PANAMA CANAL & PACIFIC OCEAN - COPA AIRLINES STOPOVER
7 days / 6 nights
TOUR DESCRIPTION
Enjoy the highlights of Panama City and the Panama Canal. Learn about the history of Panama City, visit the engineering marvel at the Panama Canal's visitor center at Miraflores Locks. Navigate through the Panama Canal waters on Gatun Lake on a small expedition boat to observe the wildlife and birds. Meet the local Embera indigenous people and their traditional way of living, dancing, crafting, healing. End your stay with a relaxing beach time on the Pacific Ocean at one of the nicest beach resorts at just 2 hours driving from Panama City!
PRICE
Best available rate based (minimum 2 persons):
Price per person in double occupancy basis: US$1,480 + 7% tax
Single occupancy supplement fee: US$600 + 7% tax
INCLUDED 6 nights hotel accommodation, roundtrip airport transfers (Tocumen), transportation and meals (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch) as indicated in itinerary, park & related entrance fees, Naturalist guide fees & expenses.
NOT INCLUDED International airfare, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, gratuities and tips, extras at hotel.
DISCLAIMER Price and itinerary are correct at the time of publishing, however they are subject to change due to climate or local conditions, availability or factors beyond our control.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 - Arrival to Panama City
On arrival to Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, you will be met by your Ancon Expeditions of Panama driver outside Customs and transferred for approximately 30 minutes to your hotel in the modern banking district of Panama City.
Night at BRISTOL HOTEL
DAY 2 - Full Day Panama City & the Panama Canal
This morning you start your city tour at the Panama Canal where you will visit the Panama Canal Visitors’ Center at Miraflores Locks where ships can be seen transiting the waterway. The 3 floor exhibit halls will provide information about the history, engineering and current events related to the Panama Canal. Then drive through the former Panama Canal Zone managed by the United States from 1903 to 1999. Old military bases have been turned into residential neighborhoods, universities and one of the most important commerce hubs in the region combining airports, container ports and cargo railways that provide support to the Panama Canal operation.
Your next stop is the Biodiversity Museum, designed by the world-renowned architect Frank Gehry (opens Thursdays through Sundays). As a Smithsonian Affiliate museum, the Biodiversity Museum serves as a gateway to new information about the biodiversity and natural history of the Isthmus of Panama. Scientific experts from both the Smithsonian Institute and the University of Panama oversee the contents of the museum and aim at teaching visitors about eco-awareness, conservation and Panama’s extraordinary natural treasures in various unique exhibition galleries. Did you know that the Isthmus of Panama ha
s more bird, mammal, reptile and plant species than the US and Canada together in just 75,990 Km2 (approx. 29,000 square miles)? In fact, 3 million years ago, the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama changed both the climate and the biodiversity in the planet and played a key role in the creation of the world we know today. 
Continue to Casco Antiguo. In 1673, after the devastating pirate attack, Panama City was moved some 7.5 km west of its original location, to a small peninsula at the foot of Ancon hill, closer to the islands that were used as the port and near the mouth of a river that eventually became the entrance of the Panama Canal. The relocated town, known today as Casco Antiguo or the Historic District of Panama, not only had better access to fresh water but could be fortified. The military engineers, moreover, took advantage of the morphological conditions that complemented the wall surrounding the peninsula, all of which prevented direct naval approaches by an enemy. Several buildings within the District are identified as important for the country’s 17th-20th century heritage. Most outstanding are the churches, above all the metropolitan cathedral with its five aisles and timber roof; San Felipe Neri, San José, San Francisco and especially La Merced with its well-preserved colonial timber roof. The Presidential Palace originally built in the late 17th century and partially reconstructed in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, is a revealing example of the transformations that characterize the Historic District as a whole. The House of the Municipality, the National Theatre, the Ministry of Government and Justice and the Municipal Palace are outstanding buildings of a more recent period. Casco Antiguo is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch will take place at a local restaurant.
Drop off at your hotel by mid-afternoon.
Night at BRISTOL PANAMA
(BL)
DAY 3 - Jungle Boat tour on Gatun Lake 
Early in the morning you are picked up at the lobby of your hotel by an Ancon Expeditions of Panama Naturalist Guide for a
Along the way, you will have the opportunity to spot Green Iguana and Three-toed Sloth resting on tree branches, Crocodile, Osprey in the hunt for Peacock Bass, Snail Kite and Keel-billed Toucan among other wildlife. Gatun Lake was formed to give way to the Panama Canal in 1914. With a surface of 423 square-kilometers, at the time of its creation was the largest man-made lake in the world. The flow of all the rivers within the Panama Canal Watershed is contained in Gatun Lake to provide water for the operation of the lock system. More than 52 million gallons of fresh water are used for every ship that transits through the Panama Canal from one ocean to another. Your expedition boat will allow for close approximations to rainforest covered islands (former hill tops) in Gatun Lake to search for White-faced Capuchin, Mantled Howler Monkey, Central American spider monkey, and Geoffrey’s Tamarin.
After enjoying some snacks on the boat observing the large cargo ships in the background transiting the Panama Canal, return back to your hotel early afternoon.
Night at BRISTOL PANAMA
(B, snacks)
DAY 4 - Embera Indigenous People / Portobelo
After a 90-min drive across the Isthmus you will reach the shores of Gatun River for a cultural visit of an Embera indigenous village. Board a motorized piragua (dugout canoe) and travel up through lush forest to the community. Along the river, you may be able to spot Little Blue and Green Heron, Great Egret, Anhingas, Neotropical Cormorant, Amazon, Ringed, and Green Kingfishers, along with Keel-billed Toucans and Ospreys flying above. At the Embera village you will be greeted with dancing and music. You will learn about Embera customs and their relationship with nature. 
There will be handcrafts available for sale and you will have a chance to be painted with the traditional jagua, a natural dye the Embera use to adorn their bodies. Enjoy lunch a traditional lunch prepared by the indigenous women which usually consists of fried fish and plantains, accompanied by fresh fruits and snacks brought by your guide.
After saying goodbye to the Embera you continue with your driver for approximately 2 hours to your beach resort on the Pacific Ocean
On the shores of Buenaventura, nestled among lush, tropical gardens and a lagoon with views of the Pacific Ocean, you will find a family-friendly luxury resort created to exceed your expectations. The Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort is located on a pristine stretch of beach, framed by graceful Spanish Colonial architecture, beautifully landscaped pools, an 18-hole Nicklaus Design golf course by Jack Nicklaus and the exquisite Corotu Spa. Whether you’ve come to relax and unplug, reconnect and rediscover how special family time can be together. Sneak away for a morning of spa pampering or allow our concierge to plan a day of sailing, deep sea fishing, surfing, hiking, horseback riding and more.
Night at BUENAVENTURA BEACH RESORT
(BL)
DAY 5 - Buenaventura Beach Resort
Leisure time at Buenaventura, optional beach and land activities available onsite.
(B)
DAY 6 - Buenaventura Beach Resort
Leisure time at Buenaventura, optional beach and land activities available onsite.
(B)
DAY 7 - Depart Panama
Enjoy a leisure day before being transferred to Tocumen Airport approximately 6 hours prior to your flight departure. Return back home with loads of memories about Panama!
B (Breakfast), L (Lunch), D (Dinner) – meals included
DETAILS
DEPARTURE DATES
Upon request available on any dates for 2+ persons (subject to availability)
WHAT TO BRING
- Binoculars
- Camera with extra batteries & film
- Flashlight with extra bulb & batteries
- Hat
- Day pack / dry sack
- Sandals
- Sneakers
- Water bottle
- Lightweight/quick dry cotton clothes
- Windbreaker
- Rain gear
- Bathing suit
- Insect repellant
- Sunscreen
- 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: US$10.00-US$20.00 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
HOTELS
THE BRISTOL PANAMA>> Ranked as one of the Top 5 hotels in Central America by Condé Nast Traveler <<
Long considered the city’s finest, the Bristol Panama offers distinctive charm and warmth in the heart of the financial district, minutes from shopping, cultural attractions and nightlife. Unrivalled in its service and setting, this is a highly acclaimed hotel with timeless architecture including 125 luxurious guest rooms and 48 suites; are handsomely appointed and spacious. Enjoy the hotel’s fitness room, Spa facilities, pool, business centre, 8°58´Lounge and one of Panama’s finest culinary offered at the Salsipuedes Restaurant.
Address: Avenida Aguilino De La Guardia, Panama City, Panamá
Phone: +(507) 264-0000
Check in: 15:00 hrs
Check out: 12:00 hrs
BUENAVENTURA BEACH RESORT
Discover a distinctive oasis at The Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort. This premier luxury resort in Panama offers elegant accommodations and suites set amongst lush gardens and a lagoon with vistas of the Pacific Ocean. It is the country’s most exclusive beach resort on the Pacific coast just 1.5 -2 hours from Panama City. Set on 1,000 acres of nature, the resort center is pieced by a spectacular freshwater lake, the interiors are simple and stylish. All the 114 guestrooms and suites offer balconies with breathtaking views. The hotel features several restaurants with indoor/outdoor seating: Criollo offers authentic Panamanian cuisine, Asao & Pescao, Tai Kai Sushi & Martini, Tagua Grill, Hoyo 19, Palapa Bar and Bar Caña for wines and tapas, as well as other options such as Mansa and Biergarten distributed within the community of Buenaventura, several pool environments including a beach front infinity pool, a gym and a pampering spa. Enjoy the private 2-mile long beach with warm and calm waters, activities such as horseback riding, deep-sea fishing, jet skiing, ATV tours, tennis or a game of golf in nearby courses.
Address: 340 Calle 3ra, Buenaventura, Rio Hato, Panama
Website: www.thebuenaventurahotel.com
Phone: +(507) 908-3333
Check in: 15:00 hrs
Check out: 12:00 hrs