Cultural Experiences

Half day City and Canal Tour

Private tour with English speaking guide

 

The tour starts with a visit to Miraflores Locks. This is one of the two setsof locks located on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal. You will enjoy the fascinating show of the big ships inside the narrow chambers! The visitor’s center provides technical, historical and ecological information about the Canal. After a short drive we continue to the colonial quarter, ”Casco Antiguo”,

founded in 1673 after the first Spanish settlement was burned down by pirates. It is home to the Presidential Palace, the National Theater, the Metropolitan Cathedral and many other buildings with colonial architecture. It has plenty of little restaurants and souvenir shops. In 1997 Casco Antiguo became a World Heritage Site of the UNESCO.

 

Duration 04:00 hrs.

 

Casco Viejo Culinary Experience

Private tour with English speaking guide

 

On this walking tour around the colonial quarter, your guide will walk you through the history and flavors of Casco Viejo, founded by the Spaniards in 1673. We start with a visit to the local fish market and a taste of Panamanian style ceviche. Savor fresh raw fish cured in lime juice and flavored with chopped onion and cilantro. We then continue along the city wall while learning interesting facts from your guide. The neighborhood’s character comes alive with a walk through

its narrow cobble stoned streets. Our next stop is a unique store that sells chocolate pralines filled with typical Panamanian ingredients like coconut, cilantro, passion fruit and rum, among others; all of high quality and based on the company slogan Panama in a chocolate. In addition, we may visit a rum bar, home to Panama’s first craft rum distillery, to enjoy a house cocktail made with any of the 3 artisanal rum varieties. Another option is heading up to one of the area’s roof top bars to

sip on a refreshment while admiring the unparalleled views of the Panama City skyline along the coast. Don’t forget to bring your camera, if you’re lucky you’ll catch one of Panama’s breathtaking sunsets from the best seats in the house. This tour starts aproximately around 3 pm.

 

Duration 04:00 hrs.

 

Included: entrance fees, private guide, private transportation, one bottle of water, room and breakfast.

Private full day tour with English speaking guide

 

The Panama Railroad was the first railway ever to link an ocean to another. You will visit the new Atlantic side Panama Canal locks at Agua Clara and the small town of Portobelo, where three old Spanish forts are still expecting the pirates, old guns proudly pointing at the entrance of the bay….

After an early morning transfer to Corozal Train Station, we will take our seat in one of the comfortable cars of the Panama -Colon train. During the one hour trip to Colon you will have time to admire the large Gatun Lake and the wonderful rainforest of the Panama Canal surroundings while enjoying a good cup of coffee… Once in Colon we will drive to Agua Clara Panama Canal Visitor Center above the brand new gigantic set of locks that allows the huge ”Post Panamax” ships to go through the waterway. You will enjoy a great view from the high mirador. After the visit, our vehicle will take us to the town of Portobelo. The name ”Portobelo” was given to the beautiful bay by Christopher Columbus, who sailed to this area during his fourth trip. Today Portobelo has more than 3.000 habitants, mainly descendants of the slaves brought by the Spaniards. Our transport will take us back to Panama City in the mid -afternoon.

 

**This tour operates from Monday to Friday**

 

Duration 08:15 hrs.

Included: entrance fees, private guide, private transportation, train ticket, room and breakfast.

Private transfer with Spanish speaking driver to Albrook local airport.

Early morning flight from Panama City to Playon Chico.

 

Luggage allowed is 14kg for checked bags and 4kg for carry on per person.

*NOTE: For the moment there are only flights to/from Playon Chico on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays

 

Duration 01:00 hrs.

 

Upon arrival at Playon Chico and after completing all entry formalities, boat transfer to Yandup Island Lodge.

 

San Blas is a remote area with limited access. It is an autonomous territory of the Guna indigenous tribe within the state of Panama. Yandup is a charming lodge run by the Gunas on a paradise island.

 

Included: private transportation, domestic flight, boat tour, bungalow, excursion, full board (beverages not included), arrival transfer.

Local Guna guides organize daily trips and excursions to show you their unique culture. They will also take you to other neighboring islands where you will enjoy the amazing beaches and snorkel on the coral reefs.

 

Included: boat tour, bungalow, excursion, full board (beverages not included)

On your departure day, the lodge will serve a continental breakfast before the transfer to Playon Chico airport.

 

Early morning flight from Playon Chico to Panama City.

Allowed luggage is 14kg for checked bags and 4 kg for carry on.

 

Duration 01:00 hrs.

 

Visit to El Valle

Private full day tour with English speaking guide

 

A picturesque, verdant mountain village, El Valle is a great escape from the hustle and heat of Panama City. What makes it unique is its location inside a huge crater created when a volcano blew its top off five million years ago. The drive to El Valle takes about 2 hours going west from Panama City. You will pass over the famous Bridge of the Americas and drive parallel to the

Pacific coast before turning uphill to the mountain village. Upon arrival, you will hike on Cerro Gaital cloud forest trail, on the slopes of the volcano. The trail ends at a mirador where you will enjoy a great panoramic view of El Valle. Back at the village, you will stop to admire the famous Piedra Pintada, a huge ancient petroglyph representing a map of the region.

 

After lunch (not included) you will have some time to visit the local market. Especially on Sundays, many local families come from the entire valley to sell their goods on the colorful market: fruits, vegetables, orchids and handicrafts. Return to Panama City in the afternoon.

 

Duration 08:00 hrs.

 

Included: departure transfer, domestic flight, entrance fees, private guide, private transportation, room and breakfast.

Private excursion with English speaking guide

 

In the morning road transfer to Penonome, where you will take a picturesque little road going up the mountains through little farms and scattered rainforest. You will stop in front of Cerro la Vieja and start a 20 -minute hike in the forest until you arrive to the impressive Tavida waterfall, where you will enjoy a well deserved swim in the cool water in front of the cascade!

 

Back on the main road a local 4×4 vehicle will take you to the small village of Vaquilla, located inside a deep valley. Ladies from the village’s cooperative will welcome you, you will visit the little church then walk to the local school. You will notice that your arrival there is quite an event! The

kids will show you how they dance to the traditional tipico music… You will be invited by the locals for lunch. People there don’t have much but they will share it with you with all their heart and a big smile!

 

Duration 10:00 hrs.

Included: entrance fees, private guide, one bottle of water, private transportation, Panamanian lunch, room and breakfast.

Private transfer with Spanish speaking driver from El Valle to your hotel in Pedasi.

 

Duration 03:00 hrs.

Included: private transportation, room and breakfast.

Group excursion with English speaking guide

 

Azuero is a large peninsula in southern Panama. It is the very heart of rural Panamanian culture, full of folklore, friendly faces and natural beauties. You will see the manufacturing process of some traditional products of the provinces. We will first learn how local leather sandals known as cutarras are made. We then visit a handmade clay pottery workshop ; and learn how the famous La Arena bread is baked. After a traditional lunch, learn why many consider Azuero the cultural heart of Panama! We will learn about the manufacturing of the ”Pollera, one of the most beautiful costumes in the world, by visiting an elder lady who has dedicated all her life to the traditional dress of Panamanian women. We will also visit small workshops of local artisans who produce the colorful devil’s masks, the drums used in local music and the gold ornaments that are part of the traditional Panamanian culture.

 

Duration 07:30 hrs.

Included: entrance fees, local English speaking guide, shared transportation, Panamanian lunch, room and breakfast.

Group excursion with shared boat and transportation

 

Transfer to Playa El Arenal in Pedasí, where our boat is waiting to take us to Iguana Island – a wildlife refuge 8 kilometers off the coast. The island is famous for its white sand beach, crystal waters, extensive mangrove forests and coral reef with 12 different types of corals that shelter more than 300 species of fish. Dolphins are frequently seen, as well as (harmless) sharks, turtles and – between June and October – humpback whales that migrate from Antarctica to Panama’s Pacific coast warm tropical waters. Iguana Island is also home to a large breeding colony of frigate birds and – as the island’s name indicates – iguanas. You will snorkel above the coral reef and

the colorful tropical fish. Then relax on the stunning white sand beach for a while, before hiking on a trail that crosses the island from west to east together to observe frigates and iguanas. Lunch with be either a picnic lunch on the island, or back to Pedasi. Drive back to your hotel.

 

Duration 07:30 hrs.

Included: entrance fees, local English speaking guide, private transportation, Panamanian lunch, room and breakfast.

Private transfer with Spanish speaking driver from Pedasi to Playa Venao.

 

Included: private transportation, room and breakfast.

Playa Venao is one of the most beautiful destinations in Panama. It is paradise for surfers and beach lovers alike.

 

Included: room and breakfast.

Included: room and breakfast.

Private transfer with Spanish speaking driver from Playa Venao to your hotel in Panama City.

 

Included: private transportation, room and breakfast.

Private transfer with Spanish speaking driver to Tocumen International Airport.

 

Duration 01:00 hrs.

Included: departure transfer.