Please select your location:
You can find all your favourites in the menu
Blue dacnis, Panama

Panama holidays 2022 & 2023
Travel with confidence. Secure your trip now with full flexibility in your plans.
  •  Secure your trip now

    Speak with a specialist for the latest advice on all your travel options. As soon as you're ready to plan, they'll create the trip you’re looking for.

  •  Full flexibility in your plans

    Book by 31st December and we'll give you the flexibility to change your plans for free if changing travel guidance or restrictions impact you. Full details

  •  Travel with confidence

    Your safety is our first priority. In your specialist, you have an expert advisor you can rely on before you travel and while you’re away.

Panama’s capital is the only city in Central America to have real heft on the global stage, and its mighty canal is undoubtedly an engineering tour de force. Comparatively few visitors venture farther afield, but our specialists have explored Panama’s remoter areas, from rainforests to coastal mangroves. They’ll tell you that other treasures lie in store on this twisting strip of land. They can suggest experiences beyond the city for your holiday to Panama, such as birdwatching around Gatún Lake (home to 385 species), exploring botany with the indigenous Emberá, and snorkelling with turtles in Bocas del Toro.

Elsewhere, as part of a Panama itinerary, you can embrace the café culture and tropical forests of El Valle, and wander among coffee plantations in highland Boquete. Or, escape into another world entirely on the isolated San Blas Islands, home to crystalline waters swimming with eagle rays and nurse sharks.

Creating tailor-made tours for over 25 years

Excellent

TrustScore 5 | 2981 reviews
ATOL Protected Which? recommended

Suggested tours for Panama

These tours give you a starting point for what your holiday to Panama could entail. Treat them as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you.

View all Panama tours

Suggested activities for Panama

Whatever your interests, our specialists will build activities into your trip that connect to how you want to experience Panama.

  • The Discovery Catamaran
    The Discovery (Catamaran)

    The Discovery Catamaran

    Panama City

    The Discovery Catamaran

    The Discovery is owned and operated by Panama Marine Adventures (PMA) and is a 33 metre purpose built catamaran capable of travelling up to a speed of 18 knots.

    View details
  • Panama City & Canal Tour
    Panama Canal, Panama City

    Panama City & Canal Tour

    Panama City

    Panama City & Canal Tour

    The tour of Panama City takes in the Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal, Panama Viejo and Casco Antiguo. The tour begins with a visit to the impressive Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal.

    View details
  • Portobello & San Lorenzo Forts
    Portobello Fort, Panama

    Portobello & San Lorenzo Forts

    Panama City

    Portobello & San Lorenzo Forts

    After crossing the canal over one of the lock gates you continue to Fort San Lorenzo, which was constructed by the Spaniards in 16th century to defend against the constant threat of pirates seeking to interrupt the transporting of Inca gold. The fort is very isolated and accessed via a bumpy road, but the drive is worth it with stunning views out across the Caribbean Sea and the mouth of the Chagres River.

    View details
See more things to do in Panama

Why travel with Audley?

  • 100% tailor-made tours
  • Fully protected travel
  • Established for over 25 years
  • 98% of our clients would recommend us
Watch our video

Best time to visit

Our specialists advise on the best months to visit Panama, including information about climate, events and festivals.

Best time to visit Panama

Request a brochure

Our detailed brochures feature trip ideas and travel experiences recommended by our specialists.

Audley Central America Brochure Cover
Order by email

Useful information for planning your holiday in Panama

  • Timezone
    UTC -5

  • Flight time
    Approx. 13 hours (Via the USA or Europe)

  • Recommended airlines
    American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, United Airlines

  • The official language is Spanish, although English is widely spoken.

  • The standard of food across Panama is good however menus are simple and basic with few choices. White rice is a staple part of restaurant menus and it is usually accompanied by meat, chicken and fish. Vegetarian dishes are hard to come by.

  • The national currency in Panama is the balboa. Panama is one of the few countries in the world that doesn't issue paper money therefore US dollar banknotes are used exclusively and US dollar notes and coins are legal tender.

Panama in pictures

  • Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro
    Take your pick of activities in Tranquilo Bay
  • San Jose Island, Pearl Islands
    Discover the untouched beauty of San Jose Island
  • Cala Mia
    Escape to the beautiful island retreat of Cala Mia
  • Darien, Panama
    Meet indigenous communities
  • The town of Boquete
    Get off-the-beaten-track
  • San Blas Islands, Panama
    Meet the local Kuna people of the San Blas Islands
  • Blue and Yellow Macaw, Pearl Islands
    Go birdwatching in the Chiriqui Highlands
  • Bocas del Toro, Panama
    Snorkel the colourful reefs at Bocas del Toro