9-day trip to Panama
Central America
Are you looking for a comprehensive 9-day trip to Panama? You’ll find it here. We offer a jam-packed itinerary that has you snorkeling in the sea, exploring ancient forts, riding a boat through the Panama Canal, and exploring the quaint Boca Town. Panama is a country replete with natural beauty and it serves a very important service as the connection between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
On this trip, you’ll have experienced tour guides to ensure you get the most out of each destination. Whether hiking through a cloud forest or riding a boat down the river, you’ll get unique insights into the culture and history of what you’re seeing and experiencing. It’s a trip you’ll never forget!
Old Town, Panama City
Panama Canal
Bocas del Toro
Bastimentos National Park
Highlights
This 9-day trip to Panama is one of a kind. You’ll have a chance to climb Baru Volcano, spot quetzals and sloths in the cloud forest, and visit the beaches of Bocas del Toro. Of course, you have to see the Panama Canal. Nothing can beat watching the ships moving slowly through the locks . . . except actually joining them on a boat. You’ll explore the historical site of multiple pirate attacks at San Lorenzo Fort and see for yourself why the Spanish chose to settle here.
You have a chance to do it all on this journey, from hiking and snorkeling to flying and riding in a Jeep. Taste coffee fresh from the source in Boquete and experience the magic of the Chagres River for yourself. From Bastimentos Park to Colon Island, you’ll find yourself exploring the ups and downs of this stunning country.
Itinerary
Upon arrival at the Tocumen International Airport, you’ll be greeted by your driver and taken to your hotel for the night. Take your time settling in and exploring the nearby area as your adventure begins in the morning.
- Three nights in Panama City.
We’ll get an early start to the day and drive to the Rainforest Discovery Center where you can learn more about the biodiversity in Panama. The center is next to Soberania National Park, which is home to more than 1,000 species of birds, as well as howler monkeys, coatis, sloths, and a variety of insects.
The Rainforest Discovery Center has around a mile of trails that wind through the forest. You may spot some of the many animals as you walk the trails, but you’re guaranteed to see plenty of birds. You’ll want to climb the 100-foot-high observation tower in the middle of the center, where you can look out over the canopy.
The entire center is designed around sustainability and uses solar panels and rain collection for its visitor facilities. Nearly everything here is built from recycled materials, as well.
You can’t visit Panama without seeing the impressive Panama Canal. You’ll spend the afternoon here, learning about this 50-mile-long canal with three locks which allow ships to travel from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean and vice versa. You’ll visit the Miraflores Lock where you can watch the ships move through the canal via the locks. Around 40 ships pass through every day, so you’re bound to catch a few.
The Miraflores Locks Visitor Center gives you more information on the canal’s hundred-year history, including a movie that showcases pivotal moments. Murals in the Panama Canal Administration Building showcase the canal’s story and commemorate the more than 25,000 workers who died during the 10-year construction period. This is a piece of history you don’t want to miss.
Your driver will pick you up from the hotel and take you to Albrook Gelabert Domestic Airport (PAC) for your short flight to David Airport (DAV). Upon arrival, you’ll be taken to your hotel in Boquete.
Spend the rest of your day relaxing at the hotel and exploring Boquete, a charming mountain village known for its amazing coffee. You’ll definitely want to stop at one of the several cafes in town to taste the Geisha variety of coffee that does very well in the area’s volcanic soil. Boquete has always been a major part of Panama’s coffee industry and has recently become a popular tourist destination focusing on sustainability.
- Two nights in Boquete.
We’ll be heading to Baru Volcano National Park in the province of Chiriqui.
Option 1: Jeep Tour to Baru Volcano
Baru Volcano stands at 11,398 feet, the tallest mountain in Panama and the only volcano. The area is beautiful, full of forests and a variety of birds and animals, some of which are endangered.
You’ll take a Jeep up the steep slopes of the volcano so you can visit the summit and see what it’s like. On a clear day, you’ll have panoramic views of Panama.
Option 2: Cloud Forest Hike
The Volcan Baru National Park is home to a stunning cloud forest that runs around the volcano’s lower slopes. On this hike, you’ll traverse suspension bridges and narrow trails leading through old-growth forests and lush surroundings. There’s a very good chance you’ll spot some wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, and maybe even the elusive Quetzal.
There are many trails to choose from, but we’ll likely take the Pipeline Trail, which is roughly 3.8 miles with multiple footbridges along the way. It also features a 1,000-year-old tree and ends at a beautiful waterfall. The other trail is Las Tres Cascadas or the Lost Waterfalls Trail. It’s a little more challenging but leads to a stunning trio of waterfalls that are absolutely worth the hike.
Whatever you choose today, rest assured that you’ll have a wonderful time and will be returned to your hotel in the evening.
Today is a travel day as we move from Boquete to Bocas del Toro, a unique Afro-Caribbean-influenced area of Panama. It’s different from much of the country, with a unique language called Guari-guari, a mixture of French, English, and Spanish. It was part of Costa Rica, then controlled by Colombia before Panama finally acquired the province in 1903.
To get to Bocas del Toro, we’ll fly from Boquete to Almirante, then take a short boat ride to Colon Island, the capital of Bocas del Toro. You’ll have a quick trip to the hotel and then you are free to explore this beautiful island for the rest of the day. Bocas Town is a brightly colored town with plenty of live music and a vibrant feel. Enjoy some time on the beach or just relax in a cafe with a local coffee.
- Two nights in Bocas del Toro.
Your day will start with a short boat trip from Bocas del Toro to Bastimentos Island in the Parque Nacional Marino Isla Bastimentos. During the ride, you’ll get a great view of the tropical jungle that covers this boat-accessible island. The local indigenous people will be there to greet you before you head off on a hike through the jungle.
This journey through the forest really drives home that you are walking in a tropical country. The trees are full of brightly colored tropical birds and monkeys. Take some time to relax once you’ve reached Red Frog Beach, so named for the red frog or strawberry poison-dart frog that once thrived here. Enjoy some time on the beach or go snorkeling in the crystalline blue water. You’ll have lunch on the island before taking the boat back to the mainland, relaxed and calm for your beach day.
Leaving the rich tropical feel of Bocas del Toro, you’ll fly to Panama City, where you will enjoy your final full day in Panama. The capital of Panama was founded in 1519, by the Spanish. It’s the oldest continuously inhabited city in all of the Americas, so it’s full of rich history.
Panama City is also the only capital in the world to have a tropical rainforest within city limits. The Metropolitan Natural Park hosts a variety of flora and fauna native to the country. The city is filled with impressive architectural landmarks. The Biomuseo is a particularly fascinating building designed by Frank Gehry. From the Pacific Ocean, you can spot the beautiful skyline of Panama City. It features 127 skyscrapers and is one of the highest skylines in Latin America.
- One night in Panama City.
Your adventurous 9-day trip to Panama has come to an end. You’ll be dropped off at the airport to fly home.
map, expenses & price
9-day trip to Panama
Expenses included:
-All private transportation.
-Eight nights of hotel accommodations.
-Professional certified guides.
-Tours and excursions as listed.
-All Park entrance fees.
-Daily breakfast.
Extensions
ADD-ON
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to ride a ship through the Panama Canal? This is your chance to find out! You’ll start at the north side of Gaillard Cut (also known as Culebra Cut) and travel via boat to the Pedro Miguel Lock, 8 miles away. The journey takes you under the recently built Centennial Bridge which spans the Canal and gives you an amazing view of the Canal as it cuts through the Continental Divide.
Once the boat enters the Pedro Miguel Locks, the water level will drop 9 meters so you can move out into the Miraflores Lake. There, you’ll lower down another 18 meters in two steps to reach the Pacific Ocean and sail under the Bridge of the Americas while enjoying the view of Panama City’s skyline.
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To learn more about the local indigenous people, you’ll want to take this tour. You’ll leave the hotel at 8 am to travel to the Embera Quera Indigenous Community, at the end of the Gatun River. The trip there is via motorized canoe, allowing you to enjoy the natural beauty in the region.
Upon your arrival in the community, an Indigenous villager will take the time to explain their culture and language. You can ask as many questions as you like before you’ll be given the chance to experience a cultural presentation. Enjoy traditional music and dances while you interact with the members of this friendly community. It’s a wonderful way to learn more about the true heart of Panama. You’ll have a traditional lunch with them and then will have a chance to purchase handmade crafts from local artisans.
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Founded in 1597, Portobelo (Beautiful Port) was originally a Spanish settlement designed to ward off pirate attacks. It’s now famous for its colorful history and the Black Christ statue said to have miraculous powers. Stunning forests and natural beauty surround the area, which is just as attractive as the historical town.
After thoroughly exploring Portobelo, we’ll return to Panama City. On the way, we’ll stop to learn more about the fascinating engineering project that is the locks of the Panama Canal. You’ll have a guided visit of Agua Clara Locks. This section of the Canal is more recent, coming into use in 2016, as part of the Canal’s expansion project. The addition of the Agua Clara Locks doubled the capacity of the Panama Canal and made it possible for larger ships to move through to the other side.
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Located off the northern coast of the Isthmus of Panama, the San Blas Islands include over 360 islands and cays. You’ll start the day with a trip from your hotel to the dock, where you’ll board a boat for the ride out to the islands. There are plenty of sandy beaches to relax on, but you can also opt for something more active, including artisanal fishing, snorkeling, canoeing, or even diving. The Kuna people inhabit the islands and they are quite welcoming to visitors who want to learn more about their culture.
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The Chagres River provides 80% of the water required to operate the Panama Canal. On this extension, you’ll visit the Chagres National Park, which covers 129,000 hectares. It was formed to protect the water supply for the Canal and to keep the forest as natural as possible. More than 59 species of freshwater fish exist in the water and the jungle is home to jaguars, ocelots, tapirs, and a wide variety of birds, such as Panama’s national bird, the harpy eagle.
We’ll be kayaking with a naturalist guide who can show you the hidden treasures of the Chagres River. You have a good chance of spotting some unique birds and wildlife as you paddle along the river. We’ll stop at a hidden natural pool to cool off with a refreshing dip before heading back to the dock.
