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15 Day itinerary in Panama, Central America & Caribbean

Self-Drive: Panama Adventure & Beach Explorer 15D/14N

Embark on an unforgettable Panama adventure with this exhilarating self-drive tour. Explore lush rainforests, stunning beaches, and vibrant local culture. Highlights include wildlife spotting in Soberania National Park, relaxation on the pristine shores of Bocas del Toro, and thrilling zip-lining in... Read More

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Cacao

By Cacao

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Average
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Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Panama City

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Self-driving

Adventure

Nature & Wildlife

Start/End

Night

Highlights

1

Observe the incredibly smooth transit of large ships through the locks

2

Visit a picturesque, verdant mountain village: El Valle

3

Relax at an unspoiled, sandy beach in Las Lajas

Itinerary

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Day 1

place Day 1: Panama City, Panama

Airport Pick-up and transfer to the hotel (B)

Upon arrival at Tocumen International Airport, you will be met by our Spanish speaking driver who will take you to your hotel in Panama City. Welcome to Panama!

Meals: Breakfast

Day 2

place Day 2: Panama City, Panama

Half day City & Canal Tour (B)

The tour starts with the old 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 Cathedral and lots of other buildings with colonial architecture. It has plenty of little restaurants and souvenir shops. In 1977 Casco Antiguo became a World Heritage Site of the UNESCO. After, a short drive we will take you to Miraflores locks. This is one of the two sets of 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. Duration 03:30hrs.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3

place Day 3: Panama City, Panama

Enjoy a day at leisure in Panama City (B)

There are many things to see and do around Panama City. You may tour sights such as the historical ruins of Panama Viejo, walk the enchanting streets of Casco Antiguo, visit the Metropolitan Park or stroll along the Amador Causeway. You can also head outside the city limits for day excursions such as boating in the canal, bird-watching and trekking in Soberanía National Park, and visiting Emberá Indian villages.

NOTE: Pick up time will be communicated to us by the boat company one day before the tour, we will contact you at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4

place Day 4: Panama City - El Valle, Panama

Take the Panamerican Highway towards the West (B)

Delivery of the hired car at your hotel. (Please confirm all these details when booking.)

You will cross "Las Americas Bridge" and leave Panama City behind as you follow the Panamerican Highway towards the West. Just after the bridge, there is a nice look out point if you wish to make some nice pictures of the Panama Canal. After a bit more than 1 hour, you will find the road that goes north to El Valle de Anton. El valle is a small village built inside the crater of a dormant volcano. Duration 02:30hrs.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5

place Day 5: El Valle, Panama

Free Day in El Valle (B)

A picturesque, verdant mountain village, El Valle is a great escape from the hustle and heat of Panama City.

Optional activities in El Valle:

• hikes to Cerro Gaital and la India Dormida

• horseback riding. $10-20 per person

• walk to the pre-colonial Stone carvings of Piedra Pintada. Aprox $ 3 per person

• visit to El Nispero botanical garden and amphibian rescue center. $ 5 per person

• visiting the Chorro El Macho. $ 5 per person

• Hotsprings. $ 4 per person

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6

place Day 6: El Valle - Pedasí, Panama

Drive from El Valle to Pedasí Town (B)

You will come back to the Panamerican Highway and continue to the West until reaching the town of Divisa, where you will make a left turn and drive to the town of Pedasi. Along the way, you can visit the small town of La Pintada or visit the church in Nata, the second-oldest church in all of the Western Hemisphere. The villages surrounding Pedasi are known as the cultural heart of the country. Duration 03:00hrs.

Day 7

place Day 7: Pedasí, Panama

Free Day in Pedasí (B)

Free Day to spend on your own, relax and enjoy. 

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8

place Day 8: Pedasí, Panama

Free Day in Pedasí (B)

Nearby activities include sport fishing, surfing, snorkeling, horseback riding and whale watching in season. Pedasí is 30 minutes from Venao Beach, one of the best surfing beaches in Central America. Activities around Pedasi include:
  • Drive to the beaches of Playa Venao or Cambutal
  • Boat tour to Isla Iguana, a wildlife refuge
  • Rum tour to San Isidro
  • Guided cultural tours to the towns of Chitre or Ocu

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9

place Day 9: Pedasí- Boquete, Panama

Drive to Boquete (B)

You will come back to the Panamerican Highway and drive towards the West until you reach David, where you take a right turn towards the mountains until you reach the town of Boquete. Duration 06:00hrs.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 10

place Day 10: Boquete, Panama

Free Day in Boquete (B)

Enjoy your time in Boquete to discover the town and take part in some of the many activities available like the daily group tours to explore the amazing world of coffee. From its gathering in the fields by the Ngobe Indians to its roasting, you will learn all there is about the best coffee in the world!

Other optional activities could be:

• Bird watching

• Canopy Tour or Hanging bridges

• Walking in the little village of Boquete

• Hot springs near Caldera

• Day tour to Cerro Punta

Meals: Breakfast

Day 11

place Day 11: Boquete, Panama

Free Day in Boquete (B)

Free Day in Boquete for you to enjoy on your own.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 12

place Day 12: Boquete - Las Lajas Beach, Panama

Drive to Las Lajas Beach (B)

Back to the Panamerican highway, you will drive 1 hour eastward before making a right turn to reach Las Lajas Beach. Duration 2:35hrs.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 13

place Day 13: Las Lajas Beach, Panama

Free Day in Las Lajas Beach (B)

In Las Lajas you can do as much or as little as you want: You could just enjoy the beach and relax, join the locals in some artisanal fishing or ask the hotel to help you organize a mangrove tour that goes for 2-3 hours and is great if you enjoy bird watching, or maybe a visit to a Ngobe indigenous village in the surrounding mountains of Las Lajas. If you are staying in Boca Chica, this is the starting point for many boat tours to go and explore the gulf or Chiriqui. Many of these beaches have beautiful white sand stretches and from July to October you could even meet some humpback whales along the way.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 14

place Day 14: Las Lajas Beach - Panama City, Panama

Drive back to Panama City (B)

You will leave the small town of Las Lajas and follow the Panamerican Highway towards the East, passing several towns and villages until arriving to Panama City. Return of car rental at one of the rental car offices near your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 15

place Day 15: Panama City, Panama

Airport drop-off (B)

Private transfer with Spanish-speaking driver to Tocumen International Airport. Duration 01:00hrs.

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (14)

Transport expand_less

  • Private Airport Transfers
  • Car rental intermediate categor from Day 4 to 14

Activities expand_less

  • Half-Day City and Canal Tour in Panama City (private tour with English-speaking guide)

Not Included expand_less

  • Meals not specified in the itinerary
  • Other activities
  • Personal expenses and gratuities
  • International and/or domestic flights

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