Panama is a land rich in natural wonder and we get right into the meat of things when we board a passenger ferry down the world-famous Panama Canal. See the intricate process of how boats are elevated with rising and lowering waters controlled by a purely gravity-powered system. The country is teeming with an immense population of wildlife.
In 1985, a world record was set by a team who counted 385 species of birds in Soberania National Park in a span of just 24 hours. So it will be no surprise when we become familiar with originally unrecognizable animals, such as a prong-billed barbet or a volcano hummingbird. Take time to absorb the sights of the valleys that support the interspersed coffee plantations or vegetable farms.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Panama City. Arrival at Tocumen International Airport, Panama City. Overnight in Panama City. Dinner if required.
Day 2: Partial Canal Transit. We have an early morning pick-up at the hotel for the 15 minute drive to the port of Balboa where we board the passenger ferry that will take us on the world famous journey through the Panama Canal. For many, this tour is a once in a life time experience. Overnight in Panama City. All meals.
Day 3: Panama City - Soberania National Park - Panama City. Soberania is home to more than 400 species of birds and 1,000 species of plants. Located within the park, Pipeline Road is where the Panama Audobon Society established a world record Christmas bird count in 1985 by identifying 385 species of birds in a 24-hour period. The cultural and historic aspect of this park can be seen on the Camino de Cruces Trail and at the Chagres River which in the colonial days were used as a way to transport the gold and silver from Peru to the many and famous fairs that took place in Portobelo (near Colon). Overnight in Panama City. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 4: Panama City - Interoceanic Train - Panama City. Today we board the Interoceanic Train for a scenic journey to Colon (approx one hour). The Panama Railroad became the first transcontinental railway when it was completed in 1855 - of course, a "transcontinental" line is a lot easier to make when you've only got 50 miles to cross! The California Gold Rush brought the new railway lots of business; eventually it was sold to first the French, and then the Americans, in conjunction with the efforts to build the Panama Canal, and it eventually passed to Panama in 1979 under the terms of the Panama Canal treaty. Now it's a private venture, completely rebuilt, with elegantly refurbished passenger coaches. Overnight in Panama City. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 5: Panama City - David, Chiriqui Highlands. Today we are picked up at our Panama City hotel and transferred to Panama City's Albrook domestic airport where we board the scheduled flight to David in the province of Chiriqui. This enchanted land is the Chiriqui Highlands, the part of the Cordillera Central that defines the northern border of the province of Chiriqui. Overnight in Chirqui Highlands. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 6: Chiriqui Highlands. Today we will travel to Cerro Punta to explore the area of Finca Fernandez and El Respingo with a local naturalist guide. This area is good for resplendent quetzal, black and yellow silky flycatcher, prong billed barbet, and the volcano hummingbird. From here we'll travel to the area of La Amistad International Park Headquarters. Overnight in Boquete. Breakfast and dinner
Day 7: Chiriqui Highlands - Bocas del Toro. After a leisurely morning we prepare for our drive to Almirante in Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean side of the country. En route we stop to view the impressive Fortuna Dam and spectacular waterfalls along the Continental Divide. We will be crossing the Palo Seco Protected Area that serves as buffer zone to La Amistad International Park. Overnight in Bocas del Toro. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 8: Bocas del Toro. Ninety-two percent of this island is covered by tropical forest that helps keep a natural balance of the ecosystem. This huge national patrimony has 200 species of plants, 55 amphibious and reptiles, 57 mammals, 200 types of birds, 1500 bugs, and more than 58 species of corals. Bocas del Toro Province is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Veraguas Province to the east, Chiriqui Province to the south and Costa Rica to the west. Overnight in Bocas del Toro. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 9: Bocas del Toro - Panama City. This morning we should have time (air schedules permitting) to partake in some optional activities-kayaking, visiting a beach, hiking or merely relaxing in a hammock--before flying back to the capital. On arrival in Panama City, we embark immediately on a city tour. Our tour includes a visit to the ruins of Old Panama and Casco Viejo (the old city compound) which dates from the late 1600's. Overnight in Panama City. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 10: Departure. Today we depart from Panama City. Breakfast.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Breakfast and dinner daily (hotels and local restaurants)
- All transport, sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary
- Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, hotel porters (if available)
- Airport transfers for land / air customers arriving / departing on tour dates.
Price Excludes:
- Tour Leader gratuity, lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), departure taxes, domestic and international air taxes (if applicable)
- Airport transfers for early / late arrivals / departures or Land Only customers
- Optional trip cancellation insurance
- Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on not included meal costs, shopping, and locally paid departure taxes.
Also see tour packages in:
Central America and Caribbean
Panama
Archeology/History
Cultural Journey
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