Blog of Habla Ya Spanish Schools & Immersion Programs

I haven't been on vacation since April of 2005 when we were in the initial planning phase of opening Habla Ya Panama Spanish School. Today it's the first day of my vacation!

Since almost every single student who comes to Habla Ya takes some time either before or after their Spanish Program to explore and discover the rest of Panama I thought that many of you out there who are planning some holiday time in Panama would find it useful if I shared my itinerary.

This vacation was planned for two couples traveling together in Panama. It's my brother in law who is coming with his girlfriend from the U.K. so my wife and I are joining them on this two and a half trip across Panama's best. My two sons will be with us during the first length in Boquete, then my parents are going to babysit them for a week in Panama City, and then they'll be joining us again for the last part of our vacation in Panama City.

We're in fact starting with Panama's west (Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro), then we're going to the Azuero Península, we'll pass by Santa Clara and we'll end our trip with a couple of days in Panama City to party and see the sights (and for me to vote!) so that our guests can catch their flight back home to the U.K.

I'll post our initial Panama itinerary and as the days pass by I'll try to keep up with what we actually end up doing. Our Boquete itinerary is a lot more detailed because I know the area a lot better so it will be interesting to see what we end up doing elsewhere (pick your hosts well because their info or lack of it can determine the quality of your vacation).

• Day 1 - Panama City to Boquete
  • land in Panama City (Tocumen Airport) around noon
  • lunch at my parent's house
  • drive around Panama City to get a feel of Panama's bustling capital
  • grab a flight at 4 p.m. from Albrook Airport in Panama City to Enrique Malek Airport in David
  • drive up to Boquete
  • dinner and drinks in my place (for more info about traveling from Panama City to Boquete go here)
• Day 2 - Boquete
  • White Water River Rafting on the Chiriqui Viejo
  • Caldera Hot Springs
  • dinner at Boquete Bistro
  • poker night at Hostal Nomba
• Day 3 - Boquete
  • short hike around the Volcancito area (some easy trails behind Santa Lucía)
  • visit Paradise Gardens
  • lunch at Bar Amigos
  • half day Spanish for Travelers Crash Course
  • dinner at the Panamonte Inn & Spa
• Day 4 - Boquete
  • day trip to "Los Cangilones de Gualaca"
  • lunch back at home
  • visit to "El Explorador" and have some strawberry milkshakes
  • drive around Boquete (Bajo Mono - Alto Quiel Loop and Palo Alto - Alto Lino Loop)
  • visit Mi Jardín es tu Jardín
• Day 5 - Boquete
  • Zip Line Canopy Tour
  • Lunch at Nelvis
  • Coffee Tour
  • Dinner at home
  • Nightout (Zanzibar and La Cabaña mainly)
• Day 6 - Boquete to Bocas del Toro
  • breakfast at Central Park
  • drive to Almirante and leave our car there (3.5 hours)
  • take a boat to Isla Colón (30 minutes)
  • take a short boat to Isla Carenero (we're staying at Casa Acauario)
  • Find a place for lunch
  • walk around Isla Colón and setup tours for the next days
• Days 7, 8 and 9 - Bocas del Toro
  • boat tours (or a catamaran sailing adventure) in Bocas del Toro (aiming for Cayo Zapatillas, Isla Pájaros, Dolphin Bay, Coral Cay and Starfish Beach)
  • explore Isla Bastimentos and its beaches and have lunch over there and maybe even a cave tour
  • meals at the restaurants in Bocas
  • parties in Bocas discos and bars (looking forward to hanging out at Bar Iguana, Mondo Taiti, the Aqua Lounge and "El Barco Hundido").
  • Drive to Pedasí
• Days 10, 11 and 12 - Pedasí and surroundings
  • We're staying at Casa Margarita
  • Planning to go to Isla Iguana for some snorkeling and scuba diving and to Isla Cañas
  • Visit the towns of Chitré, La Arena, Las Tablas, Pocrí, etc.
  • Going to the beaches: El Arenal, Los Destiladeros, Venao, etc.
• Days 13 and 14 - Santa Clara
• Staying at Las Sirenas
• Just be lazy
• Maybe visit El Valle
• Days 15 and 16 - Panama City
• Staying at my parent's house (lucky me, Panama City's hotels are expensive and occupation rates are extremely high)
• Casco Viejo, Panama La Vieja
• The Panama Canal
• Panama City Nightlife

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