We Went from Coast to Highlands

This 3-week vacation explores the highlights of Panama. Take a hike, zip through canopies, and relax on the beach on one of the many islands. Enjoy Panama to its fullest.

From Coast to Highlands—A Panama Experience | Anywhere

Tocumen & PTY

Harold Montero

Neil Dick

Standard Room - 2 Queen Beds

Panama City

Panama City is a hub in every sense of the word. Located in the Gulf of Panama along the Pacific Coast, Panama City sits in the heart of the country and serves as the main artery through which the rest of Panama receives its visitors, commerce, and culture.

Hotel Recommendation #1

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The Tocumen Airport (PTY) is the main international airport in Panama. It is just east of Panama City, and it takes a little over an hour to get from the airport to the city via public transportation.

Pesantez Tours

Partial Transit of the Panama Canal 

This tour begins at the north end of the Gaillard Cut where the Chagres River flows into the Panama Canal. The Gaillard Cut (also known as the Culebra Cut) is carved through the Continental Divide. Although the Gaillard Cut is only 8.5 miles (14 km) long, its creation was a herculean task—it took over 9 million kilos of dynamite, 6,000 workers, and six year to complete. The Gaillard Cut connects the locks along the Caribbean side of Panama with Lake Gatún and the locks on the Pacific side. The boat will sail through the entire Cut as it makes its way to the Pedro Miguel Locks.    
  
Just before you reach the Pedro Miguel locks, you’ll see the new Centennial Bridge that crosses the Panama Canal. This bridge was built to supplement the crowded Bridge of the Americas in 2004 and is the second permanent crossing over the Panama Canal.    
  
Next, you will enter the Pedro Miguel Locks, one of two sets of locks on the canal’s Pacific side. Here the ship is lowered 30 feet (9 m) in one step. After you are lowered, you enter Miraflores Lake, a small artificial body of fresh water that separates the Pedro Miguel Locks from the Miraflores Locks. The boat then continues on to the Miraflores Locks, where it is lowered 60 feet (18 m) in two steps.    
  
This tour is a fantastic, one-of-a-kind look at the Panama Canal. Most travelers only see the canal from the sidelines; this tour allows you to experience it as intimately as sailors and ship captains do.  
  
Please note that this tour is offered on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from January to March. From April to December it is only offered on Saturdays.  
  
This tour departs at 9:00 a.m. The duration of the tour depends on where you're staying. If you're staying in Panama City, the tour lasts around 5 hours; if you're staying in Gamboa, the tour lasts around 6 hours; if you're staying in Playa Bonita, the tour lasts around 5.5 hours; and if you're staying in Playa Blanca, the tour lasts around 9 hours.  

During this tour of the Panama Canal, tour participants will experience three of the of the canal’s most famous features – the Gaillard Cut, the Pedro Miguel Locks, and the Miraflores Locks.

Partial Transit of the Panama Canal

transportation, bilingual guide, Panama Canal transit with all fees, lunch, and non-alcoholic drinks.

This tour date and time may change based on the Panama Canal authorities, these changes are not expected but could happen

comfortable clothing and shoes, hat, camera, insect repellent, binoculars and sunscreen.

Gamboa Tours

Embera Village Tour 

This tour begins at 8:30 AM with a pickup at your Panama City hotel. You’ll take an hour-long drive through the countryside and eventually arrive at a boat ramp on the edge of the Chagres National Park.    
  
Two indigenous boatmen – or, *boteros* – will be waiting here with a dugout canoe. You’ll hop into the boat and head up river—the ride takes around an hour but can depend on the season and water level. Sometimes the water is so low that the *boteros* have to get out and push the canoe. If you feel like it, you’re welcome to help them if this happens. The ride up the river is beautiful and gives you the chance to spot toucans, sloths or monkeys in the nearby jungle.    
  
You’ll arrive at the Emberá village of Emberá Puru around 10:30 AM and will receive a traditional musical greeting. Once settled, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the village at your leisure. You’ll then be treated to a short talk about their culture, lifestyle and crafts. After the talk you’ll be led on a short walk through the jungle with one of the village elders. As you stroll along, he will teach you about the medicinal plants that the Emberá use.    
  
Upon your return to the village you’ll enjoy a delicious traditional meal of *patacones* (friend plantains) and fried fish or chicken. After lunch it’s time to listen to the Emberá music and watch the women perform traditional dances.    
Next comes the shopping. The Emberá make exquisite crafts, including woven baskets, plates, masks, and carved cocobolo wood and tagua seeds. The entire tribe then gathers for a group photo—they are not shy about having their picture taken and love looking at the photo afterwards. Your final opportunity is to receive a traditional tattoo made from the black dye of the *jagua* fruit.  The dye usually washes off in about 10 to 12 days.    
  
You’ll then leave the village the same way you came – via boat and car. You’ll arrive back in Panama City after an extremely interesting and satisfying day. 

The Emberá are an indigenous group in Panama. During this full-day tour, you’ll visit one of their villages and be introduced to various elements of their culture.

Emberá Village Tour

Transportation, lunch, and cultural presentations.

Comfortable clothing, camera, insect repellent, and sunscreen.

Colon

Colón, which lies along the central Caribbean coast of Panama, has historically been the country’s second-most important city. Today, however, Colón is riddled with poverty and crime. Aside from large corporate purchases at Zona Libre de Colón (Colón’s Free Trade Zone), most tourists these days are advised to stay away from the city.

Embera Village Tours

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Bocas Town

Air Panama

Standard Room

Isla Colon

Isla Colón, the bustling centerpiece of the Bocas del Toro archipelago, is primarily known for Bocas town, the waterfront town upon which nearly all the amenities of the archipelago are built. Outside the town, however, are plenty of places to play. These include beautiful beaches, picturesque swimming holes, and incredible surf spots.

Hotel Recommendation #2

Deluxe Room

Gran Hotel Bahia

The Gran Hotel Bahía is set within Bocas town on Colón Island. The hotel has spacious rooms and is located within a historic building.

Cayo Zapatilla One Day Tour

On your way to the island you’ll keep an eye out for dolphins gamboling near your boat. Your tour will also make a stop at Cayo Coral so you can do some snorkeling. Cayo Coral is renowned as a snorkeling site – it has amazing coral reefs and huge populations of tropical fish. In the clear Caribbean water you’ll see shapes and colors of fish that will make any aquarium seem tame.    
  
Your boating tour will continue past the mangrove shores of Zapatilla Island. The tour guide will point out some of the island’s idyllic beaches. Zapatilla is uninhabited, except for a healthy population of sloths.    
  
This is where your tour group will get to try deep boarding, an activity that combines snorkeling and water skiing. You’ll go underwater in snorkeling gear, while holding on to a specially designed plastic board. This board will allow you to coast through the water as the boat pulls you along. Afterward you’ll have lunch on the island and a period of free time – you may choose to explore the island’s hiking paths, relax in the sand, or do some more snorkeling near the beach.

This all-day tour takes you to the island of Cayo Zapatilla, which protects some of the wildest parts of Panama’s ecosystem. It is located inside the boundary of the Bastimentos National Marine Park.

Tour guide, entrance fees, snorkeling and deep boarding equipment, and a lunch (with fruit and a beverage included).

Meeting Point: Under Sea Tours Office, located at Isla Colon, main street at El Pirata Restaurant.

Sunscreen, sunglasses, bottled water, a bathing suit, a change of clothes, insect repellent, sandals, and hiking shoes.

Bocas town is a bohemian, waterfront town on Isla Colón. It's the largest and funkiest town in the Bocas del Toro archipelago and is visited by travelers from all over the world. Hotels, restaurants, gourmet grocery stores and other tourist facilities crowd the small town, making it one of the most popular places in all of Panama.

Under Sea

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Almirante

Maynor Guerra

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Boquete

Almirante is a small port town along Panama’s Caribbean coast that acts as the main entrance point for trips to the Bocas del Toro archipelago. Water-taxis and car ferries leave from Almirante and are the principal way most travelers reach the islands.

Transporte y Turismo Panama

Bungalow

The small town of Boquete sits in the highlands of Panama’s Chiriquí province, snugly fitted into a lush valley and surrounded by towering mountains, gushing streams, and abundant coffee farms. Though once a sleepy mountain town forgotten by time, Boquete is beginning to see more and more tourists these days, and for good reason – its natural beauty is astounding and its range of activities spectacular. Panama’s only volcano, Volcán Barú, lies only 9 km away, providing visitors with excellent hiking, nature viewing, and camping. Boquete’s other attractions include white-water rafting, canopy tours, hot springs, botanical gardens, and more.

Hotel Recommendation #3

Tree Trek Canopy Tour

The Boquete Tree Trek focuses on safety. Guides ensure that equipment fits properly and that you feel comfortable using it. Clear instruction on riding the zip lines follows. You’ll learn how to position your body and to brake with your hands (although they can brake for you too). Tour participants are invited to either ride on their own or with a guide.    
  
As you walk to the first cable, a guide will point out local plants and animals—a quick nature tour en route to the real action. Once you reach the platform, you’ll hook yourself into the cable and push off when you feel ready. The first cables are the shortest, but they get progressively longer as the course goes on—one even stretches some 1,600 feet (500 m)! Throughout the trip, you’ll enjoy fantastic views of the forest canopy. Guides will point out birds and other animals (like sloths) when they can be seen.    
  
At the end of the tour, you can purchase a CD of photos from your canopy adventure.   
  
This tour is offered at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Each tour lasts 4 hours. The minimum age is 5 years.  


The Boquete Tree Trek is located in the forested highlands above Boquete. The setting – big trees, stunning views – is perfect for a canopy adventure. This tour consists of 12 zip lines and 14 platforms.

Boquete Tree Trek Canopy Tour

Meeting point: Boquete Tree Trek office at Plaza Los Establos in Boquete. 

Minimum age is 6 years old.

Maximum weight allowed: 175 lbs woman, 250 lbs men.


Closed-toed shoes, insect repellent, long pants and camera.

Boquete Tree Trek

Coffee Cupping Tour

The Río Crystal Coffee Farm is part of the Boquete Tree Trek Resort. This hotel and its property are set in the highlands above Boquete at an elevation of 5,600 feet (1,700 m)—the climate here is ideal for growing coffee.    
  
After arriving at the farm, a guide will lead you through the plantation and explain the different varieties of coffee. You’ll learn how the nut, fruit and flower flavors are developed in various beans. You’ll cover the ways that roasting and processing affect the final taste. And most importantly, you’ll learn to recognize good coffee! You can sample up to eight varieties before choosing a type to sip on.  
  
This tour is offered at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 pm. It lasts 3 hours.  


Have you ever wondered where you coffee comes from? Or maybe how it’s grown? If so, this is the tour for you. During this tour, you’ll explore the Río Crystal Coffee Farm and learn about the entire coffee process, from bean to cup.

Comfortable shoes, insect repellent, camera, and sunscreen.

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David

Hyundai Elantra

David, the provincial capital of Chiriquí province, is the second largest city in Panama (pop. 140,000) and the hub for visits to the highlands or other parts of western Panama. Though there are attractive areas within the city, David primarily serves as a place to refuel before launching into other adventures within the region.

Hertz Panama 

Oria / Las Palmas Suite

Playa Venao

Playa Venao is a locally famous surf spot 34 km southwest of Pedasí. Playa Venao has hands-down the Azuero Peninsula’s best surfing, with waves breaking in both directions that are perfect for every skill level. The grey-sand beach here is pleasant, extending in a huge arc and surrounded by a curvy hillside. At present, this area is relatively undeveloped, but it is beginning to see a boom of projects as the word gets out about its laid-back vibe and awesome surf.

Hotel Recommendation #4

Suite

Valle de Anton

Nestled into the valley of an extinct volcano, El Valle is a pleasant highland town in central Panama. Its 600 meters above sea level make it much cooler than the lowlands, and its wide range of activities – including canopy tours, hot springs, and a bustling Sunday market – attract both Panamanians and foreigners alike.

Hotel Recommendation #5

Ocean View Rooms

Isla Contadora 

Located 30 miles off the Pacific coast of Panama, Isla Contadora is the most developed place in the Pearl Islands. This accessible island has lucrative real estate, luxury accommodations and world-class beaches.

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1-844-840-8780

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1-844-840-8780

1-888-456-3212

44-800-088-5758

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My dream trip in Panama
Peru
Costa Rica
Vietnam
Ecuador
Thailand
Belize
Indonesia
Guatemala
Panama
Laos
Cambodia
Honduras

That I’ll spend with Group type
My Spouse/Partner
My Family
Myself
My Friends

Is filled with Trip type
Natural Wonders
Culinary & Cultural Encounters
Adventure Sports
Hidden Local Gems
Photo Opportunities
Mind & Body Rejuvenation
Easy Sightseeing
City-Life Energy
Rugged Exploration
Rest & Relaxation
Romantic Moments
Mind-blowing Vistas
Off-The-Beaten-Path Exploration