Holidays to Panama Canal and Costa Rica + Darien birding tours, with private guides
Positioned at the crossroads of the Americas, holidays to Panama Canal & Costa Rica and specialist Darien birding tours with private guides, offer an exciting mix of urban buzz, incredible engineering achievements, pristine rainforests, indigenous cultures, verdant cloud forests and stunning island beaches.
Wherever you choose to visit in this beautiful country covered in lush forest, most holidays to Panama Canal and Costa Rica & Darien birding tours with guides are likely to begin in Panama City, a dynamic centre of international finance and commerce, with evocative remnants of Spanish colonialism and pirate history. Founded in 1519 by the Spanish, it sits at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. The original site was sacked and burned by a notorious Welsh privateer, Henry Morgan, but the ruins of the old town, Panama Viejo, remain a fascinating and popular tourist attraction, with its delightful colonial maze of plazas, bars, churches, cafés and palaces.
In contrast, the modern 1,000m Centennial Bridge, built in 2004, carries the Pan-American Highway over the Panama Canal. You can enjoy superb shopping here (high-end to ethnic) and wander through the Los Pueblos open-air mall. The Panama Canal changed world shipping and international trade forever and is a must-see, even if you aren’t an engineering buff. You can view it from the Visitor Centre, take a boat trip on part of it, or journey alongside it on the marvellous Coast to Coast Panama Railway. Just outside the city, don’t miss the stunning Frank Gehry Biodiversity Museum. On holidays to Panama Canal and Costa Rica, and Darien birding tours with private guides, you can explore world-class interactive exhibitions that cover Panama’s emergence from the oceans and its importance to the world’s bio-diversity.
Panama is barely 50 miles across, so there is a wonderful choice of day tours covering both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. These include trips to the Gamboa rainforest and birding tours in Metropolitan National Park. Longer Darien birding tours with private guides can be arranged, if you wish to search for the magnificent harpy eagle. On holidays to Panama Canal and Costa Rica & Darien birding tours with private guides, you can also enjoy whale watching along the Pacific coast between July and October.
If its culture you are interested in, you can visit an indigenous Embera village. The tranquil and unspoiled San Blas Islands on the Caribbean coast are the home of the indigenous Kuna Yala people, but it’s a very long day trip so we recommend staying overnight if possible, although the accommodation is rustic. The Chiriqui Highlands in the west have mountains draped in thick cloud forest and are ideal for walking, kayaking, canopy zip-lining and white water rafting on holidays to Panama Canal and Costa Rica, and Darien birding tours with private guides.
If a relaxed Caribbean vibe is what you are looking for, go no further than the beaches of the spectacular Bocas del Toro archipelago. The capital, Bocas Town, is located on Isla Colon and has exquisite beaches, many water sports and great snorkelling and scuba diving.
Combine your ideas with our expertise and let us help you create a holiday of a lifetime. We offer a wide range of options at different price points, all of which can be tailor made to your needs.
We have been arranging holidays to Panama Canal and Costa Rica, as well as specialist Darien birding tours, with private guides for over 20 years.
ALL OUR HOLIDAYS TO PANAMA CANAL AND COSTA RICA & DARIEN BIRDING TOURS WITH GUIDES ARE FINANCIALLY PROTECTED wherever in the world you live.
More information on holidays to Panama Canal and Costa Rica, as well as specialist Darien birding tours, with private guides:
Dynamic, sophisticated and multi-cultural, Panama is one of the safest country in Central America with an excellent infrastructure and the ease of having the US dollar as its currency.
You will not have to go far to find profusion of wildlife on holidays to Panama Canal and Costa Rica, and Darien birding tours with private guides. Metropolitan National Park is located beside the Panama Canal, just ten minutes from the city and is home to caimans, tapirs, abundant birdlife and a profusion of butterflies. The rainforests of Soberania National Park to the east of the Panama Canal are also easy to reach and perfect for hiking and birding. Pipeline Road and longer Darien birding tours with specialist birding guides are also popular, as this region is home to the enormous but elusive harpy eagle.
On the ‘Coast to Coast’ Pacific Railway, you can view magnificent modern shipping locks at one end and preserved Spanish forts at the other end. On holidays to Panama Canal and Costa Rica, and Darien birding tours with private guides, at Portobelo on the Caribbean coast you can wander among the ruins of five Spanish forts built when the town was at the centre of the colonial trade in treasure seized from the Incas.
Less than two hours from Panama City, on the Pacific coast there are good beaches such as Santa Clara. Further west is the Azuero Peninsula, which is the traditional heart of Panama and where both the colonial and indigenous cultures have been well preserved. Surfing and sport fishing are two of the top coastal activities here, with the towns of Chitre, Las Tablas and Pedasi providing local charm on holidays to Panama Canal and Costa Rica, and Darien birding tours with private guides.
The Chiriqui Highlands close to the border with Cost Rica, coupled with the Gulf of Chiriqui Marine Reserve, is a magnificent eco-diverse location that is ideal for those who love the outdoors. It is a region of volcanic peaks, orchids, cattle and coffee, where they it always feels like spring. There are many outdoor activities here, including hiking, kayaking, canopy zip-lining and white water rafting. Or you can simply walk and take in the astonishing richness of the animal, bird and plant life. On holidays to Panama Canal and Costa Rica, and Darien birding tours with private guide, you can explore this scenic region from San José de David, the local capital, or from the charming alpine town of Boquete.
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FEATURED HOLIDAY
Costa Rica Highlights + Panama Holiday
14 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,159
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
RRJ14S
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• Sky Tram & Zipline
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• Coast to Coast Railway
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• Hanging Bridges & Hot Springs
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• Sloths, Birds & Sea Turtles
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• Holiday: Panama Canal & Costa Rica
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• San Blas Islands
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• Panama Canal & City Tour
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• Monteverde Cloud Forest
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• Manuel Antonio
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• Arenal Volcano
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This holiday to the Panama Canal & Costa Rica combines the pristine rainforest wildlife of Cost Rica with the engineering marvels of the amazing Panama Canal. Enjoy a tour of Panama City & the opportunity to ride the Coast to Coast Railway. You can also take day trips to visit local tribes or the beautiful San Blas Islands. All transfers & specified sightseeing included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Exploring Panama (Private Guide) + Bocas Del Toro
14 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,393
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
RPQ14P
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• Panama Tours & Wildlife Holidays
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• Chiriqui Highlands, Coffee Tour
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• Embera Quera Tribe
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• Panama Canal
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• Coast to Coast Railway
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• Bocas del Toro
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• Gamboa Rainforest
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• Panama City
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• Snorkelling in Caribbean
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• Azuero Peninsula, Rum Tour
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Our privately guided Panama tours & wildlife holidays explore this beautiful country, from the famous Panama Canal & Coast to Coast Railway, to the Gamboa Rainforest full of tropical birds, butterflies & other wildlife. Visit the indigenous Embera Quera tribe, Azuero Peninsula, Chiriqui Highlands & spectacular Bocas del Toro, where you can snorkel & dive. English speaking guide, all transfers & sightseeing included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Birding Holiday: Panama City + Darien (guided)
10 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,636
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
7RPP10P
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• Harpy Eagle Trail
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• Bird Watching Holiday, Panama
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• San Franciso Reserve
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• Darien Forest Birding
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• Panama City tour
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• Panama Birding Tour
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• Rancho Frio Ranger Station
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• Chucunaque Birding
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• Gamboa Rainforest & Wetland
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• Pipeline Road Birding
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This bird watching holiday in Panama will allow you to visit one of the top birding destinations in the world, with a bird count of over 1,000 recorded species. Enjoy a private Panama birding tour in search of the Harpy Eagle in Darien National Park & birding along the Pipeline Road & in San Francisco private reserve. English-speaking birding guide, all transfers & park fees included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Costa Rica Highlights + Bocas Del Toro + Panama Canal
16 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,642
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
RRK16S
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• Manuel Antonio
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• Hot Springs
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• Hanging Bridges
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• Sloths
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• Tropical Birds
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• Arenal Volcano
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• Costa Rica and Panama Holiday
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• Monteverde Cloud Forest
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• Panama Canal Holiday
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• Bocas del Toro
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This Costa Rica and Panama holiday combines the tropical rainforests, hanging bridge & hot springs of Arenal Volcano, with Monterverde cloud forest & Manuel Antonio, with its sloths & wonderful birdlife. Afterwards fly to spectacular Bocas Del Toro island in the Caribbean, with snorkelling & diving. End in Panama City, with a tour of the canal. All transfers, light aircraft flight & sightseeing included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Colombia Highlights + Panama Canal
16 NIGHTS FROM:
$4,615
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
GRQ16B
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• Bogota
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• Villa de Leyva
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• Panama Railway
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• Holidays to Colombia and Panama
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• Panama Canal Tours
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• Botanical Gardens
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• Cocora Valley & Salento
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• Salt Cathedral
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• Coffee Region
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• Cartagena
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Our wonderful range of holidays to Colombia and Panama, including Panama Canal tours & a ride on the Coast-to-Coast Railway. Visit Bogota with its Gold Museum, Salt Cathedral, pretty colonial Ville de Leyva, the beautiful Corcora Valley in the Coffee Region & the historic walled city of Cartagena - a World Heritage site. English speaking guides, all transfers & specified sightseeing included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Panama City + Costa Rica + Nicaragua (private guides)
16 NIGHTS FROM:
$4,736
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
RPP16P
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• Arenal Volcano
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• Tortuguero Wetalnds
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• San Jose
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• Holidays Panama Canal, Costa Rica
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• Rincon de la Vieja
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• Leon
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• Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua
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• Panama Canal
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• Panama Railway
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• Granada
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Travelling with your own English-speaking guide, enjoy our amazing 3 country holidays to the Panama Canal, Costa Rica & Nicaragua. Visit the famous Panama Canal & ride 'Coast to Coast' on the Panama Railway. Then fly to San Jose to visit Arenal volcano & Rincon de la Vieje, before continuing to the colonial cities of Granada and Leon. English speaking guide & all specified sightseeing included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Grand Colombia, with Amazon + San Agustin + Tayrona
21 NIGHTS FROM:
$6,074
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
GRH20B
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• Villa de Leyva
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• Bogota
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• Cocora Valley
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• Amazon Basin
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• Colombia Wildlife Holiday
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• Cartagena
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• Pink Dolphins
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• Salt Cathedral
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• Birds of Otun Quimbaya
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• Tayrona National Park
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This Grand Colombia holiday has it all, combining sightseeing with a wildlife holiday as you explore the rainforests of the Amazon & Tayrona National Park, the birds of Otun Quimbaya & the wax palms of the Cocora Valley. Also visit Bogota, colonial Ville de Leyva, San Agustin archaeological site, Medellin & historic Cartagena. English speaking guides & all transfers included.
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