DAY 1
D included
After meeting in the late afternoon at Panama international airport, we have an hour’s road transfer to our 4 star hotel, ideally situated at the edge of the rainforest and the Soberania National Park, with, perhaps, time for a swim before dinner.
DAY 2
B, L, D included
Accompanied by an expert naturalist guide, we begin our wildlife observations with a visit to the Panama Rainforest Discovery Centre in the heart of the National Park. Their 100 ft observation tower gives excellent views over the forest canopy, with chances to see mantled howler monkeys, soaring turkey and king vultures. A walk (2 km) may produce sloths, coatimundis, toucans and red-lored Amazon parrots. After lunch, we visit the excellent Museum of the Canal at Miraflores Locks and watch ships undertaking the complex transit of the Canal.
DAY 3
B, L, D included
An early start is needed to explore another ‘hotspot’ of the central Canal Zone, walking gently in search of Spectacled owls and Blue-crowned motmots while scanning the Summit Ponds for Amazon, Green and Ringed Kingfishers and nesting Boat-billed herons. After lunch, we board a private boat to cross Gatun Lake, part of the Canal, where huge cargo ships are a startling contrast with sightings of green iguanas, snail kites, ospreys, spider monkeys and Geoffroy’s tamarins on the small islands.
DAY 4
B, L, D included
Today is devoted to a specially arranged visit to the Barro Colorado Island, run by the Smithsonian Institute as a research centre into Neo-Tropical Biodiversity. We travel by boat and explore the island with our guide, seeing the Field Station and following trails in search of Northern Tamandua (anteaters), Tayra, Central American agoutis and Brown-headed Spider monkeys.
DAY 5
B, L, D included
The morning is spent walking on the world-famous Pipeline track, with one of the highest bird counts recorded anywhere. Mammals and butterflies feature too. After a local lunch, we drive (2.5 hrs) to El Valle de Anton in Coclé Province. Picturesquely located at 600 m above sea level in the crater of an extinct volcano, this small town is surrounded by mountains and cloud forest. An extensive network of hiking trails combined with a slightly cooler climate makes it a great centre for exploring on foot. We spend two nights in a hotel blending colonial style elegance and modern comforts.
DAY 6
B, L, D included
We drive a short distance out of El Valle to the Cerro Gaital National Monument on the slopes of the caldera. In the humid montane forest, we walk amongst trees laden with bromeliads and other epiphytes. After returning to town for lunch, we learn how the endemic Panamanian Golden Frog was saved from extinction thanks to the efforts of a local conservation group. We also have an opportunity to visit the handicraft market where indigenous people from several tribes offer for sale their hardwood trays, baskets and figurines.
DAY 7
B, L, D included
We walk the Orchid trail in the Aprovaca nursery and conservation centre to discover some of the native orchid species, including the Holy Ghost orchid (Peristeria Elata), the national flower of Panama. We drive to Panama City to catch an afternoon flight out to the Bocas del Toro archipelago. These idyllic islands in a remote bay near Panama’s northwest border with Costa Rica, were first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502. Transferring to a private water taxi, a 35-minute ride takes us to Popa Island and our elegant beachfront hotel for 3 nights.
DAY 8
B, L, D included
Following an early start, we travel by boat to a quiet bay frequented by dolphins and royal terns. After watching and photographing them, we go ashore for an informative walking tour of an organic cocoa estate and indulge in an informal chocolate tasting. We return by boat to our hotel for lunch and a free afternoon to enjoy the pool, gardens and beach.
DAY 9
B, L, D included
We spend the morning exploring the Bastimentos Marine National Park, mainly by boat, with opportunities to snorkel over coral reefs rich in marine species. We land on the Zapatillo islets for beach combing and swimming and can watch magnificent frigate birds and brown pelicans patrolling the shore. The afternoon is again left free for relaxing on our own island.
DAY 10
B, L, D included
Departing by boat, we disembark at Almirante and continue by road through banana and pineapple plantations up into the highlands of western Panama, crossing the Talamanca Continental Divide en route. The journey is punctuated by photo stops and lunch in a rustic restaurant. Our destination is an historic Finca set on a private coffee estate. Once settled into our very comfortable rooms, we have a guided walk of the estate seeing an amazing variety of hummingbirds and mountain views.
DAY 11
B, L, D included
We explore the cloud forest on foot this morning, following graded trails in search of the Resplendent Quetzal, a stunningly beautiful bird whose diet consists mainly of wild avocados. Ferns, epiphytic orchids and mosses festoon the huge ancient trees of the Vulcan Baru National Park and we also hope to encounter the brightly coloured, tiny, poison dart frogs. In the afternoon, we have a comprehensive coffee tour, walking amongst the coffee trees, learning about the harvesting, watching the processing and then tasting the award winning results in one of the oldest traditional mills in Panama.
DAY 12
B, L, D included
Leaving the highlands, we drive south to David to catch a morning flight to Panama City. Private transport takes us to the startlingly new Museum of Biodiversity by architect Frank Gehry for a tour of the ‘Panama - Bridge of Life’ exhibition. After a seafood lunch on the causeway, we transfer into the city and settle into our 5 star historic hotel in the old quarter, ‘Casco Viejo’.
DAY 13
B, L included
Setting off on foot from our hotel, a guided walking tour of Casco Viejo introduces the highlights of the district, built in 1673 after the pirate Henry Morgan destroyed the first settlement. We wander past or into the palacio containing the Museum of the History of Panama; the Cathedral and several fine churches; the Teatro Nacional which opened in 1908 with a performance of Verdi’s Aida and where Dame Margot Fonteyn danced after the restoration in 1974; and the old sea wall with views across the bay. We have a leisurely lunch before transferring to the airport for flights home.