Luxury roundtrip with rental car
17 days from €6,400 per person
driving - wildlife spotting - jungles
Highlights of this trip
- Wander the distinctive streets of Panama City's historic Casco Viejo district
- Watch as colossal ocean-going ships are piloted through the Panama Canal at 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 the flanks of Volcán Barú
- Feel like Robinson Crusoe for a moment in the rainforests on the island of Isla Palenque
Itinerary
Day 1 | Amsterdam - Panama city
Today you’ll depart from Amsterdam on your intercontinental flight to Panama City. You’ll arrive here in the late afternoon, where you’ll be met by one of our local staff and taken to your hotel in Casco Viejo. Panama City is a cosmopolitan city offering a mix of attractions; you’ll find modern skyscrapers, whilst you can also wander through the characteristic streets of the historic centre, Casco Viejo. The ruins of the original old town can still be found there, and to top it all off, the world-famous Panama Canal runs right through the city. You can stroll to the fish market and the souvenir market, but be sure to stop for a good cup of coffee (or an even better iced coffee!) at Bajareque Coffee House & Roastery.
Accommodation: American Trade Hotel | bed and breakfast
Day 2 | Panama city
In the morning, your guide will collect you from your hotel for a visit to the Panama Vieja district. This area was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997, thanks to its beautiful blend of colonial, neoclassical and French architecture. The guide will take you through the streets, squares and past famous buildings, churches and palaces. You will then drive on to Amador Causeway, where you can enjoy one of the best views of Panama City. This long, wide promenade runs from the tip of the city at the Bridge of the Americas across three small islands off the coast and is a favourite spot with the residents of Panama City. Here you’ll have a beautiful view of the Panama City skyline and the ocean, and you’ll see cruise ships and oil tankers passing by.
Overnight stay: American Trade Hotel | bed and breakfast
Day 3 | Panama city
After breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel for a visit to the Miraflores Locks. The journey from your hotel to the visitor centre takes about half an hour, where you will see large ships passing through. At the visitor centre, you will learn about the history of the Panama Canal. You’ll be amazed by this masterpiece of human ingenuity. After this excursion, you’ll be taken back to your hotel.
Overnight stay: American Trade Hotel | bed and breakfast
Day 4 | Panama City - El Valle de Anton
(approx. 150 km | 2.5-hour drive)
After breakfast, you’ll collect your rental car and drive independently south-west towards El Valle de Anton. On the way, you may wish to stop at one of the beaches on the Pacific coast before continuing on to El Valle. This picturesque town lies in the crater of a large extinct volcano, which erupted with such force 3 million years ago that the summit was blown off, forming a crater 5 kilometres in diameter. The town is renowned for its beautiful mountainous surroundings, friendly atmosphere, hot springs, waterfalls and ‘golden’ frogs.
Accommodation: Hotel Canopy Lodge | full board
Day 5 and 6 | El Valle de Anton
These days are free to plan as you wish. The weekly market is always held on Sundays, but on other days there is also a small-scale market with many handcrafted products, creating a wonderful palette of vibrant colours and a variety of scents. The indigenous peoples you’ll find here consist of the Ngöbe-Buglé, Embera and Wounaan tribes. You can also explore the surrounding area; at the nature reserve around the El Macho waterfall, you can view the landscape from above under the guidance of professional and expert guides. You’ll be suspended from a cable by a harness and ‘glide’ through the countryside and over the waterfall. You’ll enjoy a beautiful view of the valley when you climb La India Dormida, a large rock shaped like a sleeping woman. In the El Valle area, you can also enjoy wonderful walks through the rainforest and the mountains, after which you can cool off in a pool beneath a waterfall or in one of the hot springs.
Accommodation: Hotel Canopy Lodge | full board
Day 7 | El Valle de Anton - Playa Venao
(approx. 250 km | 4.5-hour drive)
Today you’ll swap the inland areas for the coast – a long but scenic drive. You’ll continue on to the Azuero Peninsula, to Playa Venao to be precise. Playa Venao is about half an hour’s drive from the fishing village of Pedasi in the province of Los Santos, the cultural heart of Panama. Pedasi is a fishing village, known for its annual carnival, unspoilt beaches and water sports such as sea fishing, snorkelling, diving and surfing. Do try to plan your journey so that you arrive at your hotel before the end of the afternoon. Enjoy the beautiful route!
Overnight stay: Villa Marina Lodge & Condos | bed and breakfast
Day 8 | Playa Venao
Enjoy the sun, sea and beach! Perhaps go for a lovely walk in the immediate vicinity of your hotel, or perhaps you’d prefer a drive through the surrounding area.
Accommodation: Villa Marina Lodge & Condos | bed and breakfast
Day 9 | Playa Venao - Boquete
(approx. 420 km | 6-hour drive)
Today you’ll drive further inland to the town of Boquete. You’ll start by taking the Pan-American Highway, heading west towards David, from where you’ll take the turn-off for Boquete. Boquete is beautifully surrounded by the Rio Caldera, wooded mountain slopes, the Barú volcano and coffee plantations. Thanks to the high, broad mountain ridges, misty hills and fertile soil, Boquete is ideal for its many coffee plantations, flowers, vegetables and citrus fruits.
Accommodation: Finca Lerida Boutique Hotel | bed and breakfast
Day 10 and 11 | Boquete
These days are free to plan as you wish. The picturesque town of Boquete lies close to the border with Costa Rica; the surrounding area has a great deal to offer and there are various activities you can enjoy in the vicinity. For example, you can go rafting on the Chiriquí River, go rock climbing, or enjoy wonderful birdwatching, walking and horse-riding excursions. You can visit one of the many coffee plantations, petroglyphs, hot springs, Volcán Barú National Park or the cloud forest, home to the legendary quetzal, amongst other species. At the end of day 11, you will return your rental car.
Accommodation: Finca Lerida Boutique Hotel | bed and breakfast
Day 12 | Boquete - Isla Palenque
After breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel and taken to Boca Chica, from where you will be transferred by boat to your hotel. Your hotel is situated on Isla Palenque, which forms part of the Boca Chica archipelago. The hotel is situated in the Gulf of Chiriquí and has a private beach. It also has its own restaurant where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Johan stayed here and wrote about it on our blog.
Accommodation: The Resort at Isla Palenque | full board
Day 13 and 14 | Isla Palenque
These days are yours to spend as you wish. The resort offers daily guided tours, and you can also go for walks on your own along the various footpaths in the area surrounding the resort. Enjoy the outdoor swimming pool or one of the seven beaches on Isla Palenque. You can also take part in various excursions organised by your resort, subject to an additional charge.
Accommodation: The Resort at Isla Palenque | full board
Day 15 | Isla Palenque - David - Panama City
Today you will be picked up and first taken back by boat to Boca Chica, from where you will be transferred to David Airport. You will take a domestic flight from David to Panama City, where you will be welcomed by one of our local staff and taken to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to spend at your leisure.
Accommodation: American Trade Hotel | bed and breakfast
Day 16 | Panama city - Amsterdam
Your round trip through Panama comes to an end today. You will be transferred to Panama City airport where you will board your overnight flight to Amsterdam.
Day 17 | Amsterdam
You will arrive in Amsterdam today.
Travel price
From € 6,400 per person
- Based on 2 people travelling together
- Subject to time of booking, domestic flight availability, accommodation availability and period of travel
Included:
- domestic flight, economy class
- 9 hotel nights, meals as stated
- 3 nights at Hotel Canopy Lodge on full board basis
- 3 nights at The Resort at Isla Palenque on full board basis
- 9 days rental car (cat. Toyota Corola or similar alternative) incl. basic insurance from Panama city, with drop-off in Boquete
- all transfers and excursions as listed
- Public levy Calamity Fund travel; €2.50 per booking
- SGR contribution of €5 per person per booking
- 24/7 our backup; locally and in the Netherlands
- comprehensive travel pack with small gift
Not included:
- International flights, we will book them for you if required
- Early check-in/late check-out, based on availability sometimes given by hotel. If you want to make sure you have this, please enquire with us about the extra cost.
- travel and cancellation insurance
Request a travel proposal
Would you also like to take this roundtrip? We can of course arrange the above trip for you, but we would also be happy to put together a programme based on your wishes and ideas. Please feel free to contact us, call +31 73 610 62 04, send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl or request a tailor-made quote below. We will be happy to help you.
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