8 DAYS/ 7 NIGHTS
PANAMA CITY – PANAMA CANAL – SAN BLAS – CHAGRES NATIONAL PARK – EMBERA TRIBE – SOBERANIA NATIONAL PARK – GAMBOA – GATUN LAKE
DAY 1 ARRIVAL DAY. PANAMA CITY
Upon arrival, to Panama City, a representative of Ocean2Ocean will pick you up at the airport and transfer to your city hotel.
Overnight at Eurostars hotel 5*. This hotel is in the downtown area, close to restaurants and bars, only 10 minutes’ walk from Balboa av. We recommend having dinner this first night in Panama at the hotel, at its restaurant, located by the way on the 26th floor. You will be surprised by how modern Panama City is and its skyscrapers and vivid nightlife.
DIA 2 CITY TOUR 8 HOURS, WITH AN HELICOPTER FLIGHT
Panama City was founded in the XVI century by Spanish conquistadors. It was the first Spanish port on the Pacific. Now the capital has three towns: the “old town” (Panamá Viejo), the “colonial” town (Casco Antiguo, Spanish for Old Quarter), and the “new town” (Modern Panama). During today’s tour, you will visit the Old Quarter, which represents a significant stage in the development of the Spanish colonial style and the modern part of the city – the most developed city in all Central America.
The 6-hour city tour also includes a visit to Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal Visitors Center. It is the perfect place to witness how the Panama Canal works. From the observation decks, visitors may watch the lock gates open and close as vessels begin or end their transit. Through the exhibitions, you can learn about the Panama Canal’s history, its impact on international trade, how it works, its close relationship with nature, and the Canal Expansion. A 3D movie portrays the story of the waterway.
We will visit old and modern parts of the city, starting from the Former Canal Zone where the Americans lived during the construction of the Panama Canal, going through Amador Causeway, which is a long, winding road that connects three smaller islands: Naos, Perico, and Flamenco to the mainland stopping by Las Americas bridge and ending with the Balboa Avenue, one of the most beautiful streets of the city along the bay.
The historic quarter of Panama City, Casco Antiguo, declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO, is a colorful neighborhood with colonial-style avenues, parks, and squares. You will visit Herrera Square, St. Joseph Church with its remarkable golden altar, ruins of Jesuits and St. Dominic convents, French Square and Paseo Esteban Huerta, National Theater, Bolivar Square with the gorgeous St. Francis church and Bolivar palace and least, but not by last, the Cathedral Square and the Cathedral itself. The tour in Casco is a panoramic walking tour with pleasant stops by chocolateries, coffee or gelato shops, and off course souvenir shops and original brands boutiques.
Night at Eurostars Hotel 5*.
Additionally, you can purchase on-site a Folk show dinner for this night. Anyway, our representative will be more than pleased to recommend you some of Panama City’s outstanding places for dinner.
DAY 3 SAN BLAS ARCHIPELAGO. CARIBBEAN SEA
Flights to the San Blas archipelago are available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. If necessary, tours in the program can be exchanged.
Salida del hotel a las 4:45 a.m., traslado al aeropuerto de Albrook. Vuelo hacia San Blas, hacia Playón Chico a las 06:00 a.m. Después de llegar a la isla, traslado en bote a Yandup Lodge. El alojamiento en el hotel incluye dos traslados, desayuno, almuerzo y cena (no incluye langostas, se pueden pedir por separado), agua embotellada para el almuerzo y la cena, 2 tours guiados diarias, impuesto turístico. Solicite un menú vegetariano por separado.
Pick up at 4:45 a.m., transfer to the Albrook airport. Flight to San Blas, to Playón Chico at 06:00 a.m. After arriving on the island, transfer by boat to Yandup Lodge. Hotel accommodation includes two transfers, breakfast, lunch, and dinner (lobster is not included, can be ordered separately), bottled water for lunch and dinner, 2 daily guided tours, tourist tax. Vegetarian menu for request.
DIA 4 SAN BLAS ARCHIPELAGO. CARIBBEAN SEA
Free day to rest and relax.
DIA 5 SAN BLAS ARCHIPELAGO. CARIBBEAN SEA
Free day to rest and relax.
DAY 6 SAN BLAS ARCHIPELAGO. CARIBBEAN SEA RETURN TO THE CITY OF PANAMA / CHAGRES NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast at Yandup Lodge, you will head to Playon Chico airport to catch your flight back to Panama City. Upon arrival at the capital of the country, you will be met by your guide. We consider some time for refreshments or coffee before starting today’s tour.
The Embera Village tour will get you out of the XXI century comfort zone and will make you look differently at the magic of life. You will learn about the pre-Columbian history of Panama, the origin of the Embera tribe, their customs, and traditions. They make incredibly beautiful and sophisticated baskets, tagua nut carvings, necklaces, bracelets, etc.
Refresh your mind and body in cool and crystal clear waters of a tropical waterfall, dance with the Indians their ancient dances, try delicious local food, feel the fresh air on your face and get totally renewed at the Chagres National Park.
Night at Eurostars Hotel 5*
WARNING
FOR THIS TOUR, WE RECOMMEND SPORTS FOOTWEAR, CROCS (not necessarily this brand), LACE, IF IT IS POSSIBLE WITH A CLOSED BACKREST, WHICH MAY GET WET. DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF THE YEAR, SOMETIMES TO REACH THE WATERFALL, IT IS NECESSARY TO PASS THROUGH THE JUNGLE AND THE RIVER. THE WATER CAN BE UP TO THE KNEE.
DAY 7 SOBERANIA NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast at the hotel. At 07:40 transfer to the Soberanía National Park.
Not far from Panama City, in the town of Gamboa, on the shores of Lake Gatún, there is a tourist complex “Gamboa Rainforest Resort”.
Gamboa offers many tours to explore the flora and fauna of the Panama rain forest and the Panama Canal. The Gatun Lake tour is a small adventure, but unforgettable and very interesting in the tropics!
At 8:45 you will start the tour Gatun Lake and the Chagres River. First, everyone will navigate on the Chagres River in a boat, then you will go to the Panama Canal, where boats pass near the ocean, then tourists are taken to the islands where you can see Panamanian nature’s wildlife. There are capuchin monkeys, howlers, tamarins, crocodiles, and turtles. And with luck, you will even be able to see manatees.
After returning, the tour continues with a visit to the environmental exhibits, then you will go up to the Aerial tram over the rain forest to the observation deck, from where you can see the Panama Canal and the Chagres River
The El Arial tram is closed for maintenance on Mondays. The order of the tours can be changed.
After the tour, you will return to the Eurostars 5 * hotel. Free time
DAY 8 FLIGHT HOME
Breakfast at the hotel, free time, and then transfer to Tocumen International Airport.
