A 22-day round trip across all of Panama, with the Panama Canal, the San Blas Islands, the Camino Real, El Valle de Antón, the island of Coiba, the highlands of Chiriquí, and Bocas del Toro.
Highlights
- San Blas Islands in the Caribbean
- Panama City and a Panama Canal boat trip
- Coiba Island and the highlands of Chiriquí
- Island paradise of Bocas del Toro
Highlights of Panama – 3-Week Round Trip
This exceptional 3-week round trip takes you to all of Panama’s highlights, including the San Blas Islands in the Caribbean. You begin with a boat trip on the Panama Canal, then visit the colonial old town of Panama (a UNESCO World Heritage site). Next you watch wildlife on Gatún Lake and cruise alongside the huge ships crossing the canal. The Spanish fortresses of the Caribbean steep you in colonial history. You visit a smallholders’ village in the rainforest and explore the Camino Real, the gold route of the Spanish conquistadors, before heading to the San Blas Islands to relax beneath the palms.
From there you continue via El Valle de Antón, the Azuero Peninsula, and the island of Coiba to western Panama and the province of Chiriquí. Here you tour a coffee plantation and hike in the cloud forest. You visit an orchid farm, and in Boquete you cross suspension bridges through the cloud forest canopy. To wrap up the trip, you can relax in the natural paradise of Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean.
Type of trip: Round trip
Duration: 22 days
Participants: 2-16
Highlights
- San Blas Islands
- Panama City and a Panama Canal boat trip
- Highlands of Chiriquí (coffee and cloud forest)
- Island paradise of Bocas del Toro
Itinerary Overview
- Day 01 | Welcome to Panama!
- Day 02 | Visit to the Miraflores Locks and the old town
- Day 03 | Boat trip to the Camino Real and drive to Portobelo
- Day 04 | San Lorenzo fortress and Agua Clara Locks
- Day 05 | Boat trip to Monkey Island and a visit to the Emberá
- Day 06 | San Blas Islands
- Day 07 | San Blas Islands
- Day 08 | Sailing the Panama Canal
- Day 09 | El Valle de Antón
- Day 10 | El Valle de Antón
- Day 11 | El Caño - Chitré
- Day 12 | Folklore of the Azuero Peninsula and drive to Santa Catalina
- Day 13 | Excursion to Coiba Island
- Day 14 | Santa Catalina
- Day 15 | Drive to the province of Chiriquí
- Day 16 | Sitio Barriles and a visit to a coffee plantation
- Day 17 | Hike in La Amistad National Park – orchid farm
- Day 18 | Across suspension bridges through the treetops
- Day 19 | Bocas del Toro
- Day 20 | Bocas del Toro
- Day 21 | Return flight to Panama City
- Day 22 | Departure from Panama
Itinerary in Detail
Day 01 | Welcome to Panama!
On arrival at Panama’s international airport, you are met by your driver and taken to your hotel. Overnight in Panama City (B).
Day 02 | Visit to the Miraflores Locks and the old town
In the morning we drive to the Miraflores Locks, the best-known locks on the Panama Canal, and watch the ocean giants pass through from a viewing platform. Then we catch a 3D film about the canal’s construction in the IMAX cinema. Afterwards we head into the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site of ornate churches and quiet squares. From Plaza de Francia we take in spectacular views of the skyline and the canal entrance. Overnight in Panama City (B).
Day 03 | Boat trip to the Camino Real and drive to Portobelo
In the morning we drive to Chagres National Park and trace the history of the Camino Real. We take a boat trip on Lake Alajuela and hike about two hours along the old road. Then we reach the village of Quebrada Ancha, where you enjoy a delicious lunch. We take the boat back to the landing and continue to Portobelo. [3 km, 80 m ↑, 80 m ↓, walking time approx. 2 hrs.] Overnight in Portobelo (B, L).
Day 04 | San Lorenzo fortress and Agua Clara Locks
In the morning we visit the customs house and Fort San Geronimo from the Spanish colonial era. Then we drive to the Agua Clara Locks, where we see the new locks of the expanded Panama Canal in action, and afterwards to the San Lorenzo fortress at the mouth of the Chagres River (UNESCO World Heritage). Overnight in Panama City (B).
Day 05 | Boat trip to Monkey Island and a visit to the Emberá
In the morning we drive to Gamboa and take a boat trip on Gatún Lake. We stop at small islands where capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, and Geoffroy’s tamarins live in the wild. Then we visit the Emberá people, travel to their village in a traditional dugout canoe, and enjoy a traditional lunch. Overnight in Panama City. (B, L)
Day 06 | San Blas Islands
Today calls for an early start; around 5:00 a.m. you set off for the San Blas Islands, 365 unique coral islands off Panama’s pristine Caribbean coast. We drive over the mountains to a landing in the Gulf of Guna Yala, then continue by fishing boat to an idyllic island. The San Blas Islands belong to the “comarca” of Guna Yala, an autonomous territory of the Guna people. Overnight in San Blas in a simple lodge. (B, L, D)
Day 07 | San Blas Islands
Today you can explore your island’s beach or take another excursion. In the afternoon you take the boat back to the harbor, and from there about 2.5 hours’ drive to Panama City. Overnight in Panama City. (B, L)
Day 08 | Sailing the Panama Canal
In the morning you head to the harbor, board a boat, and experience the workings of the canal up close. The canal runs 80 km in total, from the Pacific to the Caribbean coast. You pass beneath the “Puente de Las Américas” and reach the Miraflores Locks, then cross the Gaillard Cut. After about 4 hours you reach Gamboa and disembark. Optional visit to the ruins of Panama Viejo. Overnight in Panama City (B, L).
Day 09 | El Valle de Antón
Today we begin our journey across Panama along the Pan-American Highway. We drive about 2½ hours southwest to El Valle de Antón, the largest inhabited volcanic crater in Central America. On arrival we visit the El Valle market. We use the afternoon to visit the El Macho waterfall or the Aguas Termales. Overnight in El Valle (B).
Day 10 | El Valle de Antón
In the morning we hike up the India Dormida, Cerro La Silla, or Cerro Gaital (about 2-3 hours). Then we visit the Piedra Pintada with pre-Columbian rock carvings. In the afternoon we visit a breeding station for the endangered “Golden Frog of El Valle.” Overnight in El Valle (B).
Day 11 | El Caño - Chitré
Today we drive to Chitré on the Azuero Peninsula, widely seen as the cradle of Panamanian folklore. On the way we visit Natá de Caballeros, one of the oldest European settlements on the American continent, and the El Caño excavation site with its pre-Columbian princely graves. In the afternoon you can optionally visit a rum factory. Overnight in Chitré (B).
Day 12 | Folklore of the Azuero Peninsula and drive to Santa Catalina
In the morning we visit a mask maker and watch him craft the colorful masks worn in the “Diablos Sucios” dances. We stop in the town of Parita, which has kept its traditional architecture. Then we continue to Santa Catalina, our base for visiting Coiba Island. Overnight in Santa Catalina (B).
Day 13 | Excursion to Coiba Island
Today we take a boat trip into Coiba National Park. White sandy beaches are lapped by turquoise water. A large area around Coiba Island is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site and protects coral reefs in the Pacific. On site we discover white coral-sand beaches and, with luck, may see sea turtles while snorkeling. In the afternoon we take the boat back to Santa Catalina. Overnight in Santa Catalina (B).
Day 14 | Santa Catalina
Today is free, and you can head out on another diving or snorkeling trip. The beach at Santa Catalina is known among surfers for its waves. Overnight in Santa Catalina (B).
Day 15 | Drive to the province of Chiriquí
After a leisurely breakfast we continue to the province of Chiriquí in the country’s far west, home to Panama’s highest peak, Volcán Barú (3,475 meters). Volcanic ash has made the soil very fertile, and a variety of crops thrive on the volcano’s slopes: coffee, oranges, tobacco and more. Overnight in Volcán/Bambito (B).
Day 16 | Sitio Barriles and a visit to a coffee plantation
In the morning we visit the archaeological site of Barriles, with its stone statues and ceramic fragments from pre-Columbian cultures. Then we drive to the Janson Coffee Farm, where a guided tour teaches us a great deal about coffee and how it’s grown. The famous and very pricey Geisha variety is grown here too. To finish, we taste a few of the delicious varieties. Overnight in Volcán/Bambito (B, L).
Day 17 | Hike in La Amistad National Park – orchid farm
In the morning we hike through the impressive cloud forests of the “La Amistad” biosphere reserve, a 400,000-hectare protected area straddling the border between Panama and Costa Rica. With a bit of luck you may even spot the quetzal. Afterwards we visit the Finca Dracula, an orchid farm with more than 1,500 orchid species. Then we drive to Boquete. Overnight in Boquete (B).
Day 18 | Across suspension bridges through the treetops
In the morning we walk a trail of suspension bridges through the cloud forest canopy. The rest of the day is free, so you might, for example, glide through the treetops on a zipline. Optional: a 4x4 drive to the summit of Volcán Barú before sunrise, or a climb on foot [28 km, 1,700 m ↑, 1,700 m ↓, walking time approx. 10-12 hrs.]. Overnight in Boquete (B).
Day 19 | Bocas del Toro
After breakfast you continue to the Caribbean island paradise of Bocas del Toro. You can simply relax and enjoy the sun, the beach, and the sea. Overnight in Bocas del Toro (B).
Day 20 | Bocas del Toro
Today we take an excursion into the islands of Bocas del Toro: first to Dolphin Bay, then to the Cayos Zapatilla, a paradise beach. At midday we head to Cayo Coral, a coral reef for snorkeling. Overnight in Bocas del Toro (B).
Day 21 | Return flight to Panama City
Today is free. In the afternoon we head to the airport for our return flight to Panama City. Overnight in Panama City (B).
Day 22 | Departure from Panama
Today is free. Alternatively, you can hike up Cerro Ancon (walking time approx. 2 hours). In the afternoon your driver picks you up and takes you to the international airport. (B)
Services & Hotels
Included services
- Accommodation in comfortable hotels, lodges, or resorts of the 3, 4, and 5* category
- All admissions included in the program
- Meals as per the program
- Private English-speaking guide on several days
- Domestic flight Bocas del Toro – Panama
Not included
- International flight to Panama
- Meals not listed in the detailed program
- Drinks
- Optional tips
- Travel insurance
- Optional excursions
Notes, Info & FAQ
What are the requirements of this trip?
- 3-4 x walks of about 2 hours
- 2 x hikes of 2-3 hours (shorter hikes are possible on request)
- Maximum elevation changes of 250 meters
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination, and which vaccinations do I generally need for Panama?
The standard vaccinations recommended in Germany are enough. More information on health, tropical diseases, and vaccinations here.
Dates & Prices
As a local travel agency in Panama, we can run this trip for you at any time. This program (day 01) begins every Saturday in Panama City. Arrival is also possible on any other day of the week.
Prices
| Participants | Price p.p. | Guide in San Blas |
|---|---|---|
| Individual trip, 2 participants | EUR 4275 | + EUR 220 |
| Small group, 4+ participants | EUR 3295 | + EUR 120 |
| Small group, 6+ participants | EUR 2975 | + EUR 80 |
| Group trip, 10+ participants | EUR 3280 | |
| Group trip, 12+ participants | EUR 3120 | |
| Group trip, 14 participants | EUR 2995 |
Prices per person in a double room. Single room supplement: EUR 1390.
