Panama Tours & Trips

78 Panama trips. Tours from 73 tour companies. 75 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating.

78 Trips match your criteria (61 - 78 shown)

The Panama Canal & Costa Rica - Eastbound 2025
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Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

  • Marvel in awe of one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th century... cruise along the canal that revolutionized shipping patterns... gaze in awe as you pass the tropical forests
  • secluded beaches
  • diverse wildlife and clear waters that make up Costa Rica and Panama
  • and whose many treasures remain undisturbed by development.A 7-night voyage aboard Ponant's Explorer Class yacht features a complete transit of the Panama Canal
  • and an opportunity for cultural exchange with locals in Panama and along Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Explore the rich interior and its abundant wildlife with our expert naturalists. Go swimming or snorkeling
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Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"My husband and I booked the Yellowstone tour with Tauck expecting so much more with the accommodations, food, and tour director based on the price point. We were sadly disappointed but still tried to enjoy the experience. Rooms were dirty, food were often buffets and other group dinners with some food inedible. We noticed other tours staying in our hotels and paying much less for their tours. One positive was we never touched our luggage which was nice but my small suitcase was damaged during one transfer. Word to the wise… read their emails thoroughly as the email we received a few weeks before our trip reads like a disclaimer for poor service and accommodations."

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Panama Canal Cruise, Rainforests & Beaches
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Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Cruise the Panama Canal
  • Visit the Panama Canal Expansion Observation Center
  • See the lush jungle watershed region of the Panama Canal.
  • Cruise on the Chagres River to visit an Embera Indian village
  • Visit a Kuna Indian marketplace
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Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"My husband and I originally booked this tour for April. Unfortunately, a week prior to the trip, my sister died. We called to reschedule and was informed that a rescheduled tour is the same as a cancelation and no refunds are given. Only after much going back and forth, they stated we could reschedule for an additional $600. Shame on this company. The trip was average at best and the lodgings at the Barcelo by the ocean was horrendous. Bedding nit changed. Found pubic hairs in the sheets."

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Rose Parade and Panama Canal Cruise
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Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Enjoy an exclusive private viewing of the Rose Parade floats and the parade from reserved grandstand seats
  • Travel along the Southern California coast through Santa Barbara to Solvang and Pismo Beach
  • Enjoy an included guided tour of Hearst Castle
  • While cruising, visit ports in five countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Colombia
  • Witness the Panama Canal transit in daylight

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Tour is advertised as an "active" tour. However, YMT sold the tours to seniors and others who were unable to walk more than 1/8 mile, unable to navigate stairs or had to walk with the aid of walkers. As a result, 80 percent of the "explorations" were to visitor centers, look out points, stores or washrooms, that were within 100 feet or less of the bus. This tour should be categorized as "relaxed". A big disappointment! The bus driver was friendly and accommodating and drove us safely from one site to another. He sold water to the guests in small bottles for $1 each. I think YMT should be more conscientious of the environment and at least offer bottle refills, especially since the guide practically demanded that each person drink one gallon of water per day. The tour guide was marginally knowledgeable about the area and spent too much time telling us about her private life and friends. She led one hike, but talked mostly about how the rains had changed the landscape. One day she left two guests at the hotel and wanted the people on the bus to take responsibility for not letting her know that people were missing. We were encouraged to find hikes to take on our own, which I felt compromised safety, especially when we had an hour or so to "explore" - there was no safety or backup plan, especially if something untoward happened on a hike. She opted out of taking us to the sunset tour of the Grand Canyon telling us that it was raining and we wouldn't be able to see anything. So a couple of us went to the site on our own and it was possibly one of the best experiences I had on the entire tour (and not a drop of rain!). I often felt bullied into purchasing lunches or meals "offered" by the guide, who made it sound like there were no other options. It was difficult to listen to her brag about how well she was doing and how happy everyone was, when many people were complaining that the tour was not what they expected - mostly because it was too active!!! The accommodations were mostly good - a couple of anomalies (one with a plugged sink and no hot water for a shower, another with a pervasive bad odor). The excursions offered at the time of booking were mostly unavailable later (except for the over-priced meals). Another disappointment because I booked the tour partly because of one of the excursions offered at the time of booking. I would not recommend this tour, because I don't think it is advertised correctly."

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Best of Panama
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Operator does not provide
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

  • Discover the fascinating culture and heritage of Panama City
  • Enjoy a boat journey through the rainforest in Chagres National Park
  • Explore the Islands of San Blas Archipelago, the number one destination in Panama
  • Hike through cloud forests and admire their lush vegetation and natural beauty
  • Relax on the white-sanded beach in Bocas del Toro

What travelers are saying

"BUYER BEWARE!!! This company has a policy that if THEY cancel your trip…THEY get to keep your money and you get a credit the company. They cancelled my first trip..found out the hard way about their policy. Booked a trip…then had left over money so booked another…which they cancelled…again. Surprisingly…this time they offered a refund, but only gave me back the money I had put down…not what was left of “my credit”. So now I am forced to do business with a company I no longer wish to, that picks and chooses when to follow their own policy!! There are plenty of other travel agencies with similar tours…don’t give these guys your hard earned money for them to keep."

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Glimpse of Panama
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Operator does not provide
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

  • Learn about the fascinating culture and heritage of Panama City
  • Sail through the Panama Canals
  • Discover the fascinating human engineering used to build the Panama Canal
  • Hike through Soberania National Park and admire the lush vegetation and natural beauty

What travelers are saying

"BUYER BEWARE!!! This company has a policy that if THEY cancel your trip…THEY get to keep your money and you get a credit the company. They cancelled my first trip..found out the hard way about their policy. Booked a trip…then had left over money so booked another…which they cancelled…again. Surprisingly…this time they offered a refund, but only gave me back the money I had put down…not what was left of “my credit”. So now I am forced to do business with a company I no longer wish to, that picks and chooses when to follow their own policy!! There are plenty of other travel agencies with similar tours…don’t give these guys your hard earned money for them to keep."

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Buenos Aires to Rio Journey
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Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Soak up the sofistication of buenos aires and explore the sights of its historic city centre
  • Enjoy the differing experiences of the mighty iguazu falls from both argentina and brazil
  • Step back in time in the traffic-free streets of colonial paraty, where portugal meets brazil, jungle meets sea and relaxation meets adventure
  • Rio de janeiro offers the best combination of city, beach and mountains; famed for vibrant nightlife and rhythmic music

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"FANTASTIC. Start to finish it is such a fantastic taste of Central America, all the destinations are interesting and you can do as much or as little as you choose."

Trip dates & details
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Custom Designed Trip
Lodging level
lodgingLevelName
Physical level
N/A

Highlights

  • Fully customized trip based on preferences
  • Matched with a local specialist
  • From $200 per person per day
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Natural Wonders of Costa Rica
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Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"they are taking too long to refund our cancelled holiday from May 2020. cannot get any info from them when it will be refunded back to us."

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Discovery Panama Cruise
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Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Exceptional attention to detail and levels of customer service
  • Enjoy a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience up close the history and operation of the Panama Canal
  • Visit a traditional indigenous Embera Indian Village in the Darien jungle
  • Kayak and snorkel around a sunken submarine near the Pearl Islands
  • Panamanian haute gastronomy

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, National Parks, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Because of the pandemic, we had to reschedule our cruise from July of 2020 to December 2020. Airlines were not flying out of our city to Manaus in December, so we had to cancel our cruise and asked for a refund, and was denied. I would never work with this cruise line again."

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Panama Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
75  Reviews
See all Panama tour reviews
Excellent
271
Great
80
Average
6
Disappointing
1
Terrible
0
L

Lisa

Sep 2015

Written on

I had a great time on the

I had a great time on the trip. I got to see alot of Panama and our guide was fantastic! However, I was one of 4 people not travelling as a couple. I also didn't rea...

j

jocelyn

Sep 2015

Written on

Excellent organisation of all activities with a

Excellent organisation of all activities with a good balance of travel and free time.

S

Sophie

Sep 2015

Written on

I would have given a higher score

I would have given a higher score but the guide was not an asset to the trip.

A

Ajay

Sep 2015

Written on

I have travelled using Intrepid for a

I have travelled using Intrepid for a while now and whils...

D

Danny

Mar 2025

Written on

Central American Explorer

Thomas Morales (Tommy) is a fantastic tour guide. He is highly knowledgeable of all the areas we visited, extremely helpful, nothing was a problem, guided and advise...

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Panama Tour Selection Trips

  • Temperature isn’t a major factor when planning a trip to Panama. Highs hover around 85 degrees F throughout the year at most of that tropical paradise, falling as much as 15 degrees only at high altitudes.     
  • Rain is more of a consideration. More rain usually falls on the Caribbean side of the country, most often as short afternoon downpours. The summer dry season, about mid-December to mid-April, offers the best weather – and highest prices. Those willing to put up with some rain during the rest of the year find that their travel budget is likely to stretch further.

Additional details

Where is Panama?

The Republic of Panama borders Colombia and Costa Rica. Its geographical location is interesting because it remains at a crossroads between North America and South America. As a result, it also harbours both the Carribean and the Pacific waters. 

Despite it being the southernmost country in South America and having very similar traditions with other countries in the continent, Panama is ultimately considered to be a part of North America.

When is the Best Time to Visit Panama?

Deciding when to visit Panama is simple. The country only has two main weathers all year round: wet and dry. The wet season is normally May to December, leaving the rest of the year as the most optimal time to visit if you’re trying to avoid any rain showers. The dry season is sunny and humid throughout, maintaining about 30 C (86F), perfect for beach days and strolls exploring the city.  

If you’re looking for a cheaper time to visit Panama, however, the wet season is for you. Although it rains everyday during this period, rain showers normally only span to about an hour and the country becomes more vibrant, green and lush! You can see hotels and tour prices drop while enjoying the more tropical side of the country.

Is Panama Safe?

Panama is a super safe place to visit if you are a cautious traveler and stick to the recommendations of your tour guide. Like any country, there are certain areas to avoid that have higher crime rates, and in Panama these are cities like Colon, Yaviza and anything along the edge of the Columbian border. Those areas at the end of the Pan American highway contain high levels of violent crime and drug trafficking.

Otherwise, sticking to Panama City and the islands, where there is a bigger population of tourists, is a safe environment for any explorer. Do still be wary of petty thefts in and around the city, such as pick pocketing, especially in bus and market areas. It is advisable to not flaunt any flashy jewelry or hang your camera around you, especially when walking at night. 

For transportation, it is safest to use registered yellow taxis. In Panama they don’t use meters, but rather, you agree to a fare beforehand. Buses are extremely safe to use in the city but their routes can be confusing, so make sure you have a map or feel free to ask the very helpful and friendly locals!

Packing List for Panama Tours 

Tours in Panama can vary from exploring the Panama Canal, to the city, to national parks, to Lake Gatun all the way to the islands and even includes indigenous village tours. There is so much to explore in Panama, and thus, what you pack is important on how convenient and enjoyable the trip is for you! 

Since it’s expected that you will be walking a lot, bring durable sandals and sneakers. Trust us, you’re going to be thankful for this one. Panama also has some gorgeous waterfalls and hidden trails that criss cross around its green vallies, so hiking boots would be extremely useful if you are a traveler that is truly looking to see raw, natural beauty.

Panama, if you’re going during the dry season, is usually tropical, hot and humid. Make sure you pack a refillable water bottle, sunscreen, sunglasses, a quick dry towel, a light sweater, swimsuit, waterproof phone cover, insect repellent and sturdy walking shoes.

If you are going to a national park, make sure you pack a DSLR if you have one or binoculars to catch the gorgeous and rare species of birds found nestled between branches, camouflaged across leaves or soaring high above canopies.

Although many Panama tours have bilingual tour guides, it would be quite helpful to bring a spanish english dictionary to learn the local language. Taking in the culture is probably the best thing you can do in Panama, and language comes with it! Lastly, a pro tip before venturing around the city is to download the offline map of Panama just in case you need directions without WiFi. 

Getting to Panama

There are three main ways you can reach Panama, and that is by plane, land, or sea. By plane is perhaps the most popular way to touch down into Panama’s main airport, Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen, as flying is the fastest and most convenient way of travel. There are also many direct flights to the city from over 10 different states in the US and many in South America. Traveling through air from Europe and Canada often stop at the US first, including flights from Asia although a layover in Mexico City is common. 

If not by air, land is also used to get into Panama by many. Panama borders Costa Rica and you can cross over through 3 main crossing, the most popular being the Pan American Highway. Although Panama also borders Colombia, there is no land crossing between the two and you must fly instead. 

Sea is another favorable form on transportation into Panama. The Panama Canal sees thousands of tourists coming off of cruise ships and yachts each year.

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