Costa Rica and Panama are places where you can soak up the sunshine and see it all, from jungles, to beaches, to local villages. I started off my trip in San Jose which is the capital city of Costa Rica. San Jose has the largest airport in the country so your journey will likely start here. From San Jose, I took a local bus to spend a couple of days in Puerto Viejo.
Puerto Viejo is a small and coastal city, and has a lively main street featuring dancehalls, reggaeton bars and modern restaurants. I would recommend that if you're looking for a little relaxation, you can check out the great surf beaches and rainforest fruit farms. I took a full day to explore Cahuita National Park, which is easily accessible from Puerto Viejo and home to sloths, monkeys, raccoons, snakes and a great variety of birds.
The next stop was to cross the border into Panama and spend three days in Bocas del Toro. We had a short boat ride to Isla Colon in the Bocas del Toro archipelago. With azure waters, pristine coral reefs and a rollicking nightlife, it’s easy to see why these islands are a favourite haunt for so many travellers. The safest beaches are Starfish, Sandfly and Big Creek.
My favourite highlight of my two weeks abroad was in Boquete. Boquete is a picturesque town located in the highlands of Panama, surrounded by mountains, crystal-clear creeks and rivers, forest reserves, and colourful wildflowers, as well as coffee plantations.
After our time spent in Boquete, we caught a bus to Santa Catalina, situated on the Pacific coast of Panama. Remote and somewhat undeveloped, this region offers some of the best surfing in Central America, as well as some of the most relaxed vibes. If you’re keen for something active, I would recommend taking a full-day trip to Coiba National Marine Park. Here I snorkeled with turtles, angel rays and schools of colourful fish.
Our final stop was in Panama City, Central America's glitziest capital. I was able to take in some great views of the historic Casco Viejo (the Old Town) and the Panama City skyline.
If you would like to travel in a small group or are a solo traveler, I recommend you travel to Costa Rica and Panama with Intrepid, the world’s largest adventure travel company. They offer fantastic itineraries to travelers while keeping in mind sustaining the communities visited, helping the planet, as well as gender equality.
COST: From $1313 CAD taxes included.
Included activities
- Puerto Viejo - Leader-led orientation walk
- Puerto Viejo - Hands-on dinner in local home
- Boquete - Leader-led orientation walk
- Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
- Panama City - Leader-led walk in Casco Viejo
- Panama City - Leader-led walk along part of the Cinta Costera (Causeway) including a visit to the Fish Market
Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Cabins (2 nights) Hostel Multishare (4 nights)
Transport
Private vehicle, Public bus, Taxi, Shared boat
Meals
1 dinner
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Email: afiske@travelonly.com
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