Central America

Panama Vacation Package

8 Days Panama Multi Sport Tour Package

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights
Priced From: $1,965 pp dbl. occ.
Dates: Jul, Aug, Dec

Group Size: Min 2 - Max 16

Accommodations: Rainforest Resort, Jungle Lodge

Day 1. Arrive to Tocumen Airport, Panama City. Meet and greet our Ancon Expeditions of Panama representative and transfer to the town of Gamboa by the Panama Canal (45 minutes) where we will spend the next 2 nights at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. Depending on our arrival time, we can opt to join any of the outdoor activities available at the hotel. Meals are on our own today. Night at Gamboa Rainforest Resort

Day 2. Early this morning we will meet our guide over breakfast for a briefing. Soon enough we take a 15 minute drive to the Camino de Cruces (Las Cruces Trail). This historic trail was built by the Spanish in the early years of the colony to communicate Panama City, located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, with Fort San Lorenzo, by the mouth of the mighty Chagres River on the Caribbean Sea. The stoned trail ended at a bend on the Chagres River (where it now meets the Panama Canal) and from there on transportation of goods and people took place via dugout canoes. Fortunately a 10 km stretch of the trail (4-5 hours) has been protected within Soberania National Park. The mostly flat trail will take us through magnificent rainforests teeming with exotic wildlife and historic landmarks. We will reach the ruins of the town of Venta de Cruces, by the Chagres River, where we board a comfortable expedition boat and depart on an adventure that will include a voyage across Gatun Lake in the Panama Canal passing by gigantic cargo ships transiting the waterway, making contrast with the natural surroundings. Along the way, we will have the opportunity to spot Green iguana and Three-toed sloth resting on tree branches, Crocodile, Osprey in the hunt for Peacock bass, Snail kite and Keel-billed toucan among other wildlife. Gatun Lake was formed to give way to the Panama Canal in 1914. With a surface of 423 square-kilometers, at the time of its creation was the largest man-made lake in the world. The flow of all the rivers within the Panama Canal Watershed is contained in Gatun Lake to provide water for the operation of the lock system. More than 52 million gallons of fresh water are used for every ship that transits through the Panama Canal from one ocean to another. Our expedition boat will allow close approximations to rainforest covered islands (former hill tops) in Gatun Lake to search for White-faced capuchin, Mantled howler monkey, Spider monkey, and Geoffrey's tamarin. Night at Gamboa Rainforest Resort (B,L)

Day 3. Early in the morning we depart on a 35 minute drive to El Corotu on the shores of Madden Lake. The main reservoir of drinking water for the cities of Panama and Colon, Madden Lake also supplies 40% of the water required for the operation of the Panama Canal. Here, we board a motorized piragua (dugout canoe) and travel up the Chagres River to the Embera indigenous village of Embera Drua. The dugout canoe journey takes us through the rainforest of the 320,000-acre Chagres National Park, which is the largest of the National Parks protecting the Panama Canal Watershed. Along the Chagres River, we may be able to spot Little Blue and Green Heron, Great Egret, Anhingas, Neotropical Cormorant, Amazon, Ringed, and Green Kingfishers, along with Keel-billed Toucans and Ospreys flying above. At the Embera village we will be greeted with dancing and music. We will learn about Embera customs and their relationship with nature. There will be handcrafts available for sale and we will have a chance to be painted with the traditional jagua, a natural dye the Embera use to adorn their bodies. After a picnic lunch we visit the nearby waterfall where we can take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the Chagres River. We can also hike the medicine trail with a local guide. Night at Gamboa Rainforest Resort (B,L)

Day 4. Today we check out from Gamboa and head East on the Panamerican Highway (2 hours) to the Mamoni River for a day of whitewater adventure. The river is classified as Class II-III at its upper section and Class III-IV at the lowest section. There are a couple of passes that we choose to hike due to safety considerations, among them, a beautiful Class VI fall. NOTE: During our dry season (usually February through May) we only run kayaks on this river. Along the way we will enjoy the wonderful scenery. We arrive to the take out zone by mid afternoon. From here we drive a short distance to Burbayar a private nature reserve protecting some of the most spectacular rainforests found in Central America. Night at Burbayar Jungle Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 5. Today we will hike on one or two trails within the reserve. There will be options to go bird watching at a slower pace looking for specialties of the area or to do a more demanding hike to reach a couple of spectacular and seldom visited waterfalls. Night at Burbayar Jungle Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 6. At the crack of dawn we will enjoy a hearty breakfast and soon will be on our way. This time we will drive north on 4x4 vehicles along a recently recovered jungle road. A quick stop at the Continental Divide will reveal splendid views of the vast rainforest protected by the Kuna Indians as far as the Caribbean Sea our destination. The 20 km ride will be accomplished in 1.5 hours accounting a couple stops along the way for nature observation. On arrival to the shore a motorized dugout canoe will be waiting to take us to Carti, a Kuna Indian village, for a cultural visit. We continue a short distance to an idyllic palm tree covered island where we spend the rest of the day snorkeling and relaxing. Tonight we will stay at lodge owned by a Kuna family. Night at Coco Blanco Kuna Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 7. This morning we fly back to Panama City (35 minutes) from El Porvenir. On arrival we are transferred to our hotel located at the entrance of the Panama Canal on the Pacific Ocean. We have the morning off to rest, enjoy a walk along the Amador Causeway or shop at the nearby handcraft market. For lunch we will hop on bicycles and ride to a nearby seafood restaurant overlooking the Bay of Panama and the modern city of Panama. In the afternoon we visit the Smithsonian's Punta Culebra Marine Exhibits and the Frank O. Gehry Biodiversity Museum. We return to the hotel to freshen up before heading out to colonial Casco Viejo for a walking tour. We stay in the area for a farewell dinner at local restaurant. Night at the Country Inn - Panama Canal (BLD)

Day 8. After breakfast, catch the group transfer back to the airport for homeward-bound flights or spend additional time in Panama exploring this incredible country on your own (B)

• All Taxes
• Lodging
• All land
• Air and water transportation within Panama
• All airport/hotel transfers on scheduled arrival and departure dates
• Meals as specified in the itinerary (B - breakfast, L - lunch, D - dinner)
• Park, museum and related entrance fees,
• Guides' services and expenses and the services of an in-bound land operator for airline re-confirmations and tour operations.
• Camping gear (tents and eating utensils)

• Tourist card ($5 per person)
• Passport & Visa Costs
• Vaccination Costs
• Personal Spending Money
• Meals where not listed
• Drinks
• International Flights
• Travel Insurance
• Airport departure taxes

• Snorkeling
• Diving

Weight restrictions apply to luggage in commercial and chartered flights within Panama. A maximum of 25 lbs. of checked luggage and 10 lbs. of carry-on per person is allowed. Arrangements can be made with Ancon Expeditions to store luggage that will not

Prices & itineraries are correct at the time of printing. Itineraries & prices may change due to currency fluctuations, local conditions or events outside the control of A.I and her local operators. Please see our booking terms & conditions for full details.

Contact: Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-415-446-5252 or 1-800-330-8820

12/09

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