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HIGHLIGHTS
A quick look about this trip!
DURATION
8 DAYS
COMFORT
LANGUAGE
RATING
  • We visit the famous Panama Canal on our way to the mountain town of Boquete, surrounded by national parks, hiking trails, hot springs and white water.
  • We climb into our jeeps for the two and a half hour ride through eastern Panama Province, climbing into the mountains.
  • We’ll have a day to hike several trails around the lodge, including an optional early morning birding walk and a night hike.
  • Options to do any activities include rafting the Class III-IV whitewater of the Rio Chiriqui, touring a coffee plantation, enjoying a zip line canopy tour, or simply wandering the coffee houses and wine bars in town.
ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP
Primary: Hiking
Other: Zip Line, Snorkeling, Parks & Nature Reserves, Bird Watching, Waterfalls, Local Culture & Cuisine, Arts & Crafts, whitewater rafting, Swimming, Volcanoes, Wildlife, sightseeing, national parks, flight, walking, canopy tour
$2498USD
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ONGOING PROMOTIONS
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Applies to Departures Between:
4/25/2012 and 1/1/2013
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From 4/25/2012 To 6/1/2012
TRIP MAP
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Adventure Panama - Mountains, Beaches, and Jungle Trails

Panama is relatively unknown as a nature lover’s and adventure traveler’s destination. Compared to better-known Costa Rica, it has a similar landscape of mountains, beaches, and jungles; trails to hike and rivers to raft.
Caribbean islands, jungle lodges, mountain towns—undiscovered Panama has it all.

Panama is relatively unknown as a nature lover and adventure traveler’s destination. Similar to better-known Costa Rica, it has a landscape of mountains, beaches, and jungles; trails to hike and rivers to raft. Panamanians like to say, however, “in Costa Rica ten tourists look for one elusive quetzal, in Panama one traveler can find ten quetzals.” Whether or not you’ll see ten of these elusive birds, we’re sure that you’ll be enchanted by all that Panama has to offer.

Aventouras’ Adventure Panama starts with two nights at the beautiful and tranquil Burbayar Lodge in the upland jungle. From there we move on to the remote San Blas archipelago, a gem of paradise on the Caribbean, equally spectacular for its beaches and indigenous culture. We visit the famous Panama Canal on our way to the mountain town of Boquete, surrounded by national parks, hiking trails, hot springs and white water. Boquete is our base for two nights as we experience adventure in a natural setting
unsurpassed in Central America.
Day 1: Arrive in Panama City and transfer to the Hotel Marbella
We meet at Tocumen International Airport, Panama’s modern capitol, and transfer to the Hotel Marbella in the city’s El Cangrejo district. The Marbella is a simple, quiet hotel close to restaurants and shops. For anyone arriving early this day we can arrange a city tour to Panama Viejo, or a visit to the Metropolitan Park.
Transfer from Tocumen International Airport to the hotel (45 minutes)

Optional city tour or visit to Metropolitan Park (dependent upon arrival time)
Overnight at the Hotel Marbella
Lodging Hotel Marbella
Description Right in the heart of the city, surrounded by banks and selected stores, the hotel is located in one of the quietest areas in Panama City. All rooms are equipped with air conditioner, hot/cold shower, cable tv, desk and telephone.
Day 2: Transfer to Burbayar Lodge and waterfall hike
This morning, after a full breakfast at the Hotel Marbella, we climb into our jeeps for the two and a half hour ride through eastern Panama Province, climbing into the mountains. Our destination is the Burbayar Lodge, which means ‘spirit of the mountain’ in the Kuna language.

Burbayar is a simple lodge of beautiful cabins, with hammocks and dining tables set on a deck that wraps around the main house. Meals are simple, hearty and fulfilling; a mixture of fish, chicken, soup and salad. The lodge is known for its variety of birds, wildlife, and hiking trails.

When we arrive we will check into our rooms, get settled, explore the property and have our first meal on the open deck dining table, with views of the jungle, hills, and hummingbirds. After lunch we will set out on our first hike, to a nearby waterfall. The hike is about two hours each way, winding through primary and secondary jungle with a series of short hills.
  • Breakfast at the Marbella Hotel
  • Transfer to Burbayar Lodge (2.5 hours)
  • Hike to a nearby waterfall (4 hours round trip)
  • Lunch, dinner, and overnight at Burbayar Lodge
Lodging Burbayar Lodge
Description Somebody once said about Burbayar that it was “the little house in the mountain we all dreamed of having”. And the truth is, we have made a lodge which provides all the basic comforts but is totally natural! We have been able to build our lodge in the middle of the forest using wood obtained sustainably.
Day 3: Burbayar Lodge hiking
Burbayar Lodge is a part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC). The MBC goes from the south of Mexico to Panama, including Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The general objective of the MBC is to keep the biological connection of the entire zone in order to avoid forest fragmentation and loss of habitats, flora, fauna and cultures, as well as to assure its sustainable use. Today we’ll have the day to hike several trails around the lodge, including an optional early morning birding walk and a night hike. We’ll also be able to hike in the late morning and afternoon, returning to the lodge for lunch on the outside deck.
  • Optional morning birding hike
  • Hikes around the lodge in primary and secondary jungle
  • Meals at the lodge
  • Optional night hike
  • Overnight Burbayar Lodge
Lodging Burbayar Lodge
Description Somebody once said about Burbayar that it was “the little house in the mountain we all dreamed of having”. And the truth is, we have made a lodge which provides all the basic comforts but is totally natural! We have been able to build our lodge in the middle of the forest using wood obtained sustainably.
Day 4: Transfer to San Blas islands, snorkeling and swimming
Today we trade mountain jungle for Caribbean islands and the native Kuna community. After breakfast and an optional early morning birding walk at Burbayar Lodge we’ll drive an hour and a half to the coast at Carti, and then climb into a small boat for the 45 minute ride to the island of Wichub Wala. Upon our arrival we’ll have some time to get settled into our lodge and wander around the small island community, perhaps viewing the molas (tapestries) for which the Kuna are famous. After lunch we’ll get back in the boat for a short ride to another, unsettled island, for an afternoon of snorkeling, swimming, and relaxing on the beach. We’ll make our way back to the lodge around dusk, taking in the colorful Caribbean sunset from the boat or perhaps from our hammocks.
  • Optional morning birding walk (1 hour)
  • Transfer to San Blas Islands (1.5 hours van, 1 hour boat)
  • Snorkeling and swimming from an uninhabited island (4 hours)
  • Shopping for molas and other Kuna crafts
  • Overnight at Kuna Niskua lodge
Lodging Kuna Niskua lodge
Description Fifteen years ago, Juan Antonio Martinez opened the Kuna Niskua Lodge (Kuna Niskua means Kuna Star) on his home island Wishub-Wala. The hotel is situated in the middle of the island, surrounded by a Kuna community. There is no beach on the island, but you can wander around the community, watch the children playing, the men fishing or constructing houses, and the women making handicrafts.
Day 5: Flight to Panama City, visit to Miraflores Locks, flight to David and Boquete
No trip to Panama is complete without a visit to the canal! Today we’ll stop over at the Panama Canal visitor center at the Miraflores Locks on our way from San Blas to Boquete via Panama City. Early in the morning we’ll catch our half hour flight to Panama City, arriving around 7:30 am, we will then continue to the Miraflores Locks to explore exhibits about the canal’s history, construction, and the ecosystems through which the canal passes. After, we’ll go up to the rooftop observatory above the locks to see the canal in action. Our flight to David, gateway city to Boquete, doesn’t leave until later this afternoon, giving us time to visit the Metropolitan Natural Park for an optional hike. The Metropolitan Natural Park (MNP) shelters several plants and animals threatened by extinction and serves as an ideal laboratory for tropical research. Here, we will have the option to hike one of the parks three trails with views of the city, bay, canal, and the Miraflores Locks.

Our afternoon flight to David leaves at 4 pm, followed by the 45-minute drive to the beautiful mountain town of Boquete where we’ll have dinner and check into our lodge for the next two nights. Villa Marita has seven cabins with hardwood floors, large windows, and a beautiful view of Volcan Baru.
  • Morning boat transfer to Porvenir and flight to Panama City (30 minute flight)
  • Miraflores Locks
  • Optional hikes in Metropolitan Natural Park
  • Fight to David, drive to Boquete (1 hour flight, 45-minute van)
  • Overnight at Villa Marita
Lodging Villa Marita
Description Built in 1996 on the El Santuario plateau, on the side of Baru Volcano, with great views over the nearby valley. The hotel offers 6 cabañas, each with a bedroom, sitting room and bathroom. 4 of these also have an outdoor terrace. The cabañas offer either a queen-size bed or two twin beds.
Day 6: Options day: rafting, coffee tour, zip line canopy tour, birding
Today we enjoy several options. Boquete sits at over 3000 feet elevation, giving it a cool and comfortable climate and making it an ideal region for coffee growing. Our options today include rafting the Class III-IV whitewater of the Rio Chiriqui, touring a coffee plantation, enjoying a zip line canopy tour, or simply wandering the coffee houses and wine bars in town. Villa Marita is a twenty-five minute walk, or a very short cab ride, from the town center, making it a perfect place from which to enjoy all the town’s amenities.
  • Rafting the Rio Chiriqui (all day); coffee tour (morning or afternoon); wine bars and coffee houses and browsing (however long you’d like)
  • Overnight at Villa Marita
Lodging Villa Marita
Description Built in 1996 on the El Santuario plateau, on the side of Baru Volcano, with great views over the nearby valley. The hotel offers 6 cabañas, each with a bedroom, sitting room and bathroom. 4 of these also have an outdoor terrace. The cabañas offer either a queen-size bed or two twin beds.
Day 7: Morning hike Sendero Los Quetzales, afternoon flight to Panama City, farewell dinner
This morning we’ll hike, and for the birders among us, seek the elusive quetzal. The quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala, sought by many birders in Costa Rica, but most easily seen in Panama. The Sendero Los Quetzales (quetzal trail) is one of our hiking options, through cloud forest in Volcan Baru national park. After our hike we’ll drive down to David for our flight back to Panama City, followed by our farewell dinner at Limoncillo or similar.
  • Hiking the Sendero Los Quetzales or another trail through cloud forest
  • Drive to David, flight to Panama City (45-minue van, 1 hour flight)
  • Overnight at Hotel Marbella
Lodging Hotel Marbella
Description Right in the heart of the city, surrounded by banks and selected stores, the hotel is located in one of the quietest areas in Panama City. All rooms are equipped with air conditioner, hot/cold shower, cable tv, desk and telephone.
Day 8: Airport transfers and flights home or optional extensions
After our last breakfast together, we shuttle to the Tocumen International Airport for our flights home. For anyone with flights later in the day, city tours or a visit to the Metropolitan Park can be arranged.
TRIP INCLUDES
  • Seven nights accommodations as listed above, double occupancy with a single supplement optional.
  • All meals starting with dinner on the first night and ending with breakfast on the last day.
  • Permanent English-speaking tour leader throughout the trip.
  • All in-country transportation, including two domestic flights.
  • All entrance tickets, for example to national preserves.
  • All excursions and activities included above, including gear and local expert guides.
  • A detailed pre-trip departure packet with packing suggestions, background reading, and other trip-specific information.
TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE
  • Personal expenses such as telephone bills, laundry expenses, and alcoholic beverages.
  • Airport departure tax for your return flight, which is usually included in the price of your airline ticket.
  • Insurance against illness, accident, and/or theft.
  • Standard clothes for the activities listed (e.g., hiking boots; we provide the specialty items necessary for activities such as rafting).
  • Any additional costs incurred due to circumstances beyond our control, such as delayed flights.
CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

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