Costa Rica & Panama Canal Adventure

Day 1 : Fly to San José

Today we board our flight to the tropical paradise of Costa Rica.

Upon arrival we meet our local guide and check-in to our well-appointed hotel in San José.

Day 2 : Doka Coffee & Butterfly Gardens

Enjoy a delicious breakfast every morning of our tour! Our sightseeing begins at the Doka Coffee Estate. Here we discover the history of traditional coffee growers, also known as the Chorrear. Begin with the picking of the ripened coffee berries and follow the production to the roasting hall where heavenly scents of fresh coffee fill the air.

After, witness the metamorphosis of 15 species of butterflies from egg to adult at the Doka Butterfly Gardens. We have a chance to get a close-up look at these colorful, incredible creatures.

Enjoy sightseeing of the tropical landscape on our way to Arenal.

We then check-in to our hotel in the Arenal area for a two-night stay.

Day 3 : Wildlife Refuge Tour

Offering a glimpse into one of the richest and most biologically diverse ecosystems in Costa Rica, the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge and the Rio Frio houses monkeys, iguanas, sloths, turtles and more. We access this wildlife sanctuary via the village of Los Chiles, near the Nicaraguan border. Board a river adventure boat and lazily float along on a safari through a brilliant tropical rain forest and pastures en route to a fascinating marshland.

We return to the Arenal area with dinner on our own this evening.

Day 4 : Arenal Volcano National Park

Hike along the base of the Mountain of Fire on today’s amazing journey. Follow a paved trail through lush forest and learn about the active period of 1968 that turned a once-thriving canopy of vegetation into the small patches of green and towering summit we see today.

This evening we check-in to our accommodations in the Monteverde area.

Day 5 : Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Today we learn about the unique amphibians and reptiles of Costa Rica at Herpetarium Adventures. View exotic frogs, toads and snakes up close.

Afterwards, explore the pleasant oceanside town of Puntarenas on our way to San José.

Day 6 : Welcome to Panama

Say adios to the resplendent beauty of Costa Rica and board a short flight to Panama. We arrive in Panama City and are greeted at the airport by our local guide.

We check-in to our Panama City hotel and enjoy an evening of relaxation.

Day 7 : Panama City Tour

Expansive Panama City lays out before us today as we set out on a full day city tour.

Begin with a visit to the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal. Tour the museum and take in views of the ships passing through this iconic feat of engineering.

See the historical ruins of Old Panama, originally founded by the Spanish and later famously plundered by the dreaded pirate Henry Morgan.

We also visit Casco Antiguo, seamlessly combining Italian, French and Spanish colonial architecture including the magnificent Golden Altar.

Our tour ends with a visit to Panama City’s colorful Biodiversity Museum.

We return to our hotel with dinner on our own.

Day 8 : Panama Canal Full Transit

Travel from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean all in the same day! From the Pacific Ocean, take in the sweeping sands of the Bay of Panama and the towering skyline of Panama City before passing under the Bridge of the Americas. We then board the Pacific Queen to begin our incredible journey through the locks, where lakes and rivers traverse this waterway. Our full-day trip through carved sections of the Continental Divide provide immense history and geological wonder.

Day 9 : Embera Quera Community

Captivating culture and striking scenery await us today. We reach the Embera Quera Indigenous Community by a scenic boat ride. Upon arrival in the village, a local narrator teaches us about their culture, language, and way of life. Captivating local music and dances are demonstrated before shopping their selection of handmade crafts.

Our day ends with an included Holiday Vacations Farewell Dinner and folkloric show with traditional Panamanian music and dancing.

Day 10 : Return Home

We fly home with marvelous memories of our vacation in Central America.