This is a special itinerary that is ideal for wildlife enthusiasts, visiting both the Pacific and Caribbean coastlines ensures you maximise your chances of seeing numerous marine and land mammals as well as the diversity of bird species, plants and insects. You will hike and birdwatch in the cloud forest, snorkel the remote Coiba Island, sample Caribbean life and wildlife at the stunning Bocas del Toro islands and appreciate the engineering feat of the Panama Canal, whilst spotting wildlife on the steamy Gatun Lake.
Price Guide
14 nights from £4,770 per person based
on double occupancy
These prices are excluding international flights. Average flight prices vary depending on time of year and can be considerably more expensive at peak times (Christmas, Easter, Summer). Flight routes vary, please contact us for accurate flight pricing for your timings
and place of departure.
Day to Day
Below is an example day by day itinerary
Day 1
Met on arrival and transferred to the American Trade Hotel in the picturesque old part of the city (Casco Antiguo).
Day 2
After breakfast enjoy a half day guided walking tour of the old town, including visiting markets and tasting ceviche and Panamanian cacao. Ending with lunch at the Kaandela restaurant. Due to the tropical, humid location of the city there is plenty of birdlife in the city, look out for night herons and egrets at the edge of the bay, tanagers and hummingbirds in the trees, particularly noisy at dusk. Overnight American Trade Hotel (B).
Day 3
Transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle up to the mountains of El Valle de Anton and a cooler climate. You will be staying at the renowned Canopy Lodge, spend the afternoon enjoying the onsite trails, or just spotting birds on the many feeders where you can see a number of different brightly coloured tanagers as well as toucans, barbets and euphonias (B).
Day 4
Today you will have a guided hike to the Cerro Gaital which is the tallest mountain at the edge of the volcanic crater. On a clear day you can see to the Pacific and Caribbean Seas from the lookout. As well as many bird species and flora that your guide will point out, you may see sloths or other mammals. Overnight Canopy Lodge (B).
Day 5
Transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle to Santa Catalina which is a small fishing village popular with surfers. Journey time approx. 5 hours. Overnight at Hotel Santa Catalina (B).
Day 6
Day trip to Isla Coiba, this is a full day experience where you will take approx 2 hour boat journey to the remote Isla Coiba, opportunities to do several snorkels around this biodiversity rich island with masses of fish species, dolphins, turtles, reef sharks and stingrays in the ocean. Humpback whales can be seen in the waters around the island from July to October and a flock of Scarlet Macaws may be spotted in the trees near the lunch spot on the island. Overnight Hotel Santa Catalina (B).
Day 8
Transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle north along the Pacific to the town of Boca Chica and to Hotel Bocas del Mar. Journey time is approx. 4.5 hours (B).
Day 9
Today you will take a boat cruise into the Gulf of Chiriqui and will have the opportunity to snorkel over several reefs and enjoy some white sand beaches, you may see dolphins and from July to October there is the opportunity to spot Humpback whales.
Day 10
Transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle to Almirante on the Caribbean side of the country (approx. 3.5 hours), from there you will take a boat to Bocas del Toro and to Isla Colon where your hotel will be Island Plantation Hotel on a quieter side of the island (B).
Day 11
Enjoy a guided boat tour of some of the Bocas del Toro islands, spot sloths in the mangroves, dolphins in the sea, observe Magnificent Frigate birds on a little island bird sanctuary and snorkel in the warm Caribbean waters where there are plentiful and beautiful soft and hard corals. Finish the tour at the Zapatillas Cayes where you can relax on the idyllic white sandy beach, or swim/snorkel in the crystal clear waters. Overnight Island Plantation (B).
Day 12
Day at leisure to relax and enjoy the surroundings at Island Plantation (B).
Day 13
Transfer to Bocas airport and take a flight back to Panama City and on to the American Trade Hotel (B).
Day 14
Up early to drive to Gatun Lake and enjoy a boat tour on the lake. As well as witnessing the huge tankers crossing the width of Panama may see wildlife such as Geoffroys Tamarin, White Faced Capuchin Monkeys, Mantel Howler monkeys, Keel Billed Toucans, Snail kites, Green Iguanas. Transfer back to Panama City Airport for your flight home.