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Blue dacnis, Panama

Panama holidays 2020 & 2021

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With practical guidance, our flexibility promise and inspirational tools for travel planning, you can book with confidence with Audley.

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 snorkeling with turtles in Bocas del Toro.

Elsewhere, as part of a Panama itinerary, you can embrace the cafe 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.
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Suggested tours for Panama

These tours give you a starting point for what your trip to Panama could entail. They cover routes we've found work particularly well and feature some of our favourite places to stay. Treat them as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you.

View all Panama tours

Why travel with Audley?

  • 100% tailor-made journeys
  • Fully protected travel
  • Established for 20 years
  • 96% of our clients would recommend us to a friend
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Our detailed brochures feature trip ideas and travel experiences recommended by our specialists.

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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

  • San Blas Islands, Panama
    Meet the local Kuna people of the San Blas Islands
  • Panama Canal, Panama
    Journey along the Panama Canal
  • Cala Mia
    Escape to the beautiful island retreat of Cala Mia
  • The town of Boquete
    Get off-the-beaten-track
  • Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro
    Take your pick of activities in Tranquilo Bay
  • The Quetzal trail, Boquete
    Hike the Los Quetzales Trail
  • Darien, Panama
    Meet indigenous communities
  • San Blas Islands, Panama
    Visit the numerous tropical islands

Our expert guides to travelling in Panama

Written by our specialists from the viewpoint of their own travels, these guides will help you decide on the shape of your own trip to Panama. Aiming to inspire and inform, we share our recommendations for how to appreciate Panama at its best.

  • Snorkeling

    Family holidays in Panama

    A Panama family holiday is ideal if your children are aged 10 and over. Considered an off-the-beaten-track destination it offers something a little more adventurous than the typical family trip.

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