Upon arrival at airport in Panama, you will be warmly met by a representative, who will provide assistance and transfer to your accommodation to check-in. Panama City is the capital and largest city in the country. It is home to a diverse blend of cultures and an enormous historical sector in the Old City. The lively and vibrant banking district on the other hand is very modern and often compared to Miami. Panama City is a thrilling location you will surely enjoy during your visit to this gorgeous country.

Overnight: Panama City

Activities:

• In the morning, your English speaking guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you on a tour to Panama City and the Miraflores Locks.
• You will start the tour with a 30 minutes drive to Miraflores to see the huge vessels passing the Panama Canal. The busiest hours are between 09:00 and 11:00, so you will be able to see many ships getting lifted or lowered 16 meters in two distinct steps. You will enjoy the view on the Locks from a sheltered terrace and listen to the explanations of your guide.
• To complete the visit of the Canal you will visit the Museum and Visitor Center at Miraflores which gives you a good idea on the construction of the Canal – a masterpiece of engineering. You will also learn about the history of the canal and its significance for Panama and the entire world trade as well as on the current expansion project.
• After the visit to the Canal you will continue with your guide to the Amador Causeway, a road that connects three Islands in the Pacific Ocean and offers magnificent views on the Canal on one side and on the skyline of Panama City on the other side.
• The tour continues to the Casco Viejo, Panama City’s colonial quarter. At the Casco Viejo you feel set back in time as you admire the lovely colonial houses, the narrow roads and the impressive churches. While visiting the highlights of this colonial district – the Cathedral, the golden Altar, French Plaza and the Huertas Passway – you will sure get an idea on Panama’s long and interesting history.
• This tour includes transportation, English speaking guide and all entrance fees. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes and don’t forget to bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, your camera and a bottle of water.

Overnight: Panama City – (B)

Activities:

• In the morning your guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you up north towards Lake Alajuela.
• There you will step into small boats, which will carry you up the Chagres River. A fascinating and dense jungle will accompany you on your boat trip.
• Upriver, you will step out of the dugout canoes and enjoy a short hike (can be a bit muddy) to a beautiful waterfall in midst of the rain forest. Enjoy this tropical paradise far away from any civilization, take a swim in the refreshing pool just beneath the waterfall and submerge in this true tropical getaway.
• Now you are ready to visit the village of the Embera Indians, one of seven indigenous tribes in Panama. The people of the Emberá tribe will welcome you at the pier and gladly give you an idea on how they still live today. The villages chief will give you a brief explication on the history of the tribe, its traditions, cultures, believes and handicrafts. Then, a traditional lunch of fish and plantains prepared by the Embera women will be served to you.
• In the afternoon you will experience a traditional Embera dance and have the opportunity to shop for handicrafts. The sale of local products directly benefits the village and helps to pay the school fees for the children. You can also get a temporary Embera tattoo painted on your arm or leg.

Overnight: Panama City – (B)

Activities:

• After a transfer from your hotel to Flamenco Marina, the partial transit starts with a motor coach ride for 45 minute to the town of Gamboa where the Panama Canal Dredging Division is located.
• Once in Gamboa, you will aboard the cruise ship to start the water portion of the tour. You will enter the canal at the north end of the Gaillard Cut, where the Chagres River flows into the Canal. The Gaillard Cut (also known as Culebra Cut because its curves resemble a snake) is one of the main points of interest for visitors because it was carved through the Continental Divide and this section of the Canal is full of history and geological value. Your boat will travel the Cut’s 13.7 kilometers on the way to Pedro Miguel Locks. As you transit the Cut you will be able to appreciate the continuous maintenance that this area requires, because it is very susceptible to landslides. In this area you will also be able to observe the work in process for the Panama Canal expansion project.
• Before reaching the Pedro Miguel Locks at the southern end of the Cut, you will be able to view the new Centennial Bridge which crosses over the Canal.
• Next, your ship will enter Pedro Miguel Locks, which is one of the two sets of locks on the Pacific side, and here the vessel is lowered 9 meters in one step. You will then enter Miraflores Lake, which is a small artificial body of fresh water that separates Pedro Miguel from Miraflores Locks, the latter being the final set of locks before reaching the Pacific Ocean. At Miraflores Locks the vessel is lowered 16 meters in two distinct steps.
• Once in the Pacific Ocean the vessel will sail to the beautiful Flamenco Marina where you disembark. On the way to Flamenco, you will pass under the Bridge of the Americas, and later, you will be able to admire the Bay of Panama and Panama City’s splendorous skyline.
• Upon arrival at Flamenco you will be transferred back to your city hotel.
• The tour includes transportation from and to your hotel, English speaking tour guide, lunch, soft drinks and water. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes and don’t forget to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, hat and your camera.

Important Note: Every first and third Saturday of the month you can upgrade to a Complete Canal Transit (Pacific to Atlantic) Contact us for pricing.

Overnight: Panama City – (B)

Departure: After breakfast you will be transferred to the Tocumen Airport for your international flight back home. – (B)

Meals as per itinerary: (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)

We can personalize this tour just for you! Call: 1 800 263 2995 / 416 391 0334 or complete form in: CUSTOM-CRAFTED tab on this page.