Your Panama adventure begins on arrival with a warm welcome from our local representative who will transfer you to the unique Canopy Tower Lodge. It’s hard to believe the lodge is only 30 minutes from the international airport as it is surrounded by rainforest in the heart of the Soberanía National Park. Located at an altitude of 900 feet above sea level, this unique eco- lodge and nature observatory is a converted U.S. Armed Forces radar tower with an outstanding view of the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal and Centenarian Bridge in the distance.  Recognized as a premier birding area, numerous species of birds as well as abundant wildlife can be sighted in the forest canopy and the forest floor below from the five different levels of the “tower”. Feast on delicious meals featuring fresh fruit and local vegetables and incredible views from the geotangent dome situated on a flat roof which serves as the lodge’s top floor. Treetop guest rooms accommodate a total of only 12 guests allowing for very personalized service. Spend the next two nights falling asleep to the concert of melodies provided by the wildlife in the rainforest.

Committed to conservation, the lodge’s stated mission is to “bring people to a comfortable closeness with the rich Panamanian rainforest, and to share our enthusiasm for the birds and wildlife, so they will join with us in working to conserve the spectacular diversity of Nature”. To that end, efforts are made to reuse and recycle resources, reduce the use of resources and reject products made from scarce or toxic materials.

Overnight at the Canopy Tower Lodge. [Meals on own]

Awaken to a tropical chorus of birdcalls and enjoy breakfast soaking in the rainforest activity before heading into town to discover ancient Panama City. Transported back in history, walk through the Casco Antiguo with its cobbled and bricked narrow streets and terraces shaded with colorful flowers. In the present, the need for a healthy watershed to maintain the Panama Canal explains the city’s close proximity to pristine rainforest. The afternoon is dedicated to exploring the history and workings of the Canal as you experience the rise and fall of water flowing through the locks from on board a vessel and visit the Miraflores Locks Museum.

Overnight at the Canopy Tower. [BLD]

Leave your canopy home behind with a flight to the town of David, where your local guide drives you to the mountain town of Boquete and to the Finca Lerida Eco-lodge. Settle into your mountainside room in this small comfortable, family run lodge nestled in the middle of a working coffee plantation and surrounded by a large, private natural cloud forest. The lodge’s award wining coffee is “produced in keeping with our commitment to preserve the environment and is an important element in sustaining the surrounding forest”. Renown by birders as an exceptional spot to view many of the birds found in Panama, Finca Lerida’s natural reserve is also a wonderful place to experience the cloud forest environment and to discover the flora and fauna hidden within.

Overnight at Finca Lerida. [BL]

Wake up to the symphony of birds and to the heady aroma of their home grown Finca Lerida Estate Coffee brewed especially for you. If you are lucky a family of Resplendent Quetzals, the most magnificent bird in the Americas, may provide an early “show” right behind the owner’s picturesque farmhouse. Embark on an easy guided hike within the cloud forest reserve, learning about the unique array of wildlife that thrives at the cooler higher elevations, followed by an opportunity to learn how fine quality coffee is processed. Or if you prefer a more vigorous alternative, hike along the skirts of the Baru Volcano in the Cerro Punta, walking among some of the largest trees in the hemisphere. The moderately improved trail is not too strenuous, dropping in elevation along the route. This hike provides a full day of exercise, beautiful vistas, and the chance to see unique tropical wildlife. Your hiking option can be reserved ahead of time or once you are on site.

Overnight at Finca Lerida. [BL]

Explore the countryside along the drive to the laid back Caribbean style town of Bocas del Toro. Expect to see bikes as the main method of transportation, food stations lining the road, and the Kuna Indians selling colorful fabrics. This seaside town is the gateway to some of the beautiful islands that configure the Bocas Archipelago which is renowned for its surfing, sea kayaking, fishing and snorkeling amid magnificent coral reefs. There is the distinct smell of sea air as you leave the dock for the 45-minute ride to the Tranquilo Bay Eco-resort, set on a bluff on Bastimentos Island. Focusing on comfort combined with ecological and sustainable practices, U.S. owners built the lodge on their own over the last five years. The lodge grounds connect with a national park, creating a biological corridor for wildlife to roam the island. The island hosts abundant colonies of monkeys as well as toucan, and parrots with a colorful array of marine life swimming the offshore waters. Explore the gardens around the lodge as the sun goes down on the horizon.

Overnight at Tranquilo Bay Lodge. [BLD]

After a refreshing sleep in one of the lodge’s 6 deluxe cabanas, take your morning cup of coffee up to the second floor porch of the main lodge for a bird’s eye view into the jungle and Caribbean beyond. The lodge provides the perfect atmosphere for letting your cares slip away while at the same time offering a variety of invigorating activities. Spend the next two days enjoying the following included guided tours: Snorkeling in the most biologically diverse Caribbean marine park, which is just a short boat ride away. Hiking tailored to your desires from slowly walking beneath the canopy studying the flora and fauna, rambling along the shoreline and bluffs of nearby islands, or to a vigorous workout to reach a waterfall or cave. Sea kayaking along secluded white sand beaches, coral flats, small offshore islands, mangrove forests and spring fed rivers exploring a variety of ecosystems. Free time can be spent lazing in a hammock, bird watching, photographing wildlife, swimming, or reading.

Overnights at Tranquilo Bay Lodge. [BLD]

Soak in one last view of the blue Caribbean and start to return to reality with a flight back to Panama City, an unusually metropolitan and sophisticated city in the middle of Central America. Relax at your small, upscale boutique hotel with well-appointed rooms and a colonial ambience. Choose from a variety of fine restaurants and entertainment and savor your last evening in the country.

Overnight at the Hotel De Ville. [B]

Transfer to the international airport in time to check in 2 hours prior to your flight home or on to another destination.Included: Accommodations, land transfers, domestic flights within Panama, meals as indicated (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner), day tours and guide services as indicated, local tourism taxes and expert pre-departure preparation. Not Included: International airfare to and from the U.S., departure taxes, meals not specified, alcoholic beverages and other hotel extras, gratuities, and fees associated with unforeseen changes not under our control.