Costa Rica & Panama Discover

Combine proud Caribbean cultures with incredibly scenic stops

Get under the surface of Costa Rica and Panama with this 12-day Caribbean adventure. From San Jose to Panama City, you’ll get introduced to some of the most beautiful spots in two Central American countries, with a perfect balance of included activities and free time for your own explorations. You’ll visit the Ngabe-Bugle community on Isla Popa, learn how to make a traditional Caribbean meal, look out for wildlife on a jungle walk, visit a lock along the Panama Canal and soak in the local hotspots in areas seldom travelled. You can't go wrong with your local leader to steer you in the right direction (to the best bars and surf breaks), plus a small group of adventurers to enjoy them with.

Whats included:

Meals
5 breakfasts, 1 dinner
Transport
Private vehicle, Public bus, Taxi, Shared boat
Accommodation
Hotel (11 nights)

Included activities

Sarapiqui – Jungle Walk
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Leader-led orientation walk
Puerto Viejo - Hands-on dinner in local home
Ngäbe-Buglé Indigenous Community Visit
Boquete - Leader-led orientation walk
Chitre - Traditional mask workshop
Panama City - Miraflores Locks (Panama Canal)
Panama City - Leader-led walk in Casco Viejo

Flights can be arranged by Navan Travel

Why you'll love this trip

Put your chef’s hat on and help prepare a traditional Caribbean dinner with a local family in their home in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.

Swim in clear ocean waters, stop in at shacks serving cold cerveza and kick back on sandy shores covered in starfish in the Bocas del Toro, where you spend three nights on Isla Colon.

Head to the coffee plantations, waterfalls and caldera hot springs of Boquete – a highland town so beautiful you’ll hardly miss the beach at all!

Spend a morning with the Ngabe-Bugle indigenous community on Isla Popa, learning about local lifestyles as you get to experience a slice of village life.

Learn about the scale of the Panama Canal during a visit to the Miraflores Lock, then get to know Panama City during a guided stroll through Casco Viejo.

Day 1: Welcome to San Jose

Activity: Arrival and 6:00 PM welcome meeting to meet your group.

Meals: None included today.

Day 2: Sarapiquí Rainforest

Activity: Head into the lush lowlands for a guided jungle walk. Look out for sloths, bats, and exotic frogs.

Transport: Public Bus.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 3: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Activity: Orientation walk of this laid-back Caribbean town, followed by a hands-on traditional dinner in a local family's home.

Transport: Private vehicle.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 4: Free Day in Puerto Viejo

Activity: Free time to explore. Optional visit to Cahuita National Park for wildlife spotting or a surf lesson on the Caribbean waves.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 5: Crossing into Panama & Bocas del Toro

Activity: Cross the border on foot over an old railway bridge. Take a boat to the stunning Isla Colon in the Bocas del Toro archipelago.

Transport: Private vehicle, Boat.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 6: Tropical Bliss in Bocas del Toro

Activity: A completely free day to island-hop, snorkel in coral reefs, or relax at "Starfish Beach."

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 7: Indigenous Community Visit

Activity: Visit the Ngäbe-Buglé community on Isla Popa. Meet a local family and learn about their traditional way of life and community tourism project.

Transport: Shared Boat.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 8: Boquete Highlands

Activity: Leave the coast for the cooler mountain air of Boquete. Famous for its coffee and volcanic landscapes.

Transport: Boat, Private vehicle.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 9: Boquete Free Day

Activity: Choose your adventure: tour a coffee plantation, hike to hidden waterfalls, or soak in the Caldera hot springs.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 10: Panamanian Culture in Chitré

Activity: Travel south to Chitré. Visit a traditional mask-making workshop to see the craftsmanship behind Panama's famous festival costumes.

Transport: Private vehicle.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 11: The Panama Canal & Panama City

Activity: Witness the engineering marvel of the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal, followed by a stroll through the historic Casco Viejo (Old Town).

Transport: Private vehicle.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 12: Farewell Panama City

Activity: Your adventure concludes after breakfast. Head home or stay longer to explore the city skyline!

Meals: Breakfast.

Our price of €1365 per person, basedon 2 people sharing includes:

Whats included: