Itinerary
- Day 1
Panama City Arrival
You'll land at Panama City airport and head to your hotel to settle in. This is your chance to get oriented and rest up before diving into exploring the capital over the next week.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Day 2
Panama City Sightseeing
After breakfast, you'll get into Panama City's main attractions. There's a nature walk through Metropolitano Nature Park, then over to Causeway Amador for views of the Americas Bridge and the Panama Canal. The historic old town shows off colonial architecture, and the fish market buzzes with local energy. Grab some ceviche while you're there - it's worth trying the local way.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Panama City
- Hike through Metropolitano Nature Park
- Visit to Causeway Amador with views of Puente de Americas bridge
- Tour of historic old town colonial buildings
- Visit to fish market
Landmarks Metropolitano Nature Park Causeway Amador Puente de Americas Historic Old Town of Panama City Fish Market - Day 3
Altos de Campana National Park & Pineapple Farm
Head out after breakfast toward Altos de Campana, Panama's oldest national park. Over 267 bird species live there along with other wildlife you might spot. On the drive back, you'll stop at a pineapple farm for lunch and a tour where they explain how the fruit grows and gets shipped to places like Germany. You'll taste fresh pineapple straight from the farm.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local, simple lunch at pineapple farm)
Included Activities
- Visit to Altos de Campana National Park
- Pineapple farm tour
- Pineapple tasting
Landmarks Altos de Campana National Park - Day 4
Colón, Panama Canal & Historic Sites
This morning you're traveling north from the Pacific side to the Atlantic, heading into Colón province. You'll visit the Panama Canal Expansion Observation Center to learn about the new lock system that opened in June 2016. From there, check out the 15th-century San Lorenzo fortress ruins, then loop back to see Panama Viejo's 16th-century Spanish colonial ruins on the Pacific coast.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit to Panama Canal Expansion Observation Center
- Visit to San Lorenzo historic port ruins
- Exploration of Panama Viejo ruins
Landmarks Panama Canal Expansion Observation Center San Lorenzo Fortress Panama Viejo - Day 5
Soberanía National Park & Lake Gatún Boat Trip
Drive into Soberanía National Park for a 1 to 2 hour hike among the forest. After that, you'll head to Gamboa port for a 2.5 hour boat trip across Lake Gatún. On the way back, stop at Miraflores locks to watch ships passing through - this waterway handles over 14,000 ships annually, so you might catch some impressive crossings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Picnic
Included Activities
- Hike in Soberanía National Park
- 2.5-hour boat trip on Lake Gatún
- Visit to Miraflores locks observation terrace
Landmarks Soberanía National Park Lake Gatún Miraflores Locks - Day 6
Emberá Village & Río Chagres Canoe Trip
After breakfast, travel to Curután and board small dugout canoes to paddle down Río Chagres to an Emberá village. You'll spend time with the indigenous community who've lived this way for thousands of years. Lunch is typical village food - fish and patacones (fried plantains). By afternoon you'll head back to Panama City.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical local dish of fish and patacones (plantains))
Included Activities
- Río Chagres canoe trip in small dugout canoes
- Visit to Emberá village
- Cultural experience with indigenous locals
Landmarks Río Chagres Emberá Village 
- Day 7
Panama Canal Crossing
Today you're doing a 4 hour partial crossing of the Panama Canal itself. You'll pass through Miraflores Locks, Lake Miraflores, Pedro Miguel Lock, and the Gaillard Cut, which is the tightest section of the waterway. A bus brings you back to Panama City from Gamboa harbor.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- 4-hour partial crossing of Panama Canal
- Transit through Miraflores Locks
- Transit through Pedro Miguel Lock
- Passage through Gaillard Cut
Landmarks Panama Canal Miraflores Locks Pedro Miguel Lock Gaillard Cut - Day 8
Panama City Departure
Your week wraps up with a transfer to Panama City airport. You're heading home with memories of the canal, national parks, indigenous villages, and all the colonial history you've seen.
- Meals
- Breakfast
