaxing on the beach. Swimming and snorkeling in the waters surrounding the islands is a must, while farther offshore, you'll find colorful reefs teeming with life.
Day 7: Catamaran Cruise (Day 2): Culture & Beauty at Isla Diablo
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
The Caribbean breezes will carry you to Isla Diablo today for cultural encounters with the local communities and to explore more of the marvelous Caribbean traditions imbued in the islands and the surrounding nature.
Made up of over 350 islands, only around 50 islands of the San Blas archipelago are inhabited. One of these islands, Isla Diablo, is an ideal spot to experience pristine nature and cultural traditions, like molas, a traditional textile made from layered fabrics that form a colorful pattern. Watch local artisans at their craft, shop for souvenirs, or explore the tiny island fringed by coral reefs and white-sand beaches. End the day back aboard your luxury catamaran and relax in your cabin.
Day 8: Catamaran Cruise (Day 3): Snorkel & Swim at Isla Perro Chico
Sail to the incomparable island paradise of Isla Perro Chico (Dog Island), also called Assudub Bibbi in the local language. Nearly uninhabited except for some campsites and a small restaurant, the island is full of palm trees and white sand, but the main attractions lie offshore.
The island is famous for its shallow shipwreck, a gunship that sank just off the beach in the 1940s. Partly visible above the water, the ship, commonly known as the Barco Hundido, has created an artificial reef, making it ideal for snorkeling. You'll get the chance to snorkel all around the ship, marvel at the layers of coral that have obscured parts of the hull, and swim among many colorful tropical fish.
Isla Perro Chico is also known for its Natural Pool, a sandbar under several feet of crystal-clear water home to many resident starfish. The shallow water is perfect for swimming and relaxing, and you'll have plenty of time to enjoy this natural wonder before settling into your comfortable cabin for another night on the water.
Day 9: Catamaran Cruise (Day 4): Nature & Reefs at Isla Waili
Day 10: Transfer to Panama City, Depart
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