5 Days: Panama City

Tour overview:

In 5 days, discover the history and culture of Panama. Visit Panama City and the UNESCO WORLD heritage site, Casco Viejo. Take in a Panamanian Folklore Show with dinner. Learn about the indigenous people, the Emberá. And marvel at the workings of the Panama Canal.

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Day 1 - Arrive Panama

Arrival to Panama, Meet and greet by our staff at the Airport. Transfer to your hotel and check–in. Feel free to enjoy the Food and Beverage Credit per room provided at the hotel for restaurant, bar or room service orders, or enjoy (on you own) one of the lovely restaurants on Uruguay Street. Accommodation at Le Meridien hotel in the heart of the city of panama or similar hotel.

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Day 2 - Panama – Full Day Panama City Tour & Panamanian Folkloric Show and Dinner

After breakfast we will depart for our full day City Tour around the glorious city of Panama focusing on places such as our UNESCO WORLD heritage site: Casco Viejo, Where we will stroll over the cobblestone streets and alleys, getting to know the most representative cathedrals, colonial houses and palaces of a city that was one named the first Spanish settlement on the Pacific side of the continent and were Expeditions to South America were planned and executed.  We will also visit the first settlement built by the Spanish called Panama Viejo, founded in the year 1519. It was ones a wealthy City that pirates desired to attack and sack for the Golden treasures hidden inside its walls. The City was a mandatory path to move treasures and merchandise from South America to Europe (The Gold Route).  Even though the city suffered fires, earthquakes, political and social turmoil, Panama City has always stand as a City where its inhabitants learned how to overcome adversities. This is visible on today´s City, where we will drive around the most modern city in Central America, considered the Banking, Technological, Logistical and Business hub of Latin America  We will have a typical lunch included during this tour and we will stop for delighting the best coffee in the world and treat yourselves with the freshest chocolate.

Panamanian Folkloric Show and Dinner 

Join us in a delicious gastronomy journey on Panamanian Cuisine: influenced on early days by Spanish, Africans and Indigenous, later by Chinese, French and North American cultures , our todays food is flavored with delicious and fresh ingredients such as guandu – pigeon green peas , curry, colorful peppers, coconut milk and abundance of seafood. Also, get ready to shake your body at the rhythm of the Panamanian Traditional music, lead by various drums (different pitches), accordion and guiro.  You will admire what is considered the most beautiful national dress in the world: La Pollera: handmade polleras are worn during festivals or celebrations. They are mainly made of cotton and wool. Normally, dominant color is white, and adornments are colorful flower designs. (BLD)

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Day 3 - Panama – Panama Canal Transit

We will transit the 8th wonder of the world: The Panama Canal, we will do a half transit, navigating across the 2 sets of Locks located on the Pacific Side (Miraflores & Pedro Miguel) and through the Miraflores Lake and the Continental Divide (The Culebra Cut). Witness how men where able to create this engineering marvel that divided the land and united the world. Lunch will be offered on board the vessel Rest of the afternoon at leisure. (BL)

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Day 4 - Panama – Embera Quera Indigenous Tour

In the late 1700s, the Emberá began migrating from the Choco region to modern-day Colombia to what is currently the Darién province of Panama, which had been home to the Tule or Kuna people at the time of European contact. This migration was prompted by the Spanish and took the form of a conflict between the Emberá and the Kuna, moving the latter into the lands along the Caribbean coast which now form the Comarca Guna Yala and San Blas Islands. The Darién has subsequently become recognized as the homelands of the Emberá in Panama, though they had also settled as far west as Lake Gatún and the riverine areas of what would become the Canal Zone. Witness this Oasis of Peace but in the middle of the Panamanian Jungle, where watches, despite their Brand, has stopped their hands, remaining time in 1700´ s. despite the moving forward pace of the world, the Emberas are careless about technology, malls, banking, nor corporate ladder. They have chosen to better focus on keeping a green environment, homeschooling based on ancient values, and being happy despite daily challenges. Dance with them, learn basic Embera languages, cook fresh caught fish, and laugh with their innocent children and smiling inhabitants. Return to hotel. Afternoon free. Farewell dinner at casco Viejo with a Glass of wine included for toasting while overlooking the impressive skyline of Panama City. (BLD)

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Day 5 - Hasta la vista / Depart Panama

According to your flight schedule, transfer to International Airport. (B)

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