OUR BEST OF PANAMA TOUR WILL SHOW YOU THE HIGHLIGHTS OF PANAMA
Small Group Tour
Discover Panama’s Best: A Journey Through Culture and Nature
Welcome to an extraordinary “Best of Panama” adventure, a land of diversity and beauty. Our small group tour takes you through the heart of this Central American gem, blending culture, history, and natural wonders for an unforgettable experience.
Panama City: Modernity and History
Start in Panama City, where modernity meets history. Explore Casco Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and be awed by the iconic Panama Canal. Relax and unwind on a catamaran Sailing Tour to Taboga Island.
Anton Valley: Hidden Natural Oasis
Uncover the hidden gem of Anton Valley, a mountain oasis offering lush landscapes, hiking trails, and a chance to reconnect with nature.
Azuero Peninsula: Cultural Riches
Journey to the Azuero Peninsula for local villages and traditional craftsmanship, and experience the heart of Panama‘s traditions.
Boquete: Highland Retreat
Visit Boquete for a highland escape with coffee plantations, cloud forests, and volcanic beauty. Perfect for nature enthusiasts.
Bocas del Toro: Caribbean Paradise
End in Bocas del Toro, a Caribbean paradise known for stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant marine life, before returning to Panama City’s beautiful old town Casco Antiguo.
This “Best of Panama” tour offers a unique blend of culture and nature. Join us for an enriching exploration of Panama’s best. Are you ready for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure? Discover the best that Panama has to offer with us and a small group of like-minded travelers!
Highlights:
- Small groups of max 12 participants (often less)
- Stays in highly rated hotels (all with Google ratings of 4.5 or more)
- Panama City Tour including a visit to the Miraflores Locks of the famous Panama Canal
- Sailing Tour to Taboga Island including Open Bar (or opt for a Partial Transit of the world-famous Panama Canal instead)
- Learn about Panamanian traditions on the Azuero Peninsula, the cradle of Panamanian culture
- Coffee tour and choice of rum tour/suspension bridges/ziplining in Boquete in the Highlands of Chiriqui
- Beach stay on the Caribbean islands of Bocas del Toro including a boat tour to the famous Red Frog Beach
- Support local communities and schools
Are you interested in relocation to Panama?
While this is not a designated relocation tour to Panama, you will be guided by a local or ExPat who has lived in Panama for many years. You will see many interesting places that are suitable and recommended for relocation. Use the opportunity to learn more about Panama on this affordable group tour before making your big decision!
We can also put you in touch with relocation lawyers, real estate agents, and more. There will be time on the tour, mainly in the evenings, to meet with local lawyers and real estate agents during your Small Group Best of Panama Tour. Please reach out to us to learn more.
Hotels On Your Best Of Panama Small Group Tour
- Best Western Plus Panama Zen Hotel *** or similar – Panama City, 3 nights
- Los Mandarinos Boutique Spa & Hotel **** or similar – El Valle de Anton, 1 night
- Hotel Presidente Las Tablas *** or similar – Las Tablas, 2 nights
- El Oasis Boquete *** or similar – Boquete, 2 nights (Boquete Tree Trek Mountain Lodge for April 2024)
- Divers Paradise Boutique Hotel ***(*) or similar – Bocas del Toro, 3 nights
- Gran Evenia Panama **** or similar – Panama City, 1 night
TOUR MAP BEST OF PANAMA TOUR
TOUR ITINERARY BEST OF PANAMA TOUR
DAY 1, FRI
PANAMA CITY – TRANSFER IN (-)
Individual arrival at the International Airport of Tocumen (PTY). A local driver will wait for you. Transfer to your hotel in the city center.
Within walking distance from your hotel, you will find shops, restaurants, and bars. Or relax in the hotel’s rooftop pool!
DAY 2, SAT
PANAMA CITY TOUR (B)
DAY 3, SUN
CATAMARAN SAILING TOUR (B/L)
Enjoy a fun day on a catamaran tour to Taboga Island on Panama’s Pacific Coast. Relax on the nets or protected from the sun, enjoy music, eat lunch, and have cool drinks (open bar!). Visit a typical Panamanian fishing village and go for a swim.
Interested in a Partial Transit of the Panama Canal instead? Contact us!
DAY 4, MON
PANAMA CITY – ANTON VALLEY (B)
Today, continue your Best of Panama tour with a visit to a local fruit and vegetable market before you head out over the Bridge of the Americas and the Panamerican Highway towards the quiet little town of El Valle de Anton (Anton Valley). Ages ago this area used to be a crater lake but was later settled by the indigenous people of the surrounding mountains.
El Valle has a very pleasant climate and a unique birdlife. Together with your guide, you will explore the area with small walks, for example to the waterfall “El Macho”.
DAY 5, TUE
ANTON VALLEY – PARITA – LAS TABLAS (B/L)
After breakfast, travel west on the Panamerican highway. In Natá de los Caballeros you can visit the historic church. The place is one of the oldest on the continent, established in 1520.
Before heading to the charming and historic village of Parita on the Azuero Peninsula, enjoy a typical Panamanian lunch. In Parita, you visit a local mask artist in his house. He will explain how to make the typical Panama Diablicos masks.
Later, learn about the Panamanian national dress, the Pollera, before heading to Las Tablas.
DAY 6, WED
LAS TABLAS – ORIA ARRIBA – PLAYA VENAO – LAS TABLAS (B/L)
Today, you will visit a typical village called Oria Arriba. After a reception, learn more about local products such as hats and handmade musical instruments. Later, visit an original sugar cane mill and taste sugar cane juice. The proceeds from this excursion will benefit the residents and the school of Oria Arriba.
After a typical lunch, visit the town of Playa Venao. Long white-sand beach, and a popular surf break, lined with laid-back resorts & restaurants await you. Playa Venao and nearby Pedasi are popular ExPat destinations.
DAY 7, THU
LAS TABLAS – BOQUETE (B)
Today you head in about 5 hours to the most western province of Panama: Chiriquí. You will leave the Panamerican Highway and head north to the Chiriquí Highlands. At 3,900 feet (1,200 m) above sea level you find the small mountain village of Boquete. It has a wonderful cool climate and is a retirement haven for ExPats looking for a simpler lifestyle. The mountain region offers breathtaking views, lush greenery, and flowers in a kaleidoscope of colors. In the distance, you can see the stunning Volcán Barú rising through the clouds.
Before you go for a short hike in the beautiful surroundings, you will explore the cute village.
DAY 8, FRI
BOQUETE: COFFEE TOUR AND SUSPENSION BRIDGES, ZIPLINE OR RUM TOUR (B)
In the morning, a visit to a coffee plantation is part of your Best of Panama tour. The process of growing, harvesting, and processing the coffee fruit is explained and of course, a tasting is included.
For the afternoon, you can choose between an exciting walk on suspension bridges where you can observe the cloud forest and waterfalls from a bird’s perspective. Don’t feel like walking? How about an exciting zipline through the treetops? (surcharge of $40) Or opt for the rum-tasting tour.
All afternoon tours take place at the same time at the same location. The choice is yours.
DAY 9, SAT
BOQUETE – ALMIRANTE – BOCAS DEL TORO (B/L)
Today a 3-hour transfer takes you to the Caribbean coast. Here you will visit the Oreba Chocolate Farm, an organic cacao farm owned by the indigenous Ngobe. Make sure to try the raw chocolate. Your visit helps the community as part of the profits go towards afforestation, a medical emergency fund, and educational projects.
After a small lunch, you will board a water taxi to the Caribbean islands of Bocas del Toro. Only the main island Colon has some roads. The main means of transportation here are water taxis.
Short transfer to your hotel which is within walking distance of the many bars, restaurants, and shops. Enjoy the relaxed Caribbean atmosphere of Bocas del Toro.
DAY 10, SUN
BOCAS DEL TORO / RED FROG BEACH BOAT TOUR (B)
Today you will enjoy a boat tour to discover more of Bocas del Toro. You will see mangroves and stop for lunch at Coral Cay. There is time for snorkeling to see beautiful coral reefs and discover marine life.
Later the boat tour continues to Bastimentos Island. The island is surrounded by mangroves, dense jungle, and fresh air. There are no roads or runways – it is the perfect place for nature lovers.
And no visit to Bocas is complete without a stop at the famous “Red Frog Beach”, named after the red arrow-poison frog.
DAY 11, MON
BOCAS DEL TORO (B)
Day at leisure.
Relax at the hotel, explore on your own, or book another tour.
How about a boat ride to the Zapatillas Cays? Or rent a bicycle or quad and check out Bluff Beach. You will surely enjoy the beach bars on the way.
Or take a water taxi or an SUP to nearby Carenero Island and have a cocktail and ceviche at Bibi’s on the Beach!
Bocas has so much to offer.
DAY 12, TUE
BOCAS DEL TORO – PANAMA CITY (B)
Today your Best of Panama tour takes you back to Panama City on a 1-hr flight. Transfer to your hotel.
Enjoy your last night in Panama with a cocktail at the rooftop pool or enjoy the nightlife in the nearby old town Casco Antiguo!
DAY 13, WED
PANAMA CITY – DEPARTURE TRANSFER (B)
Departure transfer to the International Airport of Tocumen. End of your program.
BEST OF PANAMA – SMALL GROUP TOUR
DATES & PRICES
Price per person – double occupancy
April 5-17, 2024
July 12-24, 2024
Dec 6-18, 2024
Included services
- Transfers in comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles according to the description
- English-speaking guide on days 2, 4 – 10 (guide will change during tour)
- 12 overnight stays in middle-class and upscale hotels
- Meals according to description (12x breakfast, 4x lunch)
- All mentioned excursions with entrance fees
- Water taxi Almirante – Bocas del Toro
- Domestic flight Bocas del Toro – Panama City including a luggage allowance of 50 lbs (23 kg)
Not included
- Surcharge in a single room: US$ 695
- International airfare to & from Panama City, Panama (PTY)
- Tips for drivers, guides, hotel staff
- Drinks
- All meals not listed
- Travel insurance (information will be provided)
- Payment by credit card (3% processing fee for US cards), other payment options available (check, wire transfer, Zelle)
What our travelers say about us:
Making Your Travel Plans
Because we limit our group tours to a small number of attendees, to ensure a more personal and intimate experience, our trips will only go ahead if we reach the required minimum number of guests.
1. Your trip will be confirmed when minimum numbers are reached, at the latest by the final balance payment date 60 days prior to trip departure.
2. If the trip is canceled by us, a full refund will be issued and a check will be sent to you (minus any cc or wire fees) within 14 days of the tour cancellation. Alternatively, you can choose to allocate any payments you have made to secure a spot on another trip date. We will also be happy to create a tailor-made Panama tour for you.
3. We advise that you do not book your international flights until the trip has been confirmed by us, latest 60 days prior to departure. We are not in a position to compensate for travel arrangements booked before the trip has been confirmed.
4. Extra time in a destination outside of the tour start and end date, is at your own expense. If you arrive before or after our designated check-in/transfer has been arranged, we can provide suggestions for ways to enjoy your time. We can also make arrangements for additional stays before/after your trip.
5. Passports must have a minimum of 3 months validity at the time of departure from Panama, however, we recommend ensuring there is 6 months validity remaining on your passport. Please make sure you check your current passport and renew it if necessary.
6. Visas may be required for entering Panama, and are at your own expense. Panamanian visas are not required for visitors who hold a valid passport from the US, Canada, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and most European countries.
Payments
Trip payments are split into 2 installments: a deposit to reserve your spot on the tour and a final payment for the balance.
- Deposits – a 25% trip deposit is required to secure your place on our tours
- Balance – the remaining trip balance is required 60 days prior to your trip departure
Payments can be made via check (US only), credit card (a 3% processing fee applies to US cards, 4.5% to others), Zelle, or wire transfer.
Please review our full Terms and Conditions for additional information.
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