DAY 1: Arrive in Panama City
![Arrive in Panama City]()
Welcome to Panama City and the start of your Latin American adventure! Arrive at the hotel and check-in. Depending on arrival time, the city is yours to explore before meeting up with your tour leader and group in the hotel foyer at 18:00. Tonight, the group will take a walk together to a nearby restaurant for a welcome dinner. Enjoy a taste of traditional Panamanian cuisine on your first night in Central America!
Experiences
Panamanian welcome dinner: Tuck into some traditional Panamanian cuisine. Fresh seafood, chicken, yuca (cassava) soup and corn fritters are popular choices in this diverse country. Your tour leader will explain how Panama's food is a reflection of Spanish, African and Indigenous flavours as you sample the local delights. Panama City has a buzzing microbrewery scene - for those that are interested, join your tour leader after dinner to check one of these out.
Included Meals
Accommodationi
Hilton Garden InnDAY 2: Panama City - City Tour
![Panama City - City Tour]()
After breakfast, head out on a tour of Panama City and the famous Panama Canal with a local guide! On the tour, see top sights such as Panama Old Town and explore the famous canal and Miraflores Lock where you can enjoy a stop at a viewing deck and a tour of the visitor centre. Visit the Amador Causeway and Flamenco Island. Take a short hike and witness the magnificent views of the city from Ancon Hill. Learn all about the history, culture, operations and day-to-day life in this city that forms an important link between North and South America.
Experiences
Panama City and Canal Tour: Join a knowledgeable local guide on a four-hour tour of Panama City and the famous Panama Canal. See the city’s most famous attractions including its old town Casco Viejo - a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with colonial buildings, charming cobbled streets and stunning promenades. Choose a spot for lunch - there are plenty of local options! Next stop is the Panama Canal and the Miraflores Locks. Locks make it possible for ships to pass through the Panama Canal and are considered an engineering wonder of the 21st century! Wonder through a Museum on-site and watch from a viewing deck as the large vessels make their voyage through the canal. The tour continues with a trip to Amador Causeway - which links Panama City to Flamenco Island - for a glimpse of local life. For the final stop, take a short hike up Ancon Hill to experience incredible views of the city!
Included Meals
Accommodationi
Hilton Garden Inn
DAY 3: Panama City: Free Day
![Panama City: Free Day]()
Explore the delights of this vibrant, cosmopolitan city on this free day! Head to the streets to see more of the old town, sample more local flavours, or stroll along the tranquil shores. Panama City is also home to a number of museums - take a look at the Afro-Antillean Museum, Biomuseo and the Natural Science Museum. Alternatively, head out of the city for the day! Join the optional San Blas excursion. Spend the day seeing beautiful islands complete with turquoise waters and beautiful, palm-fringed white sand beaches! Enjoy a catch-of-the-day lunch and learn more about Kuna Yala, the indigenous Panamanian tribe that calls the larger islands home.
Included Meals
Accommodationi
Hilton Garden Inn
Optional Excursions
- San Blas Day Trip i US$160
* Stated prices and availability are subject to change.DAY 4: Panama City - Bocas del Toro
![Panama City - Bocas del Toro]()
Depart early this morning for an hour-long flight to Bocas del Toro. This tropical island archipelago is located just off the northeastern coastline of Panama in the Caribbean Sea. Arrive in Bocas del Toro town, check into the hotel and then head into town for a quick orientation tour. Admire the untamed beauty surrounding this charming seaside village. Discover the best local spots to eat and shop - your tour leader will point these out for you. Enjoy a traditional lunch and the rest of the day is yours to spend as you’d like! Relax near the water, explore the natural scenery, go birdwatching or hop on a boat to visit a nearby island. The choice is yours!
Experiences
Bocas Town Orientation Walk: Get your vacation vibe on! Bocas del Toro is an island archipelago located in the province of Panama. Isla Colón is the best-known island and Bocas de Toro, or simply, Bocas town, is at the heart of this area. Here, one can find a unique mix of Afro-Caribbean and Latin culture, tropical rainforest climate, colourful houses, amazing vegetation and a wonderful spot where surfers, backpackers and locals get together. The sleepy island atmosphere captivates anyone who visits. Take a walkabout with your tour leader to find out where you can go for local food, book a trip to one of the nearby islands or simply go where the best beaches are located. It might be helpful to know that the US dollar can be used as currency here.
Included Meals
Accommodationi
Hotel Playa Tortuga
DAY 5: Bocas del Toro: Free Day
![Bocas del Toro: Free Day]()
Today is yours to make the most of your time on the island! Choose to explore the area at your own pace or join an optional full-day island-hopping adventure! Experience Bocas del Toro’s top beaches including visits to Starfish Beach and Red Frog Beach. Laze under the sun as you explore the Caribbean waters and islands from the comfort of a catamaran. Tonight, absorb the island atmosphere at night and find a local spot to enjoy dinner in town!
Included Meals
Accommodationi
Hotel Playa Tortuga
Optional Excursions
- Bocas Island Hopper Day Trip i US$200
* Stated prices and availability are subject to change.DAY 6: Bocas del Toro - Arenal
![Bocas del Toro - Arenal]()
Travel by boat, coach and on foot towards our next destination: Costa Rica! Start the day with a short boat ride back to mainland Panama. Next, travel by coach to Sixaola - a tiny border town located between Panama and Costa Rica. Take in the views and cross the border on foot to arrive in a new country! Next, watch as the surrounding landscape transforms as the tour travels to La Fortuna - a town that is the gateway to the Arenal volcano! Check into the hotel before sitting down for a group dinner. Experience your first taste of Costa Rican cuisine tonight with an included dinner.
Experiences
Boat Ride from Bocas Town to Almirante: Experience the Caribbean coast the way it is best enjoyed - by boat! Board a boat and travel from Bocas del Toro to Port Almirante, mainland Panama. Feel the sea breeze as you see islands and islets pass by and catch views of mountains and forests in the distance.
Cross the border from Panama to Costa Rica on foot: Get that passport stamp and walk across the Sixaola-Guabito International Bridge that connects Panama to Costa Rica.
Included Meals
Accommodationi
Hotel La Fortuna - Arenal
DAY 7: Arenal: Free Day
![Arenal: Free Day]()
La Fortuna is yours to discover on this free day! Nestled at the base of the Arenal Volcano, this town is bursting with things to see and do around the area. Opt to embark on a half-day volcano hike and see the natural beauty of the Arenal Volcano National Park. You could choose to join the Hanging Bridges optional excursion or cruise Lake Arenal on a kayak. This afternoon, you have the option to join the Arenal Hot Springs and dinner experience. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to soak in the mineral-rich, natural pools at the base of the Arenal volcano finished off with dinner with a full view of the volcano!
Included Meals
Accommodationi
Hotel La Fortuna - Arenal
Optional Excursions
- Arenal Hot Springs & Dinner Experience i US$160
- Hanging Bridges Excursion i US$200
- Arenal Half-day Volcano Hike i US$180
* Stated prices and availability are subject to change.DAY 8: Arenal - Monteverde
![Arenal - Monteverde]()
Travel to Costa Rica’s green heart today! After breakfast, embark on a four-hour journey to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve - a real bucket-list-worthy destination! Arrive and check into the hotel, which will be home base for the next two nights. This afternoon, it’s time to explore Monteverde’s Cloud Forest! Costa Rica is home to a number of tropical ‘cloud forests’ which are forests crowned by persistent cloud cover at canopy level. Known as the “Crown Jewel” of the world’s cloud forests, Monteverde is by far the country’s most famous and stretches over 10,000 hectares! Wander through the trees and enjoy hiking or birding. Exotic species like hummingbirds, toucans, trogons and bellbirds can be spotted in this area.
Experiences
Visit Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve: Exploring the forest in Monteverde is a very special bucket list experience. Only 0.14% of the world’s landmass is covered in tropical cloud forest. This tropical environment is a wonderful example of a cloud forest ecosystem. As you make it through the jungle walking along footpaths and over suspension bridges you get close to the tropical plants, smelling the moist ground and seeing natural light break through the trees. It’s also home to hundreds of mammals, amphibians, birds and insect species. It’s also the only place in the world where you can find the largest variety of hummingbird species. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has been protected since 1972.
Included Meals
Accommodationi
Claro de Luna
Jaguarundi Lodge
DAY 9: Monteverde: Free Day
![Monteverde: Free Day]()
Make the most of a free day in this beautiful part of Costa Rica. Chat with your tour leader to learn about all of the options for excursions today. Explore more of the cloud forest by catching a trip on the Sky Tram for amazing views across the treetops. Visit a local butterfly farm and learn more about these colourful little creatures. Or, go on the optional Costa Rican Coffee Farm Tour - top it off with a delicious cup of freshly brewed coffee at the end of the tour! The choice is all yours today!
Included Meals
Accommodationi
Claro de Luna
Jaguarundi Lodge
Optional Excursions
* Stated prices and availability are subject to change. DAY 10: Monteverde - Jacó
![Monteverde - Jacó]()
After breakfast, take a short journey to Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast. Stop at the Tárcoles River on the way and see if you can spot huge crocodiles sunbathing on the river banks (weather dependent). Next up is the surfing capital of Costa Rica, Jaco! Arrive and set out on an orientation walk with your tour leader. This sleepy, seaside surf town is home to quirky cafes, restaurants and shops. The afternoon is yours to spend as you wish - you could hit the waves, enjoy a leisurely lunch or just relax under the sun. Ask your tour leader for recommendations on more exciting things to do this afternoon!
Experiences
Visit the Tárcoles River and ‘Crocodile Bridge’: Pay a visit to the Tárcoles River! Rio Tárcoles is an important waterway in Costa Rica and is home to a sizable population of crocodiles! ‘Crocodile Bridge' is a famous stopover where visitors can take in the views and spot some of these huge reptiles sunbathing on the river banks.
Jacó orientation walk: Stroll through one of Costa Rica’s favourite vacation spots! With its balmy year-round weather, great waves and exceptional surf beaches, Jacó is a top surfing destination. It is also known for being a gateway to Costa Rica’s national parks and is surrounded by great places for hiking and fishing. Your tour leader will point out the best places to eat and shop for souvenirs here plus the lively nightlife spots!
Included Meals
Accommodationi
Tramonto Hotel
DAY 11: Jacó: Free Day
![Jacó: Free Day]()
Spend time relaxing in Jacó today or join the optional trip to Manuel Antonio National Park. This beautiful spot may be one of the smallest national parks in Costa Rica but has been voted as one of the top 10 in the world! Here you can see sandy beaches bordering lush forests. Along with being naturally beautiful, it is incredibly biodiverse. Keep an eye out for endangered red-backed squirrel monkeys, sloths, capuchin monkeys, iguanas, dolphins and even migrating whales out in the ocean! Back in Jacó tonight, the group will enjoy a delicious feast to celebrate the end of an amazing tour!
Included Meals
Accommodationi
Tramonto Hotel
Optional Excursions
- Manuel Antonio National Park Day Trip i US$100
* Stated prices and availability are subject to change.DAY 12: Jacó - End of tour in San José
![Jacó - End of tour in San José]()
Enjoy breakfast in Jacó this morning on the last day of the tour! Choose to continue your stay in Jacó or catch the coach to San José, Costa Rica’s capital city. Arrive in San José and enjoy an orientation driving tour. After this, say adiós to your group as our tour officially concludes here after 12 amazing days!
Experiences
San José Panoramic Driving Tour: Take a driving tour of Costa Rica’s largest city. See some major sights including the Parque Nacional, Pre-Columbian Museum and the Metropolitan cathedral.