Overview & Highlights
Discover Panama and travel through the Panama Canal with an expedition cruise on a small, exclusive motor cruiser, MV Discovery.
Panama is a strategically vital country uniting two oceans, but its potential interest to the leisure visitor has perhaps been underplayed. Most have heard of its history, chequered with the movement of plundered gold, dodgy dictators, straw hats (these actually come from Ecuador) and, of course, the monumental feat of engineering which is the Panama Canal.
Fewer are aware of the abundant and diverse wildlife populating unsullied tropical rainforest and the intact, even flourishing, indigenous cultures which have survived the switchback ride of its history.
Much of the country’s interior is almost impenetrable, which makes an expedition cruise which passes both through the canal itself and along the little republic’s jungle-stifled shores the best way to discover its hidden charms. On this holiday, you spend a couple of days discovering the highlights at either end of the canal before setting sail to traverse it.
(Some departures travel southwards through the Canal from Colon to Panama City. The holiday is effectively the same as the one here, but in reverse).
Outline itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Panama City, transfer to hotel.
Day 2
Guided tour of Casco Viejo and the Biodiversity Museum.
Day 3
Visit the Darien jungle and the Embera indians
Day 4
Swim and snorkel among the palm-fringed Pearl Islands.
Day 5
Transit the Panama Canal to Lake Gatun.
Day 6
Explore Soberania National Park, the Pipeline Road and Panama Rainforest Discovery Centre.
Day 7
San Lorenzo National Park- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Day 8
Disembark. Guided tour of Portobelo, transfer to hotel in Panama City.
Day 9
Transfer to Panama City airport for your international flight.
Things to do
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Accommodation
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What our clients say
97% of our clients rated their experience with us as Excellent or Good.
Very efficient with the booking process and very helpful with his service throughout. Adam was always prompt and helpful in answering all our questions prior to departure.
IR, London
Tailor made holiday
Our specialists have been expertly crafting award-winning tailor-made holidays to Latin America for 40 years. We would be delighted to create a truly personalised trip which perfectly matches your wishes and requirements.

Lina Fuller - Travel Consultant
Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.
Inspired by this trip
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Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.
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