Highlights
- Sail down a wild, rainforest-lined section of the Panama Canal
- Visit a Boquete coffee farm to taste geisha coffee right from the source
- Hike through a cloud forest and snorkel around a tropical island in one day
- Watch sea turtles nesting and go dolphin spotting in Bocas del Toro
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Panama City, Casco Antiguo Walking Tour & Dinner | Panama City |
| Day 2 | Cruise the Panama Canal & Visit Miraflores Locks | Panama City |
| Day 3 | Fly to Boquete, Bees & Butterflies Tour, Coffee Tasting | Boquete |
| Day 4 | Boquete Cloud Forest Hike, Transfer to Bocas del Toro | Bocas del Toro |
| Day 5 | Discover Isla Bastimentos Marine National Park | Bocas del Toro |
| Day 6 | Cacao Workshop & Dolphin Bay Sailing Trip, Turtle Nesting Experience | Bocas del Toro |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Panama City, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Panama City, Casco Antiguo Walking Tour & Dinner
Welcome to Panama! After you arrive at Tocumen International Airport, your driver will transfer you to your hotel in Panama City. This iconic capital city and commercial center blends giant skyscrapers with cobbled colonial streets and a mix of cultures formed by centuries of immigration and trade.
After getting settled in, meet your guide for an excursion into Casco Antiguo, the city's historic district. Dating back to 1673 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Casco Antiguo features charming, cobblestone streets that wind among colorful, ornate buildings and picturesque plazas. Follow your guide to historic palaces, the Teatro Nacional, the Church of San José, and the Museo de Canal (Canal Museum).
Along the way, you'll make plenty of stops to sample some of Panama's most authentic gastronomic traditions, tasting specialties such as geisha coffee, Panamanian chocolate, and the popular raspao (shaved ice). Finish the day with a three-course dinner at a quaint, gourmet restaurant, where you can sample dishes such as sancocho de gallina (chicken stew), ropa vieja (shredded beef), ceviche, or cocadas (Panamanian macaroons). The area is full of rooftop bars, fusion restaurants, and some of the best nightlife in the city to enhance your dining experience.
Day 2: Cruise the Panama Canal & Visit Miraflores Locks
Today, you'll get an in-depth look at the Panama Canal, the country's most famous site and the "Eighth Wonder of the World" the Panama Canal. It starts with a transfer to the well-preserved town of Gamboa, just 45 minutes away, where you'll climb aboard a passenger boat where the Río Chagres meets the canal. From here, you'll cruise across Lago Gatún, passing cargo ships and enjoying the surrounding rainforest views. Watch for iguanas, sloths, crocodiles, toucans, and several monkey species in the treetops along the way.
Day 3: Fly to Boquete, Bees & Butterflies Tour, Coffee Tasting
Hop a short flight into the Panamanian highlands today, where you'll be transferred to your hotel in the charming mountain town of Boquete. This laid-back town is known for its mild weather (some of the coolest in Panama), unspoiled nature, and fertile landscapes that produce a variety of fruits and some of the best coffee in the world.
After you settle in, you'll visit a local farm to tour a butterfly house and taste gourmet honey. Enjoy a guided tour of the farm, then see the over 40 species of colorful butterflies in the garden. From here, you'll tour the honey-making facilities, which process raw honey collected from wild plants in this incredibly biodiverse region. Enjoy over 10 types of raw single-crop honey, as well as honey that's been infused with medicinal herbs.
After you've had your fill of sweet treats, you'll visit the Río Cristal Coffee Plantation, one of the farms that produces the famous geisha coffee, considered by many to be the best in the world. Learn to differentiate the taste of the beans, explore the coffee-making process and toasting stage, and learn what makes a world-class coffee. End the visit with a tasting accompanied by a coffee expert to give you background on the individual samples.
Day 4: Boquete Cloud Forest Hike, Transfer to Bocas del Toro
For your final morning exploring Boquete and its surroundings, you'll have several options to fill your time. You could embark on a half-day adventure to Los Cangilones de Gualaca, a slot canyon about 45 minutes from Boquete in Chiriquí. This picturesque spot consists of otherworldly rock formations and a tropical blue river, where you can swim, cliff jump, climb the canyon walls, or relax on the rocks.
Or, spend the morning exploring the nearby cloud forest by hiking the Lost Waterfalls Trail of La Amistad National Park. The trail runs parallel to Quebrada La Mina, a small creek that crosses some of the ridges and valleys above Boquete, creating three spectacular waterfalls that spill into the Río Caldera. Wear shoes that can handle the 2.7-mile (4.5 km) moderate hike, which is at times muddy or steep, and don't forget your bathing suit, as you can swim in caves near the falls.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
After the adventure you choose, you'll be picked up and transferred to Almirante Port to catch a boat to the Bocas del Toro archipelago, where you'll spend the next several days. An idyllic group of Caribbean islands surrounded by turquoise seas, this region is one of Panama's highlights, where the taxis are all boats, and the gentle pace of life makes a perfect ending to any vacation. Across the six larger islands and countless smaller islets, dense forests filled with native wildlife and centuries-old communities still maintaining their traditions, all surrounded by water ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
Day 5: Explore Bastimentos Marine National Park
This morning is free for you to settle into island life at your own pace. If you want to venture beyond the beach, you could book a visit to a local Naso community (the local Indigenous group), paddling up the river in a wooden boat, and visiting banana plantations along the way. For something more adventurous, hike to Red Frog Beach to snorkel and find the tiny red frogs that call the area home.
Later on, it's time for a three-hour excursion to discover the natural wonders of Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park. Start with a cruise to Escudo de Veraguas to observe dolphins, then stop to visit a small mangrove forest where you can see sloths in their natural habitat. Continue to Cayo Coral next, where you'll have time to drop anchor and snorkel among the thriving coral gardens. For the rest of the afternoon, you'll explore the beautiful Cayos Zapatilla, two uninhabited islands east of Isla Bastimentos known to attract nesting sea turtles.
Day 6: Cacao Workshop & Dolphin Bay Sailing Trip, Turtle Nesting Experience
Today you'll learn that while Bocas del Toro may be famous for its idyllic islands and Indigenous culture, it's also home to some of Central America's finest chocolate. Tour a local chocolate farm to get an insight into the traditional cacao process, from bean to chocolate bar, and taste the final product straight from the source. Then it's time to board a boat and cruise to the beautiful Dolphin Bay, where you can snorkel and see the abundant life under the water. The bay is a haven for bottlenose dolphins, so keep an eye out for the playful mammals as they race alongside the boat and frolic in the waves.
Later in the evening, you'll join a local conservation specialist for an excursion to Playa El Bluff. Endangered leatherback and hawksbill turtles nest permanently at this beach, while the green turtle and the loggerhead have been spotted sporadically. Wait quietly to see if you can spot a nesting turtle, enjoy the beach at night, and learn about the important work this local community organization does to protect these precious animals.
Day 7: Transfer to Panama City, Depart
It's time to say farewell to Panama! You'll be transferred from Bocas del Toro back to Panama City, where you'll catch your flight home (or elsewhere) at Tocumen International Airport. Safe travels!
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