A 14-day round trip to the highlights of Panama, with the Panama Canal, the rainforest of Gamboa, the Camino Real, an Emberá village, the Chiriquí highlands and the island paradise of Bocas del Toro.
Highlights
- Aerial tram ride through the rainforest
- Panama City and a trip on the Panama Canal
- Chiriquí highlands (coffee and cloud forest)
- The island paradise of Bocas del Toro
Highlights of Panama with Rainforest in Gamboa
This exciting round trip takes you to all of Panama’s highlights, with a special focus on the rainforest and the Panama Canal around the town of Gamboa.
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 head to the huge new Agua Clara locks and the Spanish colonial forts on the Caribbean. You visit a smallholders’ village in the rainforest and explore the Camino Real, the gold route of the Spanish conquistadors that lay swallowed by the rainforest for centuries. Then it’s on to the rainforest in Gamboa, where you cruise Gatún Lake alongside the huge ships crossing the canal and watch wildlife in the forest. Afterwards you ride a dugout canoe to a nearby Emberá village. The next day you take an aerial tram through the rainforest canopy to a lookout over the Panama Canal.
From there you fly 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 with hundreds of different species, 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: 14 days
Participants: 2-16
Price: from €2335 p.p. in a double room
Highlights
- Aerial tram ride through the rainforest
- Panama City and a trip on the Panama Canal
- Chiriquí highlands (coffee and cloud forest)
- The island paradise of Bocas del Toro
Itinerary Overview
- Day 01 | Welcome to Panama!
- Day 02 | Boat trip on the Panama Canal
- Day 03 | Visit to the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal and the old town
- Day 04 | Boat trip on the Camino Real and Portobelo
- Day 05 | Spanish fort at San Lorenzo and the Agua Clara Locks of the Panama Canal on the Caribbean coast
- Day 06 | Boat trip on Gatún Lake and a visit to the Emberá people
- Day 07 | Aerial tram ride through the rainforest canopy
- Day 08 | Coffee in the province of Chiriquí
- Day 09 | Hike in La Amistad National Park – orchid farm
- Day 10 | Across suspension bridges through the treetops
- Day 11 | Bocas del Toro
- Day 12 | Bocas del Toro
- Day 13 | Return flight to Panama City
- Day 14 | Departure from Panama
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01 | Welcome to Panama!
After arriving at Panama’s international airport, you are met by your driver and taken to your hotel. Overnight in Panama City (B).
Day 02 | Boat trip on the Panama Canal
In the morning you head to the port and board a boat that lets you experience the workings of the canal up close. The canal runs 80 km in total, from the Pacific to the Caribbean coast. You start by passing beneath the “Puente de Las Américas” and soon reach the Miraflores Locks. The Pedro Miguel Locks are the next step on the Pacific side, raising the boat to the level of Gatún Lake. You then cross the Gaillard Cut, the narrow stretch that had to be blasted through the central cordillera. After about 4 hours you reach Gamboa and disembark, and a bus takes you back to the starting point in Panama City (the canal passage can also run in the other direction).
In the afternoon you can optionally visit the ruins of Panama Viejo, the first European city on the Pacific. Founded in 1519, it lies about 10 km east of present-day Panama’s old town (a UNESCO World Heritage site). A few ruins and the well-preserved church tower still hint at how important this settlement once was. The city was the launching point for the conquest of South America (Francisco Pizarro, Diego Almagro and company) and for the Camino Real to the Caribbean, and it flourished for over 150 years before the English pirate Henry Morgan destroyed it in 1671. Overnight in Panama City (B, L).
Day 03 | Visit to the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal and the old town
In the morning we drive to the Miraflores Locks, the best-known locks on the Panama Canal. From a viewing platform we watch the ocean giants ease through the narrow lock chambers. Afterwards we catch a 3D film in an IMAX cinema about the canal’s construction and operation.
Then we head into the old town. This UNESCO World Heritage site is full of magnificent churches, quiet squares, parks and buildings from the colonial era and the 19th century, with a charm that recalls old Havana. We explore it on foot. From the Plaza de Francia at the far end, you can take in spectacular views of the skyline of Panama City’s modern banking district on one side and the canal entrance and Américas Bridge on the other. (Depending on the ships’ transit times, the order may change.) Overnight in Panama City (B).
Day 04 | Boat trip on the Camino Real and Portobelo
In the morning we drive to Chagres National Park, where we trace the history of the Camino Real, the forerunner of the canal and the gold route the Spanish conquistadors used between the Pacific and the Atlantic. Christian Strassnig rediscovered it on adventurous expeditions through the park’s near-impenetrable rainforest.
We take a boat trip on Lake Alajuela. From our starting point on the shore we hike about two hours along the Camino Real. The trail winds through rolling country, and along the way you learn more about its history: the Spanish conquistadors, the mule caravans, Francis Drake and other pirates. Several times you come across well-preserved colonial cobblestones of the old road.
We then reach the village of Quebrada Ancha, where you enjoy a delicious lunch and get to know the way of life and culture of the Panamanian campesinos. The village played an active part in the Camino Real research and reopened a section of the route, and your visit supports its sustainable tourism project. We take the boat back to the jetty and then continue to Portobelo.
[3 km, 80 m ↑, 80 m ↓, walking time approx. 2 hrs]. The hike can be adapted to your fitness level. Overnight in Portobelo (B, L).
Day 05 | Spanish fort at San Lorenzo and the Agua Clara Locks of the Panama Canal on the Caribbean coast
In the morning we visit the customs house and Fort San Geronimo from the Spanish colonial era, built to guard against pirates and other raiders.
Then we continue to the Agua Clara Locks, where we see the new locks of the expanded Panama Canal in action and watch enormous ships move through the chambers opened in 2016.
From there we drive to the mouth of the Chagres River to visit the colonial-era Fort San Lorenzo, which guards the river mouth where it meets the Caribbean. This UNESCO World Heritage site was captured by the English pirate Henry Morgan during his 1671 attack on Panama City.
We cross a bridge over the Panama Canal with views of both the old and new lock systems, then drive back to Panama City. Overnight in Panama City (B).
Day 06 | Boat trip on Gatún Lake and a visit to the Emberá people
In the morning we take a boat trip on Gatún Lake. As we cross the lake we pass close to the huge ships transiting the Panama Canal. Tropical rainforest blankets the whole area, and we stop at several small islands where capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys and Geoffroy’s tamarins live in the wild. Watching these wild monkeys up close makes for unforgettable moments.
Afterwards we visit the Emberá, reaching their village by traditional dugout canoe. There we immerse ourselves in Emberá culture and daily life and enjoy a traditional lunch, then walk a short rainforest trail to learn about the plants the Emberá use as medicine. Overnight at the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve. (B, L)
Day 07 | Aerial tram ride through the rainforest canopy
Today we do something special: ride open gondolas through the rainforest canopy, the leaves brushing past just inches away. At the upper station we also climb a viewing tower that looks out over the Panama Canal.
Afterwards we visit a sloth sanctuary, where we see how sloths injured in the wild are nursed back to health. Then we visit a butterfly house and an amphibian and orchid house. There are optional add-ons on site too, such as a zipline ride, birdwatching tours, hikes or a bike park. Overnight at the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve. (B)
Day 08 | Coffee in the province of Chiriquí
In the morning we drive to Panama City’s domestic airport and fly to David, the capital of Chiriquí province. Chiriquí is home to the highlands of the same name and to Volcán Barú (3,475 meters), Panama’s highest peak. In David a bus picks us up and takes us to the Janson Coffee Farm.
On the tour we learn plenty about coffee and how it’s grown and produced. The climate here is ideal, and the coffee grown ranks among the best in the world. At the end you can taste it for yourself. Afterwards you drive to the hotel. Overnight in Volcán/Bambito (B).
Day 09 | Hike in La Amistad National Park – orchid farm
In the morning we hike through the impressive cloud forests of the “La Amistad” biosphere reserve (“friendship” in Spanish), a 400,000-hectare protected area straddling the border between Panama and Costa Rica.
The walk takes you through the park’s atmospheric mountain cloud forests and past an idyllic mountain river. With a bit of luck you may even spot the quetzal, the legendary sacred bird of the Aztecs and Maya. In the afternoon you visit the Finca Dracula, an orchid farm with more than 1,500 different orchid species. Then you drive to Boquete. Overnight in Boquete (B).
Day 10 | Across suspension bridges through the treetops
In the morning we experience the cloud forest from a special vantage point: a trail of suspension bridges that carries us through the forest canopy, where we see the wonders of the treetops up close. The rest of the day is free, so you might glide through the treetops on a zipline, go for a hike, or explore the town of Boquete.
Volcán Barú options: a drive to the summit. The off-road vehicle sets off at 4:00 a.m. up Volcán Barú. You reach the top before sunrise and, with luck, can see both oceans at once. You’re back at the hotel around 10:00 a.m. and can relax for the rest of the day or do the morning canopy walk.
Alternatively, you can climb Volcán Barú on foot (starting at midnight on the night before Day 11). [28 km, 1,700 m ↑, 1,700 m ↓, walking time approx. 10-12 hrs] Overnight in Boquete (B).
Day 11 | Bocas del Toro
After breakfast you continue to the Caribbean island paradise of Bocas del Toro. The rest of the day is yours.
The people of the archipelago are mostly of Afro-Caribbean descent, which only deepens the Caribbean feel. Communities of indigenous origin live here too, and together they form a harmonious rainbow society. You can simply relax, soak up the sun, beach and sea, and slip into the vibrant rhythm of Caribbean life. The more adventurous have plenty of excursions to choose from across the surrounding islands, which are ideal for swimming, snorkeling, diving and more. The island’s main draw is the magnificent coral reefs just offshore: with nothing more than a mask and snorkel you can explore an impressive underwater world. We can arrange diving excursions for divers (just let us know when booking). Overnight in Bocas del Toro (B).
Day 12 | Bocas del Toro
Today you have plenty of time to unwind, and there’s no better place for it: Bocas del Toro is a dreamy Caribbean archipelago full of natural treasures, many of them protected by Bastimentos National Park. The park also holds one of the few sea turtle nesting grounds, where turtles come ashore to lay their eggs from May to October.
Today we take an excursion through the islands of Bocas del Toro. First to Dolphin Bay, where with a bit of luck you can watch dolphins, then on to the Cayos Zapatilla, an idyllic beach where we let the Caribbean waves do their thing. At midday we head to Cayo Coral, a reef perfect for a long snorkel, with a restaurant right over the water for anyone who’d rather sip a piña colada. Overnight in Bocas del Toro (B).
Day 13 | 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 14 | Departure from Panama
Today is free, perfect for a last stroll through the city or some souvenir shopping. You could also hike up Cerro Ancón, Panama City’s local hill (walking time approx. 2 hours in total). The rainforest-covered slope offers a beautiful panorama of the old town and the Panama Canal.
The rest of the day is yours. 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, see accommodation list
- All entrance fees included in the program
- Meals as per the program
- Private English-speaking guide on days 3, 4, 5, 6
- Private English-speaking guide on day 9
- English-language excursions on days 2 (Panama Canal boat trip), 7 (Gamboa aerial tram ride), 8 (coffee plantation visit), 10 (suspension bridge tour)
- Domestic flights (Panama - David, Bocas del Toro - Panama)
Not included
- International flight to Panama
- Meals not listed in the detailed program
- Drinks
- Optional tips
- Other personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Optional excursions
Hotels
- Panama City, 5 nights: Plaza Paitilla Inn 4*, Tryp Panama Centro 4* (Classic/Comfort) / Central Hotel Panama 5*, Hilton Panamá 5*, Waldorf Astoria Panama 5* (Luxury)
- Portobelo, 1 night: Bongo Boutique Hotel 3*, Casa Congo 3* (Classic/Comfort) / El Otro Lado 5* (Luxury)
- Gamboa, 2 nights: Gamboa Rainforest Reserve 4-5*
- Volcán / Bambito, 1 night: Hotel Bambito 4*, Hotel Dos Ríos 3* (Classic/Comfort)
- Boquete, 2 nights: The Inn at Palo Alto 3*, Boquete Garden Inn 3*, Hotel La Ladera 3* (Classic/Comfort) / Hotel Panamonte 4-5*, Valle Escondido Resort Golf & SPA 4-5*, Finca Lerida 4-5* (Luxury)
- Bocas del Toro, 2 nights: Ataraxia Guesthouse 3*, Los Secretos Guesthouse 3*, Villa Fabienne & Benoit 3*, Bambuda Lodge 3*, Palmar Beach Lodge 3*, Playa Tortuga Hotel & Beach Resort 3-4* (Classic/Comfort) / Red Frog Beach Resort 4-5*, Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge 4-5* (Luxury)
Notes, Info & FAQ
What are the requirements for this trip?
On this round trip you do:
- 3-4 walks of about 2 hours each
- 2 hikes of 2-3 hours each (shorter hikes are possible on request)
- Maximum elevation changes of 250 meters
On top of that, you travel one day by dugout canoe, on 4 other days by boat, and once by boat on the Panama Canal.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination, and which vaccinations do I generally need for Panama?
The standard vaccinations recommended in Germany are enough. The tales of malaria and yellow fever epidemics go back to the building of the Panama Canal from 1881 and are long since a thing of the past. The last locally acquired case of yellow fever in Panama was recorded in 1972.
More information on health, tropical diseases and vaccinations can be found here.
Weather and climate in the various regions (daily lows and highs)
- Coastal areas, lowland rainforest and lowlands: 24 – 34 °C
- Boquete, 1000 meters above sea level: 15 – 25 °C
- Cerro Punta/La Amistad National Park, 1900 meters above sea level: 8 – 20 °C
- Summit region of Volcán Barú, 3475 meters above sea level: 0 – 10 °C
What clothing and equipment do I need for this trip?
- For excursions, breathable lightweight outdoor or summer clothing appropriate to the days; for higher elevations in Chiriquí you need additional layers (the onion principle) such as a fleece jacket, a rainproof and windproof jacket or rain jacket, which you also need on the flight
- Comfortable trekking boots with good tread (non-slip)
- Crocs or sandals; flip-flops are only of limited use
- (Sun) hat, sunglasses, possibly cream or remedy for sunburn/sun allergy, camping towel
- Swimwear; you can swim in Bocas del Toro, on the Camino Real and in Portobelo
- Suitcase or travel bag for your main luggage
- Daypack for excursions (ideally a waterproof backpack/drybag, the only kind that keeps things dry in tropical rains or on boat rides)
- A foldable bag or light backpack for the luggage needed on days 6, 7 (main luggage is kept at the hotel)
- First-aid kit and your personal regular medication, (blister) plasters
- Sunscreen (high factor, at least 30), insect repellent & ointment for insect bites
General country and travel information for Panama
Follow this link to read detailed country and travel information for Panama.
Dates & Prices
As a local travel agency based in Panama, we can run this trip any week of the year, not just on a handful of fixed departure dates like many operators back in Germany.
This itinerary starts (Day 01) every Friday from Panama City.
You can arrive on any other day of the week too. Just note your planned or preferred arrival and departure dates in the inquiry form. If you arrive on Saturday or Sunday, you join the program from the next day, and the Day 02 and/or Day 03 activities are fitted in at the end of the trip. If you arrive earlier, our team is happy to suggest a suitable pre-program.
Prices
| Number of participants | Price p.p. |
|---|---|
| Individual trip, 2 participants | EUR 3190 |
| Small group, 4+ participants | EUR 2550 |
| Small group, 6+ participants | EUR 2350 |
| Group trip, 12+ participants | EUR 2390 |
| Group trip, 14-16 participants | EUR 2290 |
Prices per person in a double room. Single room supplement: EUR 990.
* On the group trip, a English-speaking tour guide accompanies the group throughout the entire journey.
