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Panama holiday:
Panama Odyssey
This fully-guided private tailor-made tour is ideal for active people who would like to
discover something of the real Panama and its wildlife as well as seeing the
main sights.
Panama City
Day 1 You are met at the airport on arrival and driven to your preferred hotel for a 3 night stay
Day 2 With your guide you explore the Metropolitan Natural Park on a short nature trail before visiting Old Panama, founded in 1519 and sacked in 1671 by the Welsh buccaneer Sir Henry Morgan. The city’s history continues to unfold as you see the once-walled Casco Viejo which replaced it.
Day 3 BL Take the train to Colon on the Caribbean. The line runs alongside the Canal at many points, crossing Gatun Lake on causeways with super views. You might just spot crocodiles, monkeys and toucans on the way. Then visit the harbour of Portobelo and the evocative ruins of Fort San Lorenzo, a World Heritage site, commanding the mouth of the Chagres river: sacked by Morgan and later by Admiral Vernon. Return to Panama City by train.
San Blas Islands and the Kuna people
Day 4 LD An early morning start for the short flight to the San Blas islands in the Kuna Yala. You stay at a charming lodge owned and run by the Kuna community: simple and rustic but with bathrooms en suite. You will have the opportunity of visiting their nearby village and experiencing the Kuna way of life. Lunch and dinner feature fresh seafood.
Day 5 BLD Visit other islands in the Kuna community in the morning and later have the chance to relax on one of the beautiful white sand beaches, or snorkel over coral reefs.
Chiriquí highlands and Boquete
Day 6 BLD A morning flight to Panama City, with an onward connection to David in western Panama from where you are driven to the mountain town of Cerro Punta for 2 nights.
Day 7 BLD A visit to the pre-Columbian petroglyphs at Barriles this morning, with dozens of carved stones and boulders among flower-filled gardens. It’s then a very pleasant drive to see one of Latin America’s finest orchid nurseries with over 2000 varieties from all over the world.
Day 8 BLD For a
leg-stretching walk your guide takes you on the first section of the Los
Quetzales Trail, through some lovely cloud forest which opens out here and there
to give fine views. Among the birds and wildlife there is a chance of seeing the
beautiful Resplendent Quetzal.
Then travel by road around the volcano to the thriving little town of Boquete.
Your hotel is a charming fine historic inn, where you stay for the next 2
nights.
Day 9 BLD Visit a coffee farm today and the rock formations at Los Ladrillos created by Barú Volcano’s last eruption. Coffee from this region is among the world’s best and you will see how it is harvested, selected, dried, and roasted.
Wildlife around the Canal
Day 10 BLD A free morning to relax and enjoy the hotel’s pretty gardens or potter around Boquete. Later fly to Panama City and on by road to Gamboa Rainforest Resort for 3 nights.
Day 11 BLD After breakfast take a wildlife boat trip on Gatun Lake. There are good chances of seeing spectacled caiman, green iguana, land turtle, capuchin monkey, two-toed sloth, capybara, and many different birds. Spend the afternoon at leisure before embarking on an evening adventure on the Chagres river in search of its nocturnal animals and birds.
Day 12 BLD Early this morning you visit the Canopy Tower (one of the world’s top 10 birding lodges), in the heart of Soberanía National Park. There are excellent chances of spotting many different birds from a great vantage point, high up in the canopy. There is also a good chance of finding wildlife on the Pipeline Road.
In the afternoon visit Miraflores Lock and its fascinating museum of the Canal’s construction.
Day 13 BLD Today make a ‘partial transit’ of the Panama Canal itself, through the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks: an engineering feat in a near Garden of Eden with lush tropical rainforests descending to its banks. Then drive to El Valle, high in the crater of an extinct volcano: a week-end retreat for well-to-do Panamanians.
El Valle
Day 14 BL You can explore the area with its lovely waterfalls, petroglyphs and local crafts before a farewell lunch at a delightful restaurant in wonderful surroundings.
Drive back to Panama City, say goodbye to your guide, and either embark on additional journeys in Panama or fly home.
Guide price* from £2,720
14 days / 13 nights.
Starts Panama City. Ends Panama City.
Not quite right for you? Contact us to adjust the itinerary, change hotels or how you travel.
Places visited on this Panama tailor-made holiday:
› Chiriquí highlands and Boquete
› El Valle
Similar tailor-made holidays in Panama:
Also consider:
› Panama birdwatching holidays
*What do guide prices cover?
Guide prices are per person based on 2 people travelling together and sharing twin/double accommodation.
Please ask us for prices for families, threesomes, singles, etc.
Guide prices do not include international flights, travel insurance, Panama departure tax (allow £15pp) or items of a personal nature such as drinks, tips, and laundry, or optional excursions taken locally in Panama.
See the current brochure insert for booking conditions.
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Contact our Panama specialists
Geodyssey brings you an exclusive selection of thoughtfully designed holidays in amazing locations throughout our destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our holidays focus on what is natural, authentic, comfortable, stylish and affordable, and on what works best in each country. Our tailor-made holidays are individually designed by our experienced team on the basis of in-depth knowledge, a real enthusiasm for our destinations, and a desire to make sure we get it right for each and every customer. All our customers have 100% financial protection. All the land-based holidays on this website are exclusive to Geodyssey. Geodyssey is an independent company managed by its owners, based in London, founded in 1993.
