Wonders of Costa Rica and Panama

Duration 12 days
Price guide
From
  PP
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pacuare-lodge-canyoning
Colonial buildings in Casco Viejo (Old Town) of Panama City
Boquete in the Chiriqui province of western Panama.
A view of an orange ship making its way down the Panama Canal
From exploring jungle treetops and cascading waterfalls, to birdwatching at dawn, recreating traditional flavours and embracing local culture, this 12-day adventure introduces you to the best of Costa Rica and Panama

Trip highlights

  • Enter an unspoiled realm of magnificent scenery on a canopy tour in Pacuare
  • Go canyoning through El Tesorito Creek, exploring the rainforest
  • Spend time with the local Ditsö Cabécar craftspeople and learn about their daily lives
  • Head out at dawn for some exquisite birdwatching
  • Enjoy exploring the Osa Peninsula at your leisure
  • Get VIP access to the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal with an experienced guide

Bespoke trips with Jacada

We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:

  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Privately guided tours
  • Private transfers
  • Meticulously selected experiences
  • Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge
Black and white illustration of two guides pointing to a building in the distance
  • Days 1–2 San Jose
  • Days 2–4 Pacuare Reserve
  • Days 4–7 Osa Peninsula
  • Days 7–10 Chiriqui
  • Days 10–12 Panama City
Wonders of Costa Rica and Panama
Price guide
  PP
  • Days 1–2 San Jose
  • Days 2–4 Pacuare Reserve
  • Days 4–7 Osa Peninsula
  • Days 7–10 Chiriqui
  • Days 10–12 Panama City

Itinerary in detail

Every Jacada trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.

Days 1–2

Highlights of San José

Spend your first night in Costa Rica in San José. The city is a great introduction to the culture and beauty of life in this stunning country. Explore on your own or join a local guide and discover some of what makes the city so special.  Visit the highlights of San José, the beautiful building of the National Theatre, the nearby Gold Museum with its exiting exhibition or the Jade Museum with pre-Columbian art. Follow the famous Church Route and stroll through the centuries-old Mercado Central, visit small shops and crafts stalls and discover the country´s typical cuisine.

Days 2–4

Exhilarating Pacuare

Find yourself surrounded by 25,000 acres of primary, virgin rainforest stretching from the Talamanca Cordillera to the eastern Caribbean lowlands are nurtured by the swirling waters of the magnificent Pacuare River. The exhilarating Pacuare region’s steep gorges of churning rapids and cascading waterfalls are lined with the clamouring wilderness of its thick undergrowth, a landscape regularly interchanging with quieter sections of serene banks with banana trees, coconut palms and perforated by the sounds of howler monkeys and home to the likes of river otters and blue herons.

Pacuare Reserve Costa Rica

Make it mine

Through the trees

Make a splash

Pacuare Lodge zipline

Pacuare canopy adventure

Most of the action in the rainforest happens not at ground level, but in the treetops. This canopy adventure is perfect for thrill seekers and nature lovers alike. Be ready to enter an unspoiled realm of magnificent scenery. The area is a haven for bird watchers and nature seekers and offers an unprecedented glimpse of Costa Rica’s biological diversity.  This adventure tour offers dramatic views, rappelling down towering trees and sliding along cables from tree to tree as you descend the jungle-cloaked mountain.

Tropical canyoning

El Tesorito Creek flows out of the mountains behind the Pacuare Lodge into a narrow gorge in the midst of the rainforest. A fun outdoor adventure that includes rock climbing, a descent down a small waterfall, sliding along cables, swinging through the jungle like Tarzan, and rappelling down a 30-meter (100-foot) rock face. The result is a light but exhilarating adventure in an idyllic, natural setting. You’ll rappel down shorter walls – between 2 and 20 meters (6 to 65 feet) – before undertaking the thrilling rappel down a 30-meter (90-foot) cliff.

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Cultural connection

Birds of a feather

Ditsö cultural experience

During this outing, you will have the opportunity to meet and interact with local Ditsö Cabécar craftspeople and learn about their daily lives, culture, architecture, and gastronomy. You will be accompanied by a local Cabécar and a naturalist guide for the duration of the walk to a Cabécar rancho, an exact replica of the traditional dwellings the Cabécar have been using for generations. You will see the local artisans in action as they expertly craft mats, lamps, headboards and other decorations while sharing tales of their lives and people.

Birdwatching at dawn

With the first blush of morning, amid dappled shadows and misty morning light, see Mother Nature at her best as you spot the many birds and other wildlife that are indigenous to the area. Look and listen carefully for the Montezuma oropendola, which nests far above in the towering trees. The area around the lodge is home to an extraordinary number of exotic bird species that include the Sun Bittern, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, and a variety of colourful toucans.

Days 4–7

Biodiverse Osa Peninsula

The Osa Peninsula is one of the most remote locations in Costa Rica. But its seclusion has everything to do with its inimitability, making it a very unique and extraordinary experience. Located in the southwest with the lush primary rainforest of the Corcovado National Park spreading itself over 105,000 acres and the marine life-rich Dulce Gulf, and embracing the littoral to the east, Osa enjoys an exceptional wealth of biodiversity. You’ll have plenty of time to explore on your own, discover the many nature trails and go kayaking.

Days 7–10

Enchanting Isla Palenque

Your next stop, and your welcome to Panama, finds you in a unique and beautiful rainforest setting. Isla Palenque is an exclusive private island resort set amidst 400 acres of enchanting jungle. Explore the unexplored with a nature guide. There is an array of island and ocean adventure tours to explore Panamanian island wilderness. Or you might prefer hiking, snorkelling, rock fishing or kayaking.

Make it mine

Paddle out

On the plate

Kayaking excursions

Splash out and spend some time kayaking to some of the smaller nearby islands, discovering caves, rocky shorelines and secluded beaches. Or paddle out towards neighboring Boca Brava at high tide to discover the manager-lined northeast coast from the open waters. You could also strike out from the sandy shores of Playa Primera and paddle a half-mile to reach Isla Palenquito. Enjoy its coral sands and coconut groves returning by kayak to the island you call home.

Cooking classes

Get a real taste of Panama and join the chefs behind the scenes for an introduction to the fine flavorsome art of Panamanian cooking. Then if you have a sweet tooth, sign up for a hands-on confectionary class at Las Rocas kitchen. Or, pull a chair up at the bar for a lesson in rum appreciation.

Days 10–12

Cosmopolitan Panama City

An enticing blend of history, culture and cosmopolitan living, Panama City is an excellent introduction to the country and a gateway to some outstanding experiences. Its skyline dominated by gleaming skyscrapers that snake along the coastline, it’s a city that also boasts a wealth of lush green spaces and wildlife not too far from busy plazas, restored colonial buildings and a thriving nightlife. Go exploring and you’ll stumble upon markets swirling with the aromas of Spanish and Afro-Caribbean-inspired cuisine.

Make it mine

Panama Canal

Explore on foot

Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal

You’ll be joined at Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal by a specialised guide who will introduce you to some of the most important and unique details of this marvel of engineering. You learn about the history and construction of the first set of locks at the Visitor’s Center and Museum and will have the opportunity to watch massive vessels transit through the locks. This VIP experience also allows you access to areas restricted to the public, and weather permitting you have the unique opportunity to get a much closer view of the locks and the operations.

Highlights of Casco Viejo

Take a guided walking tour and discover the highlights of Casco Viejo and the history related to Spanish colonisation. You’ll see some of the most beautiful historic buildings in Casco. The walking tour will end with a visit to Villa Ana, a portal of art and gastronomy never seen in Panama City. In this spectacular building, you will find a dining room that showcases the best of international cuisine, a speakeasy where you can enjoy performances by the finest jazz musicians of the era, and a cigar and rum bar.

“A Luxury Trip to Costa Rica‌”

We requested an itinerary to see the Costa Rica wildlife. Jacada designed our trip to maximize our sightings with stays at wonderful properties. Our planner listened to what we wanted and delivered the perfect trip for our needs. All of the activities planned were provided by guides with great skill and knowledge. And the Jacada ground support while we were…

Published 30th March 2024 on Trustpilot
Vickie Bath

Why book with Jacada

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Personalised design

We’ll plan your trip around your personal interests, tastes and preferences, providing honest advice based on first-hand knowledge.

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Authentic experiences

Our expert guides and brilliant Concierges are hand-picked for their ability to bring your destination to life with care and passion.

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Positive Impact

We seek out unforgettable experiences that benefit both local communities and the environment.