Adventure Panama
Panama is relatively unknown as a nature lover’s and adventure traveler’s destination. Compared to better-known Costa Rica, it has a similar landscape of mountains, beaches, and jungles; trails to hike and rivers to raft. Panamanians like to say, however, “in Costa Rica ten tourists look for one elusive quetzal, in Panama one traveler can find ten quetzals.” Whether or not you’ll see ten of these elusive birds, we’re sure that you’ll be enchanted by all that Panama has to offer.
Days 1-3, Panama City-Burbayar Jungle Lodge Meet in Panama City and transfer to Burbayar Jungle Lodge in the MesoAmerican Biological Corridor for two nights • Take a morning birding walk with your naturalist guide • Hike through the jungle to a refreshing swim at a waterfall, and enjoy other jungle trails or simply relax on a hammock on the deck overlooking the hills and jungle
Days 4-5, The Caribbean San Blas islands and Panama Canal After a final morning jungle walk, transfer to the coast and boat out to the San Blas archipelago• Explore the fascinating indigenous Kuna community • Enjoy the picture-perfect Caribbean islands, while snorkelling, swimming, or simply lying on the beach• Early morning flight back to Panama City on Day 5; afternoon visit to the Panama Canal Miraflores Locks and visitor's center • Flight to David and transfer to the mountain town of Boquete
Days 6-8, Mountain options: hiking, rafting, coffee tours, zip lines Relax in the cool mountain town of Boquete • Hike the Sendero Los Quetzales, looking for the elusive, resplendent quetzal • Options to raft the Rio Chiriqui, explore the canopy on zip lines, or tour coffee farms • Flight back to Panama City for flights home on the final morning
Lodging highlights
Burbayar Lodge is a serene lodge located on a ridge top in Panama’s central mountains. The lodge has several cabins set among flowers, trails, and jungle; it is the type of place where you can bird from your room and are likely to hear howler monkeys.
In San Blas we stay on a small Caribbean island, amid a typical Kuna community. We will visit other, uninhabited islands for our snorkeling and swimming. The lodge has a restaurant that specializes in seafood meals. Rustic rooms have private bath without hot water, but given the climate few guests mind the lack of hot water. Hammocks on an open second floor deck provide a view of the blue-green Caribbean water and a welcome breeze.
Villa Marita is our home for our two nights in Boquete. The Villa is located about a twenty minute walk, or short cab ride, from the middle of the town. It features landscaped grounds with a view of Volcan Baru, and small two-room cabins with private hot water bath.
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