Multi-Sport Adventure - 7 nights

DAY 1 ARRIVE PANAMÁ

When you arrive to Tocumen Airport, Panamá City, you will be met by a representative of Panamá Boutique™ and transfer to the town of Gamboa by the Panamá Canal (45 minutes) where you will spend the next 2 nights at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. Depending on arrival time, you can join any of the outdoor activities (optional) available at the hotel. Meals are on our own today.

Night at Gamboa Rainforest Resort

DAY 2 CAMINO DE CRUCES – PANAMÁ CANAL BOAT EXPEDITION

Early this morning you will meet your guide over breakfast for a briefing and head out to Camino de Cruces (Las Cruces Trail), about a 15 minute drive. This historic trail was built by the Spanish in the early years of the colony to connect Panamá City, located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, with Fort San Lorenzo, by the mouth of the mighty Chagres River on the Caribbean Sea. The stone trail ended at a bend on the Chagres River (where it now meets the Panamá Canal) and from there, transportation of goods and people took place via dugout canoes. Fortunately, a 10km stretch of the trail (4-5 hours) is protected within Soberanía National Park. The mostly flat trail will take us through magnificent rainforests teeming with exotic wildlife and historic landmarks.

At the ruins of the town of Venta de Crucesb, by the Chagres River, you'll board a comfortable expedition boat and depart on an adventure that will include a voyage across Gatun Lake in the Panamá Canal, passing gigantic cargo ships as they transit the waterway, a real contrast with the natural surroundings.  Along the way, you might spot Green iguana and Three-toed sloth resting on tree branches, Crocodile, Osprey in the hunt for Peacock bass, Snail kite and Keel-billed toucan among other wildlife. Gatun Lake was formed to give way to the Panamá Canal in 1914. With a surface of 423 square-kilometers, at the time of its creation was the largest man-made lake in the world. The flow of all the rivers within the Panamá Canal Watershed is contained in Gatun Lake to provide water for the operation of the lock system. More than 52 million gallons of fresh water are used for each ship that transits through the Panamá Canal from one ocean to another. The expedition boat will allow close proximity to rainforest-covered islands (former hill tops) in Gatun Lake to search for White-faced capuchin, Mantled howler monkey, Spider monkey, and Geoffrey’s tamarin.

Night at Gamboa Rainforest Resort (B, L)

DAY 3 THE CHAGRES RIVER AND THE EMBERA INDIANS

Early in the morning you will depart on a 35 minute drive to El Corotu on the shores of Madden Lake.  The main reservoir of drinking water for the cities of Panamá and Colon, Madden Lake also supplies 40% of the water required for the operation of the Panamá Canal.  You will board a motorized piragua (dugout canoe) and travel up the Chagres River to the Embera indigenous village of Embera Drua.  The dugout canoe journey takes you through the rainforest of the 320,000-acre Chagres National Park, the largest of the National Parks protecting the Panamá Canal Watershed.   Along the Chagres River, you may be able to spot Little Blue and Green heron, Great Egret, Anhinga, Neotropical Cormorant, Amazon, Ringed, and Green kingfishers, along with Keel-billed Toucans and Ospreys flying above.

At the Embera village you will be greeted with dancing and music by the local people and have a chance to learn about Embera customs and their relationship with nature. There are handcrafts available for sale and you can be painted with the traditional jagua, a natural dye the Embera use to adorn their bodies.  A simple picnic lunch is followed by a visit to a nearby waterfall and an opportunity to take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the Chagres River. You can also hike the medicine trail with a local guide.

Night at Gamboa Rainforest Resort (B, L)

DAY 4 WHITEWATER RAFTING/ RIVER KAYAKING

Today you'll leave the Gamboa area and head East on the Pan-American Highway (2 hours) to the Mamoni River for a day of whitewater adventure! The river is classified as Class II-III at its upper section and Class III-IV at the lowest section. There are a couple of passes that we choose to hike due to safety considerations, among them, a beautiful Class VI fall. *

Along the way you will see wonderful scenery. Arrival to the take out zone is mid-afternoon; from there it is a short distance to Burbayar, a private nature reserve protecting some of the most spectacular rainforests found in Central America.

Night at Burbayar Jungle Lodge (B, L, D)

*During our dry season (usually February through May) we only run inflatable kayaks on this river.

DAY 5 BURBAYAR RAINFOREST RESERVE

This day will be spent hiking one or two trails within the reserve, with opportunities for birdwatching, looking for specialties of the area or to do a more demanding hike to reach a couple of spectacular and seldom visited waterfalls. Burbayar is a simple and rustic lodge but the location is amazing.

Night at Burbayar Jungle Lodge (B, L, D)

DAY 6 KUNA YALA – SAN BLAS ISLANDS

At the crack of dawn and a hearty breakfast you will be on your way to Kuna Yala, the land of the Kuna Indians. You'll drive north on 4x4 vehicles along a recently recovered jungle road and make a quick stop at the Continental Divide for splendid views of the vast rainforest protected by the Kuna Indians. The 20km ride will be accomplished in about 1.5 hours, allowing for a few stops along the way for nature observation. Once you reach the Caribbean, a motorized dugout canoe will be waiting to take you to Carti, a Kuna Indian village, for a cultural visit. Then on to an idyllic palm tree covered island where you can spend the rest of the day snorkeling and relaxing. Tonight you'll stay at lodge owned by a Kuna family.

Night at Coco Blanco Kuna Lodge (B, L, D)

DAY 7 - PANAMÁ CITY

Early morning you will fly back to Panamá City (35 minutes) from El Porvenir. On arrival, transfer to your hotel located at the entrance of the Panamá Canal on the Pacific Ocean. The morning is free to rest, enjoy a walk along the Amador Causeway or shop at the nearby handcraft market. For lunch you'll hop on bicycles and ride to a nearby seafood restaurant overlooking the Bay of Panamá and the modern city of Panamá. You will spend the afternoon at the Smithsonian’s Punta Culebra Marine Exhibits and the Frank O. Gehry Biodiversity Museum.

You'll end the day with a walking tour and dinner in colonial Casco Viejo.

Night at the Country Inn – Panamá Canal (B, L, D)

DAY 8 DEPARTURE

After breakfast, catch the group transfer back to the airport for homeward-bound flights or spend additional time in Panamá exploring this incredible country on your own (B)

Why not consider a Panamá Canal Transit before or after the tour?

2008 Departure dates:

January 13 - 20
March 3 - 10
July 7 - 14
August 11 - 18
December 22 - 29

Price per person in double accommodation:
$1950.00

Single Supplement:
$450

To above prices, add 5% government tax.

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