Panama and Colombia Holiday

Arrive in Panama City, the capital of the country and one of the wealthiest cities in Central America. The city has a distinctively cosmopolitan feel with modern, high-rise buildings and up-scale restaurants standing in contrast to quaint, colonial architecture and local handicraft marketplaces.

While here, you will explore Panama City’s main highlights, including the Panama Canal where we try and coordinate your visit with a ship sailing through. You will have time to take in the historic buildings of Casco Viejo, Panama City’s old town dating back to the 17th century, as well as visiting colourful, local markets.

Depart the capital and fly to Bocas del Toro in the Caribbean Sea. Picturesque, palm lined beaches, coral atolls, mangroves and tropical forests make Bocas del Toro archipelago a must-visit destination in Panama. Home to dolphins, stingrays, parrotfish, sea turtles, crabs, lobster, starfish and much more, the waters surrounding the islands are ideal for snorkelling or diving. You can take island-hopping tours, sea-kayak, stand-up paddle board or simply relax on the white sand beaches.  

Departing the Caribbean coast, you travel overland to Boquete, located in the foothills of Baru Volcano National Park. The fertile region is renowned for its coffee and you’ll have the option to take a coffee tour at the finca where you’ll be staying. The national park is home to the famous Quetzal Trail, considered one of the most beautiful treks in Central America. The trail passes through many ecological zones - cloud forests, streams, open pastures and bamboo woodland. This is one of the best places to spot the elusive quetzal, it is thought that there are up to 300 mating couples in the national park. The park is also home to hummingbirds and flycatchers, colourful butterflies and noisy howler monkeys, and an array of flora including wild orchids, ferns, mosses and bromeliads.  

Fly back to Panama City for one night before your onward flight to Colombia.

You’ll fly to Bogotá, Colombia's historic capital where you will see a great deal of the country’s heritage. Spanish Colonial influence is highly present in the city's architecture which you’ll see when visiting the main square, Plaza de Bolivar, location of Simon Bolivar's statue. This plaza was once called Plaza Mayor as it was used for civil and military purposes such as a marketplace, a bullring and as a place where many executions were held. You will see the cathedral, which was built on the same site that Bogota’s first church was constructed back in 1539. You’ll also see the Capilla del Sagrario, a gem of religious architecture, and the Capitol with its renaissance and neoclassical influences. Included in the tour is a visit to the Botero Museum which has pieces of art by Dali, Matisse, Picasso and Fernando Botero himself, as well as the Gold Museum, home to some 32,000 pieces of gold from various civilisations.

Fly to Pereira to explore the stunning coffee region. This lush and fertile area is known for its coffee farms. While here you’ll visit a farm to learn about the process from planting and harvesting to finally producing the coffee as we know it. You’ll have the opportunity to fully appreciate the beautiful natural surroundings on a free day. 

Fly to Cartagena on the Caribbean coast. This charming city is jam-packed with colourful buildings of both colonial and republican architecture, quaint wooden balconies with overflowing flower boxes and cobbled backstreets opening out to large plazas are all surrounded by fortress walls. You’ll have a guided walk and then free time to explore on your own, perhaps visit some of the local handicraft markets or try some street food, sip a coffee and watch the world by from one of the cafes or spot sculptures in town by famed artist, Fernando Botero.  

On Day 16, you will be transferred to the airport in time for your international departure flight, arriving back in the UK on Day 17.