Culture & Caribbean: Panama City to Bocas del Toro

  • Trip Type
  • Adventure
  • Length
  • 8 Days / 7 Nights
  • When to Go
  • Year-Round
Excitement in the city & blissful Caribbean Seas

A colorful mosaic of sleek metropolis gems, golden beaches, misty mountaintops, lush rainforest and stunning highland coffee plantations, Panama has no shortage of beautiful, intriguing things to discover. Discover Panama City’s bustling urban center and its historic canal that stretches from coast to coast. Then, head to Bocas del Toro for a four-day retreat in laid-back island paradise. 

Trip Highlights

  • Art & architecture in Panama City
  • Panama Canal & Gatún Lake jungle cruise
  • Dolphin spotting in Bocas del Toro
  • Private catamaran sail & snorkeling
  • Lush jungles & deserted beaches

similar trips per person from:

$6,075.00 low season (May - Oct)
$5,785.00 high season (Nov - Apr)
prices vary based on departure season.

At a Glance

Click each day for more details

  • Arrive to Central America’s answer to New York – the stunningly modern seaside metropolis of Panama City. You'll be met by a driver to whisk you away to the American Trade Hotel, a luxurious oasis in the heart of the city's colonial Casco Viejo neighborhood. Settle in for some rest and relaxation after a long travel day, or get out to explore Casco Viejo’s charming cobblestone streets on foot.

  • Begin your day with a guided walking tour through Casco Viejo, Panama City’s “Old Town”. Wander cobblestone streets, marveling at the beautiful colonial architecture and plazas, as you learn about the rich history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Next, discover an impressive feat of engineering at the world-famous Panama Canal, where you will watch ships transit from the viewing platform at Miraflores Locks.

  • The tree-lined shores, tiny islets, and blue-green waters of Gatún Lake cover what was once the fertile Chagres River Valley. Today, the lake forms an integral part of the famous Panama Canal. Cruise along the lakeshore, discovering Panama’s biodiversity as you search for monkeys, sloths, crocodiles and more.

  • The beach is calling! What’s a tropical beach vacation without some sun? Fly to Bocas Town, a colorful tourist hub filled with local artisans, trendy bars, and international restaurants. Soak up the laid-back Caribbean vibe, then transfer to the ultra-luxe Nayara Bocas del Toro, an idyllic jungle haven with offshore coral reefs. Check into your luxe private overwater villa, and spend the afternoon laid out beside your private plunge pool.

  • After a restful sleep in paradise, wake up to nature’s gentle alarm clock – the sounds of waves crashing on the shore. Enjoy a beautiful sunrise from your deck, then spend your day discovering a world beneath the waves. Watch bottlenose dolphins at play, before donning a snorkel and fins, and slipping into the warm water to explore abundant coral formations that provide homes to brightly colored tropical fish, sea stars, anemones, eagle rays and nurse sharks.

  • Your final days at Nayara Bocas are an opportunity to hit the rest button. Gear down into vacation mode, take a step back, and a deep breath in, and let go. Spend the day enjoying the beautiful seas surrounding the Nayara. Relax in the privacy of your villa, lounge beside your plunge pool and catch some rays, or swing in a hammock beneath gently rustling coconut palms as you revel in spectacular ocean views - ranging in color from vibrant turquoise to sea glass green to deep cobalt and royal blues. If you're craving adventure, try your hand at kayaking or stand up paddle, or don a snorkel and jump in!

  • Bid farewell to Nayara Bocas, transfer back to the airport at Bocas del Toro and board a flight bound for Panama City to continue your onward travels.

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Accommodations

American Trade Hotel, Panama

Located in the heart of Panama City’s charming old town, Casco Viejo, the American Trade Hotel blends into its surroundings with canopied windows and graceful balustrades topped with ornamental trees. Inside, it combines classic mid-20th century style and Art Deco flair with modern amenities, including a rooftop pool, an onsite café that serves coffee made from beans grown and roasted in Panama, and the much loved place-to-be-seen where visitors and locals unite, Danilo’s Jazz Club. View hotel website.

Nayara Bocas, Bocas del Toro

Near vibrant Bocas Town in Bocas Del Toro, Panama, lies an extraordinary Balinese-inspired overwater getaway, Nayara Bocas del Toro. This unique property is a beautiful representation of innovation and timeless elegance designed by famed architect Andres Brenes. Located where the cerulean waters are warm year-round, enjoy endless adventures or reset and recharge – just steps from each villa sits a beckoning pool and pristine seas to float the days away. View hotel website.

What's Included?

Your trip includes everything you want & need, plus a few surprises along the way. Unique, unforgettable destinations; tours with local experts; authentic local cuisine; lessons, demonstrations & new cultural insights; more adventure than you can handle; blissful relaxation; romantic touches; and a feeling of total freedom. ROAM takes care of everything so that you can enjoy a hassle-free journey without worrying about a thing.

  • Airport pickup
  • All hotel accommodation
  • 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
  • Detailed maps and trip preparation guide
  • All special events and tours
  • All vehicle and regional air transportation from rendezvous to drop-off
  • All baggage transportation
  • All gratuities for baggage, porters and hotel service

Know Before You Go

  • Itinerary prices are dependent on season of departure. Christmas, New Years and Easter (Semana Santa) are peak season, and prices during these periods are significantlky higher than other times of year. High season runs from November through April, and green season from May through September.

  • Arrival: hotel check-in times are at 3:00pm, but you may arrive at any time during the day. If you arrive prior to the scheduled check-in time, we will arrange for early check-in wherever possible.

  • Departure: hotel check-out times are at 9:00am. International flights on your departure day should be arranged to depart after 1:30pm.

  • All prices in USD.

  • For vaccination recommendations, please visit the CDC website.

  • For American, Canadian, and British citizens, a valid passport with 6+ months remaining is required for entry to Panama.

  • Debit cards may not work in Central America, but most establishments accept major credit cards.

  • Please ensure you have immediate access to a minimum of USD $250 as an emergency fund to be used if circumstances outside our control (e.g. a natural disaster) require changes to your planned route.

  • If departing Panama by air, all major airlines include exit taxes (USD $40) in the price of your airfare.

  • It is customary to tip service providers (waiters) around 10% depending on service. Tipping taxi drivers is not required.

  • Gratuities for guides and drivers are deeply appreciated, and provide an important supplement to their income. If you are pleased with the tour services you've received, a guideline for tipping in Central America is USD $8-10 per person per day for multiple-day tours, or USD $5-10 per person for day tours.

Terms & Conditions: By reserving your space with registration and payment, you are agreeing to the policies, terms and conditions in our Terms & Conditions Agreement.

Privacy Policy: Before communicating with ROAM – and particularly before you provide personally identifiable information to us – you should check out our Privacy Policy. Your use of this site, and any communication with us constitutes your agreement to the terms of this policy. Questions? Contact us here.

Getting There

From North America: several airlines offer direct and connecting flights to Panama’s international airport: Tocumen International Airport in Panama City (airport code: PTY). Including connection time, flights from the USA typically range from 2.5-9 hours in duration, while most flights from Canada range from 9-15 hours in duration.

From the UK: there are currently no direct flights to Panama from the UK, but there are several flight options connecting in the United States and/or Canada. Including connection time, flights from the UK typically range from 12-18 hours in duration.

When you arrive in PTY, there will be an airport transfer waiting to take you to your first destination. If you have questions about flights, or require assistance booking, please contact us here. We're here to help!

How it Works

Step 1: Get Inspired

Browse our trip ideas. We specialize in creating custom trips centered around your special event, so this is a starting point - your trip will be unique! Then, we want to get to know you and your travel companions better. Once you send us your inquiry, our team will reach out to you within 48 hours to schedule an intake call.

Step 2: Plan

We'll discuss your trip ideas, what matters to you, and your budget. We take your vision, and our ideas, and turn it into a tangible plan.

No idea what you want? No problem! Have as little or as much input as you want to. You can select your dream resorts and activities, or leave it to us. We've got you.

Step 3: Experience

From here, the process is simple. We refine your itinerary until it's perfect, then you pay a deposit, and we get to work behind the scenes to prepare & arrange your trip.

We'll be here if you have any questions before your departure. Next thing you know, you're in paradise!

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