Itinerary
- Day 1
Panama City
You'll arrive at Panama City airport and get transferred to your hotel in the city center. After checking in to your 3-star accommodation, you'll have the rest of the day to settle in and get oriented. You're staying here for the next 3 nights, so take time to grab dinner nearby and rest up for the activities ahead.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Day 2
Panama Canal Crossing
This morning you head out for a partial crossing of the Panama Canal. You'll travel through the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks, watching massive cargo ships move through and learning about the canal's history from your guide. Lunch happens on the ship, and then you'll return to the hotel by afternoon. It's one of those things that sounds complex but ends up being pretty straightforward once you're there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on the ship)
Included Activities
- Partial Panama Canal crossing
- Passage through Pedro Miguel locks
- Passage through Miraflores locks
- Guided tour with commentary on canal history
- Observation of cargo ships
Landmarks Panama Canal Miraflores Locks Pedro Miguel Locks - Day 3
Panama City Tour
You'll walk through Panama City starting with the 16th-century ruins of Panama Viejo, then check out a local market with Indian handmade artwork. From there, head into Casco Antiguo, the colonial district with its historic 17th and 18th century buildings, the cathedral, and the President's palace. Later you'll drive to the Causeway for skyline views and stop at Miraflores locks again. The afternoon is yours to do whatever you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Panama City
- Visit to Panama Viejo ruins
- Visit to local Indian market
- Walking tour of Casco Antiguo
- Visit to presidential palace (exterior)
- Visit to cathedral
- Visit to Causeway viewpoint
- Visit to Miraflores locks observation area
Landmarks Panama Viejo Casco Antiguo Cathedral of Panama City Causeway (Calzada de Amador) Miraflores Locks - Day 4
Bocas del Toro
Early morning transfer gets you to Albrook National Airport for your flight to Colón Island, the main island of Bocas del Toro. After arriving in this Caribbean area with its islands and clear waters, the afternoon is free. You can head to secluded beaches on the islands, go diving or snorkeling, or just explore on your own pace and get a feel for the place.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Domestic flight to Bocas del Toro
Optional Activities
- Diving
- Snorkeling
- Beach exploration on main and side islands
Landmarks Colón Island Bocas del Toro - Day 5
Coral Cay and Red Frog Beach
A boat takes you out past mangroves to Coral Cay where you'll have fresh seafood at a local restaurant and go snorkeling. In the afternoon, you head to Red Frog Beach to swim or wander around the island. The day is fairly flexible, so you can move at whatever pace works for you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip past mangroves
- Snorkeling at Coral Cay
- Entrance to Red Frog Beach
Optional Activities
- Seafood lunch at Coral Cay restaurant
- Swimming at Red Frog Beach
- Island exploration at Red Frog Beach
Landmarks Coral Cay Red Frog Beach - Day 6
Bocas del Toro to Cahuita
You'll take a boat to the mainland and then travel to the border for customs. After that, you drive through banana plantations heading to Cahuita, a Caribbean village. Following lunch, a guided hike through Cahuita National Park takes you through coastal vegetation like coconut palms and mangrove swamps. You'll see the coral reef on this side of the Caribbean with fish and sea turtles, plus pelicans, howler and capuchin monkeys, coatis, sloths, and colorful butterflies along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Boat transfer to mainland
- Customs formalities crossing to Costa Rica
- Guided hike through Cahuita National Park
- Nature observation of marine life, coral reef, birds and wildlife
Landmarks Cahuita National Park - Day 7
Cahuita to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí
You'll travel inland toward Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqu í, one of Costa Rica's most biodiverse rainforest areas. The journey takes you along the Caribbean coast through Limón, then inland past banana plantations. Once you reach your rainforest lodge, you'll check in for the night and get ready to explore the jungle tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Scenic drive through Caribbean coast
- Transfer through banana cultivation region
Landmarks Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí - Day 8
Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí to La Fortuna
This morning starts with a chocolate tour at Tirimbina Reserve, a former cocoa plantation where you'll learn about cocoa history, watch bean processing, and taste the chocolate. After that, you drive through fertile plains with papaya, sugar cane and citrus plantations toward La Fortuna, located at the foot of the Arenal volcano. You'll check into your hotel for a 2-night stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Chocolate tour at Tirimbina Reserve
- Visit to former cocoa plantation
- Cocoa bean processing observation
- Cocoa tasting
Landmarks Tirimbina Reserve Arenal Volcano 
- Day 9
Arenal Rainforest and Suspension Bridges
You'll do a thrilling hike across suspension bridges in the Arenal tropical rainforest canopy. The roughly 2-hour tour has you crossing numerous bridges up to 92 meters long, suspended 60 meters above the ground. While floating between the treetops, you'll see blooming orchids, bromeliads and tillandsias with views of Arenal's cone. The rest of the day is free to explore La Fortuna or relax in hot thermal springs.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike on suspension bridges in Arenal tropical rainforest
- Canopy exploration with flora observation
Optional Activities
- Thermal springs visit (for a fee)
- Exploration of La Fortuna village
Landmarks Arenal Volcano Arenal Tropical Rainforest - Day 10
La Fortuna to San José
After breakfast, you'll transfer to San José or to a separately booked extension hotel (some transfers have an additional fee). If you've arranged the Nicaragua sightseeing tour extension, you'll head to Liberia instead. Either way, you'll have your onward travel arranged before you leave the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Extension hotel accommodation (may incur additional fees)
