| Panama Self Drive Adventure |
|---|
| Enjoy the freedom of the open road as you travel through the wonders of Panama. On this self-drive adventure you'll experience the diversity of this beautiful country, from lush national parks and mountainous regions, to the buzz of Panama City and the dreamy beaches of the Caribbean and the Pacific. Along the way, you'll stay in a selection of comfortable and stylish hotels and lodges, and enjoy some of our hand-picked tours and immersive experiences throughout your trip. We'll take care of all the planning, giving you plenty of time to relax and really get to know this fascinating nation. |
| Day | Destination | Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panama City | Central Hotel Panama |
| 2 | Panama City | Central Hotel Panama |
| 3 | El Valle de Anton | Park Eden B&B |
| 4 | El Valle de Anton | Park Eden B&B |
| 5 | Peninsula de Azuero - Playa Venao | Villa Marina Lodge |
| 6 | Peninsula de Azuero - Playa Venao | Villa Marina Lodge |
| 7 | Santa Fe | Coffee Mountain Inn |
| 8 | Santa Fe | Coffee Mountain Inn |
| Day | Destination | Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Boquete | The Riverside Inn |
| 10 | Boquete | The Riverside Inn |
| 11 | Bocas del Toro | Tranquilo Bay |
| 12 | Bocas del Toro | Tranquilo Bay |
| 13 | Bocas del Toro | Tranquilo Bay |
| 14 | Golfo de Chiriqui | Hotel Bocas del Mar |
| 15 | Golfo de Chiriqui | Hotel Bocas del Mar |
| 16 | Panama City | The Bristol Hotel |
Pickup point: Panamá Tocumen International Airport
Welcome to Panama! Upon arrival at Tocumen International Airport (PTY) you need to go through the immigration procedures and pick up your luggage to clear customs. All Copa Airlines flights should arrive to Terminal 2. Other airlines should arrive to Terminal 1. We are monitoring your flight and our guide and/or driver will be waiting for you with a sign with your name on it, to assist and transfer you to your accommodation. If you have trouble finding our representative, please send a WhatsApp message or call us at: +507 6648 5346. Enjoy your vacations in Panama!
Quotation
Day 1 Bienvenido a Panama! |---
Welcome to Panama ! Our representative will meet you at the Tocumen International Airport to assist you with the transfer to your hotel in Panama City to start the adventure next day.
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Transfer :
Panama Airport (PTY) - Panama City
- Distance: 25 km.
- Road is in good condition.
Average travel time: 40 minutes
Destination Info: Panama City
Panama's iconic capital city and commercial center is like nowhere else in Central America, where big business and giant skyscrapers meet cobbled colonial streets and a mix of cultures formed by centuries of immigration and trade. It can seem chaotic at times, but there's plenty of fun to be had, especially around the vibrant UNESCO-listed Old Town - Casco Viejo - where many of the best bars, restaurants and hotels are found.
Home to the country's main airport and located on the Pacific Coast, within a couple of hours you could be lazing by the beach, exploring lush rainforests or sailing along the famous Panama Canal. Take a look at our hand-picked experiences to make to most of your time in this unique city.
Central Hotel Panama
Recognized by UNESCO for its architectural significance, and featuring a unique French-influenced design, this historic hotel offers a real sense of classic luxury in the heart of the charming Casco Viejo district. Meticulously renovated and featuring a swimming pool, spa and gym, the Central Hotel Panama has everything you need for stylish stay in the city.
Rooms: Double Room - Deluxe
Day 2 Explore Panama City! |B--
Before starting the driving journey, today you will explore Panama City, with an excursion to learn about the city's history and main sites.
Included Experiences
08:00 Panama - Panama City and Canal Adventure (FD)
Enjoy a morning tour of Panama City's Old Town with a local guide, taking in famous plazas, stunning colonial architecture and the original city compound at Casco Antiguo, before visiting the famous Panama Canal. From the Miraflores Locks, you'll witness huge ships transiting the canal, and learn about the incredible story of its construction. In the afternoon you'll travel to Ancon Hill for a panoramic city view, before spending some free time at Naos Island and the fascinating Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute at Punta Culebra.
Central Hotel Panama
Day 3 Time to Start - Anton Valley|B--
Pick-up the rented vehicle and after the rental process you are ready to travel towards Anton Valley, just 2.5 hours away from Panama City. Rest of the day at leisure.
Destination Info: El Valle de Anton
With a cool, spring-like climate throughout the year, lush forests and a relaxing small-town atmosphere, 'El Valle' has plenty of appeal. Most striking of all are the panoramic mountain views which surround the town, which sits inside the one of the world's largest inhabited volcanic craters. Visitors can take advantage some excellent hiking routes, cycling and adventure sports, as well as watching the area's abundant birdlife and sampling some of the great local restaurants.
Park Eden B&B
Day 4 Slot Canyon Waterfall|B--
In the morning, you will enjoy a hiking expedition to Slot Canyon Waterfall. The rest of the day you can explore the surrounding on your own.
Included Experiences
08:00 Valle de Anton - Slot Canyon Waterfall
Take a jeep tour through the stunning countryside of the Anton Valley, enjoying mountain views and traveling through the beautiful cloud forest on the way to Slot Canyon. After a short hike into the forest, you'll have time to relax and cool off in the three different waterfalls and natural pools here, so don't forget your bathing suits!
Park Eden B&B
Day 5 Playa Venao, a pacific paradise! |B--
Drive from Anton Valley to Venao beach, in the Panamanian pacific coast. A scenic ride for approximately 4 hours. Delight with a two night stay at this paradise and enjoy water activities in these marvelous beaches.
Destination Info: Peninsula de Azuero - Playa Venao
Playa Venao (or Venado), is a beautiful stretch of volcanic sand beach on Panama's Pacific Coast, only a short drive from Pedasi. Famous for its surf breaks and with an attractive backdrop of hills and forests, Venao has become popular with both tourists and locals in recent years, providing a relaxed vacation with plenty of activities and some lively bars and restaurants. As well as surfing, you can arrange kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, diving and even whale watching during late spring and summer.
Villa Marina Lodge
A real home away from home, Villa Marina provides casual, comfortable lodging just a stone's throw from the stunning Playa Venao beach. With light and colourful décor which gives a real beach house feel, the lodge has a great bar and restaurant to enjoy, as well as a swimming pool from which you can look out to sea. The location is perfect for anyone looking to explore the area or enjoy the great surf along the coast.
Rooms: Double Room - Ocean view
Day 6 Free day at Playa Venao|B--
Explore the surroundings or relax at your accommodation.
Villa Marina Lodge
Day 7 Santa Fe National Park|B-D
Head towards the pristine Santa Fe National Park, where you'll be surrounded by mountains. The drive is around 4 hours, crossing Los Santos and Herrera provinces, until you arrive in the famous Veraguas province. This evening, you'll enjoy a special dinner and settle into your new surroundings.
Destination Info: Santa Fe
This morning you'll head towards the pristine Santa Fe National Park, where you'll be surrounded by mountains. The drive is around 4 hours, crossing Los Santos and Herrera provinces, until you arrive in the famous Veraguas province. This evening, you'll enjoy a special dinner and settle into your new surroundings.
Included Experiences
17:00 Santa Fe National Park - Coffee Plantation Dinner (--D)
This lovely experience takes place on the outskirts of Santa Fe town, in a coffee plantation with breathtaking views of the National Park. You'll take a short walk through the farm to see the coffee, plants and fruits grown here, before enjoying an authentic family-style dinner at the rancho, made with locally grown and fresh ingredients from the farm.
Coffee Mountain Inn
This friendly, family-run inn is on the outskirts of Santa Fe town, surrounded by tropical gardens and with amazing views towards the National Park. Located in an historical coffee farming area, this award-winning property grows their own crop, which you may be lucky enough to try along with your delicious breakfast. Rooms are comfortable and tastefully decorated, providing a homely base from which to explore the region.
Rooms: Double Room - Mountain View Queen
Day 8 Explore the park|B--
Enjoy the scenic location of your accommodation before a marvelous hike in the heart of the national park.
Included Experiences
09:00 Santa Fe National Park - Backcountry Adventure
Enjoy a two hour backcountry hike in the beautiful Santa Fe National Park, accompanied by an expert naturalist guide. The trail takes you through the lush rainforest, with wildlife all around, and along the river to a secluded waterfall where you can enjoy some free time and a dip in the water, before heading back to your accommodation for the evening.
Coffee Mountain Inn
Day 9 Boquete: More mountains and coffee|B--
Drive from Santa Fe National Park to the famous Boquete, a 4.5 hours ride. Rest of the day at leisure.
Destination Info: Boquete
Boquete is a picturesque mountain town on the edge of the beautiful Barú Volcano National Park. With a cool climate and a welcoming small-town atmosphere, it makes a lovely break from the busy cities and the heat of the coast. The area is an outdoor-lover's dream, with a variety of nature trails to explore, as well as opportunities for climbing, rafting and canopy tours. The rich, volcanic soil around the town results in some wonderful local produce to enjoy, including one of the world's most sought-after coffees - Geisha.
The Riverside Inn
Set amongst unique landscaped gardens on the banks of Rio Pianista, The Riverside Inn provides a homely countryside retreat where you can settle into the peaceful surroundings of Boquete. With six beautifully furnished rooms and an excellent adjacent restaurant, this hotel makes a great base from which to explore the town and take in the highlights of this stunning region.
Rooms: Double Room - Loft Suite Maracuya
Day 10 Adventure and coffee in Boquete|B--
Drive towards Boquete Tree Trek Eco-Park to enjoy a zip-line fun activity followed by a coffee experience.
Included Experiences
09:00 Boquete - Canopy Adventure
See a different perspective on the stunning landscapes around Boquete, as you take to the sky for a canopy tour through the treetops. You'll be picked up by 4x4 and driven to the foothills of the Barú Volcano, before strapping in for your zipline ride. You'll glide through the forest with rivers and waterfalls below you, and can even spot monkeys and perhaps even a resplendent quetzal in the trees.
The canopy tour is around 3km in length, split over a number of cables, and you'll have full safety equipment along with trained guides. If you prefer something a little more sedate, you can also explore the trail of hanging bridges which leads through the canopy.
14:00 Boquete - Geisha Coffee
Delight with a four hours experience in the "Rio Cristal" farm, located at 1700 meters of height, where you will visit the different coffee plantations, learn to differentiate the taste of the bean as well as the overall process and toast stage. Learn to understood when a coffee is good quality. The experience includes a coffee tasting or renowned coffees, with an expert.
The Riverside Inn
Day 11 Bastimentos Island: Caribbean escape! |BLD
Travel from Boquete to Punta Robalo, where you will leave the vehicle in a parking and board a boat to a marvelous lodge for a 3 nights stay, with complimentary activities and that will give you the space to rest and relax in a scenic location.
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Boat :
11:00 -
Punta Robalo - Bastimentos island
- Distance: 31 km.
- Road is in very good condition.
Average travel time: 45 minutes
Destination Info: Isla Bastimentos
Just a short journey from Bocas del Toro's main town, Isla Bastimentos is wild, beautiful and undoubtedly one of the highlights of the archipelago. Around the coast you'll encounter palm-fringed beached where sea turtle nest, mangrove forests full of wildlife and protected coral reefs which provide amazing snorkeling and diving opportunities.
This island is home to the indigenous Ngöbe-Buglé tribe, as well as some stunning lodges where you can relax and enjoy a peaceful island vacation.
Included Experiences
Isla Bastimentos - The Tranquilo Bay Experience
Tranquilo Bay as an Eco adventure lodge includes several onsite activities that you can enjoy within your stay, don't miss the opportunity to participate in the following experiences: Birdwatching, Canopy Observation Tower, Nature trails, Fishing, Kayaking, photography, Snorkeling, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Swimming and Wildlife Spotting.
Tranquilo Bay
This small-scale, family friendly eco-adventure lodge is a perfect base from which to explore the nature of Bocas del Toro. The secluded cabins are made from local materials and provide all the creature comforts you'll need, with hot showers, air-conditioning and private porches where you can relax. Delicious meals are included throughout, and you can take part in a whole host of activities both on land and in the water. The surrounding tropical forests are home to a huge variety of animals and birds, including hummingbirds, herons, Red-lored Parrots, capuchin monkeys, sloths and iguanas, to name just a few. You can even climb the lodge's own observation tower for a unique perspective on your spectacular surroundings.
Rooms: Double Room - Deluxe Cabana - Within the Reef
Day 12 Free day at Bastimentos|BLD
Included in your stay, you have different activities as the visit to Zapatillas Cays besides other fun activities.
Included Experiences
09:00 Isla Bastimentos - Zapatilla Cays by Tranquilo Bay
A journey that will take you to two white sand islands protected by Bastimentos National Marine Park, both covered by rich vegetation as Coconut palms, tropical hardwoods, sea grapes, almond trees combined with bromelias, ferns and orchids. In the islands you can enjoy a walk or explore the white sand beaches and reefs, where you can finds snappers, barracuda and tropical fishes.
Tranquilo Bay
Day 13 Free day at Bastimentos|BLD
Join other complementary activities to make the most out of your experience at Tranquilo Bay.
Tranquilo Bay
Day 14 Boca Chica in the Pacific|B--
Board the boat back to Punta Robalo and pick-up the vehicle in order to drive to the famous Chiriqui Gulf, with direction to Boca Chica for a two night stay. Rest of the day at leisure.
-
Boat :
09:00 -
Bastimentos Island - Punta Robalo
- Distance: 31 km.
- Road is in very good condition.
Average travel time: 45 minutes
Destination Info: Golfo de Chiriqui
The Gulf of Chiriquí is one of the highlights of Panama's Pacific Coast, encompassing 25 islands across both the Coiba National Park and Golfo de Chiriquí National Park. The area is home to a unique maritime ecosystem, with some 19 coral reefs in the surrounding waters, and snorkelers and divers can spot dolphins, sea turtles, starfish and even Humpback Wales throughout part of the year. The islands are home to a variety of animals and birds, as well as a good selection of luxury resorts for those looking to stay a while in this beautiful part of the world.
Alternatively, you can choose to visit Golfo de Chiriqui as a day trip, by boat or seaplane from mainland Panama.
Hotel Bocas del Mar
This boutique hotel is located in the fishing village of Boca Chica, looking out over the estuary to the Pacific Ocean. The property has sixteen spacious bungalows set amongst tropical gardens, with two infinity pools, terraces and access to a private cove. With a relaxed bar and restaurant, as well as a range of activities to suit all ages, you'll have everything you need for a charming stay beside the Golfo de Chiriqui.
Boca Chica is the perfect base to explore the region, locally known as the gateway to the Gulf of Chiriquí Marine National Park, with its many wild green islands, palm-tree-fringed beaches and an incredible variety of wildlife above and below the water. Tours can easily be arranged to explore this stunning area.
Rooms: Double Room - Deluxe with sea view
Day 15 Enjoy the Pacific Coast once again!|B--
Today's morning you will enjoy a cruise across chiriqui gulf. Rest of the day at leisure.
Included Experiences
08:00 Golfo de Chiriqui - National Park Cruise
Sail through the stunning islands of Golfo de Chiriqui National Park, enjoying beautiful landscapes and spotting diverse wildlife along the way. During your 4-hour cruise you'll visit deserted white-sand beaches and have the chance to snorkel over the coral reefs dotted around the islands. These waters are home to dolphins, sea turtles and sting rays, whilst humpback whales also migrate along this coast between July and October. With a little luck you'll encounter some of these amazing animals.
Hotel Bocas del Mar
Day 16 Heading back to Panama City|B--
Drive towards David City at the convenient time for dropping off the car at the local airport and taking the flight back to Panama City. Once in Panama you will be transferred to an accommodation in the new part of Panama City, where you can enjoy the restaurants and much more.
-
Plane :
15:30 -
David (DAV) - Panama City (PAC)
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Transfer :
16:30 -
Domestic Airport - Panama City
The Bristol Hotel
Located in the heart of the buzzing high-rise financial district of Panama City, with great dining and nightlife right on the doorstep, this modern luxury hotel offers beautiful, spacious rooms which look out over the city. Inside, you'll find stylish, contemporary design, along with a restaurant, bar, gym and spa facilities, giving you everything you need for a comfortable and luxurious stay in Panama's capital.
Rooms: Double Room - Tower Studio
Day 17 See you next time Panama! |B--
Transfer to the International Airport for your departure flight. We hope you had an unforgettable time at Panama. Thank you for traveling with us.
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Transfer :
Panama City - Panama airport (PTY)
- Distance: 25 km.
- Road is in good condition.
Average travel time: 40 minutes
Car rented
Toyota Rush 2019
Note: Pictures shown are for illustration purpose
Dates: Apr 3, 2021 - Apr 16, 2021 (14 days)
Drop off point: Panamá Tocumen International Airport
Your Panama vacations have come to an end, our guide and/or driver take you to Tocumen International Airport (PTY). All Copa Airlines flights should depart from Terminal 2, other airlines should depart from Terminal 1. Upon arrival at the airport, you need to check-in for your flights, drop your bags, and go through the immigration and security procedures. We trust you enjoyed your vacations in Panama, and look forward to attending you again, on a future occasion. Please have a safe journey back home.
Sustainability
CO2 compensation
In this reservation you traveled 112 km approximately. This produces 10.94 kg of C02. It takes 0.72 trees to compensate for the environment impact.
Our sustainable suppliers
Water Refill Point
- Tranquilo Bay
Social Commitment Project
- Tranquilo Bay : Support several local organizations that assist children of Bocas del Toro by providing excursions during the off-season, which are auctioned off by these charities.
Nature Conservation Project
- Tranquilo Bay : Works with the Salt Creek indigenous community to create a reserve (including a management plan) adjacent to the Bastimentos Marine National Park. This reserve is set to protect the trees, which provide shelter for this indigenous community and prevent the area from development.
For our comprehensive sustainability policy, we invite you to visit our website: www.vapues.com/sustainability
Note: Alternative hotels will be booked if quoted properties are unavailable at time of booking, possibly affecting provided net rates. We accept credit card payments up to a maximum of 1000 USD, without a surcharge. For larger sums we encourage payment through wire (bank) transfer. The quoted itinerary is subject to change, due to possible unforeseen circumstances.
Included
- Meet & greet
- Information package with maps and a detailed itinerary
- Lodgement at hotels as mentioned or similar
- Breakfast
- Lunch on: Day 11, Day 12, Day 13
- Dinner on indicated days
- Flight David (DAV) - Panama City (PAC)
- Transfers
- Tours mentioned with an English speaking guide + entrance fees.
- Rental car: 4WD Compact - Toyota Rush 2019
- Mandatory Insurance
- Pick-up and drop-off costs
- VAT / taxes
Not Included
- International flights
- Meals other than mentioned
- Migration fees
- Personal expenses
- Optional tours/activities
- Tips nor porters
Contact details Vapues Travel
Nicaragua: Los Robles, casa # 45Phone: (+505) 2270-1936
info@vapues.com
