Dates: Privately Anytime
There is literally no other place on the planet that offers the wonders of Panama. The land mass of this small nation is the bridge between continents; the canal links two oceans. Plant, animal, and cultural diversity are fantastic. The treasures you find here are North and South American, Latin and Native, high tech and primitive, terrestrial and marine, cosmopolitan and Wild.
Brief Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Plant Yourself in Panama.
Day 2: Embera Indian Village.
Day 3: Metro Nature Park/Culebra/Bocas del Toro.
Day 4: Bocas del Toro.
Day 5: Swan's Cay/Boca del Drago.
Day 6: Gamboa Rainforest Resort.
Day 7: Canopy Tram.
Day 8: Gamboa/Onward.
Detailed Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Plant Yourself in Panama.
Arrive in Panama City, the transit point between the great oceans. You naturalist guide will be there to welcome you at the airport and transfer you to the Country Inn Hotel or similar. Enjoy a welcome dinner and orientation with your guide. (D)
Day 2: Embera Indian Village.
Depart early this morning to El Corotu on the shores of Madden Lake. The main reservoir of drinking water for the cities of Panama and Colon, Madden Lake also supplies 40% of the water required for the operation of the Panama Canal. Here you'll board a motorized "piragua" (dugout canoe) and travel up the Chagres River to the Embera indigenous village of Embera Drua. The boat journey takes you through the rain forest of the 194,000-acre Chagres National Park, which is the largest of the National Parks protecting the Panama Canal Watershed. Along the Chagres River, you may be able to spot some little blue and green herons, great egrets, anhingas, neotropical cormorants, ringed, and green kingfishers, along with keel-billed toucans and ospreys flying above. At the Embera village you will be greeted with dancing and music. Learn about Embera customs and their relationship with nature. There will be handicrafts available for sale and you will have a chance to be painted with the traditional "jagua", a natural dye the Embera use to adorn their bodies. After lunch, visit the nearby waterfall where you can take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the Chagres River before heading back to the hotel. (B, L)
Day 3: Metro Nature Park/Culebra/Bocas del Toro.
Today is an educationally packed day! Your morning "classroom" is an exquisite specimen of tropical rain forest called the Metropolitan Nature Park, where your guide will lead you along the trails and introduce you to the forest ecosystem. His goal is to hone your powers of observation: look down and note the armies of leaf-cutter ants; look up and find a sloth. The more you look, the more you see. Your next "classroom" is the Smithsonian's Marine Exhibit at Culebra where the learning is hands-on for those who don't mind things wet and slimy! Later, after lunch you get to rest on the one-hour flight to Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean Sea. Upon arrival transfer to the Bocas Inn (or similar), your home for the next three nights. (B, L)
Day 4: Bocas del Toro.
Depart by boat from the Bocas Inn early in the morning traversing the expanse of Bastimentos National Park, Panama's first marine national park. Reach Salt Creek by navigating through clusters of red Mangroves, which provide sea creatures with a protective area during their reproductive and development stages. Upon arrival enjoy a walk along Caiman Trail. This trail takes you through several stages of lowland forest dynamics. Here, you will look for birds such as the red-throated ant tanager and golden-collared manakin. Mammals such as night monkeys, white-faced capuchins, and three-toed sloths also live here. An older tract of rainforest has tall trees that provide life to birds such as the three-wattled bellbird and green-breasted mango. A nearby lagoon is home to spectacled caiman and slider turtles. On the ground, look for the tiny endemic poison dart frog, Dendrobates Pumilio. After the hike, enjoy a visit to the Ngobe Bugle indigenous community to have a chance to purchase handicrafts such as painted woodcarvings and handbags, followed by lunch. In the afternoon you can snorkel among mangroves and coral reefs searching for numerous fish species, as well as dynamic and brightly colored sea fans, sponges and brittle starfish at Red Frog Beach. (B, L)
Day 5: Swan's Cay/Boca del Drago.
Today enjoy a boat tour to Swan's Cay to look for the red-billed tropic bird and brown boobies, and then it?s on to Changuinola Channel to look for toucans and parrots. You'll reach Boca del Drago Beach in time for lunch and later snorkel for giant red starfish and other underwater creatures here. The rest of the afternoon is on your own to relax on a hammock, visit the friendly town or rent bicycles or kayaks. Tonight you'll celebrate with a live calypso band that will accompany dinner. Dancing and fun all night! (B, L, D)
Day 6: Gamboa Rainforest Resort.
In the morning, board your return flight to Panama City. Tour and lunch at the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal, a once in a life time experience. Travel by van to Summit Gardens and the Harpy Eagle Exhibits, where you'll see the largest eagle in the world. This afternoon settle into your accommodations in the villas at Gamboa Rainforest Resort. Situated in the middle of Soberania National Park the 340-acre complex offers the amenities of a 5-star hotel, along with gardens, pools, and rainforest trails. Tonight, dine on your own in one of the resort's restaurants. (B, L)
Day 7: Canopy Tram.
Early in the morning, meet your guide and take a short drive to the resort's marina, where the Chagres River meets the Panama Canal. Here you board an expedition boat and depart on an adventure that will include a voyage across Gatun Lake in the Panama Canal and pass by gigantic cargo ships transiting the waterway, making contrast with the natural surroundings. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to spot green iguanas and three-toed sloths resting on tree branches, crocodiles, ospreys in the hunt for peacock bass, snail kites and keel-billed toucans among other wildlife.
Gatun Lake was formed to give way to the Panama Canal in 1914. With a surface of 423 square-kilometers, at the time of its creation it was the largest man-made lake in the world. The flow of all the rivers within the Panama Canal Watershed is contained in Gatun Lake to provide water for the operation of the lock system. More than 52 million gallons of fresh water are used for every ship that transits through the Panama Canal from one ocean to another.
Your expedition boat will allow for close approximations to rain forest covered islands (former hill tops) in Gatun Lake to search for white-faced capuchins, mantled howler monkeys, Central American spider monkeys, and Geoffrey's tamarin. Enjoy a picnic lunch on a small island with extraordinary views of the Panama Canal and the natural surroundings.
In the afternoon ride the Canopy Aerial Tram and visit attractions in the resort, including the observation tower overlooking the Panama Canal and Soberania National Park, orchid greenhouse, butterfly farm, and living-snake museum. Enjoy a farewell dinner at the resort. (B, L, D)
Day 8: Gamboa/Onward.
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)
Cost Includes:
- Meals as noted
- Each night in double occupancy accommodations
- Land transfers between components
- English speaking guides
- Park or site entry fees
- Surface transport
- Equipment other than personal gear
- Government tax
- Airport transfer assistance
- In-country ticket reconfirmation & check-in assistance (where permitted)
- Complete pre-departure packet, toll-free pre-departure phone assistance
Cost Excludes:
- Meals not noted as included
- Gratuities
- Beverages (except tea or coffee at meals)
- International or domestic airfare unless specified
- Airport departure taxes not included with air tickets
- Visas
- Itinerary changes after confirmation
- Any services not included in itinerary
- Any costs incurred due to canceled or delayed flights
- Acts of nature or other happenings beyond our control, or other costs as are more fully described in Terms & Conditions
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
- $2,595 (adults)
- $2,150 (children under 16)
- $1,795 (children under 12)
Child costs based on sharing room with 2 full paying adults.
Holiday surcharge of $100 per person.
Also see tour packages in:
Central America and Caribbean
Panama
Ecotourism
Rainforest
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