Basix
Explorer
Costa Rica & Panama Discovery
12 Days | Chill out in the Caribbean and soak up the sunshine
4.6
Excellent
51 reviews
12 days
Start
San Jose, Costa Rica
Finish
Panama City, Panama
Trip Code
QVRC
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - null
Physical Rating
Meals
1 dinner
Transport
Private vehicle, Public bus, Taxi, Shared boat
Accommodation
Hotel (10 nights), Lodge (1 night)
From £1,590(12 days)
Trip Informations
Get under the surface of Costa Rica and Panama with this 12-day Caribbean adventure. See it all, from jungles and beaches to local villages. From San Jose to Panama City, this laidback discovery will introduce you to some of the most beautiful spots in two Central American cultures, and then it’ll give you the freedom to explore however you want, at your own pace. You can't go wrong with your local leader to steer you in the right direction (to the best bars and surf breaks), plus a small group of adventurers to enjoy them with. Make a traditional dinner in a local’s home, look out for wildlife on a night jungle walk and soak in the local hotspots in areas seldom travelled.
Why you’ll love this trip
Put your chef’s hat on and help prepare a traditional Caribbean dinner with a local family in their home in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
Swim in clear ocean waters, stop in at shacks serving cold cerveza and kick back on sandy shores covered in starfish in the Bocas del Toro, where you spend three nights on Isla Colon.
Head to the coffee plantations, waterfalls and caldera hot springs of Boquete – a highland town so beautiful you’ll hardly miss the beach at all!
Go on a jungle walk at night with your expert trip leader in the rainforest district of Sarapiqui – look out for various snakes, sloths, and frogs.
Get to know Panama City during a guided stroll along the Cinta Costera, right to the city’s salty belly – the Mercado de Mariscos (seafood market).
By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Tuuur Foundation partner, Eden Reforestation Projects. Donations help them provide local employment opportunities and tackle climate change one tree at a time as they restore forests across 10 different countries.
Is this trip right for you?
This trip is made for travellers who value their independence but also want the benefit of a local leader and a group of like-minded travellers. The itinerary includes basic accommodation and has free time for activities when your leader will offer suggestions. Please budget spending money for optional activities you want to partake in.
With so much to see and do, Costa Rica can sometimes be expensive. Expect to pay more than you would in other Central American countries for a lot of things.
Public transport is better for the environment, and you’ll get an authentic look at daily life, but keep in mind that local transport between specific locations on this trip can be pretty basic.
While the border crossing between Costa Rica and Panama is usually straightforward, sometimes it can take a while, so please prepare to be patient.
Central America is generally hot and humid year-round. At nighttime and in locations at higher elevations it can get chilly. Protect yourself from the sun, bring light clothing you can layer and a waterproof jacket, and stay hydrated. Air conditioning may not always be available in your rooms. Occasionally, properties may require an additional charge for air conditioning.
Itinerary
Inclusions
Meals
1 dinner
Transport
Private vehicle, Public bus, Taxi, Shared boat
Accommodation
Hotel (10 nights), Lodge (1 night)
Activities
Sarapiqui – Jungle Walk
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - 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
Optional activities
San Jose - Pre-Colombian Gold Museum (Entrance fee) - USD17
San Jose - San Jose Bites and Sights Tour - Urban Adventures - USD40
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Surf lesson (1 hour) - USD60
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Cahuita National Park (entrance fee) - USD5
Bocas del Toro - Jungle Cacao Tour (guide and transport included) - USD42
Bocas del Toro - Full-day Tour including Bastimentos island, Jungle hike & Lunch with Ngobe Community (guide and transport included) - USD63
Bocas del Toro - Bio-luminescence Boat Tour (seasonal - guide and transport included) - USD37
Bocas del Toro - Colon Expedition including starfish beach & bird island - USD47
Boquete - Guided Bicycle Tour (guide and bike hire included) - USD58
Boquete - Guided Tour of Hidden Waterfalls (entrance fee, transport and guide included) - USD53
Boquete - Zipline (guide and transport included) - USD79
Boquete - Mini Canyons Tour (entrance fee, transport and guide included) - USD37
Boquete - Calderas Hot Springs (entrance fee and transport included, no guide) - USD37
Boquete - Coffee Plantation Tour (guide and transport included) - USD37
Panama City - Panama Canal: Miraflores Locks (entrance fee only, no guide, no transport) - USD21
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Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip and is subject to availability.
2. This tour includes accommodation in multi-share rooms (triple and quad). This means travelers on the same booking may be split between rooms due to single gender allocation.
3. Please be careful when booking flights into San Jose; make sure you fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport [SJO]. Please do NOT book flights to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport [SJC] as this is located in California, United States.
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