Destinations: Casco Viejo/Panama City, Isla Bastimentos/Bocas del Toro

Duration: 8 days

*Price Range: $$$

*Rates inclusive of full vacation experience – hotels, tours, domestic transfers, and tax (excluding international airfare).  Actual price based on length of travel, number of travelers/rooms, seasonal rates (high, low, peak), number of tour activities, and mode of domestic transportation.

$$$: At or under $1,200 per person.

$$$: $1,200 – $1,800 per person.

$$$: $1,800+ per person

1. Day 1

   Fly into Tocumen International Airport (PTY) where one of our local airport representatives will meet you as you exit your plane and guide you through an expedited immigration process.  They will show you to the VIP Lounge where you can enjoy snacks and drinks while they collect your luggage for you.  Once you are ready, the airport representative will guide you to your private transfer waiting outside the airport.  You’ll enjoy a 30-minute drive to the historic Casco Viejo, Panama City’s oldest neighborhood and a UNESCO site.  If you’ve arrived to Panama City by the early afternoon, then opt for a guided tour of Panama Viejo and Casco Viejo in route to your hotel.  Check into the cozy Los Cuatro Tulipanes, a 200-year-old preserved building located within a quiet sector of the trendy Casco Viejo neighborhood.  This evening, stroll along cobblestone streets in search of a gourmet restaurant for dinner and rooftop bar for drinks.

2. Day 2

   After breakfast you’ll embark on a tour of Panama City, starting with a visit to one of the Modern World Wonders, The Panama Canal.  Your first stop is at Miraflores Locks where you’ll learn about the canal’s history and engineering marvels in the Visitor Center and then watch as large vessel transverse through the Miraflores Lock system.  After your Panama Canal visit, continue to the Biodiversity Museum to learn how the isthmus of Panama was formed as well as discover the variety of both native and migratory species that can be seen in Panama.  If you didn’t have the opportunity to learn about Panama Viejo and Casco Viejo on Day 1, then this afternoon is your chance to take a historical walk-through of these UNESCO sites.  Otherwise, the afternoon is yours to roam around Panama City or relax around Casco Viejo.  For lunch, walk through Panama’s Seafood Market and order ceviche from one of the on site restaurants/booths.  Explore Casco Viejo’s local artisan shops, cozy cafes, and gourmet restaurants the rest of the day.

3. Day 3

   After breakfast you’ll take a domestic flight from Panama City over to Bocas del Toro.  A 45-minute boat ride will bring you to your island paradise on Isla Bastimentos, Azul Paradise.  Sip on a cold coconut or tropical beverage while you check into your overwater bungalow.  This low-key, off-the-beaten-path retreat is surrounded by white sand and turquoise blue waters.  Step into the warm Caribbean Sea right from your bungalow’s deck!  Spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying this tropical paradise.

4. Day 4

   Spend the day today enjoying the Caribbean!  Relax on the beach with a cold beverage and a good book, cool off and wade in the refreshing Caribbean waters, or kayak out to a nearby reef to snorkel.

5. Day 5

   Repeat the activities of Day 4 again today or sign-up for a half-day activity.  You can tour a chocolate farm to learn how chocolate is created from cacao bean to chocolate bar or fly through the treetops on a canopy zip-line.  If you prefer to stick around the island, sign-up for a tour to the local village of Salt Creek to learn about the lifestyle of the Ngöbe and Buglé indigenous communities.

6. Day 6

   Explore nearby surf breaks!  Take a beginner surf lesson with an experienced surf instructor or simply grab a board and take a short boat ride out to Boca’s best waves.

7. Day 7

   Enjoy your last full day in paradise by relaxing on the beach.

8. Day 8

   Azul Paradise will take you back to Isla Colon for your domestic flight from Bocas del Toro to Panama City.  Fly home from Tocumen International Airport (PTY).