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Luxury journey Panama with a rental car

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17 days from € 6,400 per person

self-drive - wildlife spotting - jungles

  • Wander the distinctive streets of Panama City's historic neighbourhood of Casco Viejo
  • Watch colossal ocean liners being guided through the Panama Canal at the Miraflores locks
  • Swap your hiking boots for flip-flops in surfing paradise Playa Venao
  • Hike, bike, sail or zip-line through the cloud forests of Boquete or climb up Volcán Barú
  • Feel like Robinson Crusoe in the rainforests on the island of Isla Palenque

Travel itinerary

Day 1: Amsterdam – Panama city

You will depart today from Amsterdam with your intercontinental flight to Panama City. You will arrive here at the end of the afternoon, where will be met by our local staff and taken to your hotel at Casco Viejo. Panama City is a metropolis that offers you a mix of sights; you'll find modern skyscrapers, while you can also wander the characteristic streets of the historic center Casco Viejo. The ruins of the original old city are still there and to top it all off, the world-famous Panama Canal runs right through the city. You can walk to the fish market and the souvenir market, but be sure to have a good cup of coffee (or the better iced coffee!) at Bajareque Coffee House & Roastery. 
Overnight stay: American Trade Hotel | bed & breakfast

Day 2: Panama city

In the morning your guide will pick you up at your hotel for a visit to the district of Panama Vieja. This part was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997, because of its beautiful mix of colonial, neoclassical and French architecture. The guide will take you through the streets, squares and famous buildings, churches and palaces. Afterwards you will drive on to Amador Causeway, from where you will enjoy one of the best views of Panama city. This long, wide promenade runs from the tip of the city by the Bridge of the Americas across three islands off the coast and is loved by the inhabitants of Panama City.  Here you have a beautiful view over the skyline of Panama City and the ocean and you can see cruise ships and sea tankers passing by.
Overnight stay: American Trade Hotel | bed & breakfast

Day 3: Panama city

After breakfast you will be picked up at your hotel for a visit to the Miraflores locks. From your hotel you drive in about half an hour to the visitor centre, where you will see large ships passing by. In the visitor centre you will get an explanation about the history of the Panama Canal. You will be amazed by this masterpiece of human ingenuity. At the end of this excursion you will be brought back to your hotel. 
Overnight stay: American Trade Hotel | bed & breakfast

Day 4: Panama stad – El Valle de Anton

(approx. 150 km | 2.5 hour drive)
After breakfast you pick up your rental car and drive on towards the southwest, to El Valle de Anton. On the way you can make a stop at one of the beaches on the Pacific coast, before continuing to El Valle. This picturesque town lies in the crater of a large extinct volcano, which erupted 3 million years ago with such great force that the top was blown off and formed a crater with a diameter of 5 kilometers. The town is known for its beautiful mountainous surroundings, friendly atmosphere, hot springs, waterfalls and 'golden' frogs.
Overnight stay: Hotel Canopy Lodge | full board

Day 5 and 6: El Valle de Anton

These days are scheduled off. On Sundays there is always the weekly market, but on other days there is also a small market with many handicraft products and this creates a beautiful palette of colors and many fragrances. The traditional population you will find here consists of the tribes of the Ngöbe-Buglé, Embera and Wounaan Indians. Furthermore, you can explore the area, at the nature reserve around the waterfall El Macho, you can view the area from above under professional and expert guidance. You will be attached to a zip line and "fly" through nature and over the waterfall. You will have a beautiful view over the valley when you climb the mountain La India Dormida, a large rock in the shape of a sleeping woman. In the surroundings of El Valle you can make beautiful walks through the rainforest and the mountains, after which you can cool down in a pool under a waterfall or in one of the hot springs.
Overnight stay: Hotel Canopy Lodge | full board

Day 7: El Valle de Anton – Playa Venao

(approx. 250 km | 4.5 hour drive)
Today you will drive from the inland to the coast, a long but beautiful ride. You travel on to the Azuero peninsula, exactly to Playa Venao. Playa Venao is about half an hour by car from the fishing village of Pedasi in the province of Los Santos, the cultural heart of Panama. Pedasí is a fishing village, known for its annual carnival, pristine beaches and water sports activities such as sport fishing, snorkeling, diving and surfing. Try to plan to arrive at your hotel before the end of the afternoon. Enjoy the beautiful route!
Overnight stay: Playa Venao Hotel Resort | bed & breakfast

Day 8: Playa Venao

Enjoy the sun, sea, beach! You could make a nice walk in the area of your hotel or maybe step in your rental car to discover the area.
Overnight stay: Playa Venao Hotel Resort | bed & breakfast

Day 9: Playa Venao – Boquete

(approx. 420 km | 6 hour drive)
Today you drive further inland to the town of Boquete. First you drive on the Pan American Highway, follow it westwards to David, from where you take the exit Boquete. Boquete is beautifully surrounded by the Rio Caldera, wooded mountain slopes, the volcano Barú and coffee plantations. Because of the high and wide mountain ridges, misty hills and fertile soil Boquete is ideal for the many coffee plantations, flowers, vegetables and citrus fruits.
Overnight stay: Finca Lerida Boutique Hotel | bed & breakfast

Day 10 and 11: Boquete

These days are at leisure. The picturesque Boquete is close to the border with Costa Rica, its surroundings have a lot to offer and you can do various activities in the area. You can raft on the Chiriqui river, rock climbing, spot beautiful birds, hike and go horseback riding. You can visit one of the many coffee plantations, petroglyphs, hot springs, the Volcán Barú National Park or the cloud forest where, among other things, the legendary quetzal bird lives. At the end of day 11, you will drop-off your rental car.
Overnight stay: Finca Lerida Boutique Hotel | bed & breakfast

 

 

Day 12: Boquete – David – Isla Palenque 

After breakfast you will be picked up at your hotel and taken to Boca Chica, from where you will be taken to your hotel by boat. Your hotel is located on Isla Palenque which belongs to the archipelago of Boca Chica. The hotel is located in the Gulf of Chiriquí and has a private beach. In addition, the hotel has its own restaurant where you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner. Johan stayed at Isla Palenqueand wrote about it on our blog.
Overnight stay: The Resort at Isla Palenque | full board

Day 13 and 14: Isla Palenque

These days are at leisure. The resort offers guided tours on a daily basis and you can also hike on the various hiking trails in the area of the resort by yourself. Enjoy the outdoor swimming pool or one of the seven beaches in Isla Palenque. You can also take part in various excursions offered by your resort for an additional fee.   
Overnight stay: The Resort at Isla Palenque | full board

Day 15: Isla Palenque – Panama city

Today you will be picked up and taken by boat back to Boca Chica from where you will be taken to David airport. You will take a domestic flight from David to Panama City where you will be taken to your hotel in Panama City by our local staff. The rest of the day is at leisure. 
Overnight stay: American Trade Hotel | bed & breakfast

Day 16: Panama city – Amsterdam

Your tour through Panama is coming to an end today. You will be taken to the airport of Panama City where you will board your night flight to Amsterdam.

Day 17: Amsterdam

You will arrive in Amsterdam today.

“ We compensate all our trips through the reforestation project of the Black Jaguar Foundation ”

Price

From € 6,400 per person

  • Based on 2 persons traveling together
  • Depending on time of booking, availability of the accommodations and the domestic flights and the period of travel

Included:

  • domestic flight, economy class
  • 9 overnight stays, meals as mentioned
  • 3 overnight stays in Hotel Canopy Lodge with full board 
  • 3 overnight stays in The Resort at Isla Palenque with full board
  • 8 days rental car (cat. Toyota Corola or similar alternative) including basic insurance, from Panama city with drop-off in Boquete
  • all transfers and excursions as stated
  • our backup 24/7; locally and in the Netherlands
  • extensive travel documents package with small attention

Not included:

  • international flights, if you wish, we reserve these for you
  • early check-in / late check-out, based on availability, this is sometimes provided by the hotel. If you want to be sure that you have this, ask us about the additional cost.
  • (Dutch) public contribution Calamity fund; € 2.50,- per booking
  • SGR contribution of € 5,- per person per booking
  • travel and cancellation insurance

Request travel proposal

Would you like to go on this journey yourself? We can arrange the itinerary for you, but we are also happy to put together a programme based on your wishes and ideas. Do not hesitate to contact us. Send an e-mail to info@sapapanatravel.nl, call us on +31 73 610 62 04 or ask us to plan your trip. We are happy to help.

Request travel proposal

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