Perfect Panama - Private - 12 Days

On arrival at Panama City, transfers are not included and you will need to make your own way to the hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

After breakfast, set out on a full-day privately guided tour exploring Panama City’s colonial heritage and the world-famous Panama Canal. You begin at the ruins of Old Panama, the original settlement founded in 1519. Climb the Cathedral Tower and visit the Old Panama Museum to gain insight into the country’s early history.

You then continue to Casco Viejo, the historic quarter dating back to the 17th century, learning how the city was rebuilt following pirate attacks. Stroll past elegant colonial buildings, narrow streets and impressive churches as you make your way to the French Plaza.

Later, visit the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal, where you can watch enormous ships transit this remarkable engineering achievement and explore the informative visitor exhibits. Lunch is taken at a local restaurant before you visit small towns surrounding the canal area. In the late afternoon, return to the hotel.

Panama City - Chagres - Panama City. After an early breakfast, travel to El Corotu on the shores of Madden Lake. Here, board a motorised piragua - a traditional dugout canoe - and journey upriver through dense rainforest into the heart of Chagres National Park, the largest protected area safeguarding the Panama Canal watershed.

Along the Chagres River, keep an eye out for native birdlife including herons, egrets, kingfishers and ospreys. Arrive at an Embera indigenous village, where you are welcomed with traditional music and dance. Learn about Embera culture, craftsmanship and their deep connection to the natural environment. Handcrafted items are available for purchase, and you may choose to receive a traditional jagua body painting made from natural dye.

After a traditional Embera lunch, return by boat and transfer back to Panama City.

Panama City - Soberania - Panama City. Choose what you wish to eat from a delicious breakfast buffet, and then your guide will meet your guide to begin your journey to the Soberania National Park. As you leave the Panama City limits, buildings will slowly be replaced by secondary and primary rainforests. You will pass the former Fort Clayton, Miraflores, and Pedro Miguel Locks before entering the park.

Board a boat and head off on an adventure across Gatun Lake in the Panama Canal, passing by monumental cargo ships transiting the waterway. Along the way, keep your eyes out for green iguanas, ospreys, snail kites, frigate birds, and other wildlife local to the area. The boat will circle rainforest-covered islands, allowing us to observe and search for the mantled howler monkey, white-faced capuchin, and Geoffroy’s tamarin. After the tour, hike one of the trails of the lush forests and then return to Panama City.

Panama City - David - Boquete. After breakfast, you are transferred to the airport for a short domestic flight to David in the Chiriquí Province. On arrival, continue by road to the mountain town of Boquete, known for its cool climate and fertile volcanic soil.

Each passenger is entitled to 23kg of luggage on the Panama City to David flight. Excess luggage is charged at approximately USD 2 per additional kilogram. If you wish to store extra luggage in Panama City, please advise in advance so arrangements can be made.

Today you explore Boquete’s coffee heritage. Coffee arrived in Panama in the early 19th century, and Boquete’s high altitude, volcanic soil and unique microclimate proved ideal for producing high-quality beans.

Visit a local coffee farm, either featuring a modern eco-processing plant or an organic plantation. Walk through the coffee fields as your guide explains the process from hand-picking the cherries - traditionally carried out by the Ngäbe-Buglé people - through to roasting and brewing. The tour concludes with a tasting of freshly produced coffee before returning to the hotel.

After breakfast, visit a small highland farm specializing in honey production. Learn about Panama’s native stingless bees and the history of beekeeping in the region. Walk through the gardens, discover the tools used in honey production and enjoy a tasting of locally produced honey, followed by a visit to the Casita de Miel Honey Shop.

You also visit the butterfly house, home to a variety of native species. Observe butterflies in flight and explore the educational area showcasing the chrysalis stage of their lifecycle.

This morning, experience Panama’s cloud forest from above on a shared hanging bridges hike. After an early departure, travel to a nearby valley, passing coffee farms along the way.

Following a safety briefing, you begin a 3-mile loop hike across five suspension bridges, set between 300 and 335 metres above sea level. Walk through the forest canopy, keeping watch for birdlife and other native wildlife, while enjoying views of rivers, waterfalls and Volcán Barú.

Please inform us in advance of any surgeries or medical conditions that may affect your participation.

Boquete - Isla Colon. This morning, travel by road to Almirante, where you board a shared boat to Isla Colón in the Bocas del Toro archipelago. The remainder of the day is free for you to relax or explore independently.

Today you explore the highlights of Bocas del Toro by boat. Begin at Dolphin Bay, where nutrient-rich waters attract resident dolphin pods. With luck, you may see them swimming and playing near the boat.

Around midday, head to Coral Cay for snorkelling among colourful reef fish in clear Caribbean waters. Lunch is available at a scenic overwater restaurant, with menus depending on the day’s catch - lunch is not included.

Your final stop is Bastimentos Island National Marine Park, where you walk through mangroves to reach Red Frog Beach. You may choose to swim, relax on the beach or visit nearby bars and restaurants.

Isla Colon - Panama City. At the appropriate time, you are transferred to Bocas del Toro Airport for your flight back to Panama City. On arrival, you are transferred to the hotel.

Today, transfers are not included. You will make your own way to the airport for your onward international flight.