Canal, Rainforest & Islands of Panama

Follow Panama’s birdlife from lowland rainforest to cloud forest, with the Canal and Pacific islands along the way.

DAYS: 13

DESTINATIONS: Panama City and Canal

Begin in Panama City with privileged access behind the scenes at the Canal before heading into Soberanía National Park to bird Pipeline Road and climb above the rainforest canopy. Continue to Portobelo for forest trails and an after-dark walk with a biologist, then climb into Boquete’s highlands in search of hummingbirds, tanagers, highland endemics and the resplendent quetzal. Finish with four nights at Islas Secas, bringing a slower Pacific pace to an in-depth journey designed for dedicated birdwatchers, wildlife photographers and nature enthusiasts.

Day 1: Welcome to Panama City

Day 2: Go Behind the Scenes at the Panama Canal

Day 3: Go Birding at Pipeline Road

Day 4: Head to Portobelo

Day 5: Explore Portobelo by Day and Night

Day 6: Head into the Highlands

Day 7: Bird the Boquete Highlands

Day 8: Search for the Resplendent Quetzal

Day 9: Cruise into Island Life

Day 10: Picnic on a Secluded Beach

Day 11: Discover the Islands’ Birdlife

Day 12: Fish the Pacific or Slow Down

Day 13: Fly Back to Panama City

DAY 1

Touch down in Panama City and settle into Hotel La Compañia. In the evening, walk to nearby Fonda Lo Que Hay for dinner, a relaxed first taste of the city before tomorrow’s exploration.

Overnight: Hotel La Compañia

Other Experiences

Adventure Coastlines Culinary Culture Water Activities Wildlife

Positive Impact

Travel with Meaning

Positive impact is in our DNA. As a certified B Corp, we’re committed to responsible travel that benefits people, places, and culture. Beyond certification, every trip supports select community and conservation efforts. For us, sustainability is a shared journey that evolves with every step we take.

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Testimonials

Steven Cockriel

Wonderful, attentive and responsive Travel Agency based in Mexico. My wife and I booked a 10-day trip to Oaxaca, Mexico with Journey Mexico. They were very helpful and responsive during the planning stage. Followed up to make sure we were ready for the trip and assigned a travel assistant to assist during our trip. She was always just a text message away – 24/7. Very helpful. We had an issue come up during the trip, and she immediately responded and did everything possible to solve the problem. Highly recommend this group – we will use them any time we are traveling in Mexico.

Lindsey Epperly

Working with Journey Costa Rica has been an absolute pleasure! From start to finish, I feel like the team listened to our needs and provided insight into making our trip even more magical than we could have dreamed of. They were direct and thoughtful in choosing accommodations and the private touring with excellent guides made us feel like we were discovering a new and undiscovered side of Costa Rica. I will absolutely travel with them again and recommend them to others going to the destination!

Debbie M

What an absolutely wonderful company. We have just spent 2 weeks touring in Mexico ( Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca and Huatulco) and simply could not have asked for better guides, drivers or behind the scenes support. Amalia C saved us numerous times and made our travel seamless. I would recommend Journey Mexico to everyone and will absolutely use them on our next visit.

Nicki Candies

Everything was truly exceptional! From the resorts, to the experiences, to the transportation! The pre-trip service provided by Javier and Nadya was extremely responsive, very professional & they created a very special journey for us. Once we arrived here in Costa Rica, Sally was particularly responsive, professional and extremely helpful.

Janet Zinn

Journey Mexico created a dream vacation. Their recommendations are spot on. And, they made sure all our requests came to fruition. I can’t recommend them enough. And, I look forward to my next trip with Journey Mexico.

Elizabeth Balfour

Edwin Duarte was top-notch. Terrific at spotting animals and sharing interesting information about Costa Rica’s history and natural life. He was thoughtful and considerate, helping us out as needed. All of the drivers were excellent. The cooking at Dona Priscilla’s house was wonderful. Zip-lining company did a super job. Resorts were awesome. Feedback is to have the meal post-Arenal Volcano visit and cooking at Priscilla’s house on different days.

Canal, Rainforest & Islands of Panama