Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Panama with your Teens City, Canopy and Coast
Panama - Panama City - Chiriqui Mountains - Boquete - Bocas del Toro
Begin in Panama City, the country’s capital. Here, you’ll be introduced to Panama’s lively culture and community before heading out for a day spent hopping between the postcard-perfect islands of the Pearl Archipelago.
Then, it’s onto Boquete, nestled in the shadow of the Baru Volcano. Dial up the action with river rafting, ziplining and tree-climbing, all the while keeping your eyes peeled for colourful tropical birds as they flit through the canopy.
Your final stop is Isla Bastimentos, the largest island in the Bocas del Toro archipelago. Take advantage of this remote setting to truly spend some quality time with your teens, with everything from snorkelling and surfing to agricultural tours on offer. Then, end each day with sunset dinners overlooking the beach, soundtracked by the wistful reminiscing of a fantastic holiday – now that’s what we’d call a teenage dream.
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Bags packed and sunnies at the ready: your family getaway to Panama begins today. Head to the airport, speed through security and enjoy a celebratory coffee in the lounge before boarding your flight to Panama City. With a quick stopover, the journey will take around 14 and a half hours, so delve into the snacks and crack open your holiday read.
When you land, you’ll be met and privately transferred to your central hotel, your home for the next two nights. It’ll be evening by the time you arrive, so drop your bags and head out in search of your first Panamanian meal – our clued-up Concierge is on hand to recommend some local spots.
Start your holiday off in style with a day trip to the Pearl Archipelago, a collection of seven postcard-perfect islands complete with fine sandy beaches and sparkling waters. After shaking off the jet lag with a hearty breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the port, where a boat and guide will be waiting to whisk you between each serene stop.
As you Island hop, you’ll have the chance to snorkel, fish and relax on the sandy shores, as well as enjoy a chargrilled barbecue feast on board. If you’re lucky enough to be travelling between July and October, you’ll also be able to indulge in a spot of whale watching – cameras at the ready…
Come evening, plant your feet on solid ground and head out for a tasty family dinner, discussing the highlights of the day in between bites of patacones (crispy fried plantain).
Wave goodbye to Panama City this morning as you drag the teens out of bed for the private transfer to the airport. From here, it’s just a quick one-hour hop to David, the capital of Panama’s Chiriqui province.
When you touch down, pick up your trusty hire car and drive to Boquete, set just 40 minutes away in the shadow of the Baru Volcano. You’ll be staying here for the next three nights, so check in and spend the rest of the day finding your feet. You could head out on a preliminary walk through the Baru Volcano National Park or simply settle in with a sundowner under the canopy (mocktails for the youngsters, of course).
If you’re travelling with a couple of teenage thrill-seekers, today’s bound to be a hit. After a tropical breakfast soundtracked by the park’s myriad bird species, head out for a rafting adventure along the Chiriqui Viejo River – the perfect way to cool off from the tropical climate of the plains.
Not far from the border between Panama and Costa Rica, the Chiriqui Viejo River is considered one of the country’s best rivers for rafting, with crashing rapids flowing throughout the course. After a briefing from an experienced guide, hop aboard a boat and whizz downstream, passing lush forest, gushing waterfalls and stunning canyons as you go.
We’ve left today free for you to enjoy at your own pace. If you’re eager to take on the day, wake up bright and early for a sunrise hike up the Baru Volcano; if not, enjoy a leisurely morning, complete with ultra-fresh fruit and steaming mugs of coffee.
Fancy soaking up even more of Panama’s incredible nature? Take on a tree climbing course in the forest, whizz through the canopy on a zipline or capture a birds-eye view of the park from its suspension bridges. If your teens prefer fauna to flora, wander around the base of the volcano or venture to the Rio Cristal Nature Reserve, keeping your eyes peeled for scarlet macaws or neon-tinted quetzals.
Away from the forest, you could also stroll through Boquete itself, meeting local communities and discovering traditional customs and traditions. Be sure to sample some of the local delicacies, too, including sancocho (Panamanian chicken soup) and tamal de olla (bijao leaves stuffed with corn, meat and vegetables).
Another day, another incredible destination. This morning, grab your bags and set the sat nav for Almirante, three and a half hours away on the north coast. When you arrive, return your hire car and hop aboard a private boat for the speedy 30-minute transfer to Isla Bastimentos, a remote island retreat in the Bocas del Toro archipelago.
Step onto the sand and enjoy a lazy day at your lodge, nestled in the middle of the forest. Crack out the board games, dive into your holiday read or head out on a leisurely stroll, keeping your eyes peeled for sloths, monkeys, frogs and toucans, before returning to your lodge for a tasty dinner and a peaceful night’s sleep.
This morning, you’ll be introduced to life on this secluded island with a lesson in permaculture, the practice of developing sustainable agricultural processes that take care of themselves and don’t produce any waste. During this workshop, you’ll learn about the concept from a specialist at a permaculture farm, which provides fresh and organic ingredients while taking care of the land. Then, it’s onto a cocoa plantation, where you’ll be treated to a bean-to-bar workshop in the company of a cocoa expert (and, of course, the cheeky capuchins that call this area home).
Armed with your newfound knowledge, grab your bags for the private boat transfer to another of the island’s lodges – your home for the next three nights. This time, you’ll be perched on the edge of the forest, overlooking a postcard-perfect beach. Talk about the best of both worlds…
The next two days are yours for the taking. Time here centres around sand and sea, so start your days off with beachfront breakfasts before slathering on the SPF and heading down to the shore.
If your family prefers active adventures to soaking up the sun, head out for snorkelling or boat trips, or simply swim in the salty waves. You could also try your hand at surfing at a small beginner-friendly spot nearby – and who knows? You might have a teenage prodigy in your midst…
Haven’t had quite enough wildlife encounters? We could also arrange a day trip to the (aptly named) Bay of Dolphins, where tropical fish and colourful coral thrive and dolphins appear between December and March.
Spend the rest of your days enjoying quality family time on the island, where peace and quiet replace screen time and stress. Then, end each day with ultra-fresh seafood and sundowners on the sand, watching as the waves sparkle under the setting sun. Pure bliss.
Bid a fond farewell to Isla Bastimentos this morning as you hop aboard another boat for the 20-minute transfer to Isla Colon. From here, it’s a speedy hour-long flight to Panama City, where you’ll check in for one final night in this urban hub.
Spend the rest of the day soaking up the city, strolling along bustling streets and stopping for snacks at local spots. If you’re after a deeper insight into the city’s heritage, we could also arrange a guided bicycle tour through Casco Viejo, Panama City’s ‘Old District’.
Come evening, contact your clued-up Concierge for some restaurant recommendations – they’ll know just the place to toast to a fantastic family trip.
It’s sadly time for your far-flung family getaway to come to an end. After a leisurely morning at your hotel, grab your bags and meet a driver for the private transfer to the airport, where you’ll board your overnight flight home.
With a quick stopover, the flight will take around 15 hours, and you’ll touch down in the UK the next day, keen to recreate those special family moments on another exciting holiday…
Suggestions
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
DISCOVER THE MYTHICAL PANAMA CANAL
Spend a day discovering the Panama Canal, which connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and plays a major role in global maritime trade. With a private guide, uncover the three artificial lakes – Miraflores, Gatun and Alajuela – three sets of locks and canals that make up the canal in its entirety, beginning at the Miraflores lock, where you can truly see the scale of the trade operation being carried out. Then, head to the village of Gamboa, home to rows of old colonial houses, before hopping on a boat for a tour of Lake Gatun, keeping your eyes peeled for local wildlife.WALK THE BOQUETE SUSPENSION BRIDGES
Keen for even more adrenaline-inducing adventure? With an expert guide, set off on a two-and-a-half-mile walk along Boquete’s six suspension bridges, which stretch across the canopy and offer a birds-eye view over the lush forest below. As you wander, keep an eye out for a glimpse of the park’s many species of birds, including scarlet macaws and colourful quetzals.EXPLORE DOLPHIN BAY AND CAYO CORAL
If you happen to be travelling between December and March, you’re in luck. Tack on a day of ocean exploring, beginning with dolphin watching in the (aptly named) Dolphin Bay, smack-bang in the heart of the Bocas del Toro archipelago. Then, head to Cayo Coral for a snorkelling session, gliding over thriving reefs dotted with colourful fish, before heading to the paradisiacal beaches of Islas Zapatillas, where tired parents can watch as teens pull on their fins again and dive down in search of angelfish, butterflyfish, snappers and groupers.DISCOVER PANAMA CITY’S CASCO ANTIGUO BY BIKE
If your teens are budding history buffs, dive deeper into the country’s past with a guided bicycle tour of the Casco Antiguo, also known as Casco Viejo, or ‘Old District’. As you pedal along streets lined with carefully restored houses and palaces, home to restaurants, shops and museums, your guide will fill you in on the origins of the district, which was established in the latter 17th century by Spanish colonists. Then, hop off your bike for a visit to the Panama Canal Museum, where you can learn about the canal’s construction, before heading to the Church of San Jose to admire its golden Altar de Oro. Finally, satisfy your appetite at a local seafood market, where you and the teens can indulge in ceviche, a local speciality consisting of freshly-caught raw fish marinated in lemon.
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
