Wild Panama Eco Adventure in Panama
Sep 25th, 2011, 11:39 AM
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Wild Panama Eco Adventure in Panama
This years Family vacation was in Panama, Central America. A former province of Colombia this Central American country was full of joyful surprises for us.
Before starting the trip as always I did a lot of research and decided to book our vacation with a local tour company Sendero Panama tours http://www.senderopanama.com. After much discussion on our family travel committee we choose their Wild Panama Eco Adventure but also a couple of other activities that were in other programs. The girl at sales was very helpful.
Day 1
The day of our arrival to Panama, disaster stroke, the airline lost one of our luggage pieces, of course had to be mine, mom. Luckily our guide was at the airport waiting for us and help us arrange for the luggage to be taken to our hotel when it arrived 2 days later.
We stay at the Gamboa Rainforest resort, perfect if you have kids...
Day 2
The next morning since I didn't had any clothes a driver took me to the mall to buy some clothes while the rest headed to Barro Colorado for the first day of exploration. They came back to the hotel that day joyful with all they had seen and I was happy with my new clothes. My little girl was fascinated with all the knowledge of our guide and my husband with his patience. Images of colorful frogs, blurs of monkeys in the canopy and a close up of a funny creature name Sloth were part of the repertory on my husband camera. With this first day everyone had forgotten the night before and the lost luggage.
Day 3
Amazing morning full of wildlife, from the comfort of a small boat we saw numerous monkeys, and crocodiles. It was fun to see how the guide challenged my kids knowledge asking them questions about things they had seen the day before and again in that morning. At one point we were quietly making our way to get a closer look to a huge crocodile when John pointed out the toucans overhead. We saw three species of toucan that morning.
Another part of the experience was to be able to be so close to the massive ships transiting the Panama Canal, perfect set up for the afternoon visit to the Panama Canal locks.
After visiting the locks we made our way to the domestic airport and check in for our flight to Chiriqui, and YES! , my luggage was there, waiting for me.
At our arrival we were transferred to Finca Lerida Lodge, beautiful setting in the Highlands of Panama, a coffee state in coffee land, Central america.
Day 4
We spend the day looking for wildlife, and Yes we saw Quetzals, no one, several of them. Until that moment the toucans were my favorite birds, now is the Quetzal.
My kids rename the cloud forest as AVATAR! All the time, look mommy like in AVATAR.
Day 5
We went Canopy Zip lining in the morning, my husband and kids love it, I have to admit was a bit scare all the time. After the Zip line we moved on on our adventure for a long picturesque drive across the Continental Divide to the Caribbean of Panama. Along the drive I realize what my husband meant by been impressed with the patience of our guide who was with us during the trip. He spend the 4 hrs of the drive making sure the kids were enjoying the ride, therefore us adults could enjoy it too.
As we were getting closer to the Caribbean coast we stop at a small Indian village were we visited a family of friends of our guide. They took us to their Cacao plantation were the kids got to taste raw cocoa pulp, later inside of their home they show us the process of making chocolate, well my kids didn't just watch, they got busy making their own chocolate. My little girl still talks about that day.
That night we check in at the Country Inn Playa Tortuga, big smiles on my kids when they saw the swimming pool, something missing from the Finca lerida lodge.
Day 6 and 7
We spend those days in the Caribbean archipelago of Bocas either snorkeling, hiking or on the beach, it was a good way to end the program...
In day 7 we returned to Panama City and stay at the Miramar Intercontinental.
After visiting countries like Belize and Costa Rica, Panama is in the top of my Central America list.
Before starting the trip as always I did a lot of research and decided to book our vacation with a local tour company Sendero Panama tours http://www.senderopanama.com. After much discussion on our family travel committee we choose their Wild Panama Eco Adventure but also a couple of other activities that were in other programs. The girl at sales was very helpful.
Day 1
The day of our arrival to Panama, disaster stroke, the airline lost one of our luggage pieces, of course had to be mine, mom. Luckily our guide was at the airport waiting for us and help us arrange for the luggage to be taken to our hotel when it arrived 2 days later.
We stay at the Gamboa Rainforest resort, perfect if you have kids...
Day 2
The next morning since I didn't had any clothes a driver took me to the mall to buy some clothes while the rest headed to Barro Colorado for the first day of exploration. They came back to the hotel that day joyful with all they had seen and I was happy with my new clothes. My little girl was fascinated with all the knowledge of our guide and my husband with his patience. Images of colorful frogs, blurs of monkeys in the canopy and a close up of a funny creature name Sloth were part of the repertory on my husband camera. With this first day everyone had forgotten the night before and the lost luggage.
Day 3
Amazing morning full of wildlife, from the comfort of a small boat we saw numerous monkeys, and crocodiles. It was fun to see how the guide challenged my kids knowledge asking them questions about things they had seen the day before and again in that morning. At one point we were quietly making our way to get a closer look to a huge crocodile when John pointed out the toucans overhead. We saw three species of toucan that morning.
Another part of the experience was to be able to be so close to the massive ships transiting the Panama Canal, perfect set up for the afternoon visit to the Panama Canal locks.
After visiting the locks we made our way to the domestic airport and check in for our flight to Chiriqui, and YES! , my luggage was there, waiting for me.
At our arrival we were transferred to Finca Lerida Lodge, beautiful setting in the Highlands of Panama, a coffee state in coffee land, Central america.
Day 4
We spend the day looking for wildlife, and Yes we saw Quetzals, no one, several of them. Until that moment the toucans were my favorite birds, now is the Quetzal.
My kids rename the cloud forest as AVATAR! All the time, look mommy like in AVATAR.
Day 5
We went Canopy Zip lining in the morning, my husband and kids love it, I have to admit was a bit scare all the time. After the Zip line we moved on on our adventure for a long picturesque drive across the Continental Divide to the Caribbean of Panama. Along the drive I realize what my husband meant by been impressed with the patience of our guide who was with us during the trip. He spend the 4 hrs of the drive making sure the kids were enjoying the ride, therefore us adults could enjoy it too.
As we were getting closer to the Caribbean coast we stop at a small Indian village were we visited a family of friends of our guide. They took us to their Cacao plantation were the kids got to taste raw cocoa pulp, later inside of their home they show us the process of making chocolate, well my kids didn't just watch, they got busy making their own chocolate. My little girl still talks about that day.
That night we check in at the Country Inn Playa Tortuga, big smiles on my kids when they saw the swimming pool, something missing from the Finca lerida lodge.
Day 6 and 7
We spend those days in the Caribbean archipelago of Bocas either snorkeling, hiking or on the beach, it was a good way to end the program...
In day 7 we returned to Panama City and stay at the Miramar Intercontinental.
After visiting countries like Belize and Costa Rica, Panama is in the top of my Central America list.
Sep 26th, 2011, 05:24 AM
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I really enjoyed reading about your trip to Panama. I have also been to Costa Rica and Belize (and loved both) and I have to admit Panama was never on my radar. Now, it definitely is some place I will look into for a future trip.
Oct 3rd, 2011, 10:09 AM
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Thanks for posting. Great report!
What made Panama now your favorite Central American destination?
My hubby and I are planning a trip there for next April, and we chose it because of the similarity to CR in terms of landscape, flora and fauna, but more history, mix of old and new in Panama City and such wonderful birding opportunities. Will you tell us more about your time in Bocas? You drove there?
What made Panama now your favorite Central American destination?
My hubby and I are planning a trip there for next April, and we chose it because of the similarity to CR in terms of landscape, flora and fauna, but more history, mix of old and new in Panama City and such wonderful birding opportunities. Will you tell us more about your time in Bocas? You drove there?
Oct 4th, 2011, 06:32 AM
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Hi, thanks for the info about ecotourism in Panama. Another great place of this country is Ciudad de Panamá, a famous commercial and modern center known by its skyscrapers, such as the tower The Point, the highest building of Latin America with 240 floors. It has Balboa's port, shopping center, theaters, museums, and many other activities which makes of it an interesting starting point for your trip to Panama. I first took a flight to City of Panamá http://en.visitlatin.com/ciudad-de-panama-flights.htm and then I went to Colón, another place in the country where you can find beautiful coral reefs, resorts of white sands and turquoise waters, where to enjoy the sun, to practice the surf and diving. Regards!
Oct 7th, 2011, 12:34 PM
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Hi Snorkelluvn, we loved Bocas.
We drove from Boquets to Bocas island, it took around 3.5 hrs.
The drive was scenic with views of both oceans at one point or another and tropical forest. Many hills and curves.
We made one stop at a native village were mi kids got to make Chocolate from the cacao.
In Bocas Island we stay at Playa Tortuga hotel, great for the kids because of the ocean and the swimming pool.
We spend the time in Bocas snorkeling and doing beach time.
Also visited another native village there one morning were we did a trail, monkeys, sloth, owls and poison frogs.
It did rain but not to much.
We drove from Boquets to Bocas island, it took around 3.5 hrs.
The drive was scenic with views of both oceans at one point or another and tropical forest. Many hills and curves.
We made one stop at a native village were mi kids got to make Chocolate from the cacao.
In Bocas Island we stay at Playa Tortuga hotel, great for the kids because of the ocean and the swimming pool.
We spend the time in Bocas snorkeling and doing beach time.
Also visited another native village there one morning were we did a trail, monkeys, sloth, owls and poison frogs.
It did rain but not to much.
Jul 3rd, 2012, 03:37 AM
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Thanks for posting. Great report!
Panama is the best destination in Central American,
Thanks
http://beachcomberpete.com/
Panama is the best destination in Central American,
Thanks
http://beachcomberpete.com/
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