Coffee-country adventures & a Pacific island paradise
When to go
November-June
Trip length
9 days / 8 nights
Typical investmentPrice
from $4,125 pp
Explore Panama’s beautiful contrasts on a journey from historic Casco Viejo to the cool Chiriquí Highlands and a private Pacific island. Begin in Panama City, cruising Gatún Lake in search of wildlife along the waterways of the canal. Head to Boquete for cloud forest hikes, hidden waterfalls, and fragrant coffee from field to cup. Continue to Isla Palenque, where rainforest trails lead to palm-fringed beaches and lazy afternoons in a hammock. Spend a day island-hopping in the Gulf of Chiriquí before bidding farewell to nine wonderful days of city, mountain, and island adventures.
Along the way
Kayak, hike, and snorkel remote islets from Isla Palenque's jungle shores
Hike cloud forest trails and hidden waterfalls in Panama's Chiriquí Highlands
Explore a working coffee estate in Boquete with guided tastings
Cruise Gatún Lake through rainforest islands alongside passing cargo ships
Your route
Where history meets modern wonder
Arrive in Panama City and meet your driver for the journey to your luxurious hotel in Casco Viejo. Spend the rest of the day relaxing after your travels or heading out to explore the neighborhood’s charming cobblestone streets.
The tree-lined shores, tiny islets, and blue-green waters of Gatún Lake cover what was once the Chagres River Valley. Today, the lake forms an integral part of the Panama Canal. Cruise along the lakeshore, searching for monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, and birds. Return to Casco Viejo for an afternoon at leisure.
Cloud forests & coffee
Fly west and continue into the Chiriquí Highlands, where green hills and cloud forest welcome you to Boquete. Check into your lodge on a historic coffee estate surrounded by gardens and forest trails. Spend the afternoon walking the grounds, listening for birdsong, or relaxing in the cool mountain air.
Hike into a vast sea of greenery on a guided expedition in search of hidden waterfalls and the elusive resplendent quetzal. Spend the afternoon relaxing back at the finca, with time to read, wander, or watch the clouds move across the valley.
Today, discover the export that Boquete is best known for, coffee! Explore the fields with coffee experts, following the beans from the nursery through cultivation, careful harvesting, and selection. Continue to the roastery, where fragrant aromas accompany a lesson in how roasting affects the brew. Learn the tasting techniques used to identify and grade gourmet coffee. Your morning cup will have quite a story to tell.
Slow down on private shores
Leave the mountains behind and descend to the Pacific coast. Continue by boat to Isla Palenque and check into your beachfront casita. Spend the afternoon enjoying the sand, sea, and sounds of the island. Your next days are for a little tropical indulgence.
Gear down into vacation mode, with a 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.
Explore Chiriquí’s beautiful islets on an island-hopping adventure. Swim and snorkel in warm waters, stroll crescent beaches, and enjoy a picnic basket of refreshments along the way. Swaying palms, clear seas, and a full day enjoying the Pacific.
After breakfast, bid farewell to your island retreat and continue onward from David. So long to coffee-country mist and beautiful Pacific shores.
Let's discover your next adventure
Our top picks
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.
Housed within two restored colonial buildings in Casco Viejo, Las Clementinas offers apartment-style suites with full kitchens, separate living spaces, and balconies overlooking the neighborhood. Its larger layouts make it particularly well suited to longer stays, families, or travelers who prefer a little more room than a traditional boutique hotel.
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.
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.
Coffee has been grown at Finca Lérida for more than a century on a highland estate above Boquete. Rooms and suites sit among gardens, coffee fields, and cloud forest trails, with estate-grown coffee delivered each morning and birdlife active throughout the property.
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