Destinations: Casco Viejo/Panama City, San Blas (Guna Yala), Boquete

Duration: 10 days

*Price Range: $$$

*Rates inclusive of full vacation experience – hotels, tours, domestic transfers, and tax (excluding international airfare).  Actual price based on length of travel, number of travelers/rooms, seasonal rates (high, low, peak), number of tour activities, and mode of domestic transportation.

$$$: At or under $1,200 per person.

$$$: $1,200 – $1,800 per person.

$$$: $1,800+ per person

1. Day 1

   Fly into Tocumen International Airport (PTY) where one of our local airport representatives will meet you as you exit your plane and guide you through an expedited immigration process.  They will show you to the VIP Lounge where you can enjoy snacks and drinks while they collect your luggage for you.  Once you are ready, the airport representative will guide you to your private transfer waiting outside the airport.  If you’ve arrived to Panama City early enough in the day, enjoy a historical tour of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Panama Viejo and Casco Viejo.  Check into the lovely boutique Las Clementinas located in the trendy Casco Viejo neighborhood and enjoy rooftop cocktails while you watch the sunset over Panama Bay.  Tonight, enjoy a delicious dinner in the secret garden at Las Clementinas Bistro.

2. Day 2

   After a delicious breakfast in the bistro, you’ll take a private ground transfer to Albrook Airport for a quick domestic flight over to Corazón de Jesús, San Blas.  Today, your sailing adventure begins as you sip on a frozen rum cocktail.  Sail northwest just a few miles at a leisurely pace to Isla Verde for your first island anchorage.  Enjoy the white sand beach and clear turquoise waters that surround Isla Verde.  For dinner, dine on fresh seafood, coconut rice, and tropical fruit as you sip on your beverage of choice.

3. Day 3

   Set sail again today for Cayos Holandeses.  Protected by 7-miles of coral reef, this group of 21 uninhabited islands experiences year round transparent waters.  Cayos Holandeses is the perfect spot to enjoy snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding or simply relaxing with a good book and tropical drink.  Enjoy delicious another catch-of-the-day dinner and bottle of wine under a sky full of stars.

4. Day 4

   Say good-bye to Cayos Holandeses as you set sail for Coco Bandero.  This set of islands is also protected by 4 miles of outer reef for a comfortable and calm anchorage.  It’s another great spot to explore the endless blue Caribbean waters by snorkeling, fishing, or kayaking.

5. Day 5

   Your final sail is an 8-hour voyage to Isla Grande.  If you haven’t already, try your hand at sailing with the captain with plenty of time to “pick up the ropes”.  Isla Grande has a small population of Cimarrones who are people of African descent traced back to the slave trade.  They are known for their delicious Afro-Caribbean cuisine, so make sure to have dinner on the island tonight as a special treat.

6. Day 6

   Your final half-day sail will take you to an abandoned island, Linton, where you’re likely to see some friendly monkeys.  Take a ride on the dinghy through th “Love Canal”, a waterway across a mangrove near Linton Island.  After looking for monkeys and various bird species in the mangrove, conclude your sailing adventure with a two hour sail to Portobelo.  Portobelo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in 1597 as a port city.  With ample time, you’ll be able to also see both Fort San Lorenzo and the Panama Canal expansion at Agua Clara Locks.  Make your way back to Panama City aboard the Panama Canal Railroad train, which follows a similar train route that the 49ers used back in the mid-to-late 1800s during the California Gold Rush.  Enjoy the scenic views of Soberania National Park on this one hour train ride back to Panama City.  Check back into Las Clementinas and explore a nearby restaurant in Casco Viejo.  This evening, enjoy cocktails and live music in one of many rooftop bars or cafes in Casco Viejo.

7. Day 7

   After a delicious breakfast, a private transfer will take you to Albrook Airport for your one hour flight to David.  A private transfer will be waiting at David Airport to take you one hour to the charming mountain town of Boquete.  Surrounded by tropical cloud forest, Boquete is known for some of the finest coffee in the world as well as excellent scenic, nature, and adventure tours.  Check into your Terrace Room or the Master Suite at the historical Panamonte Inn & Spa.  This luxury, boutique hotel started as a 5-bedroom inn back in 1914 and is well known today for their gourmet restaurant.  Have lunch at Panamonte before an afternoon coffee tour at Finca Lerida to learn the entire coffee production process from cherry, to bean, to cup.  Sample different coffee roasts while also learning the best methods to make an exquisite cup of coffee.  Enjoy an early dinner this evening at Finca Lerida’s on site restaurant, La Brulerie Restaurant, before returning to The Fireside Lounge at Panamonte.  Enjoy a nightcap alongside a roaring fire at the lounge and ask about the greats that have stayed at Panamonte, from U.S. Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and Richard Nixon to actor Sean Connery.

8. Day 8

   Have a hearty breakfast this morning in preparation for your morning waterfall hike to The Lost Waterfalls.  This moderate-to-challenging hike traverses through the cloud forest to three different waterfalls.  Keep a watchful eye out for sloths, howler monkeys, tapirs, and quetzals.  Cool off after your hike with a refreshing swim in the waterfall pool.  Return to Panamonte to freshen up and then walk into Boquete for lunch at one of many local restaurants and cafes.  Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring town, including a stop at Boquete Bees for a bee tour and honey sampling.  Return to Panamonte in the late afternoon in time for a private cooking session for your dinner this evening.

9. Day 9

   For adventure seekers and early risers, start the day at 4am as you depart on an extreme 4×4 ride up the Baru Volcano for a chance to see the sunrise from the highest point in Panama.  It’s a bumpy ride that comes with a rewarding view on a clear day of both oceans from atop 11,398 feet.  You’ll return to Panamonte by 10am for a hearty breakfast and perhaps a nap.  If waking up early on your getaway doesn’t sound appealing, then enjoy a guided nature hike over suspension bridges at Boquete Tree Trek.  After your guided hike, fly through the cloud forest canopy on 12 different zip-line cables.  Your afternoon can be spent relaxing back at Panamonte, horseback riding to panoramic lookouts, or rock climbing Mana or El Gunko rock formation.  El Gunko has 15 routes and is perfect for beginner-to-intermediate climbers while Mana has 7 routes and is for experienced climbers.  For elite climbers, there is also Legacy (6 routes) and Paradiso (1 route).

10. Day 10

    A private transfer will take you one hour from Boquete to David Airport.  You’ll fly one hour domestically from David back to Panama City for your international flight home.