Costa Rica & Panama Adventure 14D/13N
Costa Rica & Panama Adventure 14D/13N
Costa Rica & Panama Adventure 14D/13N
14 Days Starting in San Jose, Costa Rica and ending in Panama City, Panama
Visiting: San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Puerto Viejo, Bocas del Toro, Panama City, San Blas Islands
Tour Overview
Discover the incredible natural wonders and vibrant cultures of Costa Rica & Panama on this trip through verdant national parks, stunning white-sand beaches, bustling Panama City, and the beautiful San Blas islands!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: San Jose, Costa Rica
Location: San Jose
Day 1: San Jose, Costa Rica
Location: San Jose
Gaudys Backpackers Hostel provides guests with currency exchange and a safe deposit box. Templo de la Musica is 2.2 km from the hostel and Correos de Costa Rica is about 1.8 km away. Guests can wine and dine in Fogo Brasil and Restaurante Churrascaria Fogo Brasil, located in the neighborhood. Gaudys Backpackers Hostel comprises 10 rooms fitted with a laptop-size safe, TV with satellite channels, coffee/tea makers, a dining area and a private toilet. Most rooms offer beds with foam pillows and linens. Guests of Gaudys Backpackers Hostel can take advantage of airport transfer, 24-hour reception and shuttle service.
Day 2: Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica
Location: Tortuguero National Park
Shuttle and Boat San Jose to Tortuguero (B/L/D)
Depart San Jose at 6:00am accompanied by your naturalist guide to drive past coffee plantations and the stunning landscapes of Braulio Carrillo National Park. Keep an eye out for misty cloud forest and distant waterfalls before stopping for an authentic Costa Rican breakfast of fruit juice, coffee, eggs and the popular "Gallo Pinto".
After breakfast, we will continue driving on the shuttle and then transfer to a boat for the final leg of the journey into Tortuguero National Park, a pristine nature reserve and an important nesting site for green sea turtles. Along the way we will provide you with a brief introduction to the banana plantations.
This afternoon you may go on an optional walking tour of the Museum and the town to learn about the local culture (not included). Depending on the season, tonight you can also participate in an optional night tour (not included), which consists of a boat trip to Tortuguero National Park followed by walking on the beach to observe the nesting of the Giant Green Sea Turtle (available only from July to October). Overnight in Tortuguero.
Day 3: Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica
Location: Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero National Park Boat and Walking Tour (B/L/D)
Wake up early this morning to go on a guided tour of Tortuguero National Park. At 5:30 your guide will take you by boat to one of the most enchanting sites in the region, where you will explore lagoons and hidden canals and see nearly 50m-tall trees covered with bromeliads, vines and orchids, as well as an array of other flora and fauna. Spot animals such as howler monkeys, white face capuchins, and spider monkeys, as well over 400 species of birds, iguanas, jesus christ lizards and more!
Return to your accommodation by 8:00am to enjoy breakfast and recharge for the second part of today's tour, a hike through the rainforest. At around 9:30am you will go on a walk through the national park, discovering local plants and spotting wildlife with the help of your guide.
Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure to relax at your lodge or discover more of the town on your own. Overnight in Tortuguero.
Day 4: Tortuguero - Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Location: Puerto Viejo
Day 4: Tortuguero - Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Location: San Jose
Tortuguero Boat & Walking Tour - BoatĀ and Shuttle to San Jose (B/L)
Rise early again this morning to go on a boat tour to visit other areas of the park and admire even more breathtaking nature. Return to your accommodation for breakfast and to pack up your belongings for check-out. Take one last rainforest walk in a different section of the rainforest before transferring back to San Jose, arriving around 6:30pm.
Day 4: Tortuguero - Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Location: Puerto Viejo
Situated in the heart of this tropical gem, Selina Puerto Viejo is a cultural hub bursting with the best of Costa Rica: infectious reggae, spicy Carribean cuisine, and lullabies of croaking frogs at dusk! Unlike other hotels in the region, our unique accommodation includes teepees built with hand-made materials from neighbouring indigenous communities, guaranteeing an authentic, eco-friendly stay.
In the mood for adventure? Head down to the beachfront and choose from snorkeling, waterfall jumping, and paddle boarding or trek through the Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge or Cahuita National Park. Back at Selina, make the most of the high speed internet at our cowork space, participate in our global book swap or head to the hotel restaurant for regional dishes, homemade desserts, and artisan dark ground coffee. As the sun sets, check our calendar of live music gigs and calypso events and dance the night away with fellow travelers from around the world.
Day 5: Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Location: Puerto Viejo
Day 5: Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Location: Puerto Viejo
Situated in the heart of this tropical gem, Selina Puerto Viejo is a cultural hub bursting with the best of Costa Rica: infectious reggae, spicy Carribean cuisine, and lullabies of croaking frogs at dusk! Unlike other hotels in the region, our unique accommodation includes teepees built with hand-made materials from neighbouring indigenous communities, guaranteeing an authentic, eco-friendly stay.
In the mood for adventure? Head down to the beachfront and choose from snorkeling, waterfall jumping, and paddle boarding or trek through the Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge or Cahuita National Park. Back at Selina, make the most of the high speed internet at our cowork space, participate in our global book swap or head to the hotel restaurant for regional dishes, homemade desserts, and artisan dark ground coffee. As the sun sets, check our calendar of live music gigs and calypso events and dance the night away with fellow travelers from around the world.
Day 6: Puerto Viejo - Bocas Del Toro, Panama
Location: Bocas del Toro
Day 6: Puerto Viejo - Bocas Del Toro, Panama
Location: Bocas del Toro
Selina is a hospitality network with all types of accommodation to fit the needs of every traveler. Explore our ecosystem of beautifully designed rooms and get ready to depart from the ordinary.Youāll find that we offer one of the best places to stay in Bocas del Toro.
Day 7: Bocas Del Toro, Panama
Location: Bocas del Toro
Day 7: Bocas Del Toro, Panama
Location: Bocas del Toro
Selina is a hospitality network with all types of accommodation to fit the needs of every traveler. Explore our ecosystem of beautifully designed rooms and get ready to depart from the ordinary.Youāll find that we offer one of the best places to stay in Bocas del Toro.
Day 8: Bocas Del Toro, Panama
Location: Bocas del Toro
Day 8: Bocas Del Toro, Panama
Location: Bocas del Toro
Selina is a hospitality network with all types of accommodation to fit the needs of every traveler. Explore our ecosystem of beautifully designed rooms and get ready to depart from the ordinary.Youāll find that we offer one of the best places to stay in Bocas del Toro.
Day 9: Bocas Del Toro - Panama City, Panama
Location: Panama City
Day 9: Bocas Del Toro - Panama City, Panama
Location: Panama City
Day 9: Bocas Del Toro - Panama City, Panama
Location: Panama City
Selina Casco Viejo Panama City features a restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, a bar and shared lounge in Panama City. With free WiFi, this 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and a shared kitchen. Rod Carew National Stadium is 13 km from the hotel and Canal Museum of Panama is less than 1 km away.A Ć la carte breakfast is available daily at the hotel.Selina Casco Viejo Panama City offers a terrace. You can play billiards and table tennis at the accommodation.Ancon Hill is 5 km from Selina Casco Viejo Panama City, while Bridge of the Americas is 11 km away. The nearest airport is Paitilla Airport, 5 km from the hotel.
Day 10: Panama City, Panama
Location: Panama City
See Panama City from an open top tour bus. Enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean, the lush rainforest and the famous Panama Canal. Panama City is a unique and striking modern city, and this tour is designed to ensure that you see all the main tourist attractions, beginning with the world-famous Panama Canal. Learn all about the construction of this 8th wonder of the world. The tour also takes you to the historic district of Casco Antiguo, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its wonderful colonial Spanish and French architecture.
Day 10: Panama City, Panama
Location: Panama City
Selina Casco Viejo Panama City features a restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, a bar and shared lounge in Panama City. With free WiFi, this 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and a shared kitchen. Rod Carew National Stadium is 13 km from the hotel and Canal Museum of Panama is less than 1 km away.A Ć la carte breakfast is available daily at the hotel.Selina Casco Viejo Panama City offers a terrace. You can play billiards and table tennis at the accommodation.Ancon Hill is 5 km from Selina Casco Viejo Panama City, while Bridge of the Americas is 11 km away. The nearest airport is Paitilla Airport, 5 km from the hotel.
Day 11: San Blas Islands, Panama
Location: San Blas Islands
Transfer Panama City - San Blas Chichime Islands (L/D)
You will be picked up at your accommodation in Panama City early this morning and taken on an exciting ride through the jungle on 4x4 transportation. You will have the option to stop at a supermarket to purchase last-minute items such as water, snacks, beverages and grab something for breakfast. We will then make another stop to pass through immigration formalities and pay the entrance fees to Kuna Yala Islands (not included in standard package).
We will continue our way to the dock where you will meet your boat to take a shared transfer to your island. Upon arrival, get settled in and enjoy an excursion to discover the breathtaking surroundings of this pristine place.
Please note that there are not a lot of goods available for purchase on the islands and we strongly recommend taking advantage of the grocery store stop to stock up on snacks and bottled water.
*Note: This "Comarca" is a paradise where it is only allowed to people from its community to work there, tourism is something new to them, their infrastructure is currently under development and service might not be entirely satisfactory in some cases.
Day 12: San Blas Islands, Panama
Location: San Blas Islands
San Blas Chichime Islands (B/L/D)
Enjoy a fresh breakfast with the sounds of the waves on the shore. Today you will take on a day tour in Natural Pool, a sandbar in the middle of the sea that serves as a home for starfish. There you can take amazing photos, swim and relax in an idyllic setting. But ā¦ remember not to take the stars out of the water!
After Natural Pool you will visit to Fragata Island, opt to swim or snorkel around your island in the crystal clear turquoise waters to spot colourful tropical fish among coral reefs or simply spend time relaxing on a hammock. Also, you will have the chance to visit one of the most famous islands in San Blas: Dog Island, get delighted by this beautiful scenery with the cleanest water. This is one of the top snorkelling places in Guna Yala. It's a top snorkelling place because of the old navy shipwreck of a gunboat. If the tide is low you can see its rusty bow sticking out of the sea when the tide is up you can snorkel over and around it and find yourself in a magical place full of life.
Hire a boat and visit a traditional Kuna Yala village of this archipelago, where you can purchase handmade souvenirs to contribute to the community (optional activity at extra cost, inquire upon arrival). Spend the evenings watching the horizon turn different shades of red and pink as the sun sets over the Caribbean.
Day 13: Panama City, Panama
Location: Panama City
Transfer San Blas ChichimeĀ Islands - Panama City (B)
Say goodbye to your piece of natural paradise this morning for your scenic one-hour return trip to the dock by boat and 4x4 transportation ride back to Panama City, and be dropped off at your accommodation in the afternoon.
Day 13: Panama City, Panama
Location: Panama City
Selina Casco Viejo Panama City features a restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, a bar and shared lounge in Panama City. With free WiFi, this 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and a shared kitchen. Rod Carew National Stadium is 13 km from the hotel and Canal Museum of Panama is less than 1 km away.A Ć la carte breakfast is available daily at the hotel.Selina Casco Viejo Panama City offers a terrace. You can play billiards and table tennis at the accommodation.Ancon Hill is 5 km from Selina Casco Viejo Panama City, while Bridge of the Americas is 11 km away. The nearest airport is Paitilla Airport, 5 km from the hotel.
Day 14: Panama City, Panama
Location: Panama City
What's Included
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Transport
6 Transfer
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Meals
6 Breakfast(s), 5 Lunch(es), 4 Dinner(s),
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Accommodation
See full inclusions for details
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Extras
Handy extras and accessories
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Guides
Some of the activities
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Activities
1 Excursion
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Experiences
What's Not Included
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Optional tours to Tortuguero Museum village tour and green sea turtle nesting tour
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Airport transfers
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Entrance fee to Tortuguero National Park ($35 USD)
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Other mealsĀ and drinks
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Personal expenses
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Travel insurance
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Tips for guides
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Airport departure tax from Costa Rica ($29 USD)
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Transfer to departure point
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San Blas Islands & port fee (approx $10 USD)
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Kuna's Tax + Port Tax for Tourists (approx $23 starting from 6 years old)
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Tour leader
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Snorkelling gear (aprox 3USD per person)
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Optional Kuna Yala village visit (approx. $20 USD)
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Drinks & snacks (Recommended to Bring)
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Tips
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Bamba Travel allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 60 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Bamba Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform bamba travel, 60 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Bamba Travel requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of bamba travel charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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