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Panama12 daysMax 12Solo-friendly

Panama – From Canal to Caribbean

Journey through Panama in a small group of up to 12, from the engineering wonder of the Miraflores Locks and the colonial grandeur of Casco Viejo to the coral reefs and mangroves of the Bocas del Toro archipelago.

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As Featured In

The TelegraphCulture TripThe TimesLonely PlanetThe GuardianIndependentNational GeographicThe TelegraphCulture TripThe TimesLonely PlanetThe GuardianIndependentNational Geographic
About this journey

The story behind the route

This journey through Panama combines history, culture, and natural beauty in equal measure. Beginning in the colonial quarter of Panama City, explore the stories of two cities and witness the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal. With so many attractions to explore in Panama City, this is just the start. Travel deep into the rainforest to meet the Emberá people, discover UNESCO-listed fortresses, and experience the highland town of Boquete with its cloud forests, coffee fincas, and hanging bridges. Crossing the Continental Divide leads to the turquoise waters of Bocas del Toro, where coral reefs, mangroves, and island culture await. The adventure concludes with rainforest walks, striking modern architecture, and a farewell in Panama City.

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The journey

Panama – From Canal to Caribbean

Key moments

The moments that define this trip

Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.

Your route
map
  1. Panama's Colonial and Canal Heritage

    From the 16th-century ruins of Panamá Viejo to the elegant plazas of Casco Viejo and the Mola, Canal, and Chocolate museums, Day 2 delivers a rich narrative of trade, empire, and indigenous artistry. The visit to the Miraflores Locks observation terraces places that history in its modern context, as colossal vessels navigate the engineering marvel that reshaped world commerce.

  2. Indigenous Communities and Caribbean Fortresses

    Day 3 ventures north to meet the Emberá people by dugout canoe — sharing traditions, music, and a community-prepared lunch in a remote forest setting. The day's second act is Fort San Lorenzo, a UNESCO World Heritage fortress perched above the Caribbean where tales of pirates, Spanish galleons, and colonial conquest echo from every stone.

  3. Highland Cloud Forest and Coffee Culture

    Three nights in Boquete open up the cool, mist-laden world above the clouds — hanging bridges, quetzal-inhabited forest reserves, and the UNESCO wilderness of La Amistad International Park. Specialist visits to a coffee finca and a rum tasting experience reveal the agricultural soul of the Chiriquí highlands.

  4. Bocas del Toro Islands and Marine Life

    The Caribbean archipelago of Bocas del Toro provides three nights of island immersion — snorkelling coral reefs, exploring mangrove channels by boat, and visiting the Ngäbe-Buglé people on Isla Colón. A relaxed day on Bastimentos Island combines coastal rainforest walks with golden-sand beaches and the chance to spot sloths and the famous red poison-dart frog.

  5. Rainforest Finale and Panama's Natural Story

    The tour closes with a morning in Soberanía National Park, walking canopy trails and ascending the Rainforest Discovery Center tower for panoramic birdwatching. An afternoon at the Biomuseo — Frank Gehry's landmark on the Amador Causeway — ties Panama's extraordinary biodiversity to the geological story of the isthmus itself.

Key moments for Panama – From Canal to Caribbean

Full itinerary · 12 days

Prefer a PDF? Get the printable dossier
Dates & prices

Pick your departure

Reserve your place with a 10% deposit. Final balance due 70 days before departure. Single-room supplements optional — most travellers happily share.

  • Departure
    24 Nov 20265 Dec 2026
    Guaranteed
    From
    £3,995£3,795 pp
    Single supp. +£875
    Book now
  • Departure
    24 Feb 20277 Mar 2027
    Guaranteed
    From
    £3,995 pp
    Single supp. +£875
    Book now
  • Departure
    5 May 202716 May 2027
    Guaranteed
    From
    £3,995 pp
    Single supp. +£875
    Book now
  • Departure
    23 Nov 20274 Dec 2027
    Guaranteed
    From
    £3,995 pp
    Single supp. +£875
    Book now

Can’t find the right fit?

Every one of our Panama journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.

Tailor my trip
What's included

Everything covered — and what's not

Included in the price

  • Arrival and departure transfers
  • All accommodation
  • Ground Transportation
  • Services of a driver and English-speaking local guides
  • Meals as listed
  • Entrance fees as per the itinerary

Budget separately for

  • International flights
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Any airport taxes
  • Travel Insurance
  • Visa (if applicable)
  • Drinks
  • Tips (discretionary)
Before you go

Essential information

Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.

Foreign Office travel advice

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.

Voices from the road

What travellers say about us

Reviews from across our small-group programme — Mongolia, Madagascar, the Silk Road and beyond. 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

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Ready when you are

Start planning your Panama adventure

Join a small-group departure, or let our Panama specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.

Common questions

Things travellers usually ask

  • How many travellers will be in my group?

    Maximum 12 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.

  • Can I travel solo?

    Yes — there's no compulsory single supplement on our small-group tours. You get your own room at no extra cost. About 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you'll be in good company.

  • How fit do I need to be?

    Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.

  • When are the next departures?

    The next available departures are 24 November 2026; 24 February 2027; 5 May 2027. See the "Pick your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.

  • What's included in the tour price?

    Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure transfers; All accommodation; Ground Transportation; and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.

  • Where exactly does this trip go?

    This tour visits Panama. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.

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