Discover Panama:
| Resort: | Discover Panama: |
| Operator: | |
| Destination: | Central America, Panama |
| Price From: | £1344.00 |
OverviewExplore the colors and natural beauty of Panama a land between the seas. Cruise through the canal aboard the Pacific Queen on a partial transit and stay at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. Travel via dugout canoe to meet the indigenous Ember people. Explore bustling local markets. Visit the historic district in Panama City, Casco Viejo, and the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center. Visit an orange grove as you learn about the importance of this crop. Stay in Anton Valley, a community nestled entirely within a volcano crater. Meet the locals and learn about Panamanian folklore, artisan crafts, and rum distillation in Chitr. Complete your Panama experience with a final night in your resort overlooking Playa Bonita. ItineraryDay 1: :Gamboa, Panama – Tour BeginsWelcome to Panama, a country of lush rainforests, rich history, diverse wildlife and spectacular coastlines. Your tour opens at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort where youll enjoy your private balcony and hammock overlooking the beautiful surroundings. During your leisure time, feel free to use the complimentary bikes or kayaks to explore. Day 2: Gamboa – Emberá Village – GamboaMeet your fellow travelers during a welcome breakfast. Your guide then leads you on a nature walk through the resorts jungle forest and gardens for a chance to spot unique birds as well as various flora and fauna. Set off on an excursion to an Ember indigenous village. Board dugout canoes for a scenic ride up the Chagres River to a settlement of Ember, the Keepers of the Rainforest. The Ember strive to preserve their heritage and love to share their traditional techniques of home building and handicrafts such as basket weaving and tagua nut carving with visitors. Join in their dances and partake in a simple lunch cooked traditionally. The remainder of your day is free to enjoy Gamboa Rainforest Resort. Day 3: Gamboa – Panama Canal Cruise – Panama City – GamboaStart the day off with an incredible highlight. Board the Pacific Queen for a partial transit cruise through the Panama Canal. Enjoy lunch onboard and pass through two locks as you revel in a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see this incredible engineering feat firsthand. Learn all about its construction and operation from your onboard guides. Disembark at Flamenco Marina in Panama City. Visit the Mercado de Mariscos, a seafood market, and try fresh Panamanian ceviche. Continue to Casco Viejo, the Old Quarter. Its your choice on how you will visit this UNESCO World Heritage site, which was settled in 1673. Perhaps youll follow your guide for a short walking tour down its cobblestone streets showcasing the Plaza de la Independencia, the Presidential Palace, the National Theater, plus restored colonial churches and monuments. For a more immersive experience you may journey through this same neighborhood with a local residenthear the story of the Casco Viejos comeback from a member of the community who will take you through the place he calls home, highlighting the incredible revitalization of this historic area and its people. Day 4: Gamboa – Anton ValleyArrive at Miraflores Locks Visitor Center to view the Panama Canal and learn about its rich past, present and future as you watch ships traverse the lock system. Drive a short distance on the famed Pan-American Highway before heading up the mountains to Anton Valley, a community nestled inside the second largest volcanic crater in the world. Meet the locals at the handicraft market and try your hand at negotiations, a local pastime of marketgoers. Youll get to peruse artisan souvenirs made by indigenous peoples, including the mola embroidery of the Kuna Yala. Afterwards, check in to your hotel at the base of the mountains that make up the crater. Day 5: Anton ValleyBegin the day with a visit to the Museum El Valle which houses a small collection ranging from geological wonders to pre-Columbian art. Your next stop is a nonprofit orchid nursery that dedicates itself to cultivating and conserving local and regional orchids. It houses over 100 different types. Continue to the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center, working to protect critically endangered species including the emblematic Panamanian Golden Frog, said to bring good luck to anyone who sees it. Your afternoon is free to continue exploring this charming mountain community. Day 6: Anton Valley – ChitréThis morning, step into the heartland of Panama and become immersed in the culture as you visit a village of artists. Interact with makers of the famous Panama hat and see firsthand how these wearable works of art are created. Continue on to meet the famous cigar rollers of Panama, whose craft has become legendary within the cigar community. Next, visit an orange grove, one of the regions main crops, and savor the taste of an orange fresh from the tree. Head north to Chitr, one of the first Spanish settlements in Panama, established in 1558. Get to know a traditional way of cooking at a clay oven bakery and sample these delectable sweets. After visiting a local pottery artist, its on to a sugarcane mill for a taste of sugarcane juice called guarapa. Next, pause to experience the regions pre-Columbian and colonial times at the local museum. Tonight, get acquainted with the local culture at dinner featuring a folklore and dance show. Day 7: ChitréSpend the day meeting the locals in Chitr, the folklore capital of Panama. Meet Panamanian women who have dedicated their lives to making the handwoven pollera dress. Then its off to spend time with a famous local artist whose whimsical masks are used in traditional Panamanian parades. Your day continues with a visit to one of Panamas famous rum producers. Visit the historic hacienda to discover the life of the founder, a Spanish immigrant who brought jobs and prestige to the region with the development of the distillery. Learn the art of making rum, as well as the local drink seco, also distilled from sugarcane. If you like, you may take an oxcart ride through the sugarcane fields. Enjoy a typical lunch, then finally sample the product for yourself during a tasting session and discussion in the bodega. The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at your hotel. Tonight, you have the option of experiencing an authentic home-hosted meal in a local familys house; take this opportunity to learn about their lives, culture and food. Day 8: Chitré – Playa BonitaJourney to Playa Bonita, just outside of Panama City. Arrive midday to soak up the sun and ocean views from your beachfront property. You can also meander through the hotels shops or use their complimentary kayaks. After enjoying some fun and relaxation at your resort, bid farewell to Panama at a special dinner. Day 9: Playa Bonita – Tour EndsYour tour comes to a close today. |
