See the best of Costa Rica and Panama on this amazing 12-day adventure! We begin our epic group tour in Panama – home to one of the world’s most exceptional modern engineering marvels – the Panama Canal. Here we explore the Spanish plazas and colonial buildings of Panama City and partially cross the famous Canal. We’ll then move on to Costa Rica – a nature lover’s paradise, and a geological wonder with an overwhelming range of scenery. Home to active volcanoes, magical rainforests, beautiful beaches and an amazing array of wildlife, from inquisitive monkeys to sleepy sloths, this solo holiday to Panama & Costa Rica is a truly unforgettable experience.
Welcome to Panama! Upon arrival, we transfer to our hotel in Panama City. After check-in, we get to know our fellow travellers whilst enjoying a welcome dinner with a drink at the hotel.
Our tour begins in glorious Panama City – a vibrant, cosmopolitan and beautiful city, Capital of the Republic of Panama, it’s located at the Pacific side of the American Continent. Built in 1519 by Pedro Arias Davila, a Spanish Governor, it has been considered one of the most important cities of the Americas.
Today we embark on the half day city tour. We will have the opportunity to visit top sights such as the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal, where we can observe the daily operations of the waterway. Additionally, we will explore Casco Antiguo, also known as Casco Viejo or San Felipe, the historic district of Panama City founded in 1673, which is a World Heritage site and perfect for a walking tour. We also visit the ‘Causeway’ – a group of three islands linked to mainland by the breakwaters of the Panama Canal. The US Army used this area for the defence of the Panama Canal, due to its strategic location. Today, the Causeway has become the most exquisite fashion centre in the Americas, featuring restaurants with international fine cuisine, vibrant bars, upscale shopping, and the new Flamenco Cruise Terminal.
Today our tour starts at the Playita de Marina. We board our coach for a 45 minute ride to the town of Gamboa, where the Panama Canal Dredging Division is located. Once in Gamboa, we board the boat to start the water portion of the tour. We enter the canal at the north end of the Gailard cut, where the Chagres River flows into the canal. The Gaillard Cut (also known as Culebra Cut because its curves resemble a snake) is one of the main points of interest for visitors because it was carved through the Continental Divide and this section of the Canal is full of history and geological value. The vessel will travel the Cut’s 13.7 kilometres on the way to Pedro Miguel Locks.
Before reaching the Pedro Miguel Locks at the southern end of the Cut, you will be able to view the new Centennial Bridge which crosses over the canal. Next, we will enter Pedro Miguel Locks, which is one of the two sets of locks on the Pacific side, and here the vessel is lowered 9 meters in one step. You will then enter Miraflores Lake – a small artificial body of fresh water that separates Pedro Miguel from Miraflores Locks, the latter being the final set of locks before reaching the Pacific Ocean. At Miraflores Locks, the vessel is lowered 18 meters in two distinct steps.
After breakfast, we will transfer to Tocumen International Airport to board our flight for San Jose in Costa Rica.
Upon arrival in the vibrant capital of San Jose, we will transfer and check-in to our hotel.
We can relax for the rest of the afternoon before our welcome drink and dinner.
Making our way out of the city, we head towards the active Poas Volcano. The volcano rises 2,708 metres above sea level and we will witness large amounts of gas and water vapour that emit from the different fumaroles located in the inner cone of the crater. At the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, we explore some of the trails and take in the famous waterfalls. The private reserve also contains a Butterfly Garden and Hummingbird Garden with many beautiful species. The park is even a refuge for birds and wild cats who are now cared for by the centre.
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended (preferably with a thick tread for hiking the trails and stairs), along with shorts or comfortable trousers, and a lightweight jacket or raincoat.
Please note: The park ranges in altitude from 5,200 feet to 4,200 feet so it can get chilly when the clouds roll in.
After an early morning start, we head to the docks and transfer by boat to Tortuguero. Following lunch, we visit Tortuguero Village.
Please note: Luggage is limited to 25 pounds (12 kg) per person.
Having had its boundaries extended three times, Tortuguero National Park is internationally recognised for its protection of the largest green turtle nesting beach in the Western Hemisphere. A place like no other, we glide along by small boats through a network of canals and freshwater lagoons, watched perhaps by curious monkeys, bright toucans, ancient iguanas, sedentary sloths and maybe even the glinting eye of a crocodile.
Please note: The order and logistics of the itinerary may change depending on weather conditions.
After breakfast, we take the boat back to the port before transferring to Arenal.
This is a perfect opportunity to explore a tropical rainforest. Our walk includes 15 bridges, 6 of which are hanging bridges, offering stunning views of the forest. The unique structure of the trees allows us to observe many species up close. The park has more than 700 species of flora and 350 species of fauna. Keep an eye out for the bell bird and the emerald toucanet, and stay alert for the elusive jaguar and tapirs.
We transfer to Monteverde today with an El Trapiche Tour in the afternoon. This is a Costa Rican family project that offers visitors the opportunity to learn about traditional farming in the country, such as sugar cane, coffee, bananas, oranges, ‘arracacha’ (a local vegetable) and macadamia. We will have the opportunity to ride in an oxcart and learn how to grow cacao to make chocolate. We can make our own ‘sobado, a fudge-like candy and to try the ‘picadillo de arracache’ (a traditional dish) with a delicious cup of coffee.
Today, we embark on a hike through the renowned Cloud Forest, one of the most celebrated conservation areas in Central America. Despite being a tropical rainforest, its altitude of 1,400 meters earns it the name ‘Cloud Forest’. With an astonishing annual rainfall of four meters, this lush ecosystem is home to a diverse array of rare and exotic wildlife.
We bid a final farewell to our nature wonderland as we head back from Montverde to San Jose (3 hrs drive) for our overnight flight home.
We arrive back into the UK after an overnight flight from San Jose.
We stay in comfortable hotels throughout as detailed below (or similar);
Frequently Asked Questions
The transfer time between Tocumen International Airport and the hotel in Panama City is approximately 25 minutes, depending on traffic.
The transfer time between Juan Santamaria International Airport San Jose and the hotel is approximately 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
During the day when sightseeing, we recommend casual, lightweight cotton clothing, shorts or comfortable trousers. We recommend to bring at least 2 sets of clothes that dry quickly (jeans not recommended).
You will find that smart casual wear is acceptable, even in the best hotels during the evening. We would recommend a lightweight raincoat and an umbrella or hat for protection against rain or sun. Comfortable walking shoes are a “must” for sightseeing and for hiking trails and stairs (preferably with a thick tread). Please take a zip-lock plastic bags for personal belongings protection in case of rain, small day pack or fanny pack for hikes, sweater or light jacket, sunglasses and swimwear.
We suggest a Group Collection to cover guides, transfer drivers, and hotel staff. We recommend $ 8.00 per person per day for the guide and $ 4.00 per person per day for driver.
Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate % to add on.
If you’re visiting Panama, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the day you plan to leave Panama.
Your passport must have at least one blank page.
If you hold a passport other than a British Citizen passport, different regulations may apply.
British nationals do not need a visa to enter Panama. You may stay as a visitor for up to 90 days under a tourist visa waiver, although the exact period is at the discretion of the immigration officer on arrival.
Evidence of onward travel
Entry to Panama may be refused if you are unable to produce evidence of return or onward travel (for example a return air ticket).
Further information can be found here: Entry requirements – Panama travel advice – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Your passport should have at least one day’s validity from the date you are leaving Costa Rica. If you hold a passport other than a British Citizen passport, different regulations may apply.
British nationals do not need a visa to enter Costa Rica. You may stay as a visitor for up to 90 days under a tourist visa waiver, although the exact period is at the discretion of the immigration officer on arrival.
Evidence of onward travel
Entry to Costa Rica may be refused if you are unable to produce evidence of return or onward travel (for example a return air ticket).
Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/costa-rica/entry-requirements
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad. Guidance is also available from NHS (Scotland) on the FitForTravel website.
General information on travel vaccinations and a travel health checklist is available on the NHS website. You may then wish to contact your health adviser or pharmacy for advice on other preventive measures and managing any pre-existing medical conditions while you’re abroad.
Check whether you need a yellow fever certificate by visiting the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s Costa Rica and Panama.
Depending on your circumstances, this may include a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Panama’s official currency is the balboa. The rate of exchange for the balboa has always been tied to the US dollar—one dollar equals one balboa. Panama does not, however, print its own paper currency and instead uses the US dollar as legal tender. Panamanian coins come in 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50-cent pieces. They are the same size, color, and weight as U.S. coins and both are used frequently. While shopping or eating out, you may see prices with either a “$” or a “B/” before them, corresponding the dollars or balboas. They mean the same thing and have the same value.
Costa Rican official currency is colón.
Credit cards accepted in both countries: Visa, Master Card & American Express.
US$ are well accepted at restaurants and stores (Preferably $10 & $20 bills)
A reasonable level of fitness/mobility is required as include plenty of sightseeing/travelling, sometimes with early starts.
The La Paz Waterfalls Gardens is located in a Park which ranges in altitude from 5200 feet to 4200 feet so it can get chilly when the clouds roll in.
When in Tortugero, there is a luggage restriction to 12kg per person. You can travel with a small bag and the remainder left in storage at our partners office.
Panama: There is a charge of $40 when leaving the country by air. This is usually included in your airline ticket fare. Check with your airline.
Costa Rica: There is a departure tax of $29 when leaving the country by air. Most airlines include this in ticket prices; a few have still not done so. Check with your airline or travel company whether you need to pay this separately. If so you can pay by cash or credit/debit card in dollars or local colones.
Average Temperatures
| Month(s) | Highest temperature | Lowest temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January | 26 °C | 17 °C |
| February - May | 29 °C | 18 °C |
| June - August | 28 °C | 18 °C |
| October - December | 25 °C | 18 °C |
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