Romantic Panama In Considerable Comfort and Style
Tour Introduction
This enticing itinerary explores the wildlife of the Panama Canal Zone’s lush rainforests and visits both Panama’s Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Whether for a honeymoon or merely to explore Panama in comfortable, luxurious surroundings, this tailor-made tour has it all. Spend a morning exploring Gatun Lake then return to Panama City and relax in the extremely comfortable surroundings of the Bristol Hotel, regularly voted one of the Top 10 hotels in Latin America. The tempo then changes and barefoot luxury is the name of the game with a four night stay at El Otro Lado on Panama’s warm Caribbean coast. Swim in the infinity pool or off one of the region’s inviting Caribbean beaches and feast on delicious a la carte seafood. Explore historic Portobello then take the Panama Canal Railway back to Panama City. Your final few nights are spent relaxing at the delightful JW Marriott Panama Golf and Beach Resort on the Pacific coast with all its many facilities for a real luxury beach-and- sun ending to a great trip.
Full Itinerary
Arrive Panama City, capital of Panama in the early evening. Met and transfer to your hotel.
Staying at Bristol Hotel. Includes In-flight Meals.
Board an expedition boat and explore Gatun Lake, passing by gigantic cargo ships transiting the Panama Canal. Along the way spot green iguana, three-toed sloth, caiman, osprey, snail kite and keel-billed toucan, and look out for white-faced capuchin, mantled howler monkey, Central American spider monkey, and Geoffroy’s tamarin.
Staying at Bristol Hotel. Includes Breakfast and Lunch.
After breakfast pick up from the hotel and transfer to Soberania National Park in the Panama Canal watershed. The 55,000-acres of tropical rainforest boast 525 species of birds including the black hawk-eagle and a great array of North American migrants, 105 species of mammals including tamandua, two and three-toed sloth, four species of monkeys, and 59 endemic plant species in four life zones. Enjoy spectacular views of Soberania’s vastness and canopy bird species from a 32-metre observation tower at the Rainforest Discovery Centre, hike the trails and explore the famous Pipeline Road.
Staying at Bristol Hotel. Includes Breakfast and Lunch.
After breakfast transfer 2.5 hours to the northern coastal town of Miramar on the Caribbean coast,
Travel 45 minutes by boat to the lodge. The afternoon is at leisure.
Perhaps relax in a hammock on the terrace of your private cabana, swim directly from your terrace in the warm, inviting Caribbean sea, or relax around the lodge’s pool.
Staying at Coral Lodge. Includes All Meals.
A day to enjoy the activities arranged by the lodge. These include guided kayak excursions, guided snorkelling, and guided forest treks. A visit to the San Blas Islands can be arranged at additional cost, and introductory and diving packages are also available.
Staying at Coral Lodge. Includes All Meals.
A day to relax or enjoy the activities arranged by the lodge.
Staying at Coral Lodge. Includes All Meals.
A final day to relax or enjoy the activities arranged by the lodge.
Staying at Coral Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Return by boat to Miramar and drive to the quaint town of Portobelo which is steeped in history. It was the site of many sea and land battles between the Spanish colonials and the pirates and corsairs raiding the Spanish Main. Explore the fortifications built by the Spaniards to protect their treasures and visit the Church of San Felipe, the sanctuary of the Black Christ.
Later in the afternoon, board the Panama Canal Railway train back to Panama City. This one-hour train journey will allow you to traverse the picturesque trans-isthmian route from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. The line flanks the Panama Canal passing through lush rainforests, cruising alongside the Canal’s locks, through the historic Gaillard Cut and gliding over slender causeways in Gatun Lake.
Arriving in the early evening, transfer 75 miles southwestwards to Buenaventura on the Pacific coast.
Staying at JW Marriott Panama Golf and Beach Resort. Includes Breakfast and Lunch.
A day to relax and enjoy the resort’s facilities. Perhaps relax by one of the many pools, enjoy a variety of watersports, or arrange some off-site activities such as surfing and zip-lining.
Staying at Overnight: JW Marriott Panama Golf and Beach Resort. Includes Breakfast and Lunch.
Another day to enjoy the resort’s facilities.
Staying at Overnight: JW Marriott Panama Golf and Beach Resort. Includes Breakfast.
After a final morning to relax transfer to Tocumen International Airport for the flight out.
Staying at On flight. Includes In-flight Meals.
Tour Accommodation
Bristol Panama Hotel
Overview
The Bristol Panama is a high comfort hotel built in 1997 and centrally located in Panama City’s business district. The hotel has 119 rooms over eighteen floors, including deluxe, studio and tower suites. All of the rooms offer good facilities including a modern en suite bathroom, air-conditioning, climate control, mini-bar, telephone, LCD TV with cable channels, tea and coffee-making facilities, and Wi-Fi is available at a surcharge.
Facilities at the hotel include a well-stocked bar, spacious lounge, outdoor swimming pool and a spa with a wide range of treatments, and therapies available. There is an excellent gourmet restaurant on site serving delicious but expensive Panamanian gourmet cuisine.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurant, bar, lounge, gym, outdoor swimming pool, spa, event facilities, air-conditioning, climate control, mini-bar, telephone, LCD TV with cable channels, tea- and coffee-making facilities, laundry service and Wi-Fi is available at a surcharge.
Optional Activities
City tours of Panama city.
El Otro Lado
Overview
El Otro Lado is a romantic small boutique retreat set in lush tropical forest on the seafront across the bay from the historic town of Portobelo on Panama’s Caribbean coast. The décor is a riot of light and colour throughout, with each room having its own unique theme and objets d’art. Although the property has no beach, boats are available to take guests to three nearby uncrowded sandy beaches where they may be left with a cooler and snorkelling gear to explore the marine environment. El Otro Lado is set within the Portobelo National Park and close to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Portobelo, an important colonial Spanish port through which most of the gold and other South American plunder passed on its way to Spain.
Accommodation is in just four individual Caribbean-style villas plus three first-floor suites, perfect for families. Each villa has a bedroom with double bed (the Spirit House has two bedrooms, kitchenette and living room), living area with delightful décor and furnishings, private bathroom, air-conditioning and deck. The main building has a good restaurant, bar and lounge with an infinity pool with sun lounging area. Room service is available. Behind the lodge is a large tract of rainforest with abundant birdlife and walking trails. The first floor suites all share a large ground floor area with air-conditioned living room, bar and outdoor dining area. The suites have two tiers: the large floor with either a double or two double beds, and a gallery with two single beds: perfect for children.
The attention to detail is one of the many delights in staying at El Otro Lado, where you will have plenty to do and be taken care of very well.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Private bathrooms, restaurant, bar, lounge, swimming pool, games room, air-conditioning, lush gardens, room service and laundry service.
Optional Activities
Snorkelling, scuba diving, sunset cruises, visit Portobelo and fort, rainforest and birdwatching tours, kayaking, river trip by barge, Congo dance and drumming performances.
Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort
Overview
The Buenaventura Panama Golf and Beach Resort is located only 80 minutes by road from Panama City in the exclusive Buenaventura beach community on the Pacific Coast. It is ideal for families, for winding down and relaxing after an adventurous tour of the interior or just for a beach holiday with good golfing. What it lacks in character it makes up for with good facilities and service.
The 109 guest rooms and five suites include all the features expected in a resort of this quality, including complimentary newspaper, in-room safe, minibar, 42-inch flat screen TV with films on demand, air- conditioning and ceiling fan, and private balcony with sitting area.
There are a number of restaurants offering a variety of indoor and outdoor dining options from Panamanian to Japanese cuisine, and the Solera pool bar which serves drinks and snacks.
Leisure options include swimming pools (both onsite and at the Resort’s El Faro Beach Club), beach butler service, golf and a variety of water sports.
The onsite Corotu Spa has five multifunctional treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy area with whirlpools, deluge showers, sauna and steam room.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Six restaurants and bars, swimming pools (both on site and at the resort’s El Faro Beach Club), Jacuzzi, exercise room, Nicklaus Design 18-hole golf course, spa, kids club, teen lounge. Along with its 109 rooms the resort also has 5 suites and 4 villas.
Optional Activities
Bike rentals, biking trail, boating, jet skiing, jogging/fitness trail, kayaking, sailing, snorkelling, table tennis, volleyball.
Route Map
Departure Dates
Travel Information
Are International Flights Included?
No. Please contact us for a quote if required.
Flight Info:
Fly from London and certain regional airports to Panama City on KLM via Amsterdam, on Iberia via Madrid, or via the USA on Delta, American or United.
Best Visited:
December to April
Are you ATOL Registered?
Yes. This means we are legally able to book your international flights in conjunction with your ground arrangements so you can book with us with complete confidence. Read more about our ATOL license here.
John Melton
Area Specialist
Whilst staying at Coral Lodge arrange a full day excursion to the San Blas Islands.
If you have any questions regarding this Tour, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
I would like to thank you for putting together such an excellent trip and to highlight a few items. The service provided in country was first class. All drivers were on time and went beyond the call of duty to be of service. I have never been on holiday where the standard of bird guiding has been so good.
