8 days/7 nights
Like great explorers of the past, you are invited to Discover Panama.
It is a country so small, yet filled with exuberant rainforests, wildlife,
and a rich cultural heritage. On your discovery trip you have the opportunity
to traverse the Panama Canal, ride the first transcontinental train,
hike in cloud forests, and snorkel the waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Day 1 ARRIVE PANAMA
On arrival to Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, you will
be met by a representative of Panama Boutique™ and transferred
to your hotel.
Night at the COUNTRY INN – PANAMA CANAL
Day 2 PANAMA CANAL JUNGLE BOAT ADVENTURE - MIRAFLORES LOCKS
Early in the morning you are picked up by your Naturalist Guide and
transferred to the town of Gamboa, at the Panama Canal, and board
a specially equipped expedition boat. The voyage takes you across
Gatun Lake in the Canal, passing gigantic cargo ships - a contrast
with the natural surroundings. Along the way, you might spot Green
Iguana and Three-toed Sloth resting on tree branches, or crocodile,
Osprey, Snail Kite and Keel-billed Toucan, among other species. The
expedition boat allows for close access to rainforest-covered islands
in Gatun Lake and a chance to possibly see White-faced Capuchin,
Howler or Spider monkeys, and the endemic Red-napped Tamarin. After
a picnic lunch on an island with great views of the Panama Canal,
you'll return to Gamboa and drive on to the Miraflores Locks Visitors
Center. This is a great place to learn more about the operations
of the 8th Wonder of the World, and witness ships passing through
the lock. This evening, dinner will be served in a restaurant overlooking
the Bay of Panama.
Night at the COUNTRY INN – PANAMA CANAL (B, L, D)
Day 3 THE TRANS-ISTHMIAN ROUTE
Pick up and transfer to the Corozal train station, where you board
the famous Panama Railway train for a 1-hour ride across the isthmus
to the Caribbean port city of Colon. The Panama Railway was inaugurated
in 1856 and was the first train to cross the Americas, from one ocean
to the other. It is one of the great train rides of the world. The
train follows a picturesque path across the Isthmus of Panama, and
the line flanks the Panama Canal passing through lush rainforests,
cruising alongside the Canal’s locks, through the historic
Gaillard Cut and gliding over slender causeways in Gatun Lake.
From Colon you will continue to the historic town of Portobelo, famous
as the center of trade during the 17th century, and visit the old Customs
building and the Spanish fortifications.
Then you'll travel west and cross the Panama Canal over the Gatun Locks
and proceed to Fort San Lorenzo. Built at the mouth of the Chagres
River to fortify and protect the river entrance to Las Cruces Trail,
the Fort was also used as the port of entry for the gold diggers on
their way to California in the 1880s during the Gold Rush. As you travel
along lush rainforest roads, you might see more monkeys, sloth, toucan
or other wildlife. Returning to Panama City, you'll visit the remnants
of Las Cruces Trail, a 400-year old colonial trail that the Spaniards
used to transport gold across the isthmus.
Night at the COUNTRY INN – PANAMA CANAL (B, L, D)
Day 4 CHIRIQUI – HIKE
LOS QUETZALES TRAIL or WHITE-WATER RAFTING
Early this morning you'll drive to Albrook Field, the domestic airport,
to board the 1-hour scheduled flight to David, capital of Chiriqui
province. Chiriqui is known as “Panama’s breadbasket”,
with rich soil and some of the most breathtaking highland scenery
in Central America. From the airport in David, you travel by van
about 2 hours to Cerro Punta, the starting point of the 4-hour +/-
hike along Los Quetzales Trail, around the foothills of Baru Volcano,
the highest peak of the country at 3,475 meters. This hike goes through
the cloud forests of Baru Volcano National Park and the scenery is
splendid. You'll make stops en route to enjoy the views and possibly
look for the elusive Resplendent Quetzal. And what is a hike without
a picnic lunch? You will be picked up as you approach the town of
Boquete and taken to your hotel.
For those who chose the white-water rafting expedition, the outfitter’s
guide will pick you up at the airport in David for the approximate
1.5-hour drive to the river put-in. The river experience will likely
include Class III or IV sections of the Chiriqui River. Drive time
to and from the river as well as the length and difficulty of the rafting,
will depend upon which section of the Rio Chiriqui is being run. And
what's a rafting trip without a picnic lunch on the riverbank? After
this full day, you'll transfer to Boquete to meet the rest of the group.
Night at HOTEL PANAMONTE (B, L, D)
Day 5 FINCA LERIDA – CONTINENTAL DIVIDE – BOCAS
DEL TORO
The opportunity to visit Finca Lerida, a privately owned preserve in
the buffer zone of Baru Volcano National Park, is a special treat.
At an elevation of 2,286 meters you might be fortunate enough to
see some of the great cloud forest birds such as the elusive Resplendent
Quetzal, Three-wattled Bellbird, Black-faced Solitaire, Volcano Hummingbird,
Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher and Prong-billed Barbet, in their cool
habitat of orchids, bromeliads and wild avocados.
Then you hike through lush vegetation and arrive at the Collin’s
shade-grown coffee farm where lunch will be served. After lunch you
return to the hotel and prepare for the drive to the port of Almirante,
Bocas del Toro. En route across the Continental Divide, you'll make
a quick stop at Fortuna Dam and the spectacular waterfalls, before
crossing the Palo Seco protected area, which serves as buffer zone
to La Amistad International Park. The transition from the cloud forests
of Chiriqui to the coral reefs of Bocas del Toro in the Caribbean Sea
will be impressive. In Almirante, you will be met by a boat for the
ride over to Colon Island.
After check-in you will enjoy a tropical cocktail offered by the lodge’s
manager, and a quiet evening rocking in the hammocks on the upstairs
deck or on a stroll through the small, friendly town.
Night at the BOCAS INN (B, L, D)
Day 6 SALT CREEK
VILLAGE – BASTIMENTOS
MARINE NATIONAL PARK
You depart by boat from the Bocas Inn, traversing the expanse of Bastimentos
National Park, Panama’s first marine national park, en route
to Salt Creek, navigating through clusters of Red Mangroves, which
provide sea creatures a protective area during their reproductive
and development stages. Here you will hike the Caiman Trail, which
takes you through several stages of lowland forest dynamics, and
is a good place to look for birds such as Red-throated Ant Tanager
and Golden-collared Manakin (Cerritus sub sp.), mammals like Night
Monkey, White-faced Capuchin and Three-toed Sloth. An older tract
of rainforest has tall trees that provide life to birds such as the
Three-wattled Bellbird and Green-breasted Mango and at a nearby lagoon
you may see Spectacled Caiman and Slider Turtle while on the ground
you might find the tiny endemic poison dart frog Dendrobates Pumilio.
After the hike, you will visit the indigenous community with a chance
to purchase handicrafts such as painted woodcarvings and Ngobe handbags,
followed by lunch. In the afternoon, you'll have an opportunity to
snorkel among mangroves and coral reefs, searching for numerous fish
species, as well as dynamic and brightly colored sea fans, sponges
and brittle starfish.
Night at BOCAS INN (B, L, D)
Day 7 BOCA DEL DRAGO-PANAMA CITY
Early in the morning get ready for another boat ride, this time to
Boca del Drago around Colon Island, and weather permitting, a visit
to Swan's Cay, a rock protruding from the depths of the Caribbean
Sea, which serves as rookery for Red-billed Tropic Bird (the only
place they are found in Panama) and Brown Booby. Along the coastline,
you can make stops at coral reefs and mangrove isles for snorkeling.
Back at the lodge you'll have lunch and pack up for the return flight
to Panama City. Once back in the city, the driver will make a stop
at the Balboa handicraft market for some souvenir shopping on the
way to the hotel. Tonight you can enjoy a farewell dinner at a local
restaurant.
Night at the HOTEL EXECUTIVE (B, L, D)
Day 8 DEPART PANAMA
You will be picked up from the lobby of the hotel 2-3 hours prior to
scheduled departure flight and transferred to Tocumen International
Airport. Bon Voyage! (B)
Why not consider a Panama Canal Transit before or after the tour?
DEPARTURE DATES:
2008
August 9 – 16
October 25 – November 1
November 15 – 22
December 27 – January 3 (2009)
2009
February 7 - 14
March 28 - April 4
June 20 - 27
August 8 - 15
November 21 - 28
December 19 - 26
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2008 Price per person
in double occupancy:
$1950
Single supplement:
$375
2009 Price per person
in double occupancy:
$1995
Single supplement:
$430
To above prices, add 5% government tax.
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Minimum 2 passengers
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