Panama — The Old City, the Cut and the Coffee
10 nights — Casco Viejo, a Panama Canal transit, Boquete coffee country and a Pacific beach to finish.
Your trip
Your trip to Panama
This is Panama in one unhurried arc: four nights in the colonial old town with the Canal on your doorstep, a morning actually sailing it — through the Culebra Cut and down the locks — then four nights in Boquete, the mountain town where some of the world’s most awarded coffee grows, before two slow beach nights on the Pacific to finish. Private guiding and transfers throughout, with a short internal flight between the city and the highlands, and every stage adjustable to how you like to travel.
At a glance
10 nights
Private tripJust your own party
Flights includedATOL protected
Flexible datesYou choose when you go
PanamaOur destination guide
What makes it special
Highlights
The Panama Canal
Sail the Panama Canal on a partial transit — through the Culebra Cut and down through the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks
Casco Antiguo
Four nights in Casco Antiguo, Panama City's UNESCO-listed colonial quarter
Portobelo
Cross the isthmus for the Agua Clara locks and the old pirate harbour of Portobelo on the Atlantic
Boquete
Four nights in Boquete: a coffee estate tour, the Los Quetzales Trail and the SkyWalk hanging bridges
The Pacific coast
Two nights at a Pacific beach resort to end the trip slowly, minutes from the airport for the flight home
Your own guides
Private guiding and transfers throughout, with the internal flights between the city and the highlands part of the package
Day by day
Your itinerary
Day 1Arrive in Panama City
Land at Tocumen International, where your guide and driver are waiting for the private transfer to your hotel in Casco Antiguo. The evening is yours — the old town’s rooftop bars and restaurants are on your doorstep.
Day 2Two Panama Cities
A private half-day through the two old Panamas: the ruins of Panamá Viejo, the original city sacked by Henry Morgan in 1671, and Casco Antiguo, the quarter that replaced it — the Flat Arch, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the French Plaza. The afternoon is free.
Day 3Sail the Canal
The day the trip is named for. Board at Gamboa and sail the Pacific-bound stretch of the Panama Canal: through the Culebra Cut, the narrow reach blasted through the continental divide, then down through the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks with ocean-going ships for company. Lunch is served on board, and the boat’s narrator talks you through every stage.
Day 4The Atlantic side
A private full day across the isthmus — ocean to ocean by road in under two hours. Watch the giant neo-Panamax ships pass the Agua Clara locks from the visitor centre above Gatún Lake, then follow the coast to Portobelo, the fortified harbour where Spain once loaded its silver fleets.
Day 5To the highlands
Private transfer to the domestic airport and a short flight west to David, where your driver meets you for the climb to Boquete — a garden town at 1,200 metres in the shadow of Volcán Barú, cooler air, coffee farms on every slope. The afternoon is free to settle in.
Day 6Coffee, from cherry to cup
A morning on a working highland estate with the people who grow some of the world’s most awarded coffee — Boquete’s prized geisha among them. Walk the rows, follow the harvest through washing, drying and roasting, and finish with a proper tasting.
Day 7The Los Quetzales Trail
A guided full-day hike on one of Central America’s celebrated cloud-forest trails, threading the flank of Volcán Barú between Boquete and Cerro Punta. The forest is home to the resplendent quetzal — best spotted in the early hours, which is why you start with the birds.
Day 8Walking in the canopy
The SkyWalk hanging bridges carry you through the cloud-forest canopy itself, eye level with the orchids, hummingbirds and mossy giants you walked beneath yesterday. The afternoon is free for Boquete’s cafés and gardens.
Day 9Back to the Pacific
Fly back to Panama City and transfer to your beach resort at Playa Bonita, on the Pacific just beyond the canal entrance — close enough to watch the ships queue for the locks from your balcony.
Day 10A day at the beach
Nothing planned, on purpose. Pool, ocean, a long lunch — the built-in decompression day before the flight home.
Day 11Departure
Private transfer to Tocumen, timed comfortably ahead of your flight home — or onward: Costa Rica and Colombia are both a short hop from here.
Read the video script
Giant ships gliding through the locks of the Panama Canal. A colonial old town glowing at night. Coffee farms on the slopes of a volcano, and at dawn, deep in the cloud forest, the resplendent quetzal. Visit Panama with Travelfab. Spend four nights in Casco Antiguo, Panama City's colonial old town, with rooftop bars on your doorstep. Walk the ruins of Panamá Viejo, the first city, sacked by Henry Morgan. Then sail the Canal itself, through the Culebra Cut and down the Miraflores locks, alongside ocean-going ships. Cross to the Atlantic in under two hours, to the old Spanish forts of Portobelo, where Spain once loaded its silver fleets. Fly west to Boquete, a cool mountain town below Volcán Barú. Walk a highland estate growing some of the world's most awarded coffee, and hike the Los Quetzales Trail through the cloud forest. Then finish slowly, with two nights on the Pacific at Playa Bonita, watching the ships queue for the Canal. 10 nights, with private guides and transfers throughout, flights included, and full ATOL protection. Dreaming of the islands of San Blas, or Bocas del Toro? Our UK team will tailor-make any trip across Panama, for any length of time. Plan your trip at travelfab.co.uk.
Your price covers
What's included
Flights
International flights from the UK, booked and ATOL protected together with the trip. There are no nonstop UK–Panama flights, so we route you via Madrid, Amsterdam or Paris.
We can also book other airlines, including flights with one stop, to suit your dates and preferences.
Accommodation
Four nights in a boutique heritage hotel in Casco Antiguo, four nights in Boquete and two nights at a Pacific beach resort, all bed and breakfast
Boat trips
Panama Canal partial transit, with lunch on board
Experiences
- Private half-day Panamá Viejo and Casco Antiguo city tour
- Private full-day Atlantic excursion to the Agua Clara locks and Portobelo
- Coffee estate tour, guided Los Quetzales Trail hike and SkyWalk hanging bridges in the highlands
Internal flights
Internal flights between Panama City and David, both ways
Transport
Private transfers throughout, all local taxes and handling
ATOL protection
Your holiday is ATOL protected (ATOL 10898). You get an ATOL Certificate when you book.
Not included: Travel insurance · Meals not listed · Tips and personal spending
Your next step
Dates and price
No commitment, we reply within one working day
Before you book
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — this trip includes a partial transit by boat, not just the visitor-centre view. You sail the Culebra Cut and descend the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks alongside ocean-going ships, with lunch and a narrator on board. It is the piece most Panama itineraries leave out.
Ready to Book?
Get in touch with our Latin America specialists to enquire about Panama — The Old City, the Cut and the Coffee.
Real reviews
What our customers say
They organised excellent accommodation and transfers from airport to destination and between destinations which was seamless and gave us peace of mind for our trip. We stayed in the nicest casa particular in Havana right on the outskirts of the major hustle of the old town but within walking distance to every site and lots of lovely restaurants. Our hotel in Varadero had 5 a la carte restaurants which were delicious and wonderful beaches! Would definitely go back to Cuba and use TravelFab again.
Annabelle
Excellent service. Fabien responded to all our queries promptly and efficiently and was always willing to spend time talking to us. The itinerary was well-considered and well-organised with an adequate amount of time in each location. Locations were varied and interesting. The service provided by the B&B owners was good to outstanding. The organisation of the coach services for transfers from one destination to another was super with comfortable journeys in clean, air-conditioned coaches. Thanks, TravelFab!
David
I was very impressed with Fabian's dedication, patience and professionalism in organising a group of 8 young persons (over 60's) to get to Cuba. The whole experience has been a very positive one. Despite having to relocate to another hotel at the last minute, that change over went very smoothly. Our accommodations were excellent. We will definitely book with TravelFab again. Thank you!
Yvette T
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