'Panama Chill-out'

What makes this trip special?

Escape the Metropolis

Escape the Metropolis

Casco Viejo - Panama City

Narrow cobbled streets, small plazas and colonial French & Spanish buildings seem a world away from the skyscrapers of modern Panama City. Recently restored under UNESCO World Heritage and dotted with chic boutique hotels, the Casco Vieja offers an atmospheric stay in the capital.

Pacific coast paradise

Pacific coast paradise

Gulf of Chiriqui

A small stylish waterfront hotel set a few steps from a narrow beach and private dock from where you can take boats to visit stunning white sand beaches and local mangroves in the Gulf of Chiriqui national park

Caribbean seaside retreat

Caribbean seaside retreat

El Otro Lado

A private retreat situated in Portobelo Bay on the Caribbean coast. With sea views and easy access by boat to white sand beaches the hotel is a place to relax and unwind.

Itinerary map for Panama 'Panama Chill-out' holiday

Itinerary

  • Day      Overnight
  • 1 Panama City
  • 2 Panama City
  • 3 Boca Brava
  • 4 Boca Brava
  • 5 Boca Brava
  • 6 Panama City
  • 7 Portobelo
  • 8 Portobelo
  • 9 Portobelo
  • 10 Portobelo
  • 11 Panama City
  • For the detail of each day click the ‘Day-by-day’ tab above.

Day-by-day itinerary for 'Panama Chill-out'

DAY 1
B

Panama City

Arrive in Panama City and transfer to the Casco Viejo, the atmospheric colonial part of the city, recently restored. Stay in your choice of boutique hotel.

DAY 2
B

A free day to recover from your flight and enjoy the sights and sounds of the area. There are some great cafes, bars and restaurants. Casco Viejo's once decrepit streets are quietly becoming some of the most hip in Central America.

DAY 3
B

Pacific Coast Retreat

By air to David in Western Panama where you are met and driven down to the ocean and calm waters of the Gulf of Chiriqui, with beautiful white sand beaches and 25 islands and coral reefs protected within a marine national park. Lovely as it is, the gulf is only just beginning to become known outside Panama. A slowly expanding choice of places to stay includes a good hotel on the mainland with fine views across the gulf, and a more upmarket resort secluded from the world on an island in the gulf.

DAY 4
B

Two free days to relax. If you like to be active there are optional tours visiting nearby islands, beaches and mangroves.

DAY 5

Two free days to relax. If you like to be active there are optional tours visiting nearby islands, beaches and mangroves.

DAY 6
B

Return by air from David to Panama City to stay the night. Enjoy a night out in the city's cosmopolitan downtown or atmospheric Casco Viejo.

DAY 7
B

Caribbean Coast

A morning's drive to the pretty harbour town of Portobelo, where you are taken by boat to a private retreat with pristine sea view against a backdrop of tropical rainforest.

DAY 8
B

Three free days to relax by the Caribbean. You can laze by the hotel's infinity pool, take a boat to a nearby deserted beaches or sign up for activities such as snorkelling, kayaking, guided hikes, or art workshops.

DAY 9
B

Three free days to relax by the Caribbean. You can either relax by the hotel's infinity pool, take a boat to local deserted beaches or take an optional tour such as kayaking, guided walks, snorkelling or art workshops.

DAY 10
B

Three free days to relax by the Caribbean. You can either relax by the hotel's infinity pool, take a boat to local deserted beaches or take an optional tour such as kayaking, guided walks, snorkelling or art workshops.

DAY 11
B

You are returned by boat and road to Panama City for your final night in the city.

DAY 12
B

Transfer to the airport for flights home.

Guide prices for 'Panama Chill-out'

options based on all year low season mid season high season peak season other season
Guide Price top range hotels (where possible) 2 people sharing £3,140 £3,715
Prices are per person and include:
  • all travel in Panama
  • all accommodation
  • meals as indicated B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner
Prices do not include:
  • international flights
  • travel insurance
  • airport and departure taxes
  • items of a personal nature such as drinks, tips, laundry, etc
  • any optional excursions you may buy locally

Customer reviews for 'Panama Chill-out'

Recent reviews are shown here from holidays based on this initial design. In each case the itinerary may have been modified (a little or a lot) to suit the individual traveller.

Average customer rating 100%

rating

San Blas Island Trip - but all the places we visited were excellent.

Seasonal information for 'Panama Chill-out'

Along this route in January

Day Location Max °C Monthly rainfall
1 Panama City 31°C rainfall 43mm
2 Panama City 31°C rainfall 43mm
3 Boca Brava 32°C rainfall 26mm
4 Boca Brava 32°C rainfall 26mm
5 Boca Brava 32°C rainfall 26mm
6 Panama City 31°C rainfall 43mm
7 Portobelo 29°C rainfall 135mm
8 Portobelo 29°C rainfall 135mm
9 Portobelo 29°C rainfall 135mm
10 Portobelo 29°C rainfall 135mm
11 Panama City 31°C rainfall 43mm

Typical weather for January

rainchart

Max °C figures are the average daily maximum temperatures for the month. Rainfall is the average precipitation for the month.

Hotels for 'Panama Chill-out'

Days 1 - 2

American Trade Hotel

Casco Viejo
rating

Average rating 5.0 (4 ratings)

American Trade Hotel is in the building of an old US Department Store in the centre of the historic Casco Viejo. With a distinct 1920's Panama feel, all 50 rooms are tastefully decorated with good amenities, some with balconies. Other facilities a lobby bar, small sundeck and plunge pool on upper terrace, restaurant, café and jazz bar. The hotel is heavily involved in a number of sustainable and charitable projects throughout Panama.

Member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World group.

 

American Trade Hotel
Outside of the hotel
Day 3

Bocas del Mar, Boca Chica

Boca Chica - mainland
rating

Average rating 5.0 (6 ratings)

Situated on the Pacific coast 2km from the mainland fishing village of Boca Chica - gateway to the islands of the Gulf of Chiriqui Marine National Park. 50 mins drive from David airport. This waterfront property has 16 large bungalow-style contemporary style cabanas with a/c, private bathrooms (large shower and separate bathtub with view), garden or ocean views. These have either 1 King bed  or 1 queen-sized double and 1 single bed. They also have one larger, superior "Deluxe Water's Edge" Bungalow which has a King bed with a hot tub on the deck and ocean view. Private dock. Travel by water taxi boats to stunning white sand beaches and local mangroves in the national park (available at extra cost locally).

Bocas del Mar, Boca Chica
Day 6

Bristol Hotel

Panama City (downtown)
rating

Average rating 5.0 (1 ratings)

Set in the heart of Panama City's bustling financial centre, just a few minutes from shopping, cultural attractions and nightlife, Bristol Hotel offers a modern colonial style luxury.

Well appointed spacious rooms are elegantly decorated with custom fabrics and prints by noted Latin American and Panamanian artists. The hotel is known for its restaurant. There is no pool and no outdoor space.

Bristol Hotel
Days 7 - 10

El Otro Lado

Portobelo Bay
rating

Average rating 5.0 (1 ratings)

El Otro Lado is a private retreat, a short boat ride away from the harbour town of Portobelo. With sea views and easy access by boat to white sand beaches the hotel is a place to relax and unwind. All 8 rooms have king size beds, TV's, WiFi access, mini-bar, electronic safe and bay-view writing desk. The Gazebo houses a lounge area, bar and restaurant - where International-Caribbean fusion food is served. Activities from the property include hiking, fishing, kayaking and mangrove cruises.

El Otro Lado
Forest House
Day 11

American Trade Hotel

Casco Viejo
rating

Average rating 5.0 (4 ratings)

American Trade Hotel is in the building of an old US Department Store in the centre of the historic Casco Viejo. With a distinct 1920's Panama feel, all 50 rooms are tastefully decorated with good amenities, some with balconies. Other facilities a lobby bar, small sundeck and plunge pool on upper terrace, restaurant, café and jazz bar. The hotel is heavily involved in a number of sustainable and charitable projects throughout Panama.

Member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World group.

 

American Trade Hotel
Outside of the hotel