The Experience

Voyage back to a time when America was new with this soulful Latin adventure, delving into the colonial gems of Panama City & the untouched beaches of Coronado. Take a large dose of sunshine, mix in monkey-filled rainforests, add in sparkling emerald waters, native legends, dazzling UNESCO Heritage Sites & an iconic engineering marvel & you get Panama. Visit local artisan galleries, go wild on a jungle safari, canoe to an indigenous village, receive a native tattoo (the temporary kind) & voyage through the world’s most famous shortcut. Complete with stylish art deco hotel, beach resort & an irresistible fusion of Caribbean & Latin vibes, Panama awaits!

Day 1: Panama City
Upon your arrival you will be met by a local representative who will help you locate your vehicle.

Airport transfer with private vehicle, and English speaking professional driver.

Accommodation: Las Clementinas
Located at the heart of the Panama City,™s UNESCO World Heritage Site historic district, Las Clementinas is a Casco Viejo Hotel with large, lovingly decorated one bedroom suites that sleep up to four people, a spectacular roof top view and lush gardens. Las Clementinas was originally built in the 1930s as an apartment building, and we have retained the original apartments,™ layouts, giving our rooms unmatched size and volumes. Think of it as a classic small European hotel with much larger rooms, gracious finishes and no elevator.

Casco Viejo

Day 2: Panama City
Your English speaking guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you on a private tour to Panama City and the Miraflores Locks. You will start the tour with a 30 minutes drive to Miraflores to see the huge vessels passing the Panama Canal. The busiest hours are from 9am to 10am and from 2pm to 5pm, so you will be able to see many ships getting lifted or lowered 16 meters in two distinct steps. You will enjoy the view on the Locks from a sheltered terrace and listen to the explanations of your guide. To complete the visit of the Canal you will visit the Museum and Visitor Center at Miraflores which gives you a good idea on the construction of the Canal ,“ a masterpiece of engineering. You will also learn about the history of the canal and its significance for Panama and the entire world trade as well as on the current expansion project. After the visit to the Canal you continue with your guide to the Amador Causeway, a road that connects three Islands in the Pacific Ocean and offers magnificent views on the Canal on one side and on the skyline of Panama City on the other side. Lunch will be served in a Panamanian restaurant on the causeway. After lunch the tour continues to the Casco Viejo, Panama City,™s colonial quarter. At the Casco Viejo you feel set back in time as you admire the lovely colonial houses, the narrow roads and the impressive churches. You will get a good idea about Panama,™s history by driving or walking through the main attractions of this quarter. If you want to continue the tour you will be taken to Panama Viejo, the Old Panama. Panama Viejo was the first European settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas. This first Panama City was looted and destroyed by the notorious English bucaneer Henry Morgan in 1671 and therefore abandoned. Today there are only ruins left. Still, the tower of the ancient cathedral is standing and has become a landmark of the town. After the tour you will be taken back to your hotel.

Important Note: Depending on ship traffic in the locks the order of the tour might be inverted to assure that the clients will see ships in the locks.

Important Note: Old Panama is closed on Mondays.

Accommodation: Las Clementinas
Portobelo Fort

Day 3: Panama City
Enjoy a train journey on the historical and original railway line from Panama City to Colón. This 1-hour trip leads you through the jungle and along the Panama Canal, to the port city of Colon.

Following the beautiful train trip, continue to the ruins of Portobelo. This port was the gathering point of the Peruvian treasures in the 15th century. The gold and silver was shipped from here to Spain, and Portobelo was also the center for the control and inspection of the goods arriving from Spain.

Continue on to an Embera Indian Village on Rio Gatun. A fascinating and dense jungle surrounds you on a short boat trip to the village. Downriver, step out of the dugout canoe and enter the Embera village. One of seven indigenous tribes in Panama, the people of the Embera tribe will welcome you at the pier, and give you an idea on how they still live today. The village’s chief will give you a brief explanation about the history of the tribe, its traditions, cultures, beliefs and handicrafts. A traditional lunch of fish and plantains prepared by the Embera women will be served. In the afternoon experience a traditional Embera dance and have the opportunity to shop for handicrafts. The sale of local products directly benefits the village and helps to pay the school fees for the children. You can also get a temporary Embera tattoo painted on your arm or leg.

Accommodation: Las Clementinas
Flycatcher in Gamboa

Day 4: Panama City
The Panama Rainforest Discovery Center is located on the famous Pipeline road, one of the most renowned places in the world for bird watching. In fact, here was established a record number for a bird count organized in 1985 by the Audubon Society, when 385 species were identified in 24 hours. Together with your naturalist guide you will drive to Gamboa and start walking on the pipeline road to get to the Rainforest Discovery Center. Start at the visitor center, observing up to 13 species of hummingbirds that are recorded in our feeders. Continue on the trails observing birds of the undergrowth such as manakins, anteaters and trogons. Go up the 40-meter tower to contemplate birds in the canopy such as the famous blue cotinga and toucans, and visit the viewing platform by the lake to see aquatic birds like wattled jacanas, least grebes, herons and snail kites. As well as birds you will be able to observe other animals like monkeys, crocodiles, coatis , and butterflies.

Duration: 6 hours Includes: Transportation from/to Panama City, English speaking naturalist guide, entrance fees.

Bring: Hiking shoes, long pants, camera, binoculars, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, water

Accommodation: Las Clementinas Coronado
InterContinental Playa Bonita Resort & Spa

Day 5: Panama City – Coronado
Transfer to Playa Bonita Hotel, Panama by private vehicle and professional driver.

Accommodation: Intercontinental Playa Bonita
Not far from Panama City, tucked into a private beach escape rich with rainforest and the ocean breeze, is the Intercontinental Playa Bonita. Guests are privy to 300 comfortable and well-maintained rooms, each designed with a historical Panamanian influence. Private telephones and all the amenities of home are featured in all rooms. Meals are offered at any of 3 restaurants, and 24 hour room service is available for late night munchies. A relaxing day at the spa or lounging by the swimming pool promise a revitalizing experience in Panama.