Highlights:
-
Full-time Panamanian
Guide and U.S. Escort
-
Full ocean-to-ocean
transit of the Panama Canal
-
Cross the Isthmus on the
historic Panama Canal Railway
-
Colonial Spanish fort and port
in Portobelo
-
City Tour of old and
new Panama City and Miraflores Locks and Visitors
Center in the former U.S.Canal Zone
-
Dinner and Folklore Dance
Show
-
Full-day visit to Embera
Indian Village in the rainforest, OR full-day visit to El Valle de
Anton crafts market, zoo and rainforest walk
See Tour Preview Video!
Daily
Itinerary: (January 13-18, 2010 Tour)
Day 1:
Arrival and orientation session and dinner in Panama
Day 2:
Train Ride & Historic Portobelo
Enjoy an unforgettable experience as you travel by
train along the Panama Canal Railway. Recreate the experience
of the '49ers who crossed Panama during the California Gold Rush
while enjoying the view of
the rainforest and the heart of the canal.
Upon your arrival in Colon City you will be transferred to Portobelo, the site of the 17th-19th century Spanish
colonial port and
fortress. You will learn of the recurring pirate attacks and of
Panama's importance in the Colonial era.
Before your return to Panama City you will have lunch at a
typical restaurant and visit a famous local church, home of the
Black Christ.
In the evening you'll enjoy a dinner and folk dance show at Las Tinajas Restaurant in Panama City.
Day 3:
Panama City Tour
You will have a full-day tour of historic Panama City.
You begin the day by visiting the Visitor Center and the 16th century ruins of
Old Panama (Panama La Vieja).
Next,
you visit Colonial Panama (Casco Viejo), stopping at the
San Jose
Church to see its gold-altar and to have lunch at Manolo
Caracol Restaurant. Afterwards, you continue
on to the former U.S. Canal Zone for a visit to the Miraflores Locks
and Visitor Center.
Day 4:
Panama Canal Transit
Today is your full
ocean-to-ocean transit through the
Panama Canal. Your
eight-hour transit will take you through three sets of locks,
the Gaillard Cut and Gatun Lake. You will be able to
appreciate Panama City's soaring skyline and have a spectacular
view of the Bridge of the Americas as you pass beneath. Your 90-minute return to
Panama City is on a
motor coach. Your transit on a small
ship provides the opportunity to appreciate the enormity of the
locks and to experience the process of the filling of the
chambers and the rising of your ship.
Day 5:
Choose one of the following 2 full-day
tours:
1) Visit an
Embera Village
which is like a scene from
National Geographic. Situated on the banks of the
Chagres River in the heart of a tropical rainforest, the village
is reached only by sturdy canoes (with motors). You meet the
gentle Embera villagers, learn about their culture, and see
their ceremonial dances. You can purchase woven baskets and
carved tagua nut figurines of jungle wildlife and visit the nearby herbal garden where your guide
shows you plants from which many known pharmaceuticals are made.
2) Spend the day in the mountain town of El Valle de Anton. Visit the
Sunday Craft Market where Ngobe Bugle and Kuna artisans display
their crafts including the famous mola fabrics. You will also
enjoy walking on a local rainforest trail, visiting El Nispero Zoo and having lunch at a local restaurant.
In the evening passengers from both tours will come together to
enjoy a farewell dinner
at a popular restaurant on the Amador causeway.
Day 6: Transfer
to Tocumen International Airport for your return home, or
continue on to Costa Rica for our
Variety Tour. Alternatively, you may extend your
Panama vacation with a stay at a five-star beach resort on the
Pacific Coast, or at a five-star rainforest resort in Gamboa.
Daily Itinerary: (February 17-21,
2010 Tour)
Days 1-4: Same as
above.
Day 5:
Transfer
to Tocumen International Airport for your return home, or you
can continue on to Costa Rica for our
Variety Tour (February 21-27). Alternatively, you
may extend your Panama stay by a day with a full day visit
to the Embera Village or El Valle de Anton, as described on Day
5 of the January tour (above). You can also extend your
stay at a five-star beach resort on the Pacific Coast, or at a
five-star rainforest resort in Gamboa.
Passenger
Comments
"We had a great time on
the Panama trip and hope you will continue the tour so others
will be able to have the same opportunity we all had this
year. It was so educational but also enjoyable."
Lonny & Ann B,
retired business systems consultant, NC
"Your tour was exactly
what I was looking for. It was a terrific trip. I
have had no problem speaking highly about the schedule, the
people, and the opportunity to be pioneers in Panama before the
world finds out what a great place it is."
Jerry G, retired educator (CA).
Read
Jerry's full review in International Travel News,
February 2009.
