7, 10 & 14 Day Itineraries to Make Sure You Get the Most of Your Panama Vacation
Covid 19 has thrown a monkey wrench into our children’s education. As parents, we are now suddenly tasked with helping teach things like History and Math. And if you are like me, you probably have not paid much attention to these subjects since college. You know…ahem….just a few years back With kids studying remotely these days, there is no better time to take the family to Panama for a good old fashioned history lesson. Your budding engineer will love learning about the workings of the great Panama Canal. You can check environmental studies off the list too. The Panama Canal’s watershed is one of the most important eco-systems in the modern world. Add in 5 different indigenous cultures and diverse wildlife and you have a pretty full curriculum to cover in just a week or two. So now you just need to decide on your itinerary.
7 Days in Panama – The Essential Itinerary To Get the Best of Panama in One Week
We strongly suggest you stay longer than 7 days in Panama. But if you are limited on time, you can pack a whole lot of history, culture, nature, and adventure into just 7 days. Our tour providers have spent years working out the perfect itinerary so you do not have to waste time researching. That is our job after all. Vacation is meant to be worry-free. So we did our homework, all you have to do is sign up and come along for the ride. We have activities for the whole family to enjoy regardless of age or physical level. So let’s dig in.
Panama City is probably one of the most incredibly diverse cities when it comes to nature, culture, & metropolitan indulgences. Not to mention a wealth of important historical landmarks. However, it is important to explore other regions surrounding Panama City. Thus why we suggest getting out of town a bit too. A basic itinerary of 7 days in Panama can do just that. Below is a basic list of highlights of things you should see and do in Panama in 7 days.
Day 1: Panama Canal & The Highlights of Panama City
As in any country, your first day should be spent getting to know the basics and highlights of the city you are visiting. So for your first day, we suggest the Panama City & Panama Canal Highlights tour. This is the perfect introduction to all the best Panama City has to offer. You can visit the amazing Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal and the super cool museum. Stroll through the historic district of Casco Viejo.
Head out to the Amador Causeway to view the line up of ships passing through the canal and eat some freshly caught seafood. Visit Ancon Hill which has an amazing vantage point of ships passing the canal while sloths chill out in the treetops viewing you view the town. And for the little ones, the Punta Culebra Discovery Center is not only educational but super interactive with all the wildlife and marine life that call Panama home. History lesson, check! Marine Biology lesson, check!!
Day 2: Discover Fort Portobelo, Snorkeling the Caribbean & Ziplining in Panama
Now that you have a grasp of the city, it’s time to explore the other side of the isthmus, Fort Portobelo. You have no idea the amount of gold that ran through here during the Conquistador era and also the amount of looting by pirates too. Captain Morgan (the pirate who inspired the rum I guess?), was a major fixture of actual folklore here.
Add in some spectacular snorkeling in Portobello as well as a zipline tour, and you have one heck of a day with the family. Check out the details here. Your kids will love to share their adventures zip lining in Panama with their classmates once back home. Bragging rights you know. Plus, they will be so distracted they will not realize they are actually getting in a History lesson.
Day 3: Wildlife, Very Social Monkeys & Indigenous Tribes of Panama
Get to know the native side of Panama. Venture out to visit a colony of indigenous Embera Wounaan natives who love to share their culture with you. Oh, and did we mention their amazing handicrafts. The Wounaan specializes in crafting beautiful sculptures out of the tagua nut. The Embera are well-known for their intricate basket weaving designs. The tribe we visit has a mix of both cultures, so you can find authentic crafts from both. Then there are the true natives, the monkeys!! The same boat you take to reach the Embera Wounaan village you will spend an hour or so navigating the canals and visiting some very eager to meet you monkeys. Grab a banana and watch them hop right into your boat!! Your kids will love you for it.
After a full day of fun, we will hit the road in time to catch the sunset and grab dinner in our next destination, El Valle de Anton.
Day 4: Valle de Anton, Panama’s Lush Green Weekend Getaway From Panama City
Just West of Panama is a lush green valley and a favorite weekend getaway from the city. El Valle de Ancon. After being in the city, you will love the fresh mountain air here. There are several things you can opt to do depending on your energy level, but I myself recommend the La India Dormida hike because 1) it is free, and 2) the views are phenomenal!!! During the hike, you will find spectacular views, waterfalls, ancient petroglyphs and if you are lucky, some of the rare frog species or other wildlife native to Anton Valley.
But if you want to stick around town, or your kids are not quite up to the hiking trip, there are plenty of other things to do in Valle de Anton for the whole family. You can add on an optional horseback riding tour, biking, a trip to the Nispero Zoo, a visit to the local artisans market, a visit to La Piedra Pintada petroglyphs, and even a mud bath. By this time, your guide will have gotten to know your family and they can recommend the best activities in El Valle de Anton for you.
After a late lunch, we will hit the road again to our next destination, Santa Catalina. Again, arriving in time for sunset and dinner out.
Day 5: Santa Catalina: Surfing Mecca of Panama & Jumping Off Point for Isla Coiba National Park
Moving on from the city and the mountains, It’s time to hit the beach!! It’s a tropical vacation time now. This small town offers quaint lodging always complete with the requisite hammock for your afternoon siestas. If you love to surf, you may want to just rent a board and hit the waves for the day. Santa Catalina is a surfing Mecca in Panama. But the real gem here is the easy access to snorkeling and scuba diving in one of the most amazing National Parks in Panama, Isla Coiba, and the surrounding islets. Conservation lesson, check!!
We cannot say enough about exploring the Isla Coiba National Park. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and we are so very thankful for the work being done there to preserve it. The park is made up of 38 small islands and an amazing abundance of marine life. That makes scuba diving and snorkeling Coiba a once in a lifetime experience.
Unlike the Caribbean side of Panama, the Pacific side has larger pelagics such as dolphins, reef sharks, nurse sharks (both the type that are great for viewing and nothing to worry about), giant sea turtles, and schools of hundreds of tropical fish. They call Isla Coiba the poor man’s Galapagos. But I would say it is a heck of a bargain for what you will get out of it. Again. marine biology and conservation are a great lesson your kids will take home with them here.
At the end of the day, be sure to download the Google Sky Map app. Since Santa Catalina is so far out of the city, the stars are in abundance and really steal the show at night. Astronomy lesson, check!
Day 6: Boquete Panama, Valley of Flowers and Adventure Capital of Panama
We will take off early this day as it is the longest travel day of the entire Panama 7 day itinerary. But, we will break it up with a stop at Caldera hot springs. Nothing better to relieve the aches and pains of a long car ride than some hot spring, right? Just watch out for the pesky resident monkey that loves everything humans bring and is building his own collection, little mermaid style.
The best part of the day is just pulling into the valley with the spectacular views from one of the ridges overlooking the valley. Get your cameras ready, Boquete Valley can really take your breath away. It is called the valley of flowers and depending on the time of year you arrive, you will understand in minutes why.
Day 7: Choose Your Own Adventure in Boquete
There are so many things to do in Boquete. Seriously, this is a tiny town, but there is so much to explore in the valley you cannot get bored here. Heck, you may want to spend a few extra days here once you arrive…so if possible remain flexible. But whatever you do, do not miss out on your chance to wake up every morning with a cup of coffee from Boquete. Soooo worth it!!
You can view our list of top things to do in Boquete, Panama for ideas. Or, for a full list of activities and things to do in Boquete Panama, check out our Boquete tours page. You will want to book in advance if possible. Boquete is a small town, but also small operations, so tours are in very small groups with limited spaces.
This is the end of our basic cross country tour. But seriously, we really recommend if you are coming all the way to Panama, splurge on a few more days. Note this ends in Boquete, so you will have to take a plane back to Panama City for your flight out, or you can keep the tour going with one of our recommended Add Ons.
Panama 10 and 14 Day Add On Itineraries…Exploring Off The Beaten Path
Bocas Del Toro Panama Suggested Minimum Stay 3 days 2 Nights
If you want to get the most out of your once in a lifetime vacation in Panama, then we strongly recommend adding Bocas del Toro and San Blas to your itinerary. Since our 7 day journey ends in Boquete, Bocas del Toro is a logical next step and easily accessible destination. You can get a ground shuttle for relatively cheap and hop a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas, or book a quick flight from David to Bocas del Toro.
Just a hop, skip and a jump brings you to the Caribbean Coast and its amazingly diverse marine life. Amazing snorkeling, scuba diving, and island hopping await. Check out our Bocas Del Toro Tours page for a list of fun things to do in Bocas del Toro Panama. We love just strolling through town and biking around the main island of Colon. But there are a LOT of fun things to do. Exploring the islands is a must! The snorkeling and diving spots in Bocas Del Toro are among some of the best dive spots in the world.
Oh, and did we mention the crazy nightlife there? Bocas del Toro is infamous for backpackers around the world for its crazy nightlife scene. So maybe traveling with a family Bocas del Toro is not the best destination in Panama, but keep in mind it is the closest to extend your vacation into Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica which is a great family destination. Bocas to Puerto Viejo is a very popular backpackers route. However, if not staying at the party Hostels, then this is a perfect family-friendly destination as well. We offer discounted trips with Caribe Shuttle who will guide your family through the border crossing between Panama and Costa Rica.
San Blas Islands: Home to the Autonomous and Indigenous Guna Yala of Panama
So, a visit to the San Blas Islands is recommended as a pre-cross-country trip excursion. It is about a 3+ hour drive to the main water taxi pier in San Blas. And for those who are squirmish, it is a bit of a roller coaster ride. So not recommended for those who get motion sickness. But if you and your family is game, it is an absolute dream of an adventure we are sure the whole family will love.
The San Blas Islands, the infamously beautiful archipelago of over 300 islands stretching between Panama and Colombia is something out of a National Geographic article. Some islands are literally out of a scene from Tom Hank’s Cast Away film. Just a small island with one coconut palm. Just a one day trip to San Blas will take you to all the best highlights. We are also big fans of Sustainable tourism here at The Real Deal Tours, so we love to promote for our indigenous friends.
However, if you want to stay overnight, we can arrange that as well. This is an education in life without cell service or internet. So something your kids may appreciate or may have a hard time adapting to, so beware. But there are a lot of things to do in San Blas. Like snorkeling the shallow water, island hopping and building a campfire on the beach that can keep them busy and involved instead. Meanwhile, you can just string a hammock between a couple of palms and chill. Welcome to island life amigos.
Side note, if you are looking for the ultimate souvenir or Panama’s indigenous, this is THE place to purchase a Mola. Molas are a beautiful indigenous craft known worldwide by the Guna Yala tribe. The older more traditional Molas have more symmetric designs, where the newer ones have adapted animals to attract tourists. Either way, when your kid is back in school and has a presentation of indigenous cultures in other countries, they will be set!!
Panama Travel Itineraries: Planning Your Perfect Family Vacation to Panama
So you see, Panama is an incredible way to explore Central America. Enjoy great weather, and also provide your child with an invaluable educational lesson which is so important these days. Trust us, of all the locations we operate out of, Panama is honestly one of the most interesting and educational. So if you are looking for a way to get away from your home town and help your kids get a jump start on their education, Panama is the perfect family vacation for you.
PS: Maybe you can even make your Panama vacation a tax write off this year? If you can, please pass me your accountant’s info in the comments below. We could use any help we can get to cover our kids’ future education!! We are currently in Mexico, and the options to educate our children during these times have been less than optimal.