Panama: Adventure in the Neotropics (8 days)

Day 1: Arrival Panama City (Arrival)

Upon arrival you will be met by a BikeHike Adventures representative and transferred to a comfortable hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore Panama City. In the evening, we'll go over the itinerary discussing the adventure that lies ahead.

Day 2: Soberania National Park - Pipeline Trail (Mountain Biking) (B,L)

This morning we head to Gamboa and the Soberania National Park to bike along the Pipeline Trail. We’ll spend approximately 4 hours cycling along steamy jungle trails that are shaded under giant tropical trees. This area is renowned for some of the best biking and bird watching in all of Panama, so keep your eyes peeled for the many exotic species. We’ll make it back to the van in time for a picnic lunch and then head to the Panama Canal in the afternoon to watch the steady stream of big ships passing through the locks. Overnight in Panama City. 

Day 3: Soberania National Park - Portobello (Mountain Biking) (B,L)

We’ll feast on a Panamanian breakfast of champions before jumping into our vehicle for a drive back to Soberania National Park for another day of biking. The park is part of the Panama Canal Watershed. We’ll unload our bikes and set off pedaling, keeping an eye out for agouti, howler monkeys and three-toed sloth. The terrain is a double track dirt path, with good stretches of climbs and descents and through a humid climate. We’ll ride for approximately 3 hours before returning back to our van for lunch. Afterwards we’ll head to the historic town of Portobello where we’ll check into a comfortable hotel near the ocean and have the remainder of the evening at leisure.

Day 4: Portobello - Boquete (Biking) (B,L,D)

This morning we are back on our bikes heading to the rainforest region of San Lorenzo National Park. From the rangers station we’ll cycle along a series of paved roads and easy trails. We’ll ride to a sandy beach and then head to the fort of San Lorenzo, built during the 16th century. The fortress overlooks the mouth of the Rio Chagres. We return to our hotel for lunch and a shower, then transfer to the domestic airport for a flight to David. Upon arrival we’ll transfer to a comfortable hotel in Boquete. We’ll go out for a dinner in a local restaurant and have an orientation about the next few days in the mountains. 

Day 5: Chiriqui Viejo - Boquete (Whitewater Rafting) (B,L)

We start with an early morning breakfast and then drive for 1.5 hours to Rio Chiriqui Viejo, near Panama’s border with Costa Rica. Today is exciting, with a full day of whitewater adventure blasting down more than 35 class 3-4 rapids. The Chiriqui River cuts through a pristine rainforest abundant with tropical birds. We'll return to Boquete last afternoon, freshen up in our hotel and head out for a group dinner. Overnight in the same comfortable hotel in Boquete. 

Day 6: Amistad National Park - Boquete (Hiking) (B,L)

Today we switch gears and spend the day hiking. We start with a short drive to the trailhead, in Bajo Mono, and then hike through remote virgin cloudforest in Falling Waters and Amistad National Park. The trail that we'll be hiking on runs along the Quebrada La Mina, a gurgling creek that spills into the Rio Caldera. We'll also pass through plantations of strawberries and coffee. The park is abundant with native wildlife including over a hundred species of birds, including the Resplendent Quetzal, howler and white face monkeys and sloths. We'll break for a picnic at the base of one of Boquete's largest cascading waterfalls, and rejuvenate with an invigorating swim under the thick curtain of water. Afterwards we'll start making tracks back to Boquete getting into town mid afternoon with time to enjoy the surroundings.

Days 7 and 8: Gulf of Chiriqui (Sea Kayaking & Snorkelling) (B,L)

After an early morning breakfast we drive to Pedregal to begin our 2-day sea kayak adventure. We start by covered motorboat first, for a one hour journey to the Golfo de Chiriqui. We'll motor past twisted mangroves, coral reefs, white sand beaches and uninhabited islands. If we're lucky we'll encounter playful dolphins along the way. These protected waters of Panama are teeming with marine life! Upon arrival on our deserted island we'll have lunch and take a bit of time to relax in hammocks while our guides set up camp. In the afternoon we'll head out for a group paddle and also have plenty of time for snorkeling in the turquoise seas. For those interested in fishing, there will be dusk and dawn opportunities. On day 7, we'll spend the night in tents, camping beneath brilliant skies filled with stars. We'll return to Boquete around 5pm on Day 8 and check back into our same Boquete hotel. 

Day 9: Boquete - Panama City (Zip-Lining) (B,D)

We start the morning with a good breakfast and then hit the trails for a short hike into the forest for a dose of adrenaline on a canopy tour. We'll glide through the treetops of century-old forests, high above the pristine rivers and waterfalls that make up the incredible collection of natural landscapes bordering the National Park La Amistad and the famous Baru Volcano. Afterwards, we'll head back to Boquete for lunch. Late afternoon, we'll transfer back to David to catch a domestic flight back to Panama City. Upon arrival, we'll be met and transferred back to our comfortable hotel in Panama City. We'll meet our guide for a farewell dinner and the remainder of the night is free to enjoy the city nightlife. 

Day 10: Panama City - Departure (B)

You'll be transferred to the international airport for your flight back home.