Panama Tours & Holidays
Small Group Tours & Tailor-Made Holidays
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Overview
Central America’s southernmost country, Panama presents visitors with a staggeringly rich diversity of indigenous culture, history, adventure and natural beauty. Nestling between the waters of the Caribbean and the South Pacific, Panama is fast earning a reputation as one of the most desirable travel destinations in the Americas. A land of stark contrasts, Panama’s small size means that you can experience a rich mix of natural and cultural highlights relatively easily and quickly. ...
Central America’s southernmost country, Panama presents visitors with a staggeringly rich diversity of indigenous culture, history, adventure and natural beauty. Nestling between the waters of the Caribbean and the South Pacific, Panama is fast earning a reputation as one of the most desirable travel destinations in the Americas. A land of stark contrasts, Panama’s small size means that you can experience a rich mix of natural and cultural highlights relatively easily and quickly.
From the modern sophistication of Panama City, you can find yourself in the midst of a cloud forest, or enjoying the tranquil paradise of a tropical island in no time at all. Blessed with some of the oldest reefs on the planet and a native culture that is thriving through community based tourism, Panama has lain at the ‘Crossroads of the Americas’ for millennia.
Boasting a staggering variety of flora and fauna, it offers up everything from cloud forests and whale sharks, to Spanish fortresses and probably one of the world’s greatest engineering marvels, the Panama Canal. There’s plenty for the outdoor adventurer too, with numerous hiking trails crisscrossing its national parks, jungle canopy zip lines, excellent snorkelling and diving and some incredible white water rafting options along the Chagres River and the San Blas Archipelago.
HIGHLIGHTS OF PANAMA
BEST EXPERIENCES
Learn about Emberá tribal traditions
Cruise down the Chagres River on a piroque to an Emberá village, where you will be welcomed with traditional dancing and music and can learn about the fascinating Emberá traditions and their close relationship with nature.
Explore Panama City and Panama Canal
Discover the fascinating blend of old and new in Panama City as you explore the historic Casco Viejo in the company of a former gang member and take in the engineering genius of the Panama Canal.
Soak up stunning rainforests and colourful reefs
Home to some of the largest rainforests in Central America, the islands of Bocas del Toro are also a haven of coral atolls and palm fringed beaches that provide refuge to a remarkable collection of fauna and marine life.
Discover more
WHEN TO GO
Meet The Expert, Richard
Richard is our Latin America expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.
Speak to Richard by calling
1(833) 200-4640
LGBTQIA+ Guidance
When planning to travel as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, there may be additional things you wish to consider doing, such as:
- Speaking to one of our travel experts for information about travelling in your chosen destination and local attitudes towards members of the LGBTQIA+ community
- Checking the Human Dignity Trust map which highlights regions and countries which are potentially dangerous to LGBTQIA+ people, or Equaldex, which tracks the progress of LGBTQIA+ rights around the world.
- Checking the ‘Local laws and customs’ section of your country's official foreign travel advice page
- Looking for any updates for your desired destination on the Human Rights Watch LGBTQIA+ rights page
- Buying a recommended guidebook, as many include an LGBTQIA+ section and advice for LGBTQIA+ travellers
USEFUL INFORMATION
Health and Vaccinations
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Panama though you should be up to date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. Please note we are not medical professionals and so we highly recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
Currency
In Panama the official unit of currency is the US Dollar and the Panamanian balboa. Usually you would only use US Dollars if the price is advertised in USD. The Panamanian balboa is the same value as the US dollar at a 1:1 ratio. It circulates in denominations of 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, and 50¢ coins. Balboa coins are sized similarly to their U.S. counterparts.
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com.
Cultural Sensitivity
On our tours you will frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your tour-leaders and guides will always be able to advise you accordingly.
In the churches and cathedrals women should cover their heads with a scarf or hat and also cover their shoulders, while men should take their hats off.
Language & Religion
Spanish is the official language spoken in Panama and it is spoken nationwide. English is a second language but this is mainly oriented around the tourist and international business sectors so it is useful to have a basic grasp of Spanish before you travel. Although the government does not collect official statistics, it is thought that 75% of the population is Roman Catholic and the rest is evangelical Christian.
Time
Panama operates on Panama Time which is five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT – 5).
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com.
Food and drink
Panama’s food is simple yet tasty, with many regional variations and specialities found across the country. Typically, most dishes will include rice, beans and some kind of meat or fish, as empanadas (fried corn tortillas filled with meat). The national dish is sancocho, a spicy stew with chicken and vegetables. Seafood is also plentiful and delicious.