Summary
Explore Panama on a self-drive tour and discover its hidden gems! During this Self-Drive Tour in Panama you will discover Panama City with its famous Canal which connects the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, Panama La Vieja, the first capital of the country, as well as the old quarter (Casco Antiguo), which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You will have the opportunity to take part in many activities: snorkeling, hiking, zip line, surfing, shopping, boat trips, etc. You will enjoy an encounter with the Emberá Quera, indigenous people of Panama, a boat ride on Gatún Lake, a trek in Soberania National Park and a night hike with a naturalist guide in El Valle de Antón. You will discover destinations with breathtaking beaches on both the Caribbean and Pacific sides. Among them are the beautiful Iguana Island with its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, Coiba Island, a world class diving destination and Bastimentos Island (Bocas del Toro Archipelago) known for the Red Frog Beach where you can look for the famous red frogs. Moreover, you will enjoy a zip line tour in Boquete through the canopy of century-old cloud forest and snorkeling in the waters of Coral Cay Island, which is home to the most beautiful coral reefs in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago.
Individual travel request form Enjoy a private tour
Orane
Local travel expert in Panama
Our agency has more than 15 years of experience in tailor-made trips in Panama. My goal is to make your tour unique and unforgettable. We offer you not only a trip but a whole travel experience.
Itinerary
In the morning, you will depart to the port of Almirante, gateway to the Bocas del Toro Archipelago. Along the way, you will encounter various landscapes of Talamanca on the Caribbean coast and will see the homes of Indians Guayamies.
Upon arrival to the port of Almirante, you will return your rental car and embark on a motorized boat heading to Bastimentos Island, the northernmost and main island in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago.
Overnight at Al Natural Resort on Bastimentos Island.
Your driver will pick you up at your hotel for a guided tour of Panama City. The first stop of the day is in Panama La Vieja, the first capital of the country before it was destroyed by the famous Welsh privateer Henry Morgan in 1671. Panamá La Vieja was added by UNESCO to the World Heritage list in 1997 specifying that the site is the “oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the Pacific coast of the Americas”.
Next, you will visit the Panama Canal and the Miraflores Locks. The visitor centre offers a view on all sorts of vessels (container ships, cruise ships, yachts) transiting the Panama Canal and explains its history and how the locks work. Watching giant vessels transiting through the narrow channels in the jungle, before passing through the locks is an unforgettable experience. “You do not know Panama until you have visited the canal”, will proudly say the locals. The more area of the Panama Canal offers many excursion options: you can visit the locks and the museums, enjoy a ride in a tranisthmic train, opt for a day cruise, discover the biodiversity (Barro Colorado Island, Soberania National Park), join a historic and nature trek, sail on Gatún Lake.
You will end the day with a tour in the Old Quarter (Casco Antiguo), Panama City’s historic district which was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. This bohemian centre of the city will make you travel back in time and immerse yourself into the historical past of the country. You will enjoy a a walk through the narrow streets bordered with colourful buildings leading to the Plaza de Francia. The area is ideal to discover the history and the art-deco architecture of the city and to visit the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Santa María la Antigua and the Panama Canal Museum. You can also taste some of the city’s best gastronomy and the opportunity to speak with locals.
You are recommended to visit the brand new “Biomuseo” designed by the architect Frank Gehry, located in the Amador district. In the evening, you can have dinner on the Amador Causeway while enjoying breathtaking views of the Panama Bay.
Overnight at Casa Magnolia Inn in Panama City.
In the morning, you will take your rental car and travel to Portobelo.
Portobelo is now a quiet fishing village, but it was once one of the richest ports of Spain (16th to 18th centuries). All the gold and silver found in South America were brought to Portobelo for counting and registration purposes, before being exported to Spain. In order to protect the city from pirates’ attacks that were frequent, the Spanish built several forts around this area. The Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo - San Lorenzo were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980.
You can visit the remains of the forts of Santiago and San Jeronimo (the largest fortress ever built to protect the bay) and San Felipe Church that houses the famous Cristo Nazareno or Black Christ. You can also visit other historical sites in Portobelo such as the Customs House (Real Aduana de Portobelo) more located next to San Jeronimo Fort, go hiking in the homonymous national park, and enjoy the beaches near the small port named Puerto Lindo (such as for example Isla Mamey or Isla Grande located north of Portobelo).
On the way back to Panama City, you are suggested to take a detour through the Castle of San Lorenzo, a former pirate hideout located at the mouth of the Chagres River. It was built in 1595 by order of King Philip II of Spain to protect the Atlantic terminus of Las Cruces Trail (Camino Real de Cruces) from pirates of the sea. The Spanish used the trail connecting the Caribbean Sea (Atlantic Ocean) and Panama City to move the treasures from Peru and the Pacific to the Atlantic and then on to Spain. The fort was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980 and is considered an extraordinary example of military architecture of the 17th and the 18th centuries. You will dive into Panama’s history walking through the ruins but also in the heart of the vegetation that favours the observation of birds and animals.
Overnight at Casa Magnolia Inn in Panama City.
Early in the morning, you will depart from your hotel to meet the Emberá Quera Indians on the banks of the Gatún River. You will go to the Gatún River pier, from where you will take a motorboat to the village where the Emberá Quera Indigenous Community lives. On the other side of the Gatún River, you will be welcomed by the cacique (spiritual leader) and the children of the village.
Throughout the day you will discover their way of life and their traditions, including the art of tattoos that will be presented to you by the community. You will also have the opportunity to be introduced to their knowledge of medicinal plants and attend a performance of ancestral dances. Then you will go to a small island to observe the monkeys.
Finally, a typical meal, based on fish will be served to you in banana leaves.
After lunch, you will travel from the Gatún River to the small more village of Gamboa, ideally located between Soberania National Park and the Panama Canal.
Overnight at Monkey Lodge in Gamboa.
After breakfast, you will travel to Gatún Lake where you will embark on the boat “Monkey lodge II” for a navigation on the channel close to the ships in transit between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific.
You will approach some islands inhabited by different species of monkeys. The most popular of them is Monkey Island, a tiny little island covered in foliage which is home to five monkey species: Panamanian white-faced capuchin, Geoffroy’s tamarin, Lemurine owl monkey, Howler Monkey and Marmoset Monkey. You will be able to interact with the monkeys from the boat and feed them. This is a great experience for both adults and children and one of the most popular things to do in Panama.
The day will continue with a short walk in Soberania National Park, either along the Plantation Road (Camino de Plantación) or El Charco Trail (Sendero El Charco) based on the attendance (where more there will not be too many people). The Plantation Road is a path through a mature forest that borders the Matambí Chico River. You will be able to observe beautiful waterfalls and a diversity of tropical flora and fauna. El Charco Trail presents a secondary forest with high biological diversity, a waterfall and a pool of crystalline water where you can swim.
In the afternoon, you will have lunch at a local farm.
Next, you will be transferred to your hotel in Gamboa.
Overnight at Monkey Lodge in Gamboa.
On this day, you will take your vehicle and head to the province of Coclé, more specifically the small town named El Valle de Antón (Anton’s Valley), nestled in the heart of the second largest inhabited volcano crater in the world. When the volcano erupted about 3 million years ago, the crater became a lush green valley which is now a favorite weekend getaway for Panamanians.
On your way to this lush green land, you will take the famous Bridge of the Americas that spans the canal and connects, in some way, North America and South America.
After arriving at the hotel, you will have some free time to enjoy the attractions of the area.
At dusk you will depart from your hotel for a walk, in search of animals that only come out once the sun has set. El Valle de Antón has an abundance of hiking trails and many unique environmental and natural attractions. Accompanied by a more naturalist guide, you will walk the surrounding trails to observe the reptiles and mammals that you will meet along the way.
Overnight at Cabañas los Colibris in Copecito.
After breakfast, you will have a free day to enjoy the variety of activities available in the area. You can enjoy a power hike in la India Dormida (hard level), walk in the cloud forest, opt for bird-watching, try the adventure from the treetops by sliding down the zip line or purchase a famous Panama hat.
Overnight at Cabañas los Colibris in Copecito.
In the morning, you will leave to the Azuero Peninsula, Panama guardian of folk traditions. Several stops are possible on the way between villages, colonial churches and museums, including the small Natá Church and Herrera Museum of Chitré.
Natá Church is one of the most significant monuments of architecture in Panama and the oldest church still in use on the mainland America. Its construction started in 1522 when the Spanish moved in and architecture was governed by a canon of Renaissance and lasted until the late 17th century. Due to the fact that the construction period was very long, today you will see a structure that is basically in Baroque style. It is protected since 1924 and has been intentionally kept in its original state since at least 1904.
Herrera Museum of Chitré, was founded in 1984 and exhibits the customs and traditions of Herrera, ethnography, archaeology, more traditional peasant crafts. Its collection includes ceramic pieces and works in bone, shell and wood, as well as invaluable documents such as the act of adhesion of 1903, the first Panamanian flag made in Chitré, as well as the history of transportation, media and San Juan Bautista cathedral.
In the afternoon, you can enjoy lunch around Guararé, where the famous polleras (traditional robes) are made.
Then you will reach Pedasí, a small town situated in the province of Los Santos on the south-eastern tip of the Azuero Peninsula on Panama’s Pacific Coast.
Overnight at Eco Venao Lodge in Pedasí.
On this day, you will enjoy a trip to the gorgeous island Isla Iguana, located only 8 km off the coast of Pedasí. Isla Iguana is the top natural attraction of the Azuero Peninsula, considered a wildlife refuge inhabited by rare birds, giant lizards and purple and red crabs. It offers two white sand beaches with beautiful crystal clear waters: El Cirial, the main and larger beach with calm waves, and El Faro, the smaller and more secluded beach that has stronger currents.
This amazing island is a snorkeling and diving paradise, as it has about 14 different coral species (the biggest area of well-preserved coral reefs in the Gulf of Panama), more than 350 tropical fish species and about 200 species of invertebrates. In addition, you can see five species of marine turtles that come to the island to lay their eggs from April to September, and humpback whales swimming around these waters from June more to November to mate.
Overnight at Eco Venao Lodge in Pedasí.
In the morning, you will travel along the Pacific coast and discover the village of Santa Catalina. Located on the Chiriquí Gulf, Santa Catalina is a small fishing village that has become a world-renowned surfing destination after being discovered by adventurous surfers in the 1970s.
Classed as one of the beaches with the best waves in Central America, La Punta Beach is the most popular surf break in Santa Catalina for experienced surfers. The waves can reach nine metres with the biggest swell between February to August. If La Punta looks a bit too advanced for you, then you can choose Playa Estero with its small to medium-sized rolling waves which are perfect for beginners. Playa Santa Catalina situated right in the centre of the town is a great place to play volleyball, soccer games or interact with locals.
Overnight at Sol y Mar Hotel in Santa Catalina.
On this day, you will discover Coiba Island, the largest in Central America and a world-class diving destination on the same corridor as the Galapagos Islands. You will be able to dive around this beautiful island of the archipelago, enjoy snorkeling and have the chance to see manta rays and whales.
Coiba Island, 38 smaller islands off the southwest coast of Panama, and the surrounding marine areas within the Gulf of Chiriquí are part of Coiba National Park. It was founded in 1992 to protect the coral reefs, forests, mangroves and marine creatures such as humpback whales, pilot whales, dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays, marlins and others. The park is home to 760 species of marine fishes, 33 species of sharks and 20 species of cetaceans. In 2005 the park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
If you are not into diving, you can take a whale watching tour or enjoy hiking on the more various trails of the island through the untouched rainforest. Look out for various bird species, as well as monkeys, crocodiles and iguanas.
Overnight at Sol y Mar Hotel in Santa Catalina.
In the morning, you will drive to Boquete in Chiriquí Province. You will arrive at David, the main city and then continue to the small mountain town of Boquete known for its flowers with bright colours and coffee plantations that grow on hillsides. The Caldera River that runs through the centre of town, has shaped much of its form.
Boquete is nestled in a small valley at about 1,200 metres above sea level and shadowed by Barú Volcano. This is an inactive volcano located at 3,475 meters, and the tallest point of land in Panama. If you like hiking, you can hike up along the Quetzal Trail (Sendero de los Quetzales), which runs from Boquete up to the town of Cerro Punta, and can be hiked in either direction. The trail from Boquete to Cerro Punta (about 8 km) takes 5-6 hours (one way) and provides hikers a great opportunity to spot the elusive Quetzal bird as well as other different birds and more animals.
Overnight at Boquete Tree Trek Mountain Hotel in Boquete.
After breakfast, you will enjoy a Zip Line Tour in Boquete during which you will glide on zip lines through the canopy of century-old cloud forests. With 3 kilometres in total length divided into 12 different zip line cables at 2,800 metres high, the tour will allow you to glide above the pristine rivers and waterfalls that are part of the incredible collection of natural landscapes bordering the National Park La Amistad and the famous Barú Volcano and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the Boquete canopy!
During the tour, you can see canopy amazing flora including a wide variety of orchids and flowers. At the same time, you can encounter a varied wildlife among the treetops, including monkeys, rodents, birds and the famous quetzal.
Overnight at Boquete Tree Trek Mountain Hotel in Boquete.
In the morning, you will depart to the port of Almirante, gateway to the Bocas del Toro Archipelago. Along the way, you will encounter various landscapes of Talamanca on the Caribbean coast and will see the homes of Indians Guayamies.
Upon arrival to the port of Almirante, you will return your rental car and embark on a motorized boat heading to Bastimentos Island, the northernmost and main island in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago.
Overnight at Al Natural Resort on Bastimentos Island.
On this day, you will be transferred to Coral Cay Island (Cayo Coral), a small island between Bastimentos Island and Popa Island, in the central part of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago. The island is home to the most beautiful coral reefs in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago attracting a fascinating underwater life. The water over the reef area is not very deep (3-4 metres) and is especially calm and clear making snorkelling extremely easy and suitable for beginners.
Equipped with a mask and a snorkel, you will be able to snorkel in the warm waters of the open sea and spot fish species of all colours (French angelfish, queen angelfish, sergeant major and others), brittle stars and manta rays. If you snorkel a little further away from the reef, you will see fields of sea fans where stoplight parrotfish and foureye butterflyfish hide. In the sandy be, you can spot the rare yellowhead jawfish.
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Overnight at Al Natural Resort on Bastimentos Island.
You will enjoy a relaxing day to rest your feet in the water, enjoy the Afro Caribbean atmosphere of Bocas, explore Bastimentos Island National Marine Park, swim with starfish at the Starfish Beach (Colón Island), go dolphin watching, look for the famous red frogs on the Red Frog Beach (Bastimentos Island), or meet with the Ngobe Bugle Indians.
If you take a night hike to Playa Larga on Bastimentos Island you can spot four species of endangered sea turtles from April or May through September. You can also see monkeys and sloths at Quebrada de Sal (Salt Creek) on the island.
Overnight at Al Natural Resort on Bastimentos Island.
On your departure day, you will be transferred to José Ezequiel Hall International Airport on Colón Island to take your domestic flight to Panama City.
You will be offered a private transfer from Marcos A. Gelabert Albrook International Airport to Tocumen International Airport for your international flight.
Prices
Travel dates
Upon request for individual travellers
Price per person in €
2 Pers.
3 Pers.
4 Pers.
2*/3* Hotels (July 1 - August 31, 2024)
3420€
2980€
2840€
2*/3* Hotels (September 1 - December 15, 2024)
3425€
2986€
2842€
2*/3* Hotels (December 15, 2023 - April 15, 2024)
3500€
3061€
2918€
2*/3* Hotels (April 16 - June 31, 2024)
3540€
3102€
2960€
| Travel dates | Accommodation | Price per person in € | ||
| 2 Pers. | 3 Pers. | 4 Pers. | ||
|
Upon request for individual travellers |
2*/3* Hotels (July 1 - August 31, 2024) | 3420€ | 2980€ | 2840€ |
| 2*/3* Hotels (September 1 - December 15, 2024) | 3425€ | 2986€ | 2842€ | |
| 2*/3* Hotels (December 15, 2023 - April 15, 2024) | 3500€ | 3061€ | 2918€ | |
| 2*/3* Hotels (April 16 - June 31, 2024) | 3540€ | 3102€ | 2960€ | |
What's Included
- 16 nights accommodation in a double (DBL) / twin (TWN) or triple (TPL) room at 2*/3* hotels;
- Breakfast at the hotels (except day 2, 3, 4, 9, 10);
- Lunch on day 14, 15, 16 of the itinerary;
- Dinner on day 14, 15, 16 of the itinerary;
- Excursions during the itinerary;
- Entrance fees according to the itinerary;
- Panama City tour with English speaking private guide (day 2);
- Local guide: Meeting with the Emberá Quera indigenous people;
- Local guide: Gatún Lake boat ride and trekking in Soberania National Park;
- Local guide: Night hike with a naturalist guide in El Valle de Antón;
- Local guide: Boquete Zip Line Tour through the canopy of century-old cloud forest;
- Local guide: Snorkelling in the waters of Coral Cay Island (Isla Cayo Coral);
- Private transfer: Tocumen International Airport - Panama City and Marcos A. Gelabert Albrook International Airport - Tocumen International Airport;
- Transportation during the entire itinerary (rental car from day 3 to day 14, private/shared transport, domestic flight from Bocas del Toro to Panama City).