Panama holiday
| country: | Panama |
| departures: | 2009: 7 May |
| price: | From £1695 (14 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. Optional single supplement £250. Group size 2-12 people. Private departures also available |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
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: | UK to Panama City and transfer to our hotel. |
| Day 2: | Panama Canal and Chiriqui Highlands. Scenic drive to the Soberania National Park to observe the unique ecology of the Canal Watershed, which includes Agouti, Two-toed Sloth, White-throated Capuchin, and the Mantled Howler Monkey. Later, transfer to Gatun Lake. We board a boat and travel part of the Panama Canal, visiting small islands to see the wildlife. Afternoon flight to David, and a short trip to the mountainous town of Cerro Punta. (B,L,D) |
| Day 3: | La Amistad International Park & World Biosphere Reserve. La Amistad is located at a point on the Central American land bridge where flora and fauna from North and South America reach here their maximum species mix. Bio-diversity here is at its best. We spend the morning hiking and exploring in search of the Resplendent Quetzal, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Andean Pygmy-Owl, Barred Becard, Black and Yellow Flycatcher. After lunch at a local restaurant we will visit Finca Dracula, home to over 1500 orchid species. (B,L) |
| Day 4: | The Baru National Park and Boquete. The low mountain rainforests and cloud forests of Baru National Park offer some of the most beautiful walks in the whole of Central America. You will spend the day exploring the park and viewing the amazing array of flora and fauna. Afterwards a short transfer takes you to the stunning town of Boquete. (B,L) |
| Day 5: | Coffee tour of Finca Lerida. Walk through the coffee fields of Finca Lerida and learn about the coffee plants and how the beans are harvested. Then you will learn about the selection, drying, roasting and packaging process. The afternoon is free time. (B,L) |
| Day 6: | Panama City & canal tour. Panama City and canal tour. The visit includes Panama La Vieja, the first city established by the Spanish and then conquered by Pirate Henry Morgan. There is a visit to the colonial Casco Antiguo, where you can view the unique French, Italian and Spanish architecture styles. Later you visit one of the world's most amazing engineering masterpieces, the Panama Canal at the Miraflores Locks. (B,L) |
| Day 7: | San Blas Islands. Located along the northeastern coast, the San Blas Islands are the home of the Kuna Indians, who were granted regional autonomy where, to this day, an indigenous congress rules. The Kuna are fishermen, but they also farm coconut and cocoa. We take a small plane to San Blas then transfer to Dolphin Lodge on a motorized dugout canoe. Owned by a Kuna family, the traditional Kuna-style hut accommodations are rustic but comfortable. We visit the Kuna village of Achutupo in the company of a local guide. Later this afternoon we will go snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea to look for the stunning marine life. (B,L,D) |
| Day 8: | San Blas Islands. A day to relax and explore the beautiful reefs and beaches of the San Blas. You can rent snorkeling equipment locally or bring your own! (B,L,D) |
| Day 9: | Embera Indian Encounter. Return to Panama City, transfer to Chagres National Park then board a native dug-out canoe to the Chagres River. Visit the Embera community and learn about the culture of the Embera Indians through their artisans, knowledge of the local botany, and cultural dances and music. You can also paint your body as they do and observe a great variety of birds, take a walk in the jungle and explore the waterfalls. (B,L) |
| Day 10: | Panama Canal Partial Transit. We start at the Panama Canal Dredging Division which is located where the Chagres River flows into the Canal. Our boat will travel the Cut's 13.7kms, viewing the new Centennial Bridge on the way to Pedro Miguel Locks, where the vessel is lowered 9m in one step. Cross Miraflores Lake to Miraflores Locks, to be lowered 18m in two distinct steps. Once in the Pacific Ocean the vessel will sail to the beautiful Flamenco Marina, passing under the Bridge of the Americas, and admiring the Bay of Panama and Panama City's splendorous skyline. Upon arrival to the marina you will be transferred back to the city. (B,L) |
| Day 11: | El Valle Mountain. Drive to the beautiful mountain town of El Valle de Anton. According to geologists, El Valle is the crater of a dormant volcano and has a variety of attractions such as Indian petroglyphs, hot springs, waterfalls, rock climbing, and hikes for all abilities. Visit a picturesque handicrafts market then walk into the hills around the valley. Enjoy a picnic lunch. (B,L) |
| Day 12: | Historical Portobelo & Transcontinental Railroad Tour. Ride the train to the Atlantic side of Panama and begin your tour to Portobelo Fortress. During the 17th and 19th centuries, this port served as a Spanish Fortress and Caribbean terminal, and was the victim of pirate attacks. We will visit all the ruins of the colonial port, the customhouse where the treasures and gold were stored and the Portobelo church, where the famous Black Christ statue rests. (B,L) |
| Day 13: | Depart Panama. Morning at leisure, then transfer to the International Airport for your flight. |
| Day 14: | Arrive UK. |
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
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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. |