Panama: Nature, Culture & Private Island

Explore Panama City on this guided tour. Start at Miraflores Visitor Center on the city’s outskirts. This modern, interactive museum offers an insight into the Panama Canal’s history, ecology and the construction of the Panama Miraflores Locks. Enjoy panoramic canal views from a viewing platform and watch the locks operate as ships pass through. As you drive along the Canal Zone, learn about the old military bases converted into residential neighborhoods, universities and commercial centers. View the 5,425-foot Bridge of the Americas, connecting North and South America. Next, visit the Biodiversity Museum. Designed by architect Frank Gehry, this oddly-shaped building overlooking the Pacific Ocean showcases Panama’s incredible biodiversity. At Casco Antiguo in the old city, stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Stroll the pedestrian-friendly streets of Casco Viejo, the city’s UNESCO-listed historic quarter, filled with beautiful heritage buildings and colonial-era landmarks, including the Presidential Palace and Church of San Jose with its Golden Altar.

(Duration: full day; Time: 0800 hrs; Private activity & transfers; Meal included: lunch. Please inform us of any food allergies in advance.)

Head out on this personalized hike through the popular Pipeline Road trail passing through Soberania National Park. As you drive out to the park, let your guide know of your preferences so the hike can be customized to suit your desired walking speed and level of difficulty. Walk at your own pace amid the lush rainforest that is home to numerous species of birds and monkeys. After hiking for a couple of hours, drive to the marina in Gamboa to board a comfortable boat. Sit back as you sail along the manmade Gatun Lake passing by huge cargo ships. As you sail close to the rainforest islands in the lake, scan the treetops for various endemic species of flora and fauna. Continue to savor splendid views as you enjoy a light picnic lunch onboard and return to shore in the early afternoon. (Full Day; Times: 0700/1400 hrs; Private Transfers; Travel Time to Activity: 45 mins; Picnic Lunch Included; Fitness Level: Moderate, as it involves walking for a couple of hours. Park entrance fees included. Please bring along binoculars, camera, cap or hat, sunscreen, insect repellant, and a light raincoat. Do wear light clothing and tennis shoes or sandals. For the pipeline trail, bring along hiking footwear, a water bottle, hydrating drinks and snacks, and long pants. Please inform us of any food allergies in advance.)

Experience a plethora of activities at Isla Palenque, a resort set on a 400-acre Panamanian island. Your stay includes the 15-minute boat transfer from the mainland to Palenque as well as the return trip. Once you reach the island, there’s plenty to do, see and taste. Head out into the open ocean on a stand-up paddleboard with an expert guide. Go kayaking at high tide to neighboring Boca Brava island and explore the mangroves along the coast. Alternatively, kayak to Isla Palenquito to visit a secluded beach. Find a good spot on the rocky coastline and try your hand at catching catfish or snapper during low tide. Follow your guide on a hike along the maze of trails that lead through Isla Palenque’s jungle and dive into the history and cultural significance of the island. You can also go on guided hikes to different areas of the island. Visit the tide pools and mangroves and discover the inner workings of these ecosystems with an expert guide. Climb the gently sloping path through the jungle that leads to Punta Ballena, a blowhole that erupts from the rocks. Enjoy the view over the Gulf of Chiriquí as the blowhole bathes you with its cool spray. Take the Paso Mangle trail down to Cala Esta beach and keep an eye out for howler monkeys. Wake up before dawn to go bird watching with a birding guide. Spot frigates and ibis and maybe a woodpecker or two. Head out on a mission to find the elusive howler monkeys with a guide who knows where they like to hangout. Indoors, you can take a pastry lesson at Las Rocas with the resort’s chefs or head to the bar to learn how to appreciate a fine rum. Sip a selection of English, French and Spanish rums as you discover what makes rum light or dark and how it changes as it ages. You can also purchase additional activities that are not included in your package directly at the hotel.

(Included in your stay at Isla Palenque; 15-minute boat transfer from the mainland and back; Three meals per day plus unlimited non-alcoholic & non-mixed drinks; Shared activities & transfers; Activities included: Kayaking, Stand-up paddleboarding, Rock fishing, Secrets of the island hiking tour; Island hikes, Tide pools and mangroves, Hike to Punta Ballena, Cala Esta Hike, Birdwatching, Searching for monkeys, Pastry class, & Rum 101; Complimentary use of kayaks, paddleboards, and fishing equipment; Group size: depends on the activity; Fitness level: depends on the activity)