Experience the extraordinary natural beauty and rich cultural heritage of Panama with our expertly guided tours and holiday packages.
Panama is one of Central America's most rewarding destinations — a slender land bridge where dense tropical rainforest meets two ocean coastlines, and where ancient Spanish fortresses stand within sight of one of the world's great feats of modern engineering. Panama City pairs the cobbled lanes of Casco Viejo with the ruins of Panamá Viejo, while the Panama Canal remains an extraordinary sight. Beyond the capital, cloud-draped highlands give way to Caribbean islands, indigenous communities, and wildlife-rich national parks that make this country as diverse as any on the continent.
Our small group Panama tours take you deep into this variety — from canoe journeys to Emberá villages and misty walks through Boquete's cloud forests to snorkelling the coral reefs of Bocas del Toro. With a maximum of 12 travellers per departure, our Panama holidays are led by knowledgeable local guides who open doors that most visitors never find.
Panama
Small-group departures led by local experts, plus private tailor-made itineraries shaped around your interests, pace and dates.
Panama is the only place on Earth where you can watch the sun rise over the Pacific and set over the Caribbean — a quirk of geography that reflects the country's extraordinary variety of landscapes, ecosystems and experiences.
Panama sits at the meeting point of two continents, making it one of the most biodiverse corridors on the planet. From the rainforests of Soberanía to the highland forests of La Amistad, the wildlife viewing — birds especially — is exceptional.
Panama is home to several distinct indigenous groups, including the Emberá and Ngäbe-Buglé, who maintain strong cultural traditions. Our Panama tours include genuine community visits arranged respectfully and with local involvement.
From Panamá Viejo and Fort San Lorenzo to the Panama Canal, this small country carries an outsized historical story — Spanish conquest, pirate raids, the gold route, and the transformation of global shipping all left their mark here.
See itinerariesPanama rewards travellers who slow down — the best stories are found off the tour-bus route.
From the field
Sweet spot: May
Panama has two distinct seasons shaped by its geography. The dry season runs from roughly December to April, bringing sunny skies and lower humidity — particularly welcome in the highlands around Boquete and in Panama City. The wet season (May to November) sees afternoon rains that keep the rainforests lush and the wildlife active; mornings are often clear and travel remains very manageable. The Caribbean coast around Bocas del Toro operates on a slightly different weather pattern, with rain possible year-round but rarely all day. The highlands of Chiriquí are cooler throughout the year, making Boquete a pleasant escape from the coastal heat in any season.
Dispatches, field notes and practical advice from our specialists.
Reviews from across our small-group programme. Independently rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ travellers.
“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”
Anna
“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”
Grete
“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”
Frank
“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”
Cathy
“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”
Lynn
“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”
Andy
“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”
Jennie
“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”
Debbie
“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”
Alexis
“Fabulous, unusual destination, and great people. A private tour of somewhere little-visited, with great service from start to finish and excellent knowledge and advice from Undiscovered Destinations throughout.”
Steve
“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”
Anna
“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”
Grete
“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”
Frank
“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”
Cathy
“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”
Lynn
“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”
Andy
“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”
Jennie
“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”
Debbie
“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”
Alexis
“Fabulous, unusual destination, and great people. A private tour of somewhere little-visited, with great service from start to finish and excellent knowledge and advice from Undiscovered Destinations throughout.”
Steve
Every one of our Panama journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.
We’ll build one around you.
A tailor-made Panama holiday suits travellers who want to set their own pace through this richly varied country. You might spend extra days exploring the coffee estates and hanging bridges around Boquete, arrange a private boat among the islands of Bocas del Toro, or extend time in Casco Viejo to take in its galleries, restaurants and colonial architecture at leisure. Indigenous community visits with the Emberá can be arranged privately, and La Amistad National Park rewards those with more time to explore its trails.
Undiscovered Destinations designs private Panama travel packages with personal transport, hand-picked local guides and carefully chosen accommodation — from boutique highland lodges to Caribbean island retreats. Speak to our team and we'll build an itinerary around what matters most to you.
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Our Panama tour packages start from £3,995 per person for a 12-day small group departure. Longer itineraries combining Panama with neighbouring countries start from £6,095. All tours include accommodation, ground transport, English-speaking guides, and most meals — international flights are not included in the headline price.
Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.
We constantly monitor official travel advice, including the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Panama Travel Advice, and will always advise clients of any warnings before departure. At the time of writing, there are no specific warnings against travel to the parts of Panama that we visit on our tours.
Please contact us if you have any specific concerns or would like to understand what measures are in place to ensure your trip remains safe and trouble-free.
For additional official guidance, travellers may also refer to:
Please note this information applies primarily to British citizens — nationals of other countries should check the current position with their respective government travel authority.
Join a small-group departure, or let our Panama specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.
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