Y ou know about its miraculous canal, that stunning marvel of modern engineering. But what about its misty mountains and brilliantly colored orchids? Its exotic wildlife, staggering eco diversity, amazing snorkeling and warm, welcoming people? Panama is one of the last undiscovered destinations available to travelers today, and Thomson Family Adventures has created an itinerary that specializes in activities that are fun and informative for all ages—from kids to adults.

Panama is home to a largely untouristed system of natural parks, an abundance of plants and wildlife to rival neighboring Costa Rica and easy access to both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. We’ll go whitewater rafting, spend time with the indigenous Embera tribe (a very warm and friendly people) and of course take a boat ride on the Canal. Just wait until your kids see how enormous the ships are that pass through this waterway. They won’t believe their eyes.

To top it all off, Panama is just a short plane ride away from the U.S.! Come explore this wonderland of activity and culture - you won’t be disappointed.

2009 Dates

Triple Discount: $200 for child under 12 sharing with 2 adults

Dates

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Day 1 – Depart U.S. / Arrive Panama City

Upon arrival at the airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel where your Panama family vacation begins.

Days 2 and 3 – Chiriqui Highlands

Cloudforests, volcanic peaks and coffee plantations create the remarkable landscape of the Chiriqui Highlands. Along with beauty, there is plenty of fun to be had here too – water fights are practically mandatory on our family rafting trip down the Esti River.

Zipline canopy tour You’ll wind your way through a course in La Amistad International Park. The excitement of gliding from platform to platform high in the rainforest canopy is indescribable. White water rafting The Esti River is an ideal Class II spot for a family outing. It’s beginner friendly and a great opportunity to get a glimpse of the tropical surroundings – cormorant king fisher birds, otters, tropical trees and orchids.

Days 4 and 5 – Bocas Del Toro Archipelago

Bocas is a scattering of 7 islands off the northwest coast of Panama and there is a unique funky and relaxed ambience throughout the region. Your family excursion to Bastimentos Island to snorkel and explore the wildlife rich rainforest will make for an unforgettable day.

Hike Bastimentos National Marine Park White faced titi monkeys, sloths and red poison dart frogs (that aren’t poisonous at all) call Bastimentos home so bring your sneakers and get those cameras ready! It’s a beautiful hike. Snorkeling You’ll stop at coral reefs and mangrove isles for some snorkeling. There is a large variety and an abundance of fish here – keep an eye out for sea horses, barracuda, and clown fish. Friends Across Borders meeting (pen-pals) Thomson families love this program! Most children traveling with us share letters with a local child of similar age before leaving on their adventure. While on the family trip we organize a pen-pal meeting with a scheduled activity like soccer or hacky sack. It’s amazing how such interaction can be a real eye-opener for everyone involved.

Days 6 to 8 – Panama Canal

There is something very moving, for children and adults, about seeing the Panama Canal for the first time. The enormity of this engineering marvel boggles the mind. The vast jungle that had to be divided, the massive locks, and then there’s the 40 ships that pass through the canal every day. Your family will see it all on this Panama adventure.

Miraflores Locks If your kids are into Legos or Lincoln logs they will love this engineering phenomenon. Stretching almost a mile long, Miraflores is part of a lock system that takes ships from the Atlantic ocean to the Pacific (and vice versa). After watching a ship go through the locks make sure to hit the museum – you won’t be disappointed. Meet Embera tribe See how the Embera live, their native dances and traditional artwork during your time in the village. These friendly indigenous people will also go over how and why they moved to their current village on the Chagras River. Jungle boat adventure Voyage across Gutan Lake in the Panama Canal passing gigantic cargo and passenger ships. Children are never disappointed with how immense some of these vessels really are. Many dwarf everything in site! And of course you’ll see plenty of wildlife too – iguanas, crocodiles and peacocks just to name a few. Free afternoon Relax, swim at the resort, or even go for a tram ride through the rainforest.

Day 9 – Depart Panama City / Arrive U.S.

Please Note:   Thomson Family Adventures will attempt to adhere to this itinerary as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, cultural, or availability) may necessitate changes in the accommodations.

Why Panama?

Undiscovered destination with something for everyone – history, nature, culture You know about its miraculous canal, that stunning marvel of modern engineering. But what about its misty mountains and brilliantly colored orchids? Its exotic wildlife, staggering eco- diversity, amazing snorkeling and warm, welcoming people? Panama is one of the last undiscovered destinations available to travelers today, and we have created an itinerary that specializes in activities that are fun and informative for all.
Panama is home to a largely tourist-free system of national parks, an abundance of plants and wildlife to rival neighboring Costa Rica, and easy access to both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. And Panama is just a short plane ride away from the US! Fascinating canal system and interesting history There something very moving, for children and adults, about seeing the Panama Canal for the first time. The enormity of this engineering marvel boggles the mind. There’s the vast jungle that had to be divided, the massive locks that had to be constructed, and then there are the 40 ships that pass through the Canal every day. History books can supply the amazing facts about this monumental achievement, but the seeing Canal itself brings its story palpably and eloquently to life in a way no book can match — and in a way your kids will never forget. In Panama, history is one cool adventure. Stunning landscapes and a variety of wildlife You’ll visit the cloud forests, volcanic peaks and coffee plantations that create the remarkable landscape of the Chiriqui Highlands. Along with the natural beauty, there is plenty of fun to be had here too – water fights are practically mandatory on our family rafting trip down the Esti River! Bocas del Toro Bocas is a scattering of nine islands off the northwest coast of Panama and there is a unique funky, relaxed ambience throughout the region. White-faced titi monkeys, sloths and red poison dart frogs call Bastimentos home, so get those cameras ready! There is a large variety of fish here – keep an eye out for sea horses, barracuda and clown fish. Not all the wildlife is under water, of course! You might see monkeys, slow-moving sloths, croc-like caiman and tropical birds of all kinds on coastal islands, or ants carrying leaves ten times their size marching along the forest floor. Embera Tribes One of six indigenous groups that still maintain their cultures and traditions, the Embera recently migrated to the riverbanks of Chagres National Park near Panama City from farther south in the Darien province. Villagers will share the story of their migration with you, a rare and special opportunity.

Why Panama with Thomson?

Zipline tour and whitewater rafting Gliding from platform to platform is an indescribable pleasure as you wind your way through a zipline course in La Amistad International Park. The adventure continues with whitewater rafting on the Esti River, an ideal Class II spot for a family outing. Beginner friendly, you’ll catch a glimpse of the tropical surroundings as you amble down the river – look for cormorant king fisher birds, otters, tropical trees, orchids and more! Friends across borders meeting in Bocas Thomson families love this program! Children traveling with us can choose to exchange letters with a local child of a similar age before leaving on their adventure. In Panama, your child will get to meet his or her pen pal through a fun activity. It’s amazing how much kids learn about one another — and the appreciation they gain for one another’s culture — when they meet through this eye-opening program. Dugout canoe ride to Embera Village Board motorized dugout canoes and head down the Chagras River, deep into the rain forest. As you wind your way to the village, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife on the shores. Upon arrival, you and your family will be met by traditionally dressed members of the Embera tribe and escorted to the village. Here the Embera will share their traditions and history with you, including songs and dance, food and crafts, traditional medicines, and the story of their people. Kids (and adults) might opt to receive a traditional tattoo! (Don’t worry; it’s painless and made from vegetable dye, and will only last about a week.) Underwater exploring in Bocas While in Bocas you’ll dine on coconut, passion fruit and the freshest of fish, and check out the town's colorful shops and restaurants. Your family’s excursion to Bastimentos Island to snorkel and explore the wildlife rich rain forest will make for an unforgettable day. It’s a wonderful hike. You’ll stop at coral reefs and mangrove isles for some snorkeling. Jungle boat adventure in the Panama Canal Set out on a voyage across Gutan Lake in the Panama Canal in our jungle boat, cruising past gigantic cargo and passenger ships. Your children will be amazed at how big some of these vessels are – they dwarf everything in sight! And of course you’ll likely see plenty of wildlife along the way in the rain forest— iguanas, crocodiles, monkeys and peacocks, just to name a few. Miraflores Locks If your kids are into Legos or Lincoln Logs, they’ll love this engineering phenomenon. Stretching almost a mile long, Miraflores is part of a lock system that takes ships from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific (and vice versa). After watching a ship go through the locks make sure to hit the museum — you won’t be disappointed! Included Travel Insurance As a family company, we understand the value of peace of mind. For that reason, travel insurance is automatically included for all scheduled adventures. This covers your family for trip cancellation, trip interruption, medical expenses, travel delay, lost baggage, and more.