Panama holiday
| country: | Panama |
| departures: | 2010: 19 Mar, 9 Apr, 16 Jul, 17 Sep, 15 Oct, 31 Dec |
| price: | From £1700 (10 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. Single supplement £250. |
| more info: | Group size 2-12 people. tailormade departures run with a minimum of 2 people |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
introduction to Panama holiday
A lush land of diverse forests and pristine beaches, Panama is a proud nation, and one that can be applauded for respecting its indigenous peoples.
From bird watching in the Chiriqui cloud forests in the west, to learning about the Kuna culture in the San Blas Islands, to crossing the Panama Canal in the heart of the country, our itinerary provides a well-rounded experience for those seeking nature, culture and history.
Easy/moderate hiking 2-4 hours per day with rolling and slippery hills. Hotel or lodge accommodations are comfortable
From bird watching in the Chiriqui cloud forests in the west, to learning about the Kuna culture in the San Blas Islands, to crossing the Panama Canal in the heart of the country, our itinerary provides a well-rounded experience for those seeking nature, culture and history.
Easy/moderate hiking 2-4 hours per day with rolling and slippery hills. Hotel or lodge accommodations are comfortable
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Panama City Arrive in Panama City. Depending on arrival, you may have a chance to explore Panama’s capital before meeting your guide for the trip ahead. Overnight Country Inn or similar. |
| Day 2: | Panama Canal Jungle Boat Adventure - Chiriqui Highlands.Drive to the town of Gamboa, where the Chagres River meets the Panama Canal. From here we take a boat across Gatun Lake in the canal, passing gigantic cargo ships en route – an astonishing contrast with the natural surroundings. Along the way, we 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 wildlife. Afterwards, we fly to David, capital of Chiriqui province. Chiriqui is known as ‘Panama’s breadbasket’ and contains some of the most breathtaking highland scenery in Central America. Overnight Hotel dos Rios or similar. (BLD) |
| Day 3: | La Amistad International Park & World Biosphere Reserve. This morning we explore La Amistad in search of species such as Resplendent Quetzal, Andean Pygmy-Owl, and Black and Yellow Silky Flycatcher among many other western highland birds. After lunch as visit Finca Dracula, home to over 1500 orchid species. On our return journey to the hotel we stop at a coffee estate to learn about the various process of coffee production, and enjoy a fresh brewed cup of coffee while watching the spectacular sunset over the Baru Volcano, the highest peak in Panama at 3,475 metres above sea level. Overnight Hotel dos Rios or similar. (BLD) |
| Day 4: | Sitio Barriles - Boquete. On the way to Boquete we visit Sitio Barriles an archaeological site of the extinct Barril culture that once lived on the slopes of the dormant Baru Volcano. We have time to learn about the petroglyphs before heading to the quaint town of Boquete, its countryside dotted with flower, fruit and produce farms, coffee plantations and lush tropical cloud forests. Overnight Hotel Panamonte or similar.(BLD) |
| Day 5: | Finca Lerida Cloud Forest. This morning we explore Finca Lerida, a privately owned preserve in Boquete, in the buffer zone of Baru Volcano National Park. At an elevation of 2,286 metres we have an opportunity to look for the elusive Resplendent Quetzal, Three-wattled Bellbird, Black-faced Solitaire, Volcano Hummingbird, Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher and Prong-billed Barbet in their cool habitat of orchids, bromeliads and wild avocados. We hike through lush vegetation and arrive at the Collin’s shade-grown coffee farm where lunch will be served. Overnight Hotel Panamonte or similar. (BLD) |
| Day 6: | Panama City . Travel back to David and fly to Panama City. We visit the Smithsonian’s Tropical Research Institute Tupper Centre and the Panama Canal’s Administration Building to admire its beautiful murals depicting the monumental labour involved in the building of the waterway. We also visit the Miraflores Locks, the first set of locks on the Pacific Ocean side of the canal and Casco Viejo, the colonial city. Overnight Hotel Executive or similar. (BLD) |
| Day 7: | San Blas Islands - Dolphin Island. Depart by small plane to the San Blas Islands, where we then transfer by boat to Dolphin Island. The San Blas Islands are the home of the Kuna Indians, one of Panama’s seven indigenous groups. We visit the Kuna village of Achutupo in the company of a local guide giving us 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! . Later this afternoon we will go snorkelling in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea to look for stunning marine life. Our accommodation is at Dolphin Island Lodge in traditional Kuna style huts, with meals served overlooking the Caribbean Sea. (BLD) |
| Day 8: | Panama City - Chagres River and the Embera. Return by plane to Panama City. We then travel to Madden Lake and board a motorized piragua (dugout canoe) to travel up the Chagres River to the Embera indigenous village of Embera Drua. The boat journey takes us through the rainforest of the 320,000-acre Chagres National Park and along the Chagres River, we may be able to spot Little Blue and Green Heron, Great Egret, Anhingas and kingfishers among other species. At the Embera village we learn about Embera customs and their relationship with nature, and have the chance to be painted with the traditional jagua, a natural dye the Embera use to adorn their bodies. After a picnic lunch we visit the nearby waterfall where we can take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the Chagres River before heading back to Panama City. Overnight Hotel Executive or similar. (BLD) |
| Day 9: | Partial Panama Canal Transit . Drive to the port of Balboa where we board our boat which will take us on the world famous journey through the Panama Canal. Cruise through Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks, Gaillard Cut at the Continental Divide, and the narrowest part of the Panama Canal, arriving at the town of Gamboa, home to the canal’s dredging division, an important part in the functioning of the canal. At Gamboa we disembark and drive back Panama City with a stop on the way at the Balboa handicraft market for some last minute shopping. Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner at local restaurant. Overnight Hotel Executive or similar. (BLD) |
| Day 10: | Panama City.Tour ends. (B) |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. how this holiday makes a difference
|
Panama is a proud nation and one that respects its indigenous peoples. Our tours include a stay on the San Blas Islands. These islands are an autonomous region, controlled and governed by Kuna Indians
The Indians determination to protect their heritage and environment lead to the Panamanian Government giving them the authority to form a "comarca" (Autonomous Territory) of San Blas, where an indigenous, independent congress still rules. No non Kuna people are allowed to settle here and the only hotels are Kuna run. The Kuna are fishermen; however, they also cultivate coconut, corn, rice, cocoa and yucca. Kuna women spend hours stitching the colorful reverse-appliqué cotton "molas" which you are able buy. By taking this tour you know that the money you spend is going directly to the Kuna people to help preserve their way of life. Our tours also work closely with guides from the National Association for the Conservation of Nature, one of the regions most efficient and respected conservation organisations. Your participation on the tour supports the excellent work that this organisation is doing in the protection of Panama’s amazing abundance of flora and fauna. We only employ local staff and unlike many operators we believe that to send a foreign Tour Leader along to accompany your trip is an unnecessary burden on your wallet and our carbon footprint. We believe that locals know best. Our local operators only use locally owned accommodation. This means your money stays in the area to benefit the local community. When possible we use local transport, (i.e. rail or bus) and we always use local restaurants, markets and shops. In doing this your travels are supporting and encouraging the development of local services.  We only work with operators who are as committed as we are to putting something back into the communities we visit. This may include giving a percentage of the profits from each tour to a foundation to help street children or local conservation projects. Furthermore, in order to allow our clients to make an informed decision on where a greater proportion of their money should be spent, we avoid including pre-paid full board meals where possible. Local restaurants and cafes then benefit. Our groups average only six clients, and many tours operate on a private basis with just two travellers. This has much less impact when travelling through rural areas, reducing our environmental and social affects. Finally, to emphasis our commitment to Responsible Tourism all clients will receive a copy of our Travellers Code of Conduct with their travel documents. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
check out similar holiday ideas...