Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive to Panama
Upon your arrival to Tocumen International Airport you will be picked up and transferred to Gamboa Rain Forest Resort located in the heart of the Soberania National Park. Check in and overnight.

Day 2

Pipeline Road: Birding and Wildlife Observation in the Watershed
Early in the morning the tourists will be met in the lobby by their EcoCircuitos guide, they will receive a detailed overview of their hiking and boat tour. Then they will go on a 45 minute ride along the scenic Gamboa Road to the trailhead of Pipeline Road located in the Soberania National Park. Here the visitors will have great chances to observe the unique ecology of the Canal Watershed:
Agouti, Two-toed Sloth, White-throated Capuchin, Mantled Howler Monkey, White-nosed Coati, Green and Brown Vine Snake, Central American Whiptail, Emerald Basilisk, Blue Morpho Butterfly, Leaf-cutting Ant, Rhinoceros Beetle, Walking Stick, Litter Toad, Rufous Motmot, Keel-billed Toucan, Green Parakeets, and Slated-tailed Trogon are just a few names of animals that can be observed on this hike.

Trees: Wild Cashew Tree, Ear Monkey Tree, Silk Cotton Tree, Rubber Tree, Tropical palms, epiphytes, orchids, fichus, different species of ferns and more.

Afterwards the tourists are transferred to Gatun Lake to observe other diverse ecosystems. They will board a boat in the Gatun Lake where they will travel part of the Panama Canal and visit small islands to see other types of wildlife from their boat.
They will be able to observe the Spectacled Caiman, Green Iguana in the tree tops, terrestrial turtles, Capuchin Monkeys, Two-toed Sloths, Ringed Kingfisher, Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Great Egret, Purple Gallinule, variety water plants and secondary forest species. Overnight at Gamboa Rainforest Resort (B)

Day 3

Smithsonian´s Barro Colorado Island
Early in the morning after breakfast the tourists will be met by an EcoCircuitos driver to be transferred to the Barro Colorado Pier.
They will navigate along the Gatun Lake in the Panama Canal to the “Gigante Peninsula” and to the Barro Colorado Natural Monument (BCNM), administered by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute since 1946 and considered the best-protected and studied tropical rainforest in the world. Here, they will hike along an interpretative trail through a complex and diverse ecosystem and then lunch at the Smithsonian Exhibition Center. Afterwards you will have the opportunity to buy souvenirs, T-shirts or books. Afterwards they will begin their return, cruising by bays and channels covered by the forest. They will be able to observe birds and other animals without having to get off the boat. Overnight at Gamboa Rainforest Resort (B, Box Lunch)

Day 4

Embera Indigenous Encounter
In the morning after breakfast the tourists will be met by their guide in the hotel lobby, for an introduction to their tour. Then they will have an hour and half surface transfer to the Chagres River in Chagres National Park where their Embera Indian hosts will be waiting for them to transfer them up the river to their community. The tourists will learn about the Embera people by seeing their artisans at work and learn about the use of botanical plants. Embera dance and music will evoke scenes of a time before colonization of the Americas. Tourists can try traditional body painting using the “Jagua” fruit, which is also used as a natural bug repellant. The flora and fauna is very rich in this area, allowing them to observe a variety tropical birds found in this area. They will also do a mini hike to a waterfall. Lunch will be in the community.Afterwards they will be transferred back to Gamboa Rainforest Resort. (B,L)

Day 5

Full Canal Transit
This trip will depart from the Flamenco Marina at 7:30 a.m. and the tourists will travel from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. They will be able to admire the Bay of Panama and Panama City's splendorous skyline, and later will pass under the Bridge of the Americas. At Miraflores Locks the vessel will ascend 54 feet in two distinct steps. Then they will enter Miraflores Lake, which is a small artificial body of fresh water that separates Pedro Miguel from Miraflores Locks. Next, the vessel will enter Pedro Miguel Locks, which is one of the two sets of locks on the Pacific side, and here the vessel will be raised the last 27 feet to get into Gatun Lake. In addition, the tourists will enjoy a trip through Gatun Lake, which was formed by erecting the Gatun Dam across the Chagres River. During your transit through Gatun Lake they will pass the Smithsonian Research Station, Barro Colorado. The tourists will also experience the Gatun Locks, which are the only set of locks in the Atlantic sector. In the Gatun Locks, the vessel will be lowered a total of 26 meters in three distinct chambers. Upon their arrival to Colon, then the tourists will disembark at Pier 6, where a representative from the hotel will be waiting to transfer them to Melia Panama Canal. Check in and overnight. (B,L)

Day 6

The Pirate Trail: Gatun Locks & Fort San Lorenzo
Early in the morning after breakfast the tourists will be met by their guide for a tour of the famous Fort San Lorenzo located in Portobello National Park at mouth of the Chagres River and is one of the five UNESCO World Heritage sites in Panama. This fort was constructed in the year 1595 by the Spanish made of coral but as strong as basalt. Then it was taken over 1670 the famous English pirate Henry Morgan, before he went on to sack Panama City (first city of Panama, now known as Panama Vieja). Here you will also be able to observe an abundance of wildlife such as the White-throated Capuchin and Mantled Howler Monkey, Agouti,White-nosed Coatimundi,Anteater, Keel-billed Toucan, Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Rufous Motmot, Collared Aracari and much more. Overnight at Melia Panama Canal (B,L)

Day 7

Birding and Wildlife Oberservation on Achiote Road & Tinajas Typical Dinner and Folkloric Show
Early in the morning the tourists will have a birding tour on Achiote Road. Here the vegetation differs in variety and abundance, this is a place to enjoy nature, walk through the rainforest and a bird-rich area near the north end of the Panama Canal. Expect to see up to a dozen kinds of Raptors, Pied Puff Birds, Spot Crowed Barged, Wide Headed Wren and hundreds of different species of birds.

Afterwards they will be transferred to their hotel Country Inn & Suites Amador, located on the Amador Causeway, 15 minutes away from the town's city center by taxi. Depending on their arrival time to the hotel, they can walk along the famous causeway (6 km) that was constructed during the building of the canal.
The causeway also connects three islands: Naos, Pericos and Flamenco. On these islands you will find a number of small restaurants, bars, cafes and other areas to sit down and relax. Tourists can also visit Punta Culebra Marine Exhibition Center, managed by the Smithsonian Institute (STRI) for an introduction of the Marine Life of the Pacific side of the Ishtmus of Panama.

At 7:30 PM the tourists will be met in the lobby of their hotel and transferred to Tinajas Typical Restaurant. Here they will have the opportunity to eat Panamanian food, made of corn, plantains, yucca, fish, tamale, sancocho (typical Panamanian chicken soup), pork, seafood, beef and more. After dinner they will watch a folkloric show where they will be able to see the diverse national dances with their elegant costumes. The name of these dances are the Punta, Travesado, Diablos Sucios and are preformed with live music performed using the typical instruments of Panama. Afterwards the tourists will be transferred back to their hotel. (B,D)

Day 8

Transfer Out
At the appropriate time the tourists will be transferred to Tocumen International Airport for their departure flight. They will arrive to the airport two hours in advance to their departure time. (B)

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Donation to communities