Latin America / Panama
Panama Paradise Multisport Tour
Hiking, Boating, Snorkeling, Kayaking and Cultural Adventure in Untamed, Unspoiled Panama
Discover why Panama's unspoiled beauty and Latin charm is the best kept secret in the Americas! Vast pristine rain forests teem with exotic wildlife, lush tropical beaches and enchanted highlands beg to be explored and a history rich in Spanish Conquistadors, swashbuckling pirates, and exotic Indian cultures combine to create an unforgettable paradise.
Days 1-3: Arrival in Panama City-Panama Canal-Soberania National Park-Chagres River
We're met at the airport and transferred to the tropical wilderness resort of Gamboa. The next morning we depart early for a boat exploration of the Panama Canal and some of the islands in the area with likely sightings of howler monkeys, toucans and trogons. We hike in the afternoon through Soberania National Park, famous as a birding destination with over 400 species. The following morning we board a motorized piragua (dugout canoe) and travel up the Chagres River to an Embera indigenous where we're greeted with music and dancing.
Days 4-5: Miraflores Locks-Burbayar Rainforest Preserve
We first make a stop at the Panama Canal’s Miraflores Locks, tallest in the Canal system, for a tour of these giant “water stairways”. Then it's on to Burbayar Preserve, created through the joint efforts of the Kuna Yala Indians and the World Wildlife Fund in order to form a wildlife corridor that links the Darien with the San Blas, for hikes deep into the pristine rainforest to spectacular waterfalls. A night hike also allows us to see nocturnal birds, mammals and reptiles.
Days 6-7: San Blas Islands-Bajos de Escribano
Upon arrival at the Caribbean Sea a waiting boat takes us to the nearby San Blas islands where the Kuna people live. We explore a couple of idyllic islands and learn about the Kuna way of life. We continue our voyage to Bajos de Escribano, a sheltered bay on the mainland without road access, where we explore the underwater world with snorkeling equipment and travel by kayak to a nearby trail for a nature hike. Or just grab a book one afternoon and head for the hammock at your bungalow.
Days 8-9: Portobelo-Panama City-Departure
We depart by boat to a nearby fishing village and continue overland to Portobelo, famous for its trade fairs and its customs house during the Spanish colonial era. We explore the ruins of Spanish fortifications and learn about the multiple attempts by pirates to take control of this once prosperous town. This afternoon we enjoy the thrill of a zip line adventure through the rainforestcanopy before returning to Panama Citywhere we enjoy a farewell dinner in Casco Viejo, the city’s colonial section.