Adventure Panama!

Day 1: Upon arrival in Panama City, Panama you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Bristol for overnight.  Set in the heart of the bustling financial center, minutes from shopping, cultural attractions and nightlife, The Bristol is a rare jewel where luxurious accommodations and sumptuous dining are blended to create uncompromising quality.  Each room is elegantly decorated with custom fabrics and prints by noted Panamanian artists.  Remainder of the day free to explore Panama City.

Day 2:   Morning ground transfer to the Gamboa Rain Forest Resort for overnight.  This is a spectacular resort, located inside the Soberanía National Park and just besides the Chagres River and the Panama Canal. Actually, from one of the restaurants, Los Lagartos, you may see the ships on their transit from one ocean to the other.  Exploring the rainforest has never been easier, since all of the attractions and most of the tours are found right on the property, or only minutes away from your doorstep.  For a bird's eye view of the Soberania National Park and Panama Canal, climb aboard a specially designed aerial tram and glide quietly through the rainforest canopy where you'll encounter plants and animals rarely seen by visitors on the ground. But your appreciation of this tropical environment doesn't have to stop at the forest floor. The first class marina provides tours of the Chagres River and Lake Gatun, sport fishing trips for peacock bass and other exotic freshwater species (catch and release only), kayaking trips, and tours to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on Barro Colorado Island.  The villas, originally built in the 1930's and 40's, are the former residences of Panama Canal administrators and their families and have been completely refurbished to capture the ambiance of the original buildings.

Day 3:   Monkey Island Tour: Join our naturalist guide on this lake adventure of sight and sound. First, we travel at high speed on small boats northbound (Atlantic) on the canal for 25 minutes where we might come close to some of the big ships that transit the canal daily and then we slow to a crusing speed. Slowly, we motor along the forested banks of Gatun lake, also a protected area, and we look for wildlife such as Capuchin Monkeys, 3 toed sloths, Howler Monkeys, various kinds of Toucans and other bird life. Then we dock along an old rehabilitated pier that served a top-secret US Naval radio communications center until the end of World War II. Here we walk up a series of steps and along a 300 yard trail that leads to the ruins of this hidden military installation. This is a place to observe the raw regenerative power of the forest as it struggles to claim what was once wild.  This afternoon enjoy the Areial Tram Tour located on the property at Gamboa.  Overnight at the Gamboa Rain Forest Resort.
 
Day 4:   Free day to explore the area on your own or to book optional day tours.  Overnight at the Gamboa Rain Forest Resort.

Day 5:  Morning transfer to the domestic airport for the short flight to Playon Chico in the San Blas Islands. The San Blas Archipielago paradise is located in the northeast of the country. Every day of the year you can choose a different island from along the two hundred miles of coral reefs on the Caribbean Coast.  Upon arrival transfer to the Sapibenega Lodge for overnight.  This lodge (one of the best in San Blas), offers private cabins, made of bamboo cane walls and palm leaf roof.  Afternoon tour to an indigenous Kuna village and to nearby islands. 

Day 6:   Free day to explore San Blas Islands.  Overnight at the Sapibenega Lodge.

Day 7:   After breakfast transfer to the local airstrip for the short flight to Panama City.  Upon arrival connect with a short flight to Bocas del Toro.  Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge for overnight.  Built over the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Panama, along a mile long coral reefed coast, Punta Caracol is built upon stilts which support a wooden frame over the water and covered by a palm leaf roof - an unforgettable habitat congruent with the native communities of the region. The result is a warm close-to-nature ambience.  Enjoy one our five exclusive cabins set over the crystal clear waters of the Bocas del Toro archipelago. From your private terrace you will be able to observe impressive sunsets interrupted only by playful dolphins.  Feel immersed in the sounds of nature while laying down on a colonial style bed at the second level master bedroom, or just relax with a hot water shower in your private bathroom after taking an inspiring day tour. 

Day 8: Dolphin Bay, Coral Cay & Red Frog Beach:  The tour begins with a 30 minute scenic boat ride to Dolphin Bay.  This lagoon is surrounded by mangroves, making it a perfect feeding spot for the bottlenose dolphins.  Here you will have the opportunity to see dolphins within feet of your boat feeding on the rich sea life.  Next stop will be Coral Cay where to take in the colorful corals and tropical fish below the surface while snorkeling before making a stop at a typical restaurant for lunch.  After lunch the tour continues to the picturesque Red Frog Beach, where you will have the opportunity to swim and take in the relaxing atmosphere of a perfect white sand beach.  Overnight at Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge.

Day 9:  Free day to choose from a fascinating selection of day tours- visit the numerous islands of the spectacular Bocas del Toro archipelago, explore rainforest rivers, tour the island jungles and tropical forest, visit native Indian villages, observe a variety of majestic sea birds at flight as well as the fascinating creatures of our luxuriant rainforests like the cute sloth and the scarlet red frogs-native only to Bocas. Dive or snorkel with the colorful fish in our coral reefs or spend some time fishing- wherever you go Bocas will reveal a surprising, relatively unknown marine world.  Overnight Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge.

Day 10: Today transfer to the local airport for the short flight to Panama City.  Upon arrival transfer to the Hotel Bristol for overnight.  Remainder of the day free to explore Panama City or to do some last minute shopping.

Day 11:  Transfer to the International Airport for departure

INCLUDES:
Roundtrip International Airport Transfers
2 nights Hotel Bristol, deluxe double room, includes breakfast daily
Roundtrip ground transfers from Panama City to Gamboa.
3 nights Gamboa Resort, deluxe double room, includes breakfast daily
Monkey Island Tour
Aerial Tram Tour
Roundtrip flights from Panama City to Playa Chico *MAX 25 lbs luggage to avoid excess luggage fees
2 nights Sapibenga Lodge, Standard Cabin, including breakfast daily and boat transfers
Roundtrip flights from Panama City to Bocas del Toro *MAX 25 lbs luggage to avoid excess luggage fees
3 nights Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge, ocean front cabin, includes roundtrip Bocas del Toro airport transfers, breakfast and dinner daily.
Dolphin Bay, Coral Cay & Red Frog Beach – Includes:  transfers, guide and snorkeling equipment
One-way Domestic Airport Transfer.
ALL HOTEL TAX INCLUDED.

Price valid through October 31, 2009