Highlights
- Dive into the heart of Panama City's colonial neighborhoods
- See a range of UNESCO World Heritage monuments
- Visit the infamous Panama Canal as you train to Portobelo
- Navigate the history of pirates along the gold route
- Choose between land and water activities in two national parks
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Panama City | Panama City |
| Day 2 | Explore Historic Neighborhoods | Panama City |
| Day 3 | Hiking in Soberania National Park - Boating in Gatun Lake | Panama City |
| Day 4 | Train to Colon - Agua Clara Locks - Ruins of San Lorenzo | Portobelo |
| Day 5 | Portobelo Free Day | Portobelo |
| Day 6 | Pirate History Catamaran Trip | Portobelo |
| Day 7 | Portobelo - Return to Panama City | Panama City |
| Day 8 | Depart Panama City |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Panama City
Welcome to Panama City! Upon landing at Tocumen International Airport, you'll be picked up by a private driver and transferred to your hotel located 30 minutes away.
You'll have the rest of the day to relax at your hotel, or get out and sightsee if you're feeling energized. The capital and largest city in Panama is steeped in history, yet much of it today is surprisingly modern (it is often considered the most modern and dynamic capital in Central America).
Since you're touring more historic areas tomorrow, you may want to explore newer areas of the city today. A good vantage point is to walk around Punta Paitilla where you can see the glass skyscrapers towering from the waterfront. Consider walking through Costa del Este, an upscale neighborhood and business area that evokes a bit of Miami or Los Angeles with wide, palm-lined streets, high-end shops, and restaurants. Punta Pacifica is another modern area with a slew of luxury condominium towers perched on the edge of the Pacific Ocean—also within walking distance to high-end shops and restaurants.
You can also rent a bike and pedal along the Causeway, which connects four small islands made up of rocks excavated from the Panama Canal. Once a base for US forces, the islands have since been turned into a place for joggers, walkers, and bikers with refreshments along the way.
There’s plenty to do after dark if you want to join the city's buzzing nightlife. It is advised that you stick to the downtown area, which is safe, rather than venturing too far without a guide.
Day 2: Explore Historic Neighborhoods
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 3: Hiking in Soberania National Park - Boating in Gatun Lake
Today, you'll have an early breakfast, and then head out of the city for a five-hour trip where you'll experience a part of Panama that is surrounded by tropical woods and animals.
Soberania National Park is just 20 minutes from Panama City, yet hosts over 1,300 types of plants and 525 bird species. There are dozens of trails that allow visitors to submerge in the luxuriant nature of Panama, and you'll walk through one of them with your guide.
Following the hike, you'll take a boat ride around Gatun Lake and explore some of its islands. This is an area rich with monkeys, iguanas, and crocodiles, which you can observe in their natural environment. Listen for the cry of the howler monkey that mixes along with the chant of exotic birds for the ultimate reminder of your traveling status.
Day 4: Train to Colon - Agua Clara Locks - Ruins of San Lorenzo
This morning, it's time to depart Panama City and head north towards the Caribbean coast. To get here, you'll transfer to the Corozal train station to board the Panama Canal Railway in the direction of the Colon Province—a ride which takes about an hour.
Once you've arrived, you'll visit the Agua Clara Visitors Center where you'll have time to dine at the café for lunch. You'll also be able to climb the observation tower rising 197 feet (60 m) above the ground for a breathtaking view of the Caribbean Sea and the third lane of the Panama Canal: Agua Clara Locks. While up there, look for the original Gatun Locks, once the main Atlantic port on the isthmus of Panama. If time allows, the center offers an onsite theater with two informational videos in English, as well as a gift shop, and an easy ecological trail with potential sloths, toucans, and howler monkeys.
Save some energy, because next is a visit to the ruins of the historic fortifications of San Lorenzo, located at the mouth of the Chagres River, west of the Panama Canal. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was originally established as part of a series of Spanish coastal defenses to protect transatlantic trade—an area that had to be rebuilt numerous times by the Spanish over the course of a few hundred years due to attacks. Most notably, English pirate Henry Morgan's siege in 1670, which caused the Spanish to build an even stronger fort high on the cliff overlooking the river—the remains which you'll explore today.
Day 5: Portobelo Free Day
Today, you'll have the entire day to explore the Colon Province any way you wish! Due to its location along the sea, you'll have plenty of aquatic-themed options to choose from.
For starters, you could explore more of Portobelo National Park, made up of more than 85,000 acres of coastal forests for hiking. The park also protects marine communities, so you'll have access to coral reefs, mangrove swamps, coastal lagoons, and beautiful beaches. In fact, there are 44 miles of beachfront between the Bay of San Cristóbal to the north and the Bay of Good luck to the south. Also, within the park is one of the more beautiful natural harbors in the Caribbean: the bay of Portobelo.
If you're keen to get on a boat (you'll be on one tomorrow, by the way) you can sign up for day-trips to Isla Grande and Isla Mamay for a range of watersports like snorkeling, kayaking, or scuba diving. Another destination only reachable only by boat is beautiful Playa Blanca—a sheltered white sand beach surrounded by dense wild vegetation and colorful reefs.
Day 6: Pirate History Catamaran Trip
Today you’ll embark on a fun and historic Caribbean experience by way of a catamaran. All you have to do is sit back and relax as you set sail from the bay of Portobelo.
Translated to 'beautiful port', this area became the main trading point for Spaniard ships between Europe and Central/South America, carrying treasures and gold from the Incas and Aztecs. Because of this, Portobelo became the target of attacks by Pirates like Sir Henry Morgan and Sir Francis Drake. You’ll get to recreate the adventures of these pirates on the same waters they traversed over 500 years, as you sail past fortresses and strategic places.
History aside, there’s plenty of time to enjoy the Caribbean scenery as you sail through the aquamarine sea with colorful marine creatures and coral reef formations, along with the sounds of the nearby rainforest. You’ll also have a choice to visit a secluded beach for sunbathing and swimming, to go snorkeling or kayaking, or just relax on board. Your crew will offer lunch, snacks, and refreshments, including beer, wine, water, and soft drinks throughout the excursion.
Return to Portobelo in the afternoon where you'll have the rest of the evening to spend on your own.
Day 7: Return to Panama City
It's your last morning in Portobelo! Depending on the time of your transfer, enjoy a walk around the village and/or simply relax with breakfast at your hotel. At the designated time, you'll be picked up by a private driver for the trip back to Panama City.
Once you check into your hotel, you'll have the rest of the day to spend at leisure. Make sure to take advantage of anything you may have missed at the beginning of the trip. Or maybe you want to head to Metropolitan Park for a picnic lunch. This urban wildlife refuge (the only wildlife refuge in the city) offers easy-to-moderate trails and dedicated lookout points.
Day 8: Depart Panama City
It's time to say goodbye to Panama! After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy any remaining free time in the city. At the designated time, you'll be escorted to the airport for your departure flight home.
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