Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
A Luxury Panama Escape City Sightseeing, Canal Cruising & Remote Retreats
Panama – Panama City – Bocas del Toro – Gulf of Chiriqui
First stop: Panama City, where you’ll have three nights to discover the best of the country’s culture. A cosmopolitan capital, its sun-scorched streets are full of historic charms and colonial influences. Of course, Panama City is also a gateway to the Panama Canal, an ingenious system of locks which lets ships from all over the world skip a detour around the entire South American continent.
Well-acquainted with the buzz of the capital, swap urban life for beachside basking on Isla Colon in the Bocas del Toro archipelago. Perched near the border with Costa Rica, this tranquil spot allows you to really lean into island idyll. Days here unfold between morning yoga sessions backdropped by the sounds of the forest and evening stints gazing out at the sunset slipping behind the horizon.
The only way to follow such a dreamy destination? Another island getaway. Head south for even more remote R&R at a resort that spans an entire island – we’re talking Isla Palenque, set in the lesser-known Gulf of Chiriqui. Here, you can lounge on the sand, dip your toes in the waves lapping the shore and nurse a string of refreshing cocktails. Of course, you can also explore the underwater world and delve into the island’s lush interior. This is off-the-beaten-track bliss at its best.
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Leap out of bed this morning, because your luxury escape to Panama starts today. Head to the airport, breeze through security and slip away to the lounge for some complimentary fizz before take-off. Flights to the capital, Panama City, connect through a US transit city and take around 16 hours, so there’s nothing left to do but sit back and... relax.
Thanks to the time difference, you’ll arrive the same day, ready to hop in a car for the private transfer to your centrally located hotel. Check in for the next three nights and spend the rest of the afternoon shaking off any residual jet lag.
Come evening, kick off your trip in style by reaching out to our local Concierge for some if-you-know-you-know restaurant recommendations. Time to dig in.
Today’s focus is the mythical Panama Canal. Accompanied by a local guide, venture out to the Miraflores locks after breakfast this morning. From the platform here, you can observe the comings and goings of boats before climbing aboard one yourself.
Then, push off to glide along the water before stopping at the village of Gamboa to learn more about the canal’s construction. There’s also a host of old-fashioned colonial houses here, giving your explorations a charming vibe.
Continue along the canal later to visit Gatun Lake, which was artificially created during work on the Chagres River and forms a large part of the canal. While here, it’s not unusual to pass a container ship or even slip beneath the shadow of a looming cruise ship – pretty cool, if you ask us.
You’ve explored the waterways; it’s time to hit the streets. Tuck into a tasty breakfast before stepping out to delve into the hubbub of the capital.
The beating heart of the country, Panama City is chock-full of churches, cobblestoned streets and colonial influences. Start in San Felipe (also known as Casco Viejo, meaning ‘Old District’). Then, head to the UNESCO-listed site of Panama Viejo, where an open-air museum teeters over the ocean.
Next up: the shops and markets of the Santa Ana neighbourhood. Quench your thirst with a drink at Plaza Simon Bolivar before setting off on a stroll through Biomuseo, a colourful museum focused on Panama’s natural history. Then, spend a few hours on Taboga Island, home to hiking trails and swoon-worthy beaches.
Well acquainted with the charms of the capital, freshen up before heading out once again for a delightful evening navigating the hustle and bustle.
Hear that? Island time is calling. Enjoy one last morning in the city before grabbing your bags and loading up the car for your private transfer to the airport. The flight to Isla Colon, in the Bocas del Toro archipelago, takes just one hour, so you’ll be sinking your feet into sandy shores before you know it.
After landing, meet another private driver for the transfer to your next home away from home, where you can settle in for the next three nights. Waste no time dialling up the R&R by spending the afternoon lounging by the pool, sipping a fruit-topped cocktail and dipping your toes into the turquoise-blue waters rippling off the coast. This is the life.
Over the next few days, you’ll be free to enjoy the Bocas del Toro archipelago in style. This tropical treasure trove is home to dense mangroves, vibrant red corals, giant tortoises, languid sloths and chittering dolphins, making it the perfect place for any nature lovers or wildlife enthusiasts.
Even better: from your base in Isla Colon, you can easily reach a range of other islands, including Bastimentos, Caranero and San Cristobal, which is often overlooked by tourists. Dedicate a day to one or cruise between the lot – whatever (excuse us) floats your boat.
When you’re not exploring elsewhere, venture into Isla Colon’s thick vegetation for a morning yoga session, rent bikes to pedal along the coast, take to the waves on a surfboard and admire the sunset over the ocean. Just don’t be surprised if you start wishing you could stay forever…
Swap one island paradise for another today as you’re privately transferred to the pier after breakfast. From there, climb into a private boat to cross to Almirante and transfer to Boca Chica, gateway to the little-known Gulf of Chiriqui. Then, it’s one final boat crossing to reach Isla Palenque, where you can settle in for the next two nights.
Spanning the entire island, this resort is ideal for indulging in some seriously remote R&R, so set your suitcases down and prepare to live it up island-style. This calls for a celebratory drink, don’t you think?
Today’s forecast: sun, sun, sun. Luxuriate in a leisurely breakfast overlooking the shore this morning before donning your shades and heading out for a day of island delights.
Perched on the west coast, Isla Palenque boasts 370 acres of unparalleled beauty. The dense interior is crisscrossed by tropical trails ideal for hiking enthusiasts; elsewhere, beach babies can enjoy swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and snorkelling.
Those who wish to stay (mostly) dry can also set off by boat to explore the deserted islands in the Gulf. Or, for animal encounters, you could cruise the waters in search of humpback whales, but word to the wise: this is only possible from late August to October.
However you choose to spend your time on the island, be sure to top it all off with a hearty meal overlooking the moonlit waves. It doesn’t come much better than this.
Bid Isla Palenque a fond farewell this morning as you pack up, check out and board a boat for the crossing back to Boca Chica. From here, hop in a car to privately transfer to the city of David, where you’ll catch a one-hour-and-15-minute flight to Panama City.
After touchdown, meet another private driver to transfer to your final hotel of the trip for an overnight stay. Then, take some time to stretch out any post-journey stiffness and freshen up before reuniting with the buzz of the capital.
Since it’s your last night in the country, you may as well make the most of it by ordering up a certifiable feast. Then, when stomachs are full and plates are cleared, bring out the top-shelf booze to give Panama a fitting send-off. Salud!
Sadly, your time under the Panama sun comes to an end today. Eke out as much enjoyment as possible by tucking into a mouth-watering breakfast before loading up the car for your private transfer to the airport and international flight home.
The journey connects through another US transit city and takes around 15-and-a-half hours. Thanks to the time difference, you’ll arrive in the UK by mid-afternoon the following day, meaning – in our humble opinion – that you’ll have plenty of time to start planning your next sunny sojourn.
Suggestions
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
A DAY IN PORTOBELO AND ISLA MAMEY
Venture further afield during your time in Panama City with a day trip to the city of Portobelo and Isla Mamey. An hour and 45 minutes from the capital, Portobelo offers an Afro-Caribbean cultural mix. Explore by kayak or on foot before sitting down to a lovely local lunch. Then, in the afternoon, visit Isla Mamey to unwind between coconut trees and azure waters.SPOT DOLPHINS & SNORKEL IN BOCAS DEL TORO
If you’re travelling between late December and late March, enjoy a dolphin watching trip in the (fittingly named) Dolphin Bay lagoon. Then, visit Crawl Cay for a snorkelling session along the seabed, before donning your mask again off the coast of Isla Zapatilla, in the Parque Nacional Isla Bastimentos. Eyes peeled for angelfish, butterflyfish, snappers, groupers and other colourful characters...SAIL ALONG THE COAST OF ISLA COLON
Accompanied by an expert local guide, push off the coast of Isla Colon for a full-day cruise through Dolphin Bay lagoon towards the picturesque Playa Estrella. On the program: land explorations, paddleboard outings and reef snorkelling. What a lineup.CYCLE SAN FELIPE
Also known as Casco Viejo, San Felipe is Panama City’s historic heart. Hop on a bike to pedal past a mix of palaces, gourmet restaurants, shops, luxury homes and museums. Then, stop at the Panama Canal Museum to learn more about the area’s history. Afterwards, hit up the Church of Saint Joseph to see its Golden Altar, before rounding out the day with a scrumptious ceviche (raw fish marinated in lemon) tasting at a local seafood market – yum.WITH A FEW MORE DAYS... BOQUETE
Tack an extra stay onto your trip with a few days in Boquete, a tiny town on the slopes of the Volcan Baru volcano. A favourite holiday spot for locals, Boquete is ideal for cooling off from Panama’s tropical climate. Here, you can visit coffee plantations, go trout fishing, walk in Parque Nacional Volcan Baru and scale the volcano at sunrise. Need we say more?
Why visit Panama with Original Travel ?
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire nowA few of the benefits of travelling with us to Panama
- Our local Concierges
- The Original Travel app
- Wi-Fi router and e-Sim
- Destination Dossier
- 24-hour helpline
- Expert guides
- 100% carbon absorption
