The must-sees of Panama - 8 days

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Welcome to Panama

  Upon your arrival at Tocumen International Airport, you will be greeted by a French-speaking representative and receive your travel documents, then be transferred to the hotel.

• day 2

  Gastronomic tour in the Casco Antiguo

  Departure in late morning with your private French-speaking guide for the colonial district. On this route, you will be able to enjoy the best combination of Panamanian gastronomy, rich in flavors, while strolling through the alleys of Casco Viejo (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980). Your guide will then take you through every nook and cranny of the district, which will no longer hold any secrets for you. Your gastronomic itinerary begins in one of the oldest restaurants in the country, followed by the tasting of various products that will delight your senses! Chocolate, craft beer, gourmet rum from the region, coffee from the highlands of Chiriqui, and the famous "raspao".

• day 3

  Sharing with the Embera community

  In the early morning, departure with your French-speaking guide for a meeting with the Embera community. These communities still live in a traditional way: making baskets from natural fibers, multicolored clothing, clan paintings, and timeless dances. During the canoe trip along the shores of Lake Gatún, you will be able to observe the endemic flora and fauna that greet you! Musical welcome by the community, then a presentation of their way of life and customs by one of the village chiefs: introduction to crafts, typical dances, traditional medicine, etc. A typical lunch based on fish and plantains will be served. For dessert, fresh exotic fruits. Bottled water. To top it all off, let yourself be tempted by natural-colored tattoos that will mark your visit to this community. A day marked by cultural exchanges, simplicity, and humility.

• day 4

  Discovery of Monkey Island and its lush flora.

  Departure early in the morning from your hotel for a visit to Lake Gatún. From Panama City, you will take the road to the Gamboa pier and board a small boat for an excursion on the lake and the canal. Monkeys, iguanas, and even crocodiles will be some of the animals you can observe in their natural environment. The howl of the howler monkey, mingling with the songs of exotic birds, will delight you to the fullest. Then, head to the "Gatún Explorer." On this two-story vessel, open to nature and 19 meters long, you can relax and enjoy your adventure. Immersed in the lushness of the tropical jungle, you will witness the animal life that surrounds you. Try your luck at fishing one of the thirty species of fish living in the lake and get in direct contact with nature from your own canoe or kayak. If you prefer, you can stay on board the "Gatún Explorer" and sip a cold drink while enjoying the scenery. Lunch included.

• day 5

  San Blas Archipelago

  Morning flight to San Blas and transfer by small boat to your lodge. Guna Yala has more than 360 islets scattered over 400 kilometers. In addition to its exceptional landscapes, this archipelago will allow you to discover the Guna culture. These 50,000 Indians have managed to perpetuate their ancestral methods over the years and live in community, autonomously. Includes a local excursion on the same day.

• day 6

  The paradise islands of San Blas

  Local excursion. Activities: swimming, discovery of villages and Kuna Indian traditions, purchase of handicrafts (molas), snorkeling (no motorized water sports).

• day 7

  Historical tour and Panama Canal

  Morning flight back to Panama City Departure early in the morning, accompanied by your French-speaking guide, for a day discovering the ruins and museum of "Panama La Vieja" (the first city founded by the Spanish in 1519. Entrance to the Mirador included). Continue to the Miraflores locks, where you can watch the technical operations from a platform. THE PANAMA CANAL: Started in 1881 by the Frenchman Ferdinand de Lesseps, its construction caused many deaths. Work resumed in 1904 under American administration. More than 75,000 men participated. The first ship crossed on August 15, 1914.

• day 8

  End of stay

  Free morning (depending on your flight schedule). In the afternoon, private transfer to the international airport for your return flight to Europe.