Skyline & Sand: Panama City & Bocas del Toro

Welcome to Panama City! Upon arrival to the Panama City Tocumen International Airport, enjoy a private transfer to your hotel located in Old Town. Check in, settle down, and spend the rest of the day exploring or resting as you please.

Experience the Panama Canal and its lush surroundings from a unique perspective on a privately guided boat tour introducing you to the biodiverse ecosystem of this part of the Isthmus. After an early morning pick-up from your hotel lobby, along with your naturalist guide in tow, you will head to the town of Gamboa, where the Chagres River meets the Panama Canal. Here you will board a boat and start a jungle expedition across Gatun Lake in the Panama Canal. Pass by the giant cargo ships transiting the waterway and notice the sharp contrast they cast against the natural tropical surroundings. Along the way, watch out for the plethora of resident wildlife, including three toed sloths resting on tree branches, ospreys hunting for peacock basses, snail kites, keel-billed toucans, and many others. Your boat tour will circle several rainforest-clad islands on Gatun Lake in search for a variety of primates, such as the white-faced capuchin and mantled howler monkey. Your day continues as you visit Panama Canal’s Miraflores Locks where large ships transit the canal. Learn about the history of the Canal, marvel at the workings of this feat of human engineering and break for a tasty lunch. The tour then continues to the Panama Canal area, stopping by the town of Balboa, a former part of the Panama Canal Zone, and ends in the afternoon with a private transfer back to your hotel.

One of the best things to do while travelling is to taste local cuisines, and a cooking class that explores a destination’s gastronomy and culture takes that experience to the next level by sharing the history behind the flavours. Today, you’ll spend a few hours with local chefs and learn to prepare a few acclaimed Panamanian dishes. Depending on what produce is in season, you’ll learn to make a range of dishes, potentially including the famous sancocho de pollo, which is Panama’s tasteful version of chicken soup, or patacones, a dish prominently featuring smashed green plantains, served with octopus ceviche. This fun and unique experience also affords one of the best souvenirs possible: the ability to recreate delicious, local dishes in your own kitchen back home. The cooking class will include two appetizers, one main, and one side, and the meal following your cooking class will be accompanied by one drink (water, soda or wine) and dessert (pre-made). Following your Panamanian cooking class, your guide will transfer you back to your hotel. Please advise your Destination Specialist of any dietary restrictions or food allergies you or your fellow travellers have.

Wave goodbye to Panama City and hello to Bocas del Toro Town after enjoy a transfer to the airport. After checking in, spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Naturally, the best things to do in Bocas del Toro include being in, around, and on the water. On this tour, you will have the opportunity to see some of the many beautiful beaches and reefs of Bocas del Toro. Start by boat, heading directly to Dolphin Bay. This quiet bay is located about 15-20 minutes from the main island, Isla Colon. The abundance of fish and crustaceans in these waters make Dolphin Bay the perfect place for their habitat within the archipelago. You may be able to observe friendly dolphins jump, swim and play in pairs and groups of five to six. Around noon, the boat heads towards Coral Cay, a nice area for snorkeling. As you float weightlessly surrounded in the turquoise sea, witness hundreds of reef fish go about their daily business. Here you will also break for lunch (not included), with exquisite Caribbean dishes offered by a panoramic restaurant on the sea. Lastly, you will visit Bastimentos Island, and walk through the mangroves of this national park to make it to Red Frog Beach. Named after the red frogs found in the lush parts of the island, Red Frog Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Bocas. It is on the windward side facing out to sea, and may be a bit rough at times, so be careful if you decide to swim. You can also enjoy restaurants and bars in this area if you wish. After this private boat tour, you will be returned to your hotel.

Today is your to explore! Enjoy the nearby coast, the cuisine and culture, or simply spend the day resting in the sun.  Bocas del Toro is yours to discover!

Take one last glimpse of the gorgeous coastline before heading back to Panama City. After a private transfer from the airport to your hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Time to say goodbye to the gorgeous Panama! After packing up, enjoy one last private transfer to the airport for your flight home.