Costa Rica to Panama Exotic and Unique

Pick up begins early in the morning (as early as 5:00am) from your hotel in San Jose and transferred by shared bus to the Tortuguero boat dock. Along the way stop for breakfast in Guapiles (around 8:00am) for approximately 1 hour. Continue on to the Cano Blanco boat dock and enjoy a 1 1/2 hour shared, boat transfer along the Cano Blanco to Manatus Lodge; arriving around 12:30pm. Enjoy a welcome cocktail and lunch.

The Tortuguero National Park Fee has been pre-paid for your convenience.

An early morning start to enjoy breakfast in the lodge's restaurant (between 7:00am-8:00am) After breakfast enjoy a 2 hour, shared and guided tour along one of the Canals of Tortuguero National Park. Return to the lodge for lunch and time at leisure to explore the nature and surroundings of the lodge. In the afternoon explore another Tortuguero canal by boat (shared). Return to the lodge for dinner and the evening at leisure.

Enjoy an early morning breakfast served in the lodge's restaurant (7:00am-8:00am). After breakfast you will check out of the lodge and transfer by boat (shared) along the Cano Blanco. Upon arrival to the boat dock you will transfer by bus (shared) to Guapiles for lunch. (Option to upgrade to Flight from Tortuguero to San Jose (subject to additional cost) )

Meet your driver for a private transfer to Arenal.

Nature lovers will enjoy a 2 hour safari style float trip down the lower Peñas Blancas River. The pace allows you to enjoy the tranquility of the rainforest soaking in all the sights and sounds of this tropical setting.

Your expert bilingual guides will provide you with descriptions and information of local plant and animal species while en route. Be sure to keep an eye out for monkeys, youcans, Jesus Christ Lizards, caimans, iguanas and a wide assortment of bird species. After the safari enjoy an educational and fun visit to Doña Mara's Home and learn how to make tortillas! Doña Mara and her husband will welcome you with a tropical drink (pineapple, orange, coconut water) at her “rancho” (like a gazebo) where she will prepare a delicious traditional lunch meal on her rustic wood-fired stove. While lunch is cooking, travelers are offered to try their hands at making tortillas out of the fresh ground corn masa (dough). Doña Mara shows her guests how to flatten the masa into perfect circles ready for cooking. The tortillas are served with lunch to top off the afternoon. You will have the opportunity to practice Spanish, and learn about the Costa Rican Culture while enjoying your lunch!

You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the rainforest close to the Arenal Volcano. Enjoy a leisurely hike for 1.5 hours through the rainforest while your private guide offers the history of the Arenal Volcano. This park is located at the base of the Arenal Volcano and is filled with wildlife including monkeys, toucans, coati and a large variety of bird species. Conclude the tour at the Springs Resort - soak in the hot mineral baths and enjoy! After a soothing soak in the hot springs, enjoy a lovely dinner at The Springs Resort, prepared in a colonial style rustic kitchen. Enjoy the local cuisine - a true authentic experience. Return to your hotel in the evening after a delicious dinner (included in the tour cost).

Pick-up: 3:45 , Duration Approximately 6 hours

You will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the tour start point. This journey through the top of the rainforest will have you "fly" from one platform to another by zipping on steel cables, while enjoying the beautiful landscapes of this primary forest from a different angle. Move through the rain forest, above the Arenal River Canyon. This tour offers an unforgettable encounter with nature. At the end of the tour you can chose to do a horseback ride and rappel. (147 ft. high) Recommended: Closed shoes, light and comfortable clothes, and in case you decide to ride a horse, wear long pants. Return to your hotel in the afternoon. Morning/Afternoon Departures, Duration 3 Hours (approximately)

Included:

•13 platforms reaching up to 130 ft. In height

•9 cables reaching up to 230 ft. high

•9 cables with a maximum length of 1033 ft.

•1 68 ft. long hanging bridge between platforms.

Meet your driver for a private transfer to San Jose.

Enjoy a private airport transfer with vehicle, and professional driver. The transfer is approximately 30 mins (22km/14mi).

Fly from San Jose, Costa Rica to Bocas del Toro, Panama. Approximate flight duration is 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Airstrip transfer to/from hotel.

Activities

Popa Paradise offers a wide selection of excursions designed for guests to experience the beautiful, sparsely populated islands of Bocas del Toro. We can tailor each experience to your specific interests, or you can join us in a planned activity. Prices vary for our off-site excursions and all are weather dependent.

Water Activities

Explore the undersea world

Snorkeling here is spectacular, with crystal clear waters, only a few hundred meters from our shore. The average sea temperature is 82 degrees year round. Snorkel gear is available at no charge to our guests and the fun starts right off our beach. Like a giant aquarium, clouds of colorful tropical fish inhabit our reefs. Lobster and crab populate the coral. Larger fish patrol the slightly deeper water fronting our reef system. Don't be surprised to see turtles, big amberjack, harmless nurse sharks, or a playful dolphin! From beginner through advanced swimmers, snorkeling in the Caribbean reefs can keep you busy for weeks.

Kayak Safari

We maintain a fleet of single and double kayaks. There are literally miles upon miles of calm waters to explore right from our shore. Sandy beaches, abundant coral heads, and tiny islands are all in waters less than 15 feet deep. Disappear for a half or full day and lose yourself in the beauty of it all. We can pack an ice chest with snacks, lunch, and cold drinks for your kayak cruising pleasure.

Kayak Fishing

We have all the gear for kayak fishing, all you have to do is get the fish to bite! Great fishing starts right off our beach. There are too many species to name, but our favorites are pargo, mero, and barracuda. (additional cost may apply for fishing)

Guided Fishing

Bocas fishing ranges from reef fishing and trolling outside our offshore reef, to deeper sea fishing with Captain John Maynard and his Unsinkable Boston Whaler. We can also hire a shaded panga for guided fishing trips. Gabriel, our local Bocas fishing guide and captain, grew up fishing these waters. He knows every hotspot for miles and loves to share his knowledge. (additional cost may apply for fishing)

Surfing

Bocas del Toro offers some great surfing, set in beautiful, picturesque locations. There are a wide variety of surf spots around the archipelago from beach breaks to clean point breaks. Clear, warm waters and green tropical islands provide the canvas for days of shredding the best waves in the Caribbean Sea. Our boats can take you to Bocas town where there are surf schools and shops. (additional cost may apply)

Land Activities

Popa Paradise offers a variety of on-island activities as well. We have several board games and ball games for our guests. We also have a pool table and ping-pong. We have a beach volleyball court, great for sunset games with the staff.

Hike our jungle trail, which leads into primary rainforest, where you can see green tree frogs, sloths and birds. We provide the Wellington boots and local guide.

Families

Popa Paradise Beach Resort is a perfect location for anything from small family vacations to family reunions. We have a variety of activities to keep children entertained, from pool activities to swimming in the gentle ocean, shelling, or exploring nature in the jungle, kids never find an end to the fun here

Today's adventure begins in Bocas del Toro center with a short boat ride to Dolphin Bay to observe dolphins playing in their natural habitat. The mainland coast and the mountain regions of Panama serve as an exquisite background for photo opportunities. Then you venture to Coral Key for snorkeling (2 locations) and time for lunch at an ""over-the-water"" restaurant providing beautiful views of the archipelago islands of Bocas del Toro (lunch not included). Early afternoon you will be taken on a jungle tour at Punta Solarte - an exclusive location. You will have the opportunity to visit a rain forest canopy and a chance to see parrots, orange frogs, armadillos, rare birds and other wild life. Punta Solarte provides a large dock for sunbathing and swimming. Try snorkeling the mangroves along the Bahia Honda waterway where Isla Solarte is the closest point to the Bastimentos National Marine Park. The afternoon will be spent at Red Frog Beach one of the premier beaches of the region. Spend a few hours at this oceanfront beach with waves, sand and sun. In the late afternoon your adventure returns to Bocas Town.

Today's adventure begins with a short boat ride from Bocas center to Bird Island to observe a wide variety of marine life and birds that migrate to the region each year. The mainland coast and the mountain regions of Panama serve as an exquisite background for photo opportunities. You will then venture to Boca del Drago for swimming, snorkeling and lunch at a popular restaurant on the tip of Isla Colon (lunch not included). Enjoy the white sand beach and culture that this location has to offer. The full afternoon will be spent at Starfish Beach and a chance to see starfish in the sea. You will go to a beautiful area called the Playa Estrella ""pool"" for swimming, snorkeling and nature watching. In the late afternoon your adventure returns to Bocas Town.

You will be picked up from your hotel in Bocas del Toro (Isla Colon) and transfered by boat to Almirante, and then transfered private vehicle and professional English speaking driver to Boquete.

The Los Quetzales trail unites the two communities of Boquete and Cerro Punta and is one of Panama’s most visited and popular hikes, named for a particular species of bird called the Resplendent Quetzal. Quite elusive, these birds are a magnificent and rare treat to observe and are a favorite among many birding enthusiasts. In addition to the Quetzal, there are more than 220 other bird species native to the area. From Cerro Punta to Boquete, the 10 km trail climbs steadily (roughly 800 meters) as you pass from tropical rain forest to tropical cloud forest and takes approximately 4-6 hours of hiking to complete. The tour starts with a two hours drive from Boquete to Cerro Punta where your hiking adventure on the Quetzal Trail starts. A  strong 4x4 vehicle will take you to the ranger station in the park.

Duration: 10 hours Includes: Roundtrip transportation from Boquete, English speaking ornithologist guide, picnic lunch
Bring: Hiking shoes, long pants, rainjacket, sunscreen, sunglasses, binoculars, camera, water.

Enjoy some leisure time in Boquete. Be sure to pre-book your local excursions through Kensington Tours to ensure that you make the most of your time in Panama. Optional activities are available at your mountain resort (Jungle Canopy Tour, Bicycle Tour, Baru Volcano Hike, Quetzales Birdwatching Hike, Orchid Garden, and White Water Rafting!).

Travel to Boquete by private vehicle and driver.

Fly from David to Panama City.

Airport transfer with private vehicle, and English speaking professional driver.

Your English speaking guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you on a private tour to Panama City and the Miraflores Locks. You will start the tour with a 30 minutes drive to Miraflores to see the huge vessels passing the Panama Canal. The busiest hours are from 9am to 10am and from 2pm to 5pm, so you will be able to see many ships getting lifted or lowered 16 meters in two distinct steps. You will enjoy the view on the Locks from a sheltered terrace and listen to the explanations of your guide. To complete the visit of the Canal you will visit the Museum and Visitor Center at Miraflores which gives you a good idea on the construction of the Canal – a masterpiece of engineering. You will also learn about the history of the canal and its significance for Panama and the entire world trade as well as on the current expansion project. After the visit to the Canal you continue with your guide to the Amador Causeway, a road that connects three Islands in the Pacific Ocean and offers magnificent views on the Canal on one side and on the skyline of Panama City on the other side. Lunch will be served in a Panamanian restaurant on the causeway. After lunch the tour continues to the Casco Viejo, Panama City’s colonial quarter. At the Casco Viejo you feel set back in time as you admire the lovely colonial houses, the narrow roads and the impressive churches. You will get a good idea about Panama’s history by driving or walking through the main attractions of this quarter. If you want to continue the tour you will be taken to Panama Viejo, the Old Panama. Panama Viejo was the first European settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas. This first Panama City was looted and destroyed by the notorious English bucaneer Henry Morgan in 1671 and therefore abandoned. Today there are only ruins left. Still, the tower of the ancient cathedral is standing and has become a landmark of the town. After the tour you will be taken back to your hotel.

Important Note: Depending on ship traffic in the locks the order of the tour might be inverted to assure that the clients will see ships in the locks.

Important Note: Old Panama is closed on Mondays.

Airport transfer with private vehicle, and English speaking professional driver.