PANAMA
Jungle & Beach Multisport
Highlights
Panama City and Boquete
Bocas del Toro Beaches & Islands
Amazing Wildlife & Birdlife
Hike, Kayak, Snorkel, SUP
Great Hotels, Guides and Food
Summary
Your Panama Multisport is an adventure travel classic. Panama is clean, safe, diverse, and… waiting just for you!
Your multisport adventure covers three distinct regions: vibrant Panama City, lush cloud forests of Boquete, and the beaches and islands of Bocas del Toro. Enjoy hanging bridges set high in the jungle; hiking and birdwatching for some of the 1,000 species of birds; and swimming, snorkeling, SUP and kayaking among idyllic Caribbean islands.
Enjoy comfortable hotels, amazing food, and friendly guides.
At-a-Glance
Vaccinated travelers welcomed
Days: 9
Group Dates:
Jan 22 – 30, 2022
Private Dates arranged for groups of 6-9
Land Cost: $2,395 (airfare extra)
+ Internal flights:
+ Panama City – David: ~$135
+ Bocas – Panama City: ~$135
Single Supplement: $500
Group Size: 4-9
Minimum Age: 14
Level: Moderate
Overview
Day 1: Arrive Panama City
Day 2: Kayak Lake Gatun. Visit Panama Canal
Day 3: FLY to David, to Boquete. Skywalk Hanging Bridges.
Day 4: Hike and Coffee Tour
Day 5: Bocas del Toro, SUP
Day 6: Island Kayaking
Day 7: Bastimentos Marine NP
Day 8: FLY to Panama City. Tour Casco Viejo
Day 9: Transfer to airport
Thank you Jennifer O’brien for awesome video below
Day 1 – Arrive Panama City
Welcome to Panama. Upon arrival you are met at airport and transferred to hotel. Arrival times will vary, so not activities planned. Dinner on your own.
Meals included: none
Hotel: Hyatt Place Hotel or similar
Day 2 - Kayaking Lake Gatun + Miraflores Locks
After breakfast, drive into Soberania National Park. After a safety talk and paddle lesson, we launch our kayaks and paddle into the heart of the Panama Canal Zone and Watershed. Sitting at water level in your kayak will give you an interesting perspective of the Panama Canal in action. Keep your eyes open for toucans, sloths and other animals as they awake with the morning sun.
After a picnic lunch in the area, we will head to the Miraflores Locks, where you will learn the about the operations of the Panama Canal - one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hotel: Hyatt Place Hotel or similar
Day 3 – Fly to David, transfer to Boquete, Skywalk Hanging Bridges
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Hotel Boquete Garden Inn
Day 4 - Quetzals Hike and Coffee Tour
Take a morning hike on the Sendero de los Quetzales. Birders and birdwatchers 'flock' (pun intended) to Costa Rica and Panama to search for the Resplendent Quetzal. Later, enjoy a coffee tour and learn about this important industry for Boquete, the Chiriqui Highlands and Panama as a whole.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel Boquete Garden Inn
Day 5 - To Bocas del Toro. Standup Paddleboarding Fun
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Hotel Bocas del Toro
Day 6 - Kayaking & Snorkeling Carenero Island and Punta Manglar
Paddle shallow waters with colorful corals and an array of incredible sea life below. Feel your paddle move across the glass-like water.. glide in silence.. connect with nature.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel Bocas del Toro
Day 7 - Boat Tour Bastimentos
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel Bocas del Toro
Day 8 - Fly Bocas to Panama City. Sightseeing Casco Viejo
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Hotel Bocas del Toro
Day 9 - Departure Day
Note on Itinerary:
Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.
Additional Information:
Please be sure to scroll through website tabs for information on:
- Pricing,
- What’s Included,
- General Information,
- FAQ’s
- How to Reserve.
Your Meaningful Trip awaits. Space is limited. Click to reserve today.
$2,395 land price.
International airfare is NOT included. (Rates quoted are per person, based on sharing double hotel).
Single Supplement: $300
Single Supplement is for those specifically requesting their own room throughout, based on availability. Meaningful Trips will pair same-gender participants as roommates. If a roommate can not be found, you will be requested to pay 50% of the Single Supplement Fee.
SAVE Big!
Gather your friends, when 3 or more persons join our set tours together, each person saves $100. Groups of 6-10 can pick a private departure of this tour, based on availability, and each person saves $100.
Payment Schedule and Cancellation Policy:
Payment
Deposit of $500 due at time of reservation. Final balance due 90 days prior to trip departure.
Cancellation
Any deposits made in 2020 for tours in 2021 can be cancelled for any reason and receive a full refund. As of Jan 01, 2021, if you cancel prior to departure (we need written notice), cancellation fees are:
91 or more days… $0
61 to 90 days… $500
31 to 60 days… 50% of Trip Cost
0 to 30 days… 100% of Trip Cost
Included:
- 7 nights in hotels
- Kayak, raft and Snorkel gear
- English-speaking naturalist guides
- Park entrance fees
- Hanging Bridges, rafting, kayaking
- Meals as per itinerary
NOT included:
- International Airfare
- Two domestic flights, approx $135 each
- Travel Insurance
- Drinks
- Meals as per itinerary
- Guide and camp staff gratuity
In Panama, we use modern, comfortable hotels with wifi, buffet breakfast, all amenities, and friendly staff. Here are several of the hotels we use:
Boquete Garden Inn
Hotel Bocas del Toro
Hyatt Place Panama City
Visa and passport
Must have a US Passport valid for 6 months from the tour end date. Visa is not required for USA citizens.
Safety
Panama is generally safe, but do be mindful and take precaution on the streets of Panama City, and after dark. As with all trips, it is always prudent to check with US Dept of State for country-specific safety information. And, follow these basic safety precautions: be aware of your surroundings, do not walk alone at night, use caution when using ATM, do not wear/flaunt jewelry, make copies of important documents, be wary of public Wi-Fi, and use hotel safes when available.
Trip Insurance
Meaningful Trips highly recommends the purchase of comprehensive travel insurance that covers trip cancellation, delays, medical matters, and emergency evacuation. See our Link for Travel Insurance
Flights to Panama
Our starting and ending airport is Panama City Tocuman Airport (PTY). Please do not purchase any airfare until you have received word form Meaningful Trips that your trip is confirmed with the necessary minimum number of passengers. A hotel transfer will be arranged upon arrival.
Weather
The best times to visit Panama are the dry season from Mid-December to mid April. Panama has a tropical climate as its close to the equator. Daytime temperatures in the lowlands average 90 F, and much cooler in the highlands, averaging 68 F. From Mid-April to Mid-Dec, afternoon rains are typical, with mornings typically clear. October and November are the wettest months.
Lodging
This trip includes 7 nights in a comfortable hotels with all amenities. (see ‘Hotel’ section on menu bar)
Activity Level: Moderate
This is an active trip, all persons with a spirit of adventure are welcome. Swimming ability and being comfortable in the water is a huge help. Each day may feature a different activity, typically 2 – 3 hours. Hiking, kayaking, white-water rafting, hanging bridges, novices welcome on all. Minimum age: 14.
Food in Panama
With a Caribbean Sea, a Pacific Ocean and a canal that brought workers from all over the world, Panama offers travelers a diverse array of foods. Hotels offer bountiful buffet breakfast. Arroz con pollo (chicken and rice) is a popular dish; yuca and plantains are the most common vegetables; In Bocas del Toro, expect fresh seafood dishes. Try these traditional dishes: Patacones (fried plantain chips), Ropa Vieja (which means ‘old clothes’ is a beef stew with black pepper, cumin and oregano), and Sancocho de Gallina (light chicken soup with native cilantro, yuca and plantains).
Additional Trip Information
Prior to reserving your tour, please carefully review our ‘Pricing’, ‘How to Reserve’ and ‘FAQ’ sections for helpful information on topics such as cancellation penalties, inclusions, food, water, and more.
This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the Meaningful Trips Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully. Additional pre-departure information including a Packing List, Medical Form, and Liability Release Form is emailed upon sign-up.
Your Meaningful Trip awaits. Space is limited. Click to reserve today.
Upon Sign-up, travelers receive a Packing List, Pre-Departure Info and Important Forms. And, here are answers to some common questions.
Do I Need a Passport for Panama? Yes,
a passport is needed and must be valid for 6 months after your trip date.
Do I Need a Visa for Panama? No.
As a tourist with a US Passport. No visa required.
Are vaccinations required for Panama? No.
We highly recommend that all persons who travel internationally should be current on these three routine immunizations: Annual Influenza (flu) shot; Tetanus Booster (Tdap) (good for 10 years); and Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR). Additionally, Hepatitis A is highly recommended for all international travelers. Meaningful Trips are not medical experts. Always consult your own doctor and always refer to the CDC website for updated vaccination and country-specific information.
Is Panama safe?
Panama is generally safe, but do be mindful and take precaution on the streets of Panama City, and after dark. As with all trips, it is always prudent to check with US Dept of State for country-specific safety information. And, follow these basic safety precautions: be aware of your surroundings, do not walk alone at night, use caution when using ATM, do not wear/flaunt jewelry, make copies of important documents, be wary of public Wi-Fi, and use hotel safes when available.
Do I need Travel Insurance?
Meaningful Trips always highly recommends the purchase of comprehensive travel insurance that covers trip cancellation, delays, medical matters and emergency evacuation.
When is the best time to go to Panama?
The best times to visit Panama are the dry season from Mid-December to mid April. Panama has a tropical climate as its close to the equator. Daytime temperatures in the lowlands average 90 F, and much cooler in the highlands, averaging 68 F. From Mid-April to Mid-December, afternoon rains are typical, with mornings typically clear. October and November are the wettest months.
How active is this Panama Multisport?
This trip is rated Moderate. This is an active trip, all persons with a spirit of adventure are welcome. Swimming ability and being comfortable in the water is a huge help. Each day may feature a different activity, typically 2 – 3 hours. Hiking, kayaking, white-water rafting, hanging bridges.
What are hotels like in Panama?
We use modern, comfortable hotels with wifi, buffet breakfast, all amenities, and friendly staff.
What is the food like in Panama?
With a Caribbean Sea, a Pacific Ocean and a canal that brought workers from all over the world, Panama offers travelers a diverse array of foods. Hotels offer bountiful buffet breakfast. Arroz con pollo (chicken and rice) is a popular dish; yuca and plantains are the most common vegetables; In Bocas del Toro, expect Caribbean and fresh seafood dishes. Try these traditional dishes: Patacones (fried plantain chips), Ropa Vieja (which means ‘old clothes’ is a beef stew with black pepper, cumin and oregano), and Sancocho de Gallina (light chicken soup with native cilantro, yuca and plantains).
Is the water safe to drink in Panama?
Tap water is safe to drink in Panama City and Boquete. It is recommended to avoid drinking tap water in Bocas del Toro. Hotel water is filtered and safe for drinking. Meaningful Trips is a member of TAP (Travelers Against Plastic); remember to always bring your reusable, refillable water bottle.
What is luggage allowance on domestic flights? This trip has two domestic one way flights on small aircraft. Luggage allowance per person is a strict 15 kilograms (33 pounds). So, please pack light to meet these allowances.
STEP 1 – Click ‘Book Now’ and Complete Reservation Form to Hold Your Space(s)
STEP 2 – Mail $500 Deposit via Check.
Reservation is guaranteed upon receipt of a $500 deposit per person. Deposits are held in Trust Account. Deposits are fully refundable for any reason if you cancel before Dec 31, 2020. After Jan 01, 2021, regular cancellation policy applies. Final Payment is due 90-days prior to departure and payable by Check, Zelle, Stripe, ApplePay, Visa, Mastercard.
Mail Check Deposit to:
Meaningful Trips
1416 NW 46th St
Suite 105-343
Seattle, WA 98107
Upon reserving a trip and submitting a deposit, each traveler will receive:
- A Confirmation email
- Invoice
- Pre-departure Information
- Trip Application with Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
- Travel Insurance Information
- Packing List
- Medical Form
Terms & Conditions and Liability Release
At the time of Deposit, participants must read and agree to Meaningful Trips Terms and Conditions and Liability Release Form. Please read this information carefully.
Your Meaningful Trip awaits. Space is limited. Click to reserve today.