Yampu Latin America Tours » Panama » Complete Panama: Panama City and Canal, Rainforest, Anton Valley and San Blas

Starting Price:	£2,392.00
Trip Length:	8 days

Interests:

Off The Beaten Path
Ecotourism/Wildlife
Historical and Cultural

Anton Valley

Panama Canal

San Blas

Complete Panama: Panama City and Canal, Rainforest, Anton Valley and San Blas

Description Pricing Itinerary Hotels

Yampu’s comprehensive tour includes a visit to the Gamboa Rainforest Resort and Soberania National Park, and partial transit on the Panama Canal. We then return to Panama City to visit Anton Valley, one of the most colorful towns in Panama with their Sunday market. We then fly to the San Blas Islands, where we will spend a night and visit Kuna Indians in their natural habitat. We have a couple of days in Panama City and one in the historic town of Portobelo. All transfers and most services (except at Gamboa and the canal) are provided on a private basis.

Panama Canal Transit Market operates only on Saturdays, so ideal start date for this trip is Thursday (or Friday if you tour Soberania National Park the day after). This can be modified to suit your schedule by rearranging the itinerary. You also choose the type of accommodation (3-Star to 5-Star hotels).

This tour includes international airfare from London (UK), on non-holiday dates. You do not need to fly via London; Yampu will fly you the most direct way to your city of destination. Depending on your travel dates and proximity of travel, we will quote you the most economical surcharge from your city or country of origin.

Additional information on this trip:

Days of Week the Trip can Start:
Thursday, Friday
Dates this trip is NOT available for online booking (please submit a regular request):
20 December - 02 January
Visited Cities:
Panama City

Day 1

Thursday
Upon arrival in Panama City, private transfer to your hotel.

Day 2

Friday
Mini-hiking and aerial tram ride: Soberania National Park and Gamboa Resort
Depart from Panama City early in the morning for Soberania National Park and world-famous Pipeline Road, the right place for bird watchers and ecologists. It was site of the 1985 world record Panama Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count (385 species of birds were identified in 24 hours). During World War II, a pipeline was built to transport fuel from one ocean to the other. Fortunately, it was never used. Today, the road built to maintain the pipeline provides excellent access to primary forest within Soberania National Park with the comfort and safety of vehicle support. After this short hike, we will head to Gamboa Rainforest Resort. There you will be taken into an aerial tram that takes you from the shadowy rainforest floor through the understory, and into the sun- drenched canopy. You will enjoy a bird’s-eye view of a thousand hues of green interspersed with the fluorescent exclamation points of flowering trees. The aerial tram is located in 100 hectares of rainforest licensed to Gamboa Rainforest Resort. Here one finds an exuberant flora and fauna typical of Panama’s neo-tropical forests. The resort has built five exhibits that showcase local flora and fauna as well as a replica of an Embera Indian village. Afterward, you will be transferred back to your hotel. The tour includes transportation, entrance fee to Soberania National Park and water. Overnight at Gamboa Resort.

Day 3

Pick up from Gamboa for a Partial Canal Transit
Your trip departs from the Flamenco Marina, and you will travel from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic. You will be able to admire the Bay of Panama and Panama City’s skyline, and later you will pass under the Bridge of the Americas. At Miraflores Locks, the vessel will ascend 54 feet in two distinct steps. You will then enter Miraflores Lake, which is a small artificial body of fresh water that separates Pedro Miguel Locks from Miraflores Locks. Next, the Pacific Queen will enter Pedro Miguel Locks, which is one of the two sets of locks on the Pacific side, and here the vessel will be raised the last 27 feet to get into Gatun Lake. Once at Gatun Lake, you will sail through the north end of the Gaillard Cut, where the Chagres River flows into the Canal. The Gaillard Cut is also known as Culebra Cut because its curves resemble a snake (“culebra” in Spanish) and is one of the main points of interest for visitors because it was carved through the Continental Divide. The vessel will travel the Cut’s 13.7 kilometers on the way to the Panama Canal Dredging Division in Gamboa where passengers disembark and transfer back to Flamenco Pier.

Note: Exact itinerary may vary depending on where the transit starts.

Day 4

Sunday
Tour to Anton Valley
Tour to Anton Valley in the province of Cocle, 600 meters above sea level and believed to be the crater of an ancient volcano. Visit the residential area, the Macho Waterfall, the thermal poles and the Nispero Farm where you can watch the famous golden frogs. Afterward we will have a typical lunch (included) at a local restaurant. El Valle de Anton is one of the most colorful areas of Panama.

The tour will take you to the Indian market where local artisans and Indians bring their handicrafts, plants and vegetable products to sell. There, you can find fine and wonderful hand-made woodcarvings, soapstone sculptures, seashells, souvenirs, leather goodies and much more.

Later, visit the Indian petroglyphs, where ancient inhabitants left their messages—still a mystery for our modern culture. Also, admire the India Dormida Mountan, so called because of its resemblance to a sleeping Indian woman. Finally, visit El Nispero, a zoo that cares for some of the endemic species after they were found injured in the forest. This zoo also has a unique collection of orchids. Here, you will admire the golden frogs and the squared trees, both endangered species. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Return to Panama late in the afternoon.

Optional: At El Valle you can take the Canopy Tour, which consists on a steel cable system that runs through the canopy of the forest, above Chorro del Macho (waterfall). There, using special harnesses you go through the forest, safely jumping from tree to tree. This activity costs an additional $40. This is an outdoor activity in the tropics, so light clothes, swimming suit, insect repellent, hat, sunscreen and comfortable shoes are recommended.

Day 5

Monday
Transfer to the airport to take the flight to San Blas, a diver’s paradise. Flights to San Blas arrive in the mornings only. Early check in is not guarateed. Optional morning tours are available.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Kuna Indians in their natural habitat. We will take a canoe trip to the surrounding islands with them. Overnight at the islands’ lodge, all meals included.

Day 6

Tuesday
Return to Panama City. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.

Panamanian Night Tour
Enjoy an oasis of flavor and folklore characteristic of the countryside and taste delicious Panamanian-style dishes in comfortable and elegant surroundings at Las Tinajas Restaurant in the center of Panama City. Includes transfer to and from hotel, typical Panamanian dinner, cover charge, service charge and dance show. Available only on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Day 7

Wednesday
Historic Portobelo tour
Between the 17th and 19th centuries, the Port of Portobelo served as a Spanish fortress and Caribbean terminal. Products such as species, gold and silver coming from Peru and other Spanish colonies passed through to the Pacific side by way of a trail called the Royal Path across the isthmus, to await ships to transport them to Spain. Portobelo was the victim of various pirate attacks, the best known being that by Henry Morgan. In 1671, Morgan and his men routed 1,500 poorly trained Spanish soldiers, took more than 100,000 pounds of stolen goods and treasures, and then burned Panama City to the ground. The small island of Drake, where his remains are located, is another attraction. We will visit all the ruins of the colonial port, the customhouse where the treasures and gold were stored and Portobelo Church, where the famous Black Christ statue rests, before taking a boat tour around the bay. A celebration to commemorate the Black Christ, which is venerated throughout the country, is held every October 21. Lunch included (with no drinks).

Day 8

Thursday
Transfer to the airport to take the flight to back home, or choose from optional add-ons in Panama, extension to Costa Rica other Central American countries.

Occupancy Type	3-star	4-star	5-star
Double/Triple	£2392	£2585	£2922
Single	£3066	£3452	£3869

Yampu Latin America Tours is a trading name of Kontiki Tours & Travel Ltd – Registered in England, Company No: 6054303 ATOL Number: 9522 VAT Number 919 1679 90 – 0800 011 2424 – Email Us

Panama City
3-star	Granada or similar.
4-star	Ejecutivo or similar.
5-star	Riande Continental, Crowne Plaza or similar.
Boutique	Canal House (Casco Viejo area)

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