- Tour code
PANADV01
- Start
Panama City
- End
Panama City
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Explorer
- Trip pace
Relaxed
- Language
English
Panama is more than its canal. This week-long trip pairs the capital's historic quarter and rainforest waterways with three nights on the islands of the Caribbean coast, and much of it is led by the people who live there.
The first three nights are in Panama City. You'll walk parts of the city with community guides who share their own stories, try traditional rhythms in a hands-on music session, and have free time for the historic quarter's streets and cafés. A boat trip through rainforest-lined waterways gives you a chance to spot wildlife before you visit the Panama Canal to watch huge ships move through.
Then you fly to the Caribbean coast for three nights on the islands. Spend one day inland with an Indigenous community at an organic cocoa farm, following chocolate from pod to plate, and another out on the water snorkeling reefs and stopping at quiet beaches, before a farewell dinner.
Why This Journey
Panama gives you the city and the Caribbean in a single week, with only a short domestic flight in between. One day you're watching container ships rise through the canal locks; a few days later you're snorkeling a reef off a palm-fringed cay.
What sets this trip apart is who you meet: community guides in the capital, musicians who get the whole group playing, and an Indigenous family who share their cocoa farm and a home-cooked meal. It suits travelers who want warm-water downtime without missing the stories behind a place.
Where You'll Stay
Panama City (3 nights): American Trade Hotel, in the historic Casco Viejo. Bocas del Toro (3 nights): Tropical Suites, on the waterfront in Bocas Town. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Prices are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into and out of Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama City; arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
From city streets to rainforest waterways and tropical islands, see Panama's many sides
Meet an Indigenous community, learn how chocolate is made and join a live music session
Island-hop by boat in the Caribbean, snorkel reefs and swim off white-sand beaches
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Group transportation
Arrival and departure airport transfers
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
After you land, a pre-arranged transfer brings you to your hotel in the center of Panama City.
Settle in, then meet your Soca Islands Host and your fellow travelers for welcome drinks and a first round of introductions. Dinner is at a lively local restaurant, a good first taste of Panamanian cooking and a chance to toast the week ahead.
Your morning walk is led by community members who talk openly about change and resilience in their own lives. It's an honest, personal way to understand this part of the city, its past and how it is changing.
Next, local experts introduce you to traditional rhythms and music in a session where everyone joins in. The afternoon is free in the historic quarter, with its colorful streets, restored colonial buildings, plazas and cafés to linger in.
Take to the water on a scenic cruise through channels lined with tropical rainforest, watching for native wildlife as you go.
Then head to the Panama Canal to watch enormous ships pass through the locks, and get a sense of why this route matters so much to world trade. Back in the city, the rest of the day is yours to explore or rest.
A short morning flight takes you to the Caribbean archipelago of Bocas del Toro, with its easygoing, colorful waterfront and beaches backed by green forest.
Once you've checked in, there's nothing on the schedule. Explore the streets, try some fresh local food, or just slow down to island speed.
Today you head inland to spend time with one of Panama's largest Indigenous communities and hear about their traditions and daily life.
At a local organic cocoa farm, you'll follow chocolate from harvest to traditional preparation, then sit down to a home-cooked meal made with local ingredients.
Spend the day on the water with a local boat operator, cruising between islands and watching for marine life. Stop to snorkel over reefs and relax on small islands with soft sand and clear, turquoise water.
In the evening, the group's farewell dinner brings together local and Caribbean flavors.
A mid-morning flight takes you back to Panama City, leaving a little time to explore before heading home if your schedule allows.
From the domestic airport, you'll transfer to Tocumen International (PTY) for your flight out.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
American Trade Hotel
A restored 1917 landmark on Plaza Herrera in Casco Viejo, Panama City's UNESCO-listed historic quarter. The old town's plazas, churches, rooftop bars and the waterfront Cinta Costera are all within walking distance.
The building's tiled floors and high ceilings have been kept, and it has a restaurant and the Tiempos coffee shop. It is a natural base for the free afternoon in the historic quarter.
Hotel websiteTropical Suites
A waterfront hotel on 1st Street in Bocas Town, the small capital of the Bocas del Toro archipelago on Isla Colón. The water-taxi docks, restaurants and shops of the town are right outside, which makes boat days and island hopping easy.
Rooms are suites with a king-size bed or double beds, in a waterfront setting.
Hotel websiteRooms
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- Extra cost
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into and out of Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama City.
Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation: American Trade Hotel in Panama City's Casco Viejo for three nights, then Tropical Suites in Bocas Town, Bocas del Toro, for three nights.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
6 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners, including the welcome dinner in Panama City, the home-cooked meal at the cocoa farm and the farewell dinner on Day 6. The day-by-day itinerary shows the meals for each day; meals not listed are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our Panama: City to Coast trip?
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