409 Ringaskiddy Cr,
Floresville, TX 78114
Phone: 210.232.7527
Fax: 830.393.4895
travel@journeysunique.com
Creating Journeys as unique as you are!
Specializing in Central/South America, Australia, New Zealand,
All Inclusives and Honeymoons
Across Panama Self-Drive
15 Days / 14 Nights
From $1925.00 per person Double Occupancy
On this two weeks journey you will cross Panama from east to west and stop at some the most beautiful and secluded spots of the country. Firstly you will spend 3 days in Panama City and drive then to towns and villages that could not be more diverse. The tranquil El Valle and Boquete with exuberant nature, Santiago with its rich cultural life in the heart of Panama as well as unspoiled beaches on the Azuero Peninsula and on Isla Boca Brava ? this self-drive program let you experience Panama and all its facets |
Day 1 - Arrival in Panama City After your arrival to Panama you will be picked up at the airport by our representative and transferred to your city hotel. Panama City is the capital and largest city in Panama. It is home to a lot of different cultures and an enormous historical sector in the Old City, a district famous for its Spanish fortifications and several beautiful buildings from the colonial period. Panama City is a destination you will surely enjoy during your visit to this gorgeous country! |
Day 2 - City tour of Panama City & Miraflores Locks Today you will make a city tour. Your guide will pick you up at your hotel from where on you will start the journey. You will visit Old Panama, the Casco Antiguo and enjoy a captivating view on the skyline of the modern skyscrapers. The trip continues to the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal. From this platform you will have a good view on the giant ships passing by. Spend the free afternoon at your leisure and enjoy the shopping facilities and the delicious restaurants of Panama City. |
Day 3 - Embera Indians In the morning your guide will meet you at the hotel. Together you will go into the heart of the Chagres National Park and visit an indigenous tribe whose way of life has been practically unchanged for hundreds of years. You will learn a lot about their culture and take a peek into the daily life of an Indian village. You will also enjoy a typical lunch at the Indian tribe. |
Day 4 - Drive to El Valle de Antón Today your rental car will be delivered to your hotel. You can decide beforehand at which time you want to receive the car. After a short explanation about driving in Panama you are free to explore the country on your own. Drive to El Valle de Antón (approx. 2 hr drive) situated in the midst of an extinct volcanic crater. Here you stay for two nights at the charming family guest house Park Eden surrounded by lush and green gardens. |
Day 5 - El Valle Enjoy your day off and feel free and adventurous to explore the El Valle area which is surrounded by the caldera of the former volcano. Get advantage of the numerous tour opportunities such as hiking, horse riding, biking and bird watching as well as plenty of flowering plants bloom in its "eternal spring" micro-climate. There are small scale local enjoyment including natural thermal water, mud baths, petroglyphs (cave pictures) and a waterfall plus the delights of a must visit gourmet restaurant "Los Mandarinos". |
Day 6 - Peninsula de Azuero Linger south-west down the Azuero Peninsula in Los Santos Province. This region is the folkloric heart of Panama. The locals have a passion for what they call, "cultura tipica". Here they stitch the national costume - brightly colored, multi-layered, ruffled skirts, "pollera" and make the myriad hued papier-mache masks worn at festivals. This is an arid cowboy ranching region edged by empty Pacific beaches. Stay for two nights on Playa Venado a 1.5km crescent of soft dark sand at the comfortable and attractively furnished Villa Marina. |
Day 7 - Playa Venado Today you will stay at Playa Venado and have plenty of time to relax on the beach. Playa Venado is an excellent surfing spot and the local area offers a lot to explore. It is possible to visit either the Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge, an island off the coast at Pedasí where you can do some snorkeling, or Isla Canas Wildlife Preserve, a sandpit with mangroves and a key turtle nesting site. |
Day 8 - To Santiago Take an easy start into the day, leave the coast and head in-land maybe via Tonosi and Macaracas (saddle making workshop) to Santiago, the region's bustling commercial hub. Perhaps make a small side trip north to visit the impressive, ornately decorated church at San Francisco de La Montana. Built in 1727 this pilgrimage site has elaborate carvings, and vibrantly colorful frescos which mix Catholic images with Indian folklore. Tonight you will stay at Hotel La Hacienda just outside Santiago. |
Day 9 - To Boquete The journey from Santiago towards David is a picturesque one with grazing horses and cattles; sparkling rice paddies, coffee plantations and numerous rivers heading down from the central Cordillera to the Pacific. Then head up into the cloud forest on the eastern slopes of Barú volcano to the growing mountain resort of Boquete. Here you stay for two nights at the charming, old wooden Panamonte hotel with its attractive public areas and beautiful green gardens. |
Day 10 - Boquete Free day for to explore Boquete. We recommend a visit to one of the high quality local coffee estates to learn all about the process from cultivation to grinding. There are plenty of hiking, bird watching, white water rafting, zip line and hot springs offerings available locally, plus some extraordinary gardens which are open to the public. |
Day 11 - To the Volcán area Today's leg will bring you via David up to the western flanks of Barú Volcano. Enjoy a breathtaking scenery on the way. Perhaps take a break at Sitio Barrilles to see the local petroglyphs (cave pictures) and keen planting of the local family who live there. Then linger through remote rural villages where neighbors vie with each other as if in a "Panama in Bloom" competition. Pass racing stables and fields of brassicas to reach Cerro Punta, where you can visit Finca Dracula orchid farm. The overnight is at a quirky 1970?s time hotel, the Hotel Bambito. |
Day 12 - To David then Boca Brava Pacific coast relaxation After breakfast drive down to David where you will return your rental car. Afterwards you will enjoy a private boat tour through the mangroves to Boca Brava Island in the Gulf of Chiriquí where you will stay for three nights at the boutique hotel Cala Mia. This beautiful eco-lodge offers 11 cozy cabanas. Boca Brava is one of about 100 islands in the Archipelago of Chiriquí marine national park. The park contains many secluded white sand beaches. The forested islands are home to howler monkeys, coyotes, ocelots, margays, raccoons, jaguarondis, ant-eaters and in the bays and in the ocean there are leatherback and hawksbill turtles, dolphins, whales and a wide variety of other tropical, colorful fishes. The rest of the day is at your free disposal. Relax in the hotel's infinity edge pool or at the beach. |
Day 13 - Cala Mia Hotel Enjoy the free day at the hotel Cala Mia on Boca Brava Island. Guests also have unlimited use of kayaks, wind surf, and snorkeling equipment. Optional excursions are available locally to explore the archipelago (costs not included in the package). |
Day 14 - Cala Mia Hotel Another day for relaxing hours at hotel Cala Mia, Boca Brava Island on the Pacific coast |
Day 15 - Flight David to Panama City, depart Panama After breakfast you will enjoy another boat ride through scenic nature back to David where you will be dropped off at the airport to catch a morning flight in direction of Panama City. You will be picked up after your arrival and transferred to the international airport for your flight back home. |
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| Pricing: | Single: | Double: | Triple | Child |
01 Nov, 2009 to 31 Oct, 2010 |
$1,925.00 p/p | $562.50 p/p |