10 Days in Panama - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Off-the-Beaten-Path Panama

Go off the beaten track with this Panama itinerary, a great fit for travelers seeking water sports, hiking, and artisanal-tasting experiences. You'll enjoy a Panamanian dinner and dance performance on arrival in Panama City, observe nocturnal wildlife on a night hike in Santa Fe National Park, sample local coffee, honey, and cacao at local farms and butterfly gardens, and spend your final days snorkeling, boating, and Anfibia boarding in Bocas del Toro.

Get your first taste of Panamanian culture and cuisine with a dance and dinner show in Panama City. The following day, catch a flight to David, where your driver will transfer you to Santa Fe for a four-course dinner followed by a night hike in Santa Fe National Park. In the morning, search for capuchin monkeys, Baird's tapir, and more on a jungle tour before enjoying a free afternoon to visit a coffee farm or take a walk to Balneario Tinajon beach on the Río Santa Maria. Then, your driver will transfer you to the Golfo de Chiriquí, where you'll island hop and snorkel in the Golfo de Chiriquí National Marine Park.

Next, your driver will take you to Boquete for a walk across the Río Cristal hanging bridges, a coffee tasting at Elida Estate, and a honey tasting at a butterfly garden. From the highlands, you'll journey to Bocas del Toro, a paradise of clear waters, colorful reefs, and lush rainforests. On Isla Bastimentos, you'll glide underwater with an Anfibia board, then head to a cacao farm to learn about chocolate making (and sample some sweet treats!). The grand finale awaits in the Bastimentos Marine National Park, where you'll take a boat to Dolphin Bay and snorkel the coral gardens of Cayo Coral. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Nature & Beaches in Panama City & Bocas del Toro

Wildlife enthusiasts and photographers will appreciate the opportunities for animal encounters with this nature and beach-forward escape. After a walking tour in Panama City, you'll see monkeys and sloths on a Lago Gatún cruise, go bird-watching in Soberania National Park, spot dolphins on a snorkeling excursion in Dolphin Bay, and observe sea turtles at Isla Bastimentos Marine National Park and seabirds at Isla Pájaros. You'll also have a chance to meet the Naso community in La Amistad International Park and hike in Boca del Drago.

Start your adventure in Panama City with a walking tour of Casco Antiguo's (Old Town) cobbled streets and renovated colonial buildings that include a stop at local cafés where you can taste Panamanian coffee. The following morning, set out for Gamboa, where you'll board a boat and cruise Lago Gatún in search of monkeys, sloths, and more. Then, your driver will transfer you to Soberania National Park, where you'll look for toucans and some of the region's other 525 species of birds on a bird-watching tour. Next, fly to Bocas del Toro and join an optional fishing tour or stroll the beaches and markets.

Take a wood boat up the Río Teribe on Day 5 to visit Naso communities in La Amistad International Park and learn about their way of life, then visit a chocolate farm to learn about the cacao production process. Your wildlife encounters resume with a snorkeling adventure in Dolphin Bay, followed by a visit to Isla Bastimentos Marine National Park to witness sea turtles laying their eggs and a tour of Isla Pájaros to observe seabirds. Wrap up your trip with a hike in Boca del Drago and snorkeling at Starfish Beach before returning to Panama City for a celebratory dinner and dance performance. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Panama City, Cloud Forest & Island Adventure

Active visitors eager to experience a mix of urban exploration, cloud forests, and island life should opt for this Panama adventure. You'll take a market tour of Panama City, go sea kayaking on the Panama Canal, hike in the Volcán cloud forest, summit Barú Volcano, snorkel in Bastimentos Marine National Park, and, finally, return to Panama City for a foodie walking tour before departure. 

Dive into Panama City's culture and culinary scene on a guided tour through the markets, including a stop at the Seafood Market for ceviche and a taste of the national beer, Balboa. The next day, you'll embark on a sea kayaking trip on the Panama Canal before flying to the highland town of Volcán, where you'll hike in the cloud forest and make an ascent up Barú Volcano. While in the highlands, you'll also tour Chiriquí province, stopping for a nature walk near Cerro Punta and a visit to a thoroughbred breeding farm, Haras Cerro Punta, surrounded by one of the most fertile agricultural areas in the country. 

On Day 6, your driver will whisk you off to Isla Bastimentos in the Bocas del Toro archipelago. Here, you'll enjoy the tropical paradise, meet the dozens of monkey species at Monkey Island, and snorkel in Bastimentos Marine National Park. Finally, your trip comes full circle as you return to Panama City and choose a tasting tour focused on traditional foods, modern influences, or Panamanian-Chinese culinary traditions introduced by the Chinese railroad workers who immigrated to Panama in the mid-1800s. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Panama Road Trip: City to Mountains to Beach

Discover Panama's city, mountains, and beaches with this itinerary for travelers who prefer the freedom and flexibility of a self-drive road trip. After touring Panama City and the Panama Canal, you'll drive to Valle de Antón to hike in the cloud forest hikes and learn about traditional artisan techniques. Then, you'll wrap up your journey with watersports and wildlife tours in Playa Venao before returning your car to Panama City to catch your onward flight. 

Ease into your Panama adventure with free time on arrival to orient yourself to Panama City and visit Panama Viejo, the UNESCO-protected remains of the pre-Colombian settlement. Then, you'll familiarize yourself with local culture and cuisine, such as coffee, chocolate, and ceviche, on a tour of Casco Antiguo. Before you start your road trip on Day 4, you'll take a Panama Canal cruise, passing the Continental Divide and the preserved town of Gamboa. Then, pick up your rental car and hit the road to Valle de Antón, located inside one of the world's largest inhabited volcanic craters.

Here, you'll hike through the cloud forest and learn about soapstone carving and the weaving techniques used to create sombrero pintado, the traditional Panama hat. Pack up and head to Playa Venao, where you can partake in paddleboarding, diving, or other water sports, spot wildlife on Isla Frijoles, or go bird-watching at Cerro Hoya National Park. Board a boat to Coiba National Park on Day 8 and enjoy dolphin watching, cruising the mangrove forests, and snorkeling the coral reefs. Your final full day is free to do as you please, perhaps surfing, volunteering at a turtle sanctuary, or simply relaxing on the beach. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Panama Hiking & Sailing Adventure

Active travelers keen to experience Panama's great outdoors will enjoy this land and sea adventure. You'll spend the first half of the trip hiking through jungles and national parks along the Camino Real before reaching the fortress ruins in Portobelo. Then, you'll board a catamaran in the San Blas archipelago for four days of snorkeling, swimming, and cultural experiences. Since half of the journey is aboard a catamaran, this trip is best suited to those comfortable staying on a boat. 

Before setting off on your hiking and sailing adventures, you'll have time for sightseeing in Panama City upon arrival. Then, the next day, you'll embark on a multiday trek along the remains of El Camino Real de Panama, an ancient trail cutting through the primary rainforest of the Chagres and Portobelo national parks. You'll hike from the Pacific Ocean, through dense jungle, and onward to the Caribbean coast, with opportunities to swim in river pools and spot abundant wildlife along the way. When you reach Portobelo at the end of your hike on Day 5, you can admire the centuries-old fortresses standing guard over the bay.

The next part of your journey takes you to the San Blas Islands. Here, you'll spend four days on a catamaran, sailing between tropical islands, snorkeling, swimming, and getting to know Guna Yala culture. You'll meet local artisans on Isla Diablo, snorkel around the shipwreck off Isla Perro Chico, see the starfish of the Natural Pool, and visit the reefs of Isla Waili. Finally, your driver will transfer you to Panama City for your departing flight. Learn more

More Great 10-Day Panama Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Panama? Check out these other 10-day Panama itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.