History & Nature in Panama City & Bocas del Toro - 5 Days

Day 2: Watch Ships at the Panama Canal, Tour Panama Viejo & Casco Antiguo

This morning's tour will introduce you to the Panama Canal and the Miraflores Locks, an engineering feat completed in 1914 that made Panama famous. You'll be picked up from your hotel and taken to Miraflores Locks to witness giant ships transiting the canal between the Atlantic and Pacific. Learn about its incredible construction and its global economic importance.

The tour continues to the old city compound, Panama Viejo (Old Panama), the first European settlement on the American Pacific coast. Abandoned in the late 1600s, its people relocated to Casco Antiguo (Old Quarter), also called Casco Antiguo, a UNESCO World Heritage site now known for its gastronomy. Spend the next few hours enjoying food and refreshments within this historic area, where you'll sample geisha coffee, local chocolate, ceviche, and a refreshing raspao (shaved flavored ice with condensed milk). Wash it all down with Panama's first artisanal rum, Pedro Mandinga, made from raspadura (raw sugar cane).

Enjoy lunch at a local fonda, one of many streetside eateries serving Panamanian cuisine. You'll also visit the Biodiversity Museum, San José Church, and the bustling folk market along the way. Finish at the Plaza de Francia (French Square) in the southern part of Panama City, from where you'll have a panoramic view of the modern city center and the ships waiting their turn to transit the canal. A return transfer to your hotel is included.

Day 3: Transfer to Bocas del Toro, Arrive at Isla Bastimentos 

Today you'll make your way to Isla Bastimentos, a secluded biodiverse island that's part of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago on the northern shore of Panama. These nine islands are home to some of the largest Central American rainforests, teeming with exotic animals like sloths, monkeys, toucans, and marine wildlife. The journey starts with a transfer from your hotel to the Tocumen airport for a one-hour flight to Isla Colón, a charming tourist hub within Bocas del Toro.

From here, an hourlong boat transfer will take you past palm trees and through blue waves and ocean air to reach Isla Bastimentos, where you can get settled in at your hotel before exploring your surroundings at your leisure. The island is home to the Indigenous Ngöbe-Buglé tribe and is wild, beautiful, and undoubtedly one of the highlights of the archipelago. Around the coast, you'll encounter beaches where sea turtles nest, mangrove forests, and protected coral reefs that provide amazing snorkeling and diving opportunities. 

Day 4: Coral Snorkeling & Bastimentos Marine National Park Wildlife Experience 

Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Isla Bastimentos today as you travel with your group to observe dolphins, see sloths hanging in the trees, and snorkel among coral gardens. You'll begin your experience at Cayo Coral, a small island south of Bastimentos, to discover the colorful coral reefs and its remarkable wildlife with your mask and snorkel. As you swim among the corals, come face to face with schools of saltwater fish. Afterward, head to a seaside restaurant to refuel before your next adventure.

For the rest of the afternoon, discover the beautiful Zapatilla Cays, two uninhabited islands that are part of the Bastimentos Marine National Park. Created in 1988 to protect over 250 species of animals and 32,682 acres (13,226 ha) of land, Bastimentos Marine National Park is one of 13 national parks in Panama. Walk across the sand and dip your toes into the crystal-clear waters or walk through the jungle to hear howling monkeys and exotic birds sing. You'll be transported back to your hotel at the end of the day.

Day 5: Rainforest Lake Cruise, Transfer to Tocumen & Depart

Today your time in the tropical paradise has come to an end as you say your goodbyes to island life—returning by boat to Isla Colón and catching the 1.5-hour flight back to Panama City. If your flight departs later in the day, you may have time to take a boat tour across Lago Gatún in the Panama Canal area to see wildlife and watch cargo ships.

The excursion starts with a transfer to Gamboa, just 45 minutes away, to start your adventure, where the Río Chagres meets the Panama Canal. Green iguanas, three-toed sloths, crocodiles, ospreys, and keel-billed toucans all live in this area, and by sailing close to the lake's islands, you can spot different species of monkeys. The tour ends with a light picnic lunch before returning to the city. When the time comes, your driver will take you to the Tocumen airport to catch your departing flight. Safe travels!