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Locally Hosted Independent Tour Suggested Departure Day: Friday

ITINERARY (Subject to change without notice):

Day 01 - USA – Panama City: Upon arrival Panama City, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, The Canal House, located in the UNESCO Heritage site and historic district of El Casco, a charming area of narrow streets with flower-bedecked balconies, where building are not more than two or three stories and all must reflect the colonial era. The area today also boasts many of the city’s finest restaurants.

Day 02 - Panama City: Your introduction to the natural wonders of Panama will begin with an early pickup at your hotel and drive some 45-minutes into the former Canal Zone area and the docks at Gamboa where you will board the small expedition boat. We spend the day on Gatun Lake (and share with large cargo and cruise ships that are transiting the waterways).  The lake was man-made in order to provide fresh water flowing in from various river systems, in particular the Chagres River, necessary to operate the Panama locks (some 52 million gallons of fresh water is needed for a ship to transit the 3-locks systems!). As the boat navigates among and between the various rainforest covered islands (once hilltops, prior to the lake formation), some of the wildlife you may spot include three-toed sloths,  crocodiles, ospreys, keel-billed toucans, and monkeys (white faced capuchins, howlers, spider). A picnic lunch will be provided on one of the islands. We then head back to the docks and debark at Gamboa to begin the visit of the sparkling, sky-scrapper studded new Panama, often referred to as the Crossroads of the Americas. A stop will also be made at the original capital founded in 1519, today known as Old Panama. It was through here that the Spaniards transported the wealth of the southern Americas over to the Caribbean for shipment to Spain; as such it became a magnet for pirates, until Henry Morgan destroyed it in 1671. Returning to your hotel late afternoon.  (B/L)

Day 03 - Panama City - Kuna Yala/San Blas:  Early morning transfer for the very early flight to the Caribbean area (about 1-hour), home of the Kuna Yala indigenous tribe, in the San Blas Islands. Upon arrival, you will be accompanied by a bi-lingual Kuna guide to a local village for breakfast and visit. The Kunas are one of the oldest semi-autonomous tribes in the world, their homeland covering nearly 1000 square miles along the Caribbean northern coastline and 365 off-shore islands. As a semi-autonomous “comarca” (province) they have successfully maintained their cultural, social and economic identity. Their livelihood is based on fishing, coconut harvesting and subsistence farming and a growing tourism infrastructure (local guides are mandatory, and most accommodations are Kuna owned and operated). The villages consist of sandy, narrow streets lined by thatched roofed huts, most have a large meeting hall for gatherings and meetings, a school and perhaps a mini-market. The women are known for their very colorful attire of multi colored skirts, reversed appliqué “mola” blouses. The molas are “on sale” throughout Kuna Yala. Continue by boat, “island-hopping” for swim and snorkeling with picnic lunch provided. Around mid afternoon, arriving at your accommodations for the next three night, Coral Lodge. (B/L/D)

Day 04 & Day 05 - Kuna Yala/SanBlas:  The next two days will be spent enjoying the activities surrounding the Lodge such as kayaking, jungle hikes, bird watching, Hobbie-cat sailing, snorkeling. For additional cost you may arrange for near shore- fishing (tarpon, red snapper, wahoo, grouper, tuna, snook), scuba diving. (B/L/D)                                                                                                                                                 

Day 06 - Kuna Yala/San Blas - Panama City - Boquete: Mid-morning departure by motorlaunch to the on shore village of Miramar (about 30-minutes), where a vehicle will await to drive you (about 1-hour)  to historic Portobelo, end of the road of the Camino Real, and was the administrative center of colonial Spain from whence the riches of the New World were sent to motherland, thus making it perhaps the most important city of the 16^th Century Spanish Empire. Enjoy a brief visit of some of the fortifications, Custom House and church of the Black Christ. In 1980, along with Fort San Lorenzo, Portobelo was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. On the drive towards Panama City’s Albrook airport, a stop will be made for lunch. At Albrook, board the flight for hour flight to the country’s second largest city David, in the province of Boquete, where you will be met and driven about 45-minutes up into the “breadbasket” of the country, Boquete and your hotel for the next 4 nights, Panamonte Inn & Spa. (B/L)

Day 07 - Boquete: Today you will have an exhilarating excursion by white water rafting on what some consider among the best white water areas in Central America. Because of its geographic location, Panama’s highlands have nearly 150 inches of rain that feed about 500 rivers that are “born” in the highlands, producing some 35 world class runs ranging from class II-V. Here runs take you through lush virgin tropical rainforests, dense jungles, steep gradients, hidden waterfalls, mysterious gorges, with wildlife viewing of monkeys, birds and exotic foliage. How much and what you see will depend on which rivers and sections thereof you take, which in turn will depend on your level of ability and experience (rainy season May-December, with especially swift waters Sept-Oct-Nov). Picnic lunch included. (B/L)

Day 08 - Boquete: Today will be a long full day hiking what many consider the most beautiful hiking trails in Central America, Senderos de Los Quetzales within the Volcano Baru National Park. The trails take you through lush canopied covered tropical primary, secondary and cloud forests, with colorful orchids and bromeliads poking out of giant magnolia and oak trees. The forests are home to some 220 native bird species, including the elusive Resplendent Quetzal. The hike covers about 6-miles taking 4-7 hours, depending whether going “uphill” (Boquete to Cerro Punta, from 3200 ft up to 6500 ft)) or “downhill” (Cerro Punta to Boquete). Picnic lunch included. (B/L)

Day 09 - Boquete:  Today’s day excursion will be your choice, either an ATV Off-the-Road experience coupled with a visit to one of the area’s finest coffee growers; or mountain biking with coffee visit.  The ATV option is about a 4-hour, 4-wheeling tour “driving” on dirt and stone roads, crossing clear mountain streams, through lush forests, with opportunity to view tropical birds, gorgeous trees, colorful flowers and charming waterfalls. As you get to the foothills of Volcano Baru National Park, visit a coffee plantation and learn about the coffee process from planting of the bean, its care, harvesting, roasting, processing and distribution. Panamanian Chiriqui province coffee is brightly toned, with floral and fruited aromatics grown on small plantations that are rich in volcanic soil, sprinkled with light rains and northern winds, helping to produce some of the highest ranking coffee in the world.  The mountain biking option while also visiting a coffee plantation, is done by biking some 25-kilometers downhill (about 2-hours total biking time from around Alto Quiel to the Wilson Bridge) . Lunch will be included on either  excursion.  (B/L)

Day 10 - Boquete - Caldera: In the morning you will be driven to the cloud forest area above the town of Boquete (about a 30-minute drive in a 4x4 vehicle) to the staging area of the “adrenaline-rush” Canopy Zip-Line. Here you will be outfitted with the appropriate equipment and given instructions; then it is a 10-minute hike to the first platform. From this the highest platform it will be a series of 12-cable lines unto 13-platforms covering some 3-kilometers! As you “zip-along” the canopy tops that border the La Amistad and Volcano Baru National Parks, pass numerous types of orchids, flora and fauna. Back to your hotel, and we send your luggage ahead because this afternoon you will actually have a great time horseback riding from the rolling hills of the highlands of Boquete down through valleys, slopes and plains to the Chiriqui lowlands near the Pacific and your hotel for the night, near the town of Caldera, Rancho de Caldera.  (B/D)

Day 11 - Caldera - David - Bocas del Toro:  Today you leave mainland Panama by being driven to the airport at David for your short flight across to the Caribbean and Isla Colon in Bocas del Toro. Here you will be met by your “Bocas” host and taken to the pier for the 45-minute boat ride to Tranquilo Bay, your all inclusive accommodations for the next 3 nights. (B/L/D)

Day 12 and Day 13 - Bocas del Toro:  Your inclusive Tranquilo Bay program includes self-guided activities of hiking in the area, kayaking, snorkeling; in addition, there are guided excursions to nearby beaches, as well as allowing for guided birding, snorkeling, diving, jungle hiking, kayaking, surfing excursions.  (B/L/D)

Day14 - Bocas del Toro-Panama City (Albrook to Tocumen) - USA: Early morning boat back to the airport at Isla Colon for the flight back to the domestic airport at Albrook, where you will be met and transferred to the international airport at Tocumen for your flight back to the USA.  (B)

RATES and DETAILS: