Play castaway in remote island paradise
When to go
Year-Round
Trip length
9 days / 8 nights
Typical investmentPrice
from $5,000 pp
Fall under Panama’s spell on a romantic escape filled with fascinating wildlife and two postcard-perfect island retreats on opposite coasts. Begin on Isla Palenque, exploring rainforest trails, mangrove shores, and the beautiful islands of the Gulf of Chiriquí. Dine by candlelight on the beach before heading to Bocas del Toro for an overwater villa, private plunge pool, and days of Caribbean bliss. Conclude your journey in Panama City’s historic Casco Viejo, wandering cobblestone streets and enjoying a final dinner in the capital. Nine days of island indulgence and a little city charm.
Along the way
Stay in a beachfront casita in private island paradise
Island-hop through the Gulf of Chiriquí with snorkeling and a seaside picnic
Unwind in an overwater villa on the Caribbean Sea
Kayak through mangroves and dine by candlelight on the beach
Your route
Untamed shores & hidden trails
Arrive in Panama City and take a connecting flight to David. Meet your driver for the journey to your luxurious island retreat on Isla Palenque, your home for the next four nights. Time to leave the city behind and enjoy the beautiful Pacific.
Gear down into vacation mode, with a first day spent swinging in a hammock, or paddling the warm waters along the island's many hidden coasts and coves. If adventure calls and you want to explore, take a guided hike along rainforest trails that progress from the beauty of old-growth jungle to sprawling, palm-fringed beaches as you learn about the flora, fauna and ecology of this wild island.
Today, explore Chiriquí’s stunning islets on an island-hopping adventure, with crescent beaches, swaying palm trees, and vibrant reefs along the way. Enjoy a picnic basket of refreshments as you swim and snorkel in warm Pacific waters, with stops chosen around the day’s conditions.
After breakfast, paddle with your naturalist guide along the island’s mangrove-lined northeast coast and rocky shores, exploring where rainforest meets ocean. Visit a shallow, sand-bottomed cave before returning to the lodge. Tonight, dine by candlelight at a private table for two on the beach as the stars come out above you.
Overwater ease, Caribbean calm
After breakfast, depart Isla Palenque and travel privately through Chiriquí’s green hills to David airport. Fly to Bocas del Toro on Panama’s Caribbean coast and continue to your island retreat. Check into your luxurious overwater villa with a private plunge pool. Your next days belong to the Caribbean.
Enjoy a beautiful sunrise over the water, delicious local food and cocktails, and a day of kayaking, paddleboarding, or snorkeling. Spend the afternoon lounging in your private plunge pool as you revel in the Caribbean views. Gear down into vacation mode and make the most of your island retreat.
From jungle to city
Enjoy a leisurely morning before departing Bocas del Toro for Panama City. Meet your driver and continue to your hotel in the historic Casco Viejo neighborhood. Spend the afternoon relaxing after your travels or exploring charming cobblestone streets on foot.
Spend your final full day enjoying Casco Viejo’s plazas, waterfront, and cobblestone streets. Explore at your own pace or arrange a guided walk when your trip is tailored. This evening, enjoy a final dinner in the capital and toast to your coast-to-coast escape.
Refreshed and revived, bid farewell to Panama. Transfer to the airport for your international flight home.
Let's discover your next adventure
Our top picks
Housed within restored heritage buildings overlooking Plaza Herrera, Sofitel Legend is the first luxury hotel to open inside Panama City's UNESCO-listed Casco Viejo. The 159-room property combines French hospitality with Panamanian history, placing museums, rooftop bars, galleries, and some of the city's best restaurants just outside the front door.
Occupying a beautifully restored 1917 landmark in the heart of Casco Viejo, American Trade Hotel remains one of Panama City's most distinctive boutique stays. Its 50 rooms preserve lofty ceilings, original tilework, and historic architectural details, complemented by contemporary Panamanian art and craftsmanship. The renowned Jazz Club, Café Unido, museums, galleries, and many of the city's best restaurants are all just a short walk away.
Occupying a restored colonial mansion in the heart of Casco Viejo, Amarla is one of Panama City's smallest luxury hotels, with just eight individually designed suites. Original architectural details are complemented by handcrafted furnishings and Panamanian artwork, while rooftop views, excellent dining, museums, and cafés are all just outside the front door.
Fourteen private islands in Panama's Gulf of Chiriquí form the setting for Islas Secas, one of Central America's most exclusive island retreats. Just eight casitas accommodate a maximum of 24 guests across an otherwise undeveloped archipelago, where protected rainforest and marine habitats remain the focus. Whale watching, world-class fishing, diving, and wildlife encounters all take place within one of Panama's most important marine reserves.
Nayara brought its award-winning hospitality beyond Costa Rica for the first time with this adults-only private island retreat in Bocas del Toro. Sixteen overwater villas and treehouse suites sit among mangroves and Caribbean waters, complemented by a floating beach, overwater spa, and Michelin Key recognition. Boats connect guests with nearby islands, coral reefs, and some of Panama's best snorkeling.
A 400-acre private island forms the setting for Isla Palenque, one of the Cayuga Collection's most distinctive properties. More than 85% of the island remains protected rainforest, leaving just eight beachfront casitas and a six-bedroom villa along seven miles of Pacific coastline. Forest trails, archaeological sites, empty beaches, and the wildlife-rich Gulf of Chiriquí are all explored directly from the island.
La Loma Jungle Lodge & Chocolate Farm sits above Bahía Honda on Isla Bastimentos, reachable only by the lodge's own boat from Bocas Town. Seven solar-powered, open-air bungalows sit on a 55-acre rainforest reserve built around a working cacao farm, with chocolate-making demonstrations, jungle hikes, and family-style farm-to-table meals included in every stay. It's a hands-on, off-grid pick for couples and eco-minded travelers who want the Caribbean side of Panama without the crowds.
Sol Bungalows is a four-bungalow overwater hideaway on Isla Solarte, a short water taxi from Bocas Town in Panama's Bocas del Toro archipelago. Each thatched-roof bungalow has a glass floor panel for watching marine life below, direct water access for snorkeling, and farm-to-table dining drawn from the property's own permaculture farm. Solar-powered and rainwater-fed, the small, family-run hotel hires primarily from the neighboring Ngäbe village of Solarte Uno.
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