Panama and Costa Rica
10 days
Are you craving an adventure? This Panama and Costa Rica holiday itinerary could be exactly what you’re looking for. You’ll have knowledgeable, bilingual guides as you visit the most impressive parts of both Central American countries.
From the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans, man-made lakes and canals to jungles and white sand beaches, you’ll experience the stunning beauty of both Panama and Costa Rica. If you haven’t visited these areas yet, you have no idea what you’ve been missing. The biodiversity and rich culture of this part of Central America draws tourists from around the world and for good reason. You’ll love traveling through these beautiful places so much, you may never want to leave.
Panama City
Central America’s most cosmopolitan capital
Brown-throated sloth
Exceptional fauna
Volcano Arenal National Park
Explore tropical rainforests
San Blas Islands
Pristine natural beauty and reefs
Highlights
Your Panama and Costa Rica holiday begins in Panama City where you’ll enjoy exploring the diverse community here. Next up, you’ll have the chance to actually take a boat through the locks of the Panama Canal before visiting local tribes and exploring the San Blas Islands. Panama is an often ignored country, but it is truly beautiful and worth visiting.
After Panama, you’ll head to Costa Rica, where you can hike the gorgeous trails around Volcano Arenal, soak in natural hot springs at Baldi Spa, and swim beneath the massive La Fortuna Waterfall. Explore Manuel Antonio Nature Park and go ziplining through the cloud forest at Selvatura. Night hikes in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and day walks in Manuel Antonio will give you a true look at the natural beauty and wildlife available in the area. It’s a trip you won’t soon forget!
Itinerary
You’ll arrive in Panama at the International Airport of Panama (PTY) where your driver will whisk you away to your hotel in Panama City. This stunning capital of Panama is also the largest city in the country. It’s set at the entrance of the famous Panama Canal, which permits ships to pass from the Pacific to the Atlantic without needing to round South America. It’s also the only capital city in the world with a rainforest inside city limits.
- Three nights in Panama City.
While Panama has a lot to offer visitors, it is best known for the Panama Canal. The 50-mile-long canal uses locks to raise and lower ships so they can move through to the opposite ocean. The canal’s construction in the late 1800s and early 1900s drastically reduced shipping routes and is used to this day.
You’ll have a chance to experience the Panama Canal in a partial canal transit. First, we’ll travel to the Port of Balboa where the Miraflores Locks are. You can watch boats move through the locks before traveling on a boat through the Miraflores Locks and into the Gaillard Cut. Here, the Chagres River and the Panama Canal merge.
After the boat tour, we’ll take a short bus trip to see Lake Gatun, the world’s largest artificial lake. It was created specifically to provide water for the Canal.
Next, we’ll travel along the Chagres River to visit the Embera tribe. This semi-nomadic tribe lives along the riverbanks and is still deeply traditional. The tribe focuses on preserving their land and cultural heritage, part of which is done via music, dance, and artisanal crafts, which you can see when visiting.
Ever dreamed of visiting a deserted island in the Caribbean? Today you’ll have that chance! We’ll take a 4×4 to the dock and then hop on a boat to one of the San Blas Islands, an archipelago made up of around 365 islands and cays. Just 49 of the islands are inhabited by the Kuna people.
You have a choice of islands to visit. If you wish to meet the local Kuna people, that’s an option. You’ll learn about their history and traditions and enjoy interacting with the locals as they welcome you to their community.
These islands are known for their stunning white sand beaches and pristine waters. Here, you’ll find beautiful coral reefs filled with brilliant tropical fish. Scuba diving is prohibited here, but you can easily see everything with a snorkel. Whether you want to lounge on the beach, take a dip in the tropical water, or go island hopping, you have plenty of activity choices in this beautiful area.
Enjoy a delicious lunch of fresh seafood before returning to the mainland.
After an early breakfast, you’ll head to the airport and fly to Costa Rica. There, a driver will meet you and take you to Arenal, where you’ll stay for the next couple of nights.
Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with around 5% of the world’s known species in just one small area. Around 25% of Costa Rica is protected via national parks and nature reserves, which makes it a popular tourist destination. The country has a variety of microclimates, depending on the elevation of each area and the climate is perfect for supporting a variety of wildlife and plants.
With over 200 volcanic formations, Costa Rica is also a major part of the Ring of Fire, a volcanic ring formed by tectonic plates around the Pacific Ocean. Some of the volcanoes are active, but most are dormant. You’ll have a chance to see the most famous one up close and personal since you’ll be staying by Volcano Arenal.
- Two nights in La Fortuna or Volcano Arenal.
Today, we’ll travel to El Silencio Private Reserve, a 500-acre nature reserve on the slopes of Poas Volcano. The reserve is full of rich cloud forests and amazing views. You’ll take a hike through the cloud forest where you can see monkeys, toucans, and other local wildlife. We’ll cross the lava fields where previous eruptions have left the area covered in unique lava flows, hardened to solid rock. The hike takes you to a viewpoint where you can get a great view of Volcano Arenal and Lake Arenal, so have your camera ready.
Volcano Arenal was one of the country’s most active volcanoes up until 2010 but is now classified as dormant. It’s almost perfectly conical, looking like a volcano illustration straight out of a schoolbook. Today, it features as a backdrop in many tourist photos, thanks to its unique shape and how easy it is to reach.
Next, we’ll head to La Fortuna at the base of Volcano Arenal where we’ll visit the Baldi Spa. Here, you can enjoy the 25 pools of natural hot springs heated by volcanic thermal activity and indulge in one of many spa treatments. It’s a wonderful way to ease your tired muscles after traveling and hiking.
Finish up the day with a hike to La Fortuna Waterfall, a 70-foot waterfall that pours into La Fortuna River. Part of the Arenal Volcano National Park, the waterfall is a popular tourist destination. You’ll have to climb up to reach it, along over 500 steps that window through the forest. If you’re feeling a little warm after all that hiking, go ahead and take a refreshing dip in the river.
Start the day out with a ferry ride across Lake Arenal before we drive to Monteverde. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve was created in 1972 by the Quaker community here and covers over 26,000 acres. There are six distinct ecological zones in the reserve, so you can see a variety of animals and plants that thrive here.
From the three-wattled bellbird with its unique bird call to the incredible quetzal with its trailing tail, birds abound here. There are more than 350 species in the reserve, so birdwatchers will love the chance to see some truly unique ones.
Feel free to explore the area during the afternoon, but save your energy for the night. We’ll take a fascinating nocturnal walk through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve where you’ll have a chance to spot more animals than you would during the day. Your guide will point out the various creatures that prefer the cooler evenings, making the jungle come alive after dark.
Keep an eye out for sloths, ocelots, coatis, and kinkajous as you hike. You may spot frogs, moths, beetles, and maybe a snake or tarantula, as well. The reserve has made this a safe space for all species.
- Two nights in Monteverde.
Ready for an adventure? Selvatura Park is a fun eco-adventure park where you can get an adrenaline rush while still enjoying nature. Take a walk over some of the treetop suspension bridges that give you a birds-eye view of the cloud forest and cover nearly two miles of the jungle. You may also enjoy doing the zipline canopy tour, which features 15 cables, the longest of which is two miles in length.
Selvatura is also a great place to learn more about Costa Rica’s wildlife. You can visit the butterfly garden, hummingbird garden, and insect museum to see these creatures up close. The Reptile and Amphibian Exhibit is a great place to view animals that can be difficult to find in the wild.
In the afternoon, we’ll return to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve where we will hike through the forest. This hike gives you a good opportunity to spot any wildlife and birds you may have missed on the night walk. Howler monkeys and white-faced monkeys are prevalent here and you’ll likely see a few on the walk.
The reserve is the perfect place to see the biodiversity that abounds in Costa Rica. They prevent too many people from entering to protect the fragile ecosystem, which also means better opportunities to see animals, as they’re not scared off by crowds.
After the pleasant hike, we’ll return to the hotel to rest and relax for the travel day tomorrow.
Today, we’ll spend the morning driving to Manuel Antonio, which is on the Pacific Coast. The area is hot and humid, giving a very tropical feel. The biodiversity of the area rivals the rest of the country, with sloths, iguanas, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, and many other animals thriving in the jungle.
You’ll have the afternoon to yourself, so why not spend some of that time on the stunning beaches here? Playa Manuel Antonio and Playa Espadilla Sur are both known for their soft, white sand. The snorkeling here is amazing, as well, with the biodiversity extending to the tropical waters.
If you prefer to hike, there are plenty of well-maintained trails that lead through the park, and walking along the beach is an experience in itself. There are also surfing lessons and cooking classes available in town.
- Two nights in Manuel Antonio.
The Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio is both a marine and land reserve, covering a total of more than 68,000 acres. Out of that, just over 63,000 acres are marine reserve. It’s one of the smallest national parks in Costa Rica, but one of the most famous.
Experience the natural beauty of the park as we take a hike through the jungle and along the beach. There’s nothing better than seeing exotic wildlife in person. The 11 hiking trails through the park lead to unique viewpoints and beaches, twisting through the lush rainforest where you’re bound to spot animals and tropical birds.
There’s a good reason Manuel Antonio is the most visited national park in Costa Rica. Spend the day getting to know the area and soaking up the atmosphere of this tropical paradise.
Your amazing Panama and Costa Rica holiday has come to an end. Your driver will drop you off at the airport today for your flight home. If you’re interested in extending your trip, let us know!
map, expenses & price
Panama and Costa Rica
Expenses included:
-Door-to-door transportation
-Nine nights of hotel accommodation
-Professional certified guides
-Tours and excursions as listed
-All Park entrance fees
-Daily breakfast
