Signature Panama: Canal, wildlife and beach
12 days from £3,200
Explore the tour day by day, from the highlights to the quieter moments in between. Here’s how each day unfolds and what to expect along the way.
This thriving cosmopolitan metropolis sits at the Pacific end of the Panama Canal. The city dates back to 1519 when it was a settlement base for transporting Peruvian gold back to Imperial Spain. Its subsequent wealth made it a frequent target for pirate raids. These days, soaring skyscrapers, sparkling banks and smart modern offices overshadow forts, Spanish convents and sumptuous French-style mansions, reminders of its colonial heyday.
The friendly Central Hotel is what it says on the tin: it has a prestigious position right on the main square, Plaza de Independencia, in the centre of the historic core of the city with views across the water to the skyscrapers of modern city on the horizon. The hotel is just steps away from the Cathedral, which has had a face lift, and the Municipal and Presidential Palaces are within strolling distance too.
It’s a great location not only for sight-seeing but also for the increasing number of trendy restaurants and cocktails bars adding to the liveliness of the old city.
This was the first hotel in Panama City, gaining a reputation for its good European and American-style services, and recent restoration has maintained the elegant, sugar white, colonial façade and the lofty ceilings and patios of the interior. The air-conditioned rooms and suites have a contemporary design, with fresh white bed linen adding to the feeling of cool. The outdoor pool on the roof is a delight, with views over the red roofs of the Casco Viejo and beyond to the Pacific. There’s also a, spa, beauty salon and gym, bar-lounge and an Argentinian restaurant serving Panamanian steaks the equal of Buenos Aires.
Take a walking tour of Casco Viejo, the capital’s atmospheric and vibrant historical quarter and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the Presidential Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Theatre, the French plaza and other landmarks which are a testimony to the city’s rich history, culture and heritage.
From the top of the old city’s wall you’ll have expansive views of the Pacific Ocean, dotted with fishing boats and immense ships waiting to cross the Panama Canal, with the impressive skyline of modern Panama City as a backdrop.
Your walking tour includes a visit to the Panama Canal Museum, housed in the building that was the original headquarters for the French canal building effort in the 1880s, as well as a stop at the Museo de la Mola which exhibits several hundred ‘molas’, a traditional textile art form made by the Guna indigenous group of Panama.
The friendly Central Hotel is what it says on the tin: it has a prestigious position right on the main square, Plaza de Independencia, in the centre of the historic core of the city with views across the water to the skyscrapers of modern city on the horizon. The hotel is just steps away from the Cathedral, which has had a face lift, and the Municipal and Presidential Palaces are within strolling distance too.
It’s a great location not only for sight-seeing but also for the increasing number of trendy restaurants and cocktails bars adding to the liveliness of the old city.
This was the first hotel in Panama City, gaining a reputation for its good European and American-style services, and recent restoration has maintained the elegant, sugar white, colonial façade and the lofty ceilings and patios of the interior. The air-conditioned rooms and suites have a contemporary design, with fresh white bed linen adding to the feeling of cool. The outdoor pool on the roof is a delight, with views over the red roofs of the Casco Viejo and beyond to the Pacific. There’s also a, spa, beauty salon and gym, bar-lounge and an Argentinian restaurant serving Panamanian steaks the equal of Buenos Aires.
Today you have a partial transit of that most astonishing feat of engineering, the Panama Canal. It’s a short drive to the Port of Balboa and Miraflores Locks, where the boat is raised 17m above sea level. The next set of locks is even higher; you will be 26m above sea level before entering the Gaillard Cut where the Chagres river flows into the Canal.
The canal’s construction involved the creation of the largest man-made lake in the world – Gatún – which is where you will disembark before returning to Balboa by bus.
In the afternoon there is the option of visiting the Emberá indians who live on the Chagres River. The people of these indigenous communities have maintained their traditional way of life and are famed for their basket weaving.
The friendly Central Hotel is what it says on the tin: it has a prestigious position right on the main square, Plaza de Independencia, in the centre of the historic core of the city with views across the water to the skyscrapers of modern city on the horizon. The hotel is just steps away from the Cathedral, which has had a face lift, and the Municipal and Presidential Palaces are within strolling distance too.
It’s a great location not only for sight-seeing but also for the increasing number of trendy restaurants and cocktails bars adding to the liveliness of the old city.
This was the first hotel in Panama City, gaining a reputation for its good European and American-style services, and recent restoration has maintained the elegant, sugar white, colonial façade and the lofty ceilings and patios of the interior. The air-conditioned rooms and suites have a contemporary design, with fresh white bed linen adding to the feeling of cool. The outdoor pool on the roof is a delight, with views over the red roofs of the Casco Viejo and beyond to the Pacific. There’s also a, spa, beauty salon and gym, bar-lounge and an Argentinian restaurant serving Panamanian steaks the equal of Buenos Aires.
Boquete is a small provincial town set in a valley within the craggy, verdant Chiriquí Highlands. It enjoys a pleasant mountain climate and the surrounding area is both very beautiful and extremely fertile: benefiting from rich volcanic soils crops such as citrus fruit, strawberries, coffee, flowers and vegetables thrive in a European style system of small-scale farming. The town itself has a few quaint old buildings and some good restaurants.
Boquete Tree Trek Mountain Resort is situated in a national park on a hillside surrounded by tightly packed woodland. It’s a bit of an effort to get there, as the winding access is steep in some places and unpaved, but its lofty location promises panoramic views over the surrounding landscape which do not disappoint.
The accommodation is in cosy wooden Alpine-style cabins which are dotted about the property. There are walking trails from the lodge, and while there are plenty of guided activities on offer in the local area, such as ziplining and horseriding, it is also a great place just to relax. All 13 of the rustic bedrooms have a balcony offering a river, mountain or courtyard view, intermittent Wifi, a TV and private bathroom.
This is a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the biodiversity of Boquete’s cloud forest from a lofty perspective. It consists of a circuit of 8 bridges covering a staggering 4.5 km route over the treetops. The bridges are located within the Rio Cristal private forest reserve in the Talamanca mountain range bordering La Amistad International Park. You will be accompanied by a local guide who will tell you all about the lush flora and fauna of the forest. Enjoy breathtaking views of rivers, waterfalls and the towering Volcan Barú.
Boquete Tree Trek Mountain Resort is situated in a national park on a hillside surrounded by tightly packed woodland. It’s a bit of an effort to get there, as the winding access is steep in some places and unpaved, but its lofty location promises panoramic views over the surrounding landscape which do not disappoint.
The accommodation is in cosy wooden Alpine-style cabins which are dotted about the property. There are walking trails from the lodge, and while there are plenty of guided activities on offer in the local area, such as ziplining and horseriding, it is also a great place just to relax. All 13 of the rustic bedrooms have a balcony offering a river, mountain or courtyard view, intermittent Wifi, a TV and private bathroom.
Boquete is blessed with a good selection of hikes in the surrounding countryside, including the Sendero Los Quetzales from where you can walk (7-8hrs) over the mountains to Cerro Punta, the best area to spot the resplendent quetzal – the colourful bird which is a Central American icon.
Boquete is to coffee what Bordeaux is to wine. Over several years, Panama’s coffee has been rated the best coffee in the world and we can arrange for you to visit a local, family-run finca.
Boquete Tree Trek Mountain Resort is situated in a national park on a hillside surrounded by tightly packed woodland. It’s a bit of an effort to get there, as the winding access is steep in some places and unpaved, but its lofty location promises panoramic views over the surrounding landscape which do not disappoint.
The accommodation is in cosy wooden Alpine-style cabins which are dotted about the property. There are walking trails from the lodge, and while there are plenty of guided activities on offer in the local area, such as ziplining and horseriding, it is also a great place just to relax. All 13 of the rustic bedrooms have a balcony offering a river, mountain or courtyard view, intermittent Wifi, a TV and private bathroom.
Today you’ll cross the Continental Divide on a scenic four-hour transfer from the Chiriqui Highlands to the Caribbean Coast.
Just before reaching the small fishing village of Almirante, you’ll make a stop at the Oreba cacao plantation where a local Ngobe Bugle indigenous tour guide will show you around as part of a group. Oreba Chocolate is considered among the finest 100% pure unsweetened chocolate in the world.
Not only will you learn about each step from planting, growing, harvesting, fermenting, drying and producing the actual chocolate, but the Ngobe Bugle guide is also an expert regarding the local plants and their medicinal uses.
Later in the afternoon, your driver will drop you off at the water taxi terminal in Almirante from where you continue on a 30-minute boat ride to Isla Colón, the main island of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago.
The undeveloped islets of white sand beaches, fringed by palms and reeds, with rocky outcrops and reefs are ideal for snorkelling and diving, and provide a marvellously laid-back hang-out for a few days. The islands shelter profuse wildlife – especially tropical birds, frogs and butterflies – and are blessed with splendiferous sunsets.
Spend your days sunbathing, snorkelling, strolling along dazzling snow-white beaches or sipping a cool drink and surveying a scene of unbridled tranquillity.
Set on the edge of Gatún Lake, the small town of Gamboa was formerly an American Canal Zone residential area for canal workers. Today, it is best known for its surrounding rainforest scenery and magnificent bird-watching.
Take a short drive to the rainforested Soberanía National Park and walk the Pipeline Road – built during World War II as a precaution to transport fuel from one ocean to the other in case the Panama Canal was attacked. Fortunately the pipeline never had to be used, while the roads built at that time have opened up opportunities for spectacular bird and wildlife spotting, with 525 species of bird living in the area.
The comprehensive Gamboa Rainforest Resort enjoys a beautiful setting within its own extensive grounds, adjacent to the Soberanía National Park. It has wonderful views over the Chagres river and Gatún lake. Spacious rooms overlook the waterfront. Each is well equipped, with a balcony where you can relax in your hammock after a day out of doors.
There are several restaurants, most of which overlook the river and you can east in the open air. There’s also a pool bar if you get thirsty while swimming! The property has a variety of nature and observation tours including an aerial view of the National Park and Panama Canal from a specially designed tram, and sport fishing trips from the marina.
There’s yet more: a freshwater fish aquarium, orchid and botanical gardens, butterfly nursery, and turtle and iguana nesting areas. There is also a gym and good spa; this is a really comprehensive resort, where you could easily while away a few days with no chance of getting bored.
You’ll board an expedition boat at Gamboa Resort’s marina for an adventure on Lake Gatún. A naturalist guide is on hand to help make the most of the wildlife – amongst which are three-toed sloths, crocodiles, ospreys, snail kites and keel-billed toucans. Getting up close to the foliage as it meets the waterline there is a good chance of seeing white faced capuchins, mantled howler monkeys and spider monkeys. You’ll be able to watch, almost within touching distance it seems, mighty Panamax freighters glide past, towering above the jungle canopy.
Transfer to Panama City airport for international flight home.
The places you’ll stay and explore on this tour. Here’s a closer look at each one and what makes it worth the trip.
Panama - Panama City
Few capitals let you watch a container ship squeeze through a century-old canal lock in the morning and be birdwatching in dripping rainforest by lunch. Panama City and the Panama Canal region do exactly that, and the history behind both runs deeper than the postcard version suggests.
Panama - Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands
Boquete holidays showcase Panama’s scenic highlands, where cooler temperatures, rolling hills and lush coffee plantations offer a refreshing contrast to the tropical coast. Centred on the charming town of Boquete, the Chiriquí Highlands combine beautiful mountain scenery, fresh air and a relaxed atmosphere that makes it easy to slow the pace of your Panama holiday.
Panama - Bocas del Toro Islands
Bocas del Toro, Panama pairs warm turquoise waters, jungle-cloaked islands and a laid-back Caribbean atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the country. Near the Costa Rican border, this idyllic archipelago is known for its pristine beaches, protected marine environments and relaxed pace of life, making Bocas del Toro holidays a perennial favourite.
This holiday introduces you to the extraordinary history of a country linking oceans, spanning cultures and hosting pathways for smuggled gold, we take you to visit some of nature’s most fecund forests, laden with ebullient wildlife and luscious plants.
Your first thoughts about Panama may envisage hats (actually from Ecuador) and a large, strategic canal. But that would be underestimating the unexpected charms and variety of this hilly Central American republic. Your trip with us will change your mind about that.
The capital city is one of the world’s most cosmopolitan, an eclectic mix of American, European and Asian influences forged by centuries of immigration while the palm-defined, pearl white beaches are undeveloped. The Panamanian people, relaxed and welcoming, will ensure you have an enriching holiday.
Sophie Barber
All of our experts have lived or travelled extensively in Latin America, so you will receive unrivalled advice based on unique personal experiences.
The practical detail for this tour, all in one place. Transport, accommodation, what’s included and what to pack, so you know exactly what to expect before you go.
- Summary of Nights
12 days, 11 nights: 3 nights Panama City, 3 nights Boquete, 3 nights Bocas del Toro, 2 nights Gamboa.
- Accommodation
This trip combines friendly mid-range hotels with well-equipped rooms and comfortable but not luxurious wildlife and beach lodges.
- Transport
2 domestic flights (1 hour each), 3 road journeys (max 4 hours)
- Meals
Breakfast daily. Lunch on days 3 & 11.
- Guides
Our local, trusted and carefully selected partners understand the expectations of our customers very well, and their staff and guides are consistently singled out for praise by clients on their return.
On this holiday, you will be joined by different guides for each activity and or region, ensuring you benefit from specialised expertise and knowledge, often from someone local to the area.
- Optional Excursions
As well as any included activities, most Private Journeys include some free time for optional excursions. As optional excursions are often subject to availability, we recommend you discuss and arrange them with your Travel Expert as early as possible before you depart.
- Insurance
Travel insurance is essential.
Details of our recommended policy can be found on our Travel Insurance page.
- Do I need a visa to visit Panama?
British passport holders don’t need a visa to visit Panama for up to three months. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date and have at least one blank page.
You may be asked to show an onward ticket and proof of funds, and you’ll need to complete an immigration and customs declaration, which the authorities recommend doing digitally before you travel. There’s also a departure charge of US$40, usually included in your ticket.
Always check the latest FCDO entry requirements before you go.
- How do I get to Panama from the UK?
There are no direct flights from the UK to Panama. Most routes connect through a European or US hub and arrive at Tocumen International Airport, around 30 minutes from the centre of Panama City. Total journey time is typically 12 to 16 hours depending on the routing. We’re happy to quote flights separately based on your dates.
- What language do they speak in Panama?
Panamanian Spanish is the official language of Panama; however, English is widely taught in schools and often used in Tourism, particularly in urban spots like the Panama Canal.
- How do I get around Panama?
We arrange private transfers between the main destinations. Panama City to the canal is around 30 minutes by car. Boquete and the Chiriquí highlands take six to seven hours by road, or you can fly to David and drive from there in about 40 minutes. Bocas del Toro is reached by a short domestic flight, and San Blas by small plane or a combination of 4×4 and boat. Taxis are widely available in the capital, and water taxis link the islands in Bocas.
- What currency is used in Panama?
Panama uses the US dollar, which makes budgeting straightforward. The Panamanian balboa exists as a local coin currency, but all paper money is in dollars. ATMs are widely available in cities and larger towns, and most hotels and restaurants accept cards. Carry cash for markets, smaller restaurants, taxis and especially the San Blas Islands, where card facilities are limited.
- How long should I spend in Panama?
Ten days to two weeks gives you time to combine Panama City, the canal, the highlands and one of the island destinations. A shorter city break of four to five days works well if you’re focused on the capital and the canal. To add San Blas, Bocas del Toro and the Pacific coast, plan for two weeks or more. Panama also combines well with Costa Rica or Colombia.
- What countries does Panama combine well with?
Panama combines naturally with Costa Rica, as the two share a border and many of our holidays link the Pacific or Caribbean coasts of both. Colombia is a short flight from Panama City, with Cartagena and Bogotá popular add-ons. For a broader Central America journey, Guatemala, Belize and Mexico are all within reach, and our Travel Experts can help design a multi-country trip.
- What vaccinations do I need for Panama?
Check the latest health recommendations for Panama well before you travel. You’ll need a yellow fever certificate if you’re arriving from a country listed as a transmission risk, and vaccination is recommended if you’re heading to the mainland areas east of the canal, though not for Panama City, the canal area, the Pearl Islands or San Blas. For up-to-date advice, see the TravelHealthPro and FCDO travel pages or contact us.
- Is Panama safe to visit?
The main tourist areas of Panama City, the canal, Bocas del Toro, Boquete and San Blas are well visited and generally safe. As anywhere, take sensible precautions, particularly in the capital. Note that the FCDO advises against travel to the Darién region near the Colombian border, which is well away from the usual routes and not somewhere our itineraries go. Check the FCDO travel pages for current advice, and our Travel Experts will advise on anything specific to your trip.
- What is the food like in Panama?
Panamanian cooking draws on Caribbean, Spanish and indigenous influences. Ceviche is everywhere, especially at Panama City’s Mercado de Mariscos, and sancocho, a hearty chicken soup with root vegetables, is the national dish. Along the Caribbean coast, coconut rice, fried plantain and fresh seafood are staples, while the highlands produce good coffee and farm-to-table cooking. Don’t miss the empanadas from street stalls or a raspao, shaved ice with fruit syrup, on a hot afternoon.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Rosie embarked on a year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. She is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others.
Finn discovered his passion for travel on an extensive 18-month trip to Latin America, experiencing the vibrant Carnaval in Rio, the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia, trekking the Andes and volunteering on the Galápagos Islands.
Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.
Gary discovered what he had been missing with his first foray into the wilds of Latin America. In his role as Product Manager, he combines this personal obsession with years of industry experience to help ensure that travellers will fall for the region every bit as much as he has.
Things to do
We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.
Visit the historic core of Panama City to get a glimpse of life pre-canal.
Watch giant cargo ships narrowly squeeze through the locks of the world-famous canal linking the two sides of the Americas – an astounding feat of engineering.
Discover the secrets that go into producing some of Panama’s finest coffee on a jeep safari around a rural coffee plantation.
Explore the underwater world of Bastimientos Marine Reserve, where crystal-clear waters harbour coral reefs, tropical fish, turtles and manatees.
Accommodation
Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation. Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you will relax in utter comfort
A rustic mountain lodge offering a good range of outdoor activities.
A relaxed and very agreeable resort with good accommodation and loads of facilities and activities.
Central Hotel Panama is a historic Spanish-influenced hotel refreshed with contemporary amenities right on the main square in Panama City’s Casco Viejo.
Papagaio
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