BOCAS DEL TORO ADVENTURE
3 days / 2 nights
TOUR DESCRIPTION Five hundred years ago, the great discoverer Christopher Columbus arrived at a tropical paradise in the western Caribbean coast of what is now Panama. Overwhelmed by the most incredible contrasts of vivid color and sheer unspoiled natural surroundings, Columbus decided to drop anchor and immerse in this heavenly place. Not much has changed since then. Bocas is the best place to sink your toes in the white sand, to explore lush tropical rainforests and coral reefs and to look for the faithful sea turtles that have come to these islands for millennia.
PRICE
4+ persons: US$920 per person plus 7% tax (DBL occupancy)
2-3 persons: US$990 per person plus 7% tax (DBL occupancy)
Additional price for single occupancy: US$190 + 7% tax
INCLUDED Accommodation, meals as specified in the itinerary, all land, air and water transportation within Panama, all airport/hotel transfers on scheduled arrival and departure dates, local guide services and expenses, park and related entrance fees, snorkeling equipment
NOT INCLUDED International airfare, Panama City hotel, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, gratuities and extras in hotels, diving outfitters are present on the Island and may be contracted separately, optional tours for Day 3 (see list below)
DISCLAIMER Prices and itineraries are correct at the time of printing, however they are subject to change due to tidal/weather or local conditions, availabilities or factors beyond our control.
ITINERARY
Day 1 Panama City – Bocas del Toro – Bocas del Drago Tour
This morning you are picked up at your hotel in Panama City and transferred to Albrook domestic airport to board the scheduled flight to the town of Bocas in Colon Island, the capital of Bocas del Toro province. You will be met at the local airport on arrival. After checking in at your hotel you will receive a briefing on the activities that will take place during our trip. Start the adventure with a boat ride around Colon Island to Boca del Drago. Weather permitting, you visit Swan's Cay, a rock protruding from the depths of the Caribbean Sea, which serves as a rookery for Red-billed tropic birds (the only place to be found in Panama) and Brown boobies. After lunch at a local restaurant, you will enjoy the beach at Boca del Drago and search for colorful giant starfish. Along the coastline, returning to the lodge, we make stops at coral reefs and mangrove isles for snorkeling.
Night at Diver's Paradise Boutique Hotel (L)
Day 2 Salt Creek Village – Bastimentos Marine National Park
You depart by boat from your hotel early in the morning traversing the expanse of Bastimentos National Park, Panama’s first marine national park. You reach Salt Creek by navigating through clusters of Red Mangroves, which provide sea creatures with a protective area during their reproductive and development stages. Upon arrival, you first enjoy a walk along the Caiman trail. This trail takes you through several stages of lowland forest dynamics. Here, you will look for birds such as Red-throated Ant Tanager and Golden-collared Manakin (Cerritus sub sp.). Mammals such as Night Monkeys, White-faced Capuchins, and Three-toed Sloths also live here. An older tract of rainforest has tall trees that provide life to birds such as the Three-wattled Bellbird and Green-breasted Mango. A nearby lagoon is home to Spectacled Cayman and Slider Turtle. On the ground, you will look for the tiny endemic poison dart frog Dendrobates pumilio. After the hike, you enjoy a visit to the Ngobe Bugle indigenous community to have a chance to purchase handicrafts such as painted woodcarvings and handbags, followed by lunch. In the afternoon you will snorkel among mangroves and coral reefs, searching for numerous fish species, as well as dynamic and brightly colored sea fans, sponges, and brittle starfish.
Night at Diver's Paradise Boutique Hotel (BL)
Day 3 Bocas del Toro – Panama City
Today you enjoy a leisure day or you can choose among optional tours around town and the surrounding islands (see our tour recommendations on the next tab "DETAILS"). In the afternoon you will be transferred to Bocas Airport for your flight to Panama City. On arrival to the city, you are transferred back to your hotel.
(B)
B (Breakfast), L (Lunch) – meals included
DETAILS
TRIP CLASSIFICATION
- Easy walking, hiking, and snorkeling for all ages, flat trails with some slippery terrain.
- Hotel or lodge accommodation comfortable (no direct beach access).
DEPARTURE DATES
Upon request
OPTIONAL TOURS FOR DAY 3
Minimum 2 persons (in advance reservations necessary)
Kayaking (2 hrs): US$65 per person plus 7% tax
Availability: Daily
Oreba Chocolate Tour (lunch included): US$160 per person plus 7% tax
Availability: Daily from 8:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Bat Cave Tour (2-3 hours): US$100 per person plus 7% tax
Availability: Daily
Snorkeling near Hospital Point (2-3 hours): US$60 per person plus 7% tax
Availability: Daily
Sea Turtle Nesting & Hatching US$115 per person plus 7% tax
Nesting season from March until September (depending on the species) tour time during night between 8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. midnight
Hatching season from May until November (depending on the species) during any time of the day
Private Catamaran sailing tour
Half Day (10:00-15:00 hrs): US$1,250 plus 7% tax for up to 10 pax
Full Day (09:00-18:00 hrs): US$1,500 plus 7% tax for up to 10 pax
Availability: Daily
San San Pond Sak Wetlands Changuinola US$325 per person plus 7% tax
Availability: Daily (full day tour from 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.), lunch & guide included
AAMVECONA conservation of manatees and marine turtles, mangroves, birding, beach
TRIP NOTES
AIR PANAMA BAGGAGE REGULATIONS
- For domestic flights, each passenger is allowed 2 bags of up to 50 lbs (23 kg)
- Carry-on luggage is limited to 8.8 lbs passenger (4 kg).
- Passengers are responsible for excess baggage fees
- Name or date changes on flight tickets are subject to a penalty of US$25 plus 7% tax (per change, per route.
- Ticket cancellations with more than 30 days before your trip are subject to a service fee of US$25 per ticket (taxes included). Within 30 days from your arrival, our regular cancellation policies apply.
- The penalty for no-show is 100% of all applicable fares, taxes, and surcharges.
- Surcharge for transportation of a pet or a surfboard is US$30 per item per route.
WHAT TO BRING
- Binoculars (preferably 7x35 or bigger)
- Camera
- Bathing suit
- Insect repellant
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Day pack / dry sack
- Water bottle
- Lightweight/quick dry cotton clothes
- Windbreaker
- Sandals or sneakers, Aqua shoes
- Rain gear
- Money in small denominations
- Toiletries & personal medications
TIPPING
Ancon Expeditions is Panama’s top eco-tourism operator. Our Natural & Cultural History Guides are the country's finest. Due to frequently asked questions from our clients about suggested guide & staff gratuities, we would like to provide you with the following universal tipping guidelines:
- Naturalist guide/Tour leader: US$10.00-US$20.00 per person/day
- Day tour guide: US$10.00 per person/day
- Transfer driver: US$2.00 per person
- Tour driver: US$5.00 per person/day
- Tour boat driver: US$5.00 per person/day
- Hotel bellman: US$1.00 per person per suitcase
- International airport bellmen (red caps): US$1.00 per piece of suitcase
LODGING
THE DIVER'S PARADISE BOUTIQUE HOTEL
The Diver´s Paradise Boutique hotel is a charming lodge located on the water's edge of Colon Island, in the town of Bocas del Toro. Just a few steps from the main street this hotel is in a more quiet corner of the center. 24 comfortable air-conditioned bedrooms with private bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, an open-air dining hall, a sun deck with lounging chairs, an in-house PADI dive center, spectacular local food specialties along with cold beers and tropical drinks at the hotel´s on-site restaurant & bar Pier 19 make the Diver´s Paradise a favorite among visitors to this Caribbean destination. The hotel is located only 5 minutes from the Bocas airport and within walking distance to local restaurants, souvenir shops, bars and parks.
Address: Avenida Sur con Calle 4ª, Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Phone: +(507) 757-9767
Check in: 15:00 hrs
Check out: 11:00 hrs
REVIEWS
“I'm writing to thank you and all of your staff for a wonderful vacation! Everyone, without exception, was extremely pleasant, helpful, and knowledgeable”
Fred Alm & Sharon Bedford, USA
“Hi Katiana,
I hope you are well. My friend, Molly, and I just returned to California after 10 wonderful days in Panama. We LOVED it, especially Bocas del Toro. I just want to send you and your company an email to let you know how much we enjoyed our stay. Many thanks and have a good day!”
Jennifer Crist, USA
“Ancon Expeditions of Panama did an outstanding job of creating a tour just for the four of us that allowed us to see the best of Panama in a short time. You guys did a great job of customizing a package for us at a reasonable price, and the quality of the guides and drivers was outstanding. Everything was so professional and well done, we will recommend Ancon Expeditions of Panama to our friends.
Great job, especially Melanie.”
Jerry Ribnick, USA
“Ancon Expeditions have helped me as a photographer to see and photograph birds, animals, landscapes, and other wildlife in urban, and remote and wild areas of Panama. Their logistics are excellent. Ancon Expeditions have excellent naturalist guides with broad knowledge beyond only the nature of Panama; in addition they have very high level of ethics.”
Øyvind Martinsen, Norway
