Off the beaten track Panama | Explore the tropical islands of Panama
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country Panama
duration 19 nights
money 3.170,85 The price per person is US $3400 based on 2 people money

Tropical islands of Panama

Get to know versatile and unspoiled Panama! Panama has so much more to offer than the famous Panama Canal. During this trip you will discover volcanoes, pristine beaches and the countryside of this special country. Visit metropolitan Panama City and then travel on to the beautiful nature in the north of the country. Let yourself be surprised by the delicious coffee in Boquete and enjoy the heavenly beaches in Bocas del Toro and San Blas. San Blas is also home to the indigenous population op Panama, the Kuna Indians and during your stay here you will learn more about their traditional way of life.

  • Uninhabited island, snorkeling
  • Untouched jungle, high mountain tops
  • UNESCO World Heritage
  • Meet the Indians of Panama
  • Rental car 11 days Hyundai Creta 4x2 with full cover
  • All transfers
  • Meals as shown

Panama City

duration 2 nights
attribute Transfer in/out
attribute Hotel

Panama City

duration 2 nights
attribute Transfer in/out
attribute Hotel

 

Panama city has a lot to offer its visitors. There is the beach and lots of nature and jungle surrounding the city. The skyscrapers in the new part of the city are in great contrast with Casco Viejo, the old city center listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Casco Viejo is a mix of architectural styles reflecting the cultural diversity of the city throughout the centuries. You will find beautiful buildings in Art Deco or French colonial style. The district has undergone a metamorphosis in recent years and is increasingly becoming the bustling cultural center of the city. You will spend the night in the middle of this neighborhood. From your hotel you can best explore the neighborhood on foot. Visit the Metropolitana Cathedral, the National Theater and the church of La Merced or settle down on one of the many terraces.

Every visitor in Panama City naturally goes to see the Panama Canal, still an impressive sight. You can also climb the Cerro Ancon, for a beautiful view of the city and the Canal. At a short distance from Casco Viejo you find the Metropolitan national park where you walk straight into the jungle! A little further away is the Soberania National Park. With paths for birdwatchers, a botanical garden and a zoo, a visit to this park is also highly recommended. For those who have more time, can also stay the night here.

San Blas

duration 2 nights
attribute Bungalow
attribute All meals
attribute Transport

San Blas

duration 2 nights
attribute Bungalow
attribute All meals
attribute Transport

Panama’s most beautiful destination is the San Blas archipelago, an area of ​​360 bounty islands, inhabited by Kuna Indians, an Indian tribe still following ancient traditions. The Kuna’s lead an autonomous existence in Panama. Their leader, the Sahila, is both their political and spiritual leader. At San Blas you have the unique opportunity to get to know more of the impressive, ancient Kuna culture.

When you dive in the ocean here, a beautiful underwater world opens up to you with lots of colorful tropical fish, sepias, octopuses, lobsters, starfish, and rays. You can even find anemones with anemone fish / clown fish and small pieces of coral here! Snorkeling and swimming are allowed everywhere.

El Valle de Anton

duration 2 nights
attribute Cabin

El Valle de Anton

duration 2 nights
attribute Cabin

This picturesque village is located in the second largest crater in the world and is a popular destination for those who want to escape the bustle of Panama City. You are surrounded by nature here at only two hours from the city. El Valle de Anton is a great spot for hikers, nature and bird lovers.

From El Valle de Anton you can hike various beautiful trails, exploring the forests and mountains. Discover the mountain peaks for example and follow the “La India Dormida” path (the sleeping Indian). You will encounter farmers and students who walk this path daily. Upon your return you can take a refreshing dive in various waterfalls and relax in hot springs.

You can also discover the flora and fauna by booking a canopy tour. More than 300 bird species can be found in the area. You can spot them in the Cerro Gaital national park, but also in the garden of your own cabaña.

You stay in simple cabañas within walking distance of the center of El Valle. Breakfast is not included, but the friendly owners will be happy to help you choose from the various eateries in the village or you can prepare your own breakfast.

Coiba

duration 3 nights
attribute Basic tent
attribute All meals
attribute Transfer by boat
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Coiba

duration 3 nights
attribute Basic tent
attribute All meals
attribute Transfer by boat

Coiba National Park is one of the best places in the world for snorkeling. Within the 2700 km 2 park there are 170 hectares of coral reefs with more than 700 species of fish. There are also three species of sea turtles and dolphins are regularly spotted. In the summer (from the end of July to mid-September) humpback whales come to the park to give birth to their calf and / or to find a partner.

We have developed a package together with a couple of Dutch biologists to enable visitors to optimally enjoy all this beauty. We work with small groups (maximum 8 participants). The first evening you will sleep in a comfortable B&B on the west coast of Mariato. The next morning you leave early with a Dutch-speaking biologist-guide  to Coiba, where you will spend two nights in a private camp on the island of Coiba. During your stay on Coiba you will go snorkeling near four different reefs and you will walk along two paths in the tropical forests of Coiba. A boat trip through a mangrove forest is also included in your program.

We assume that more than 2 people go on this trip, otherwise a surcharge applies. Contact us about departure dates.

Santa Fe

duration 2 nights
attribute Hotel
attribute Breakfast

Santa Fe

duration 2 nights
attribute Hotel
attribute Breakfast

The green town of Santa Fé is a small and quiet village in the highlands of Panama. It is surrounded by the rain forest of the Santa Fé national park. The area is known for its charm, fresh air and beautiful surroundings with rivers and more than 20 impressive waterfalls. It is still relatively undiscovered compared to the more famous mountain villages of Boquete and El Valle de Anton.

Santa Fé a paradise for everyone who loves nature. You can explore the great nature reserve of “Alto de Piedra”. Another option is to walk to Las Brujas and Cerro Tute. The paths run through both primary and secondary forest, past fields and waterfalls. Chances are that you will encounter toucans, parrots and other tropical birds along the way. At the edge of the town you can take a refreshing dip in the Lajas river after a short walk. You can also do a little tubing on this river.

Additionally, you can visit an organic coffee plantation or an orchid farm. For locally grown fruits and vegetables, and genuine Ngöbe-Buglé handicrafts, you can go to the local market in the center of the village.

Boca Chica

duration 2 nights
attribute Hotel
attribute All meals
attribute Transfer by boat

Boca Chica

duration 2 nights
attribute Hotel
attribute All meals
attribute Transfer by boat

Boca Chica in northern Panama is a great example of a small village along an unspoilt coastline. Here and there you find other small towns, but the area consists mainly of deserted bays with beautiful sandy beaches that are surrounded by jungle.

Your stay on an uninhabited peninsula will make a visit to Boca Chica an unforgettable experience. The peninsula is a mix of pristine beaches and jungle with exotic plants and animals. The friendly hotel owner will warmly welcome you and entertain you with his stories and excellent cooking skills.

Relax on one of the beautiful beaches and go swimming or snorkeling around coral reefs. Explore the island and spot monkeys in the trees or turtles on the beach. You can go on a boat trip to spot whales or dolphins or go snorkeling. You can also kayak, surf or sail and challenge your traveling companions to a game of volleyball, badminton or a fun board game.

Boquete

duration 2 nights
attribute Cabin
attribute Breakfast
attribute Transport
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Boquete

duration 2 nights
attribute Cabin
attribute Breakfast
attribute Transport

The mountain village of Boquete is known for its pleasant climate, good coffee, tropical flowers, citrus fruits and many vegetables. Boquete was founded in 1911 by mainly Europeans, who envisioned their perfect new home in this attractive area with cloud forests and coffee plantations. Boquete has now become one of the most important agricultural areas of Panama and has the best coffee in the world.

Panama’s only volcano, Baru, is also located in this area. Take a walk to the top and enjoy the fantastic views; in clear weather you can see the two oceans! If you leave early enough, you can also enjoy a beautiful sunrise.

We recommend the Hidden Waterfall walk along 4 beautiful waterfalls. Or visit one of the many coffee plantations where you can see how coffee is actually made. Take a horseback ride through the beautiful surroundings, view the botanical gardens or visit the hot springs. Sports enthusiasts can also go rafting, climbing or canoeing in Boquete. You certainly will not be bored here!

Tomorrow you will return your rental car and continue your travels by shared shuttle to Bocas del Toro.

Bocas del Toro

duration 3 nights
attribute Bungalow
attribute Breakfast
attribute Transfer by boat

Bocas del Toro

duration 3 nights
attribute Bungalow
attribute Breakfast
attribute Transfer by boat

Bocas del Toro has become one of the most famous tourist destinations in Panama. The construction and development of new hotels and other facilities on the islands is therefore slowly expanding, but the ultimate, relaxed Caribbean atmosphere still dominates.

On Bocas you will find small shops, cozy restaurants and beautiful beaches. In addition, you can also enjoy surfing, both beginners and advanced surfers will enjoy themselves here. Mangrove forests and the mainland jungle make this area even more interesting to explore.

You will stay on Isla Bastimentos, located next to the busier main island of Colon. On the island you will find not only the Red Frod Beach, but also mangrove forests and sea turtles. On other beaches it is possible to surf, snorkel, dive or kayak. Water taxi’s are the main form of transport here and they usually cost a few dollars. The main island of Isla Colon is the largest and most developed island. Colored wooden houses exude the relaxed Caribbean atmosphere and you will find nice restaurants. Kayaking, cycling, walking, fishing or bird watching are all possible here!

Tip from Edventure: step on Colon’s most used means of transport, the beach cruiser, and cycle in forty minutes to the beautiful Playa Bluff on the other side of the island. Spot starfish on the beach at Boca del Drago. Don’t forget to plan a day trip to the Red Frog Beach, where you can find small red poisonous frogs and go snorkeling. You can also visit Dolphin Bay to see if you can spot dolphins in the wild, with a bit of luck you’ll find them swimming near your boat!

Panama City

duration 1 night
attribute Hotel
attribute Transfer in/out

Panama City

duration 1 night
attribute Hotel
attribute Transfer in/out

Back to the city!

From Bocas del Toro you fly back to Panama City for two more wonderful days. Now you can plan the excursions that you didn’t have time for at the start of your trip or relax on the terraces in Casco Viejo.

Tip from Linda

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Tip from Linda

If your are flying to Panama from Europe,  do know that KLM offers a direct connection from Amsterdam! If you can use some help with booking competitively priced tickets, you can contact our (independent) partner without obligation, Manon Eeken.

Once in Panama we arrange all necessary transportation for you, be it your rental car, airport shuttles and/or domestic flights.

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