The Pana Local Experience

Duration	Destination	Departure
5 days and 4 nights	Panama (Panama City, Chagres National Park, Colon)	Panama (Panama City Airport - Tocumen)

Description

To be called Pana, it means you are a true and trust worthy friend, that is the name Panamanians gives to their closest person. Experience Panama as a Pana Folks, is to live through this Upbeat Journeys as a real local not a typical tourist. This is centered on the culture, history and nature exploration. You will be able to merge with the locals, embed in their culture and way of living, at the end of Upbeat Journeys and Fascinating Experiences you will become a Pana Folks. Another fascinating fact is you will be able to experience the Atlantic and Pacific oceans under 2 hours.

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• The Gatun Lake largest man-made artificial lake in its era.
• The Indigenous village
• The National Park Chagres and the Lake Alajuela
• The old Locks and the new Expanded locks systems of the Panama Canal
• San Lorenzo colonial Fortification, wealth and attacks -UNESCO SITE
• Portobelo colonial fortifications, wealth, culture and traditions-UNESCO SITE
• Monkeys Islands
• Sloths Sanctuary
• Amphibians and butterflies’ haven
• Waterfalls
• City escape
• Hiking and trails

Important facts

• This tour program package will run with a minimum of 10 participants.
• This tours package is meant for everyone to enjoy however, certain sites and destinations included involve some walking distance, off-road surfaces, difficult terrain, trails and more.
• This experience package is available in the same language it is booked, unless affected by the minimum guests count, a second language might be included.
• Child age:  from 5 years old

 

Category
Best Value (Scheduled Tour) Half Board (lunch) en, es
Price includes • Health Protocol • Tour Directors • Bottled water for each day tours • Fruits on some tours • Transportation for every day tour • Free Airport transfers on Arrival Day • Free Airport transfers on Departure Day • Accommodations • 4 Breakfasts • 3 Lunch on all day tours • 1 dinner • All excursions’ Entrances Fees • All tours tax Accommodations A+ rated accommodations in the Metropolitan area near all and most important amenities of the city. Accommodations in the hotels are rooms with two beds and private bath or shower. A limited number of single rooms are available. Triple rooms are usually two beds, sometimes with a cot, rollaway or sofa bed. Arrival Transfers Transfers from Tocumen International Airport only in Panama City to your accommodation’s facility regardless the time of the day your arrival is set for, is fully covered. Departure Transfers Transfers from your Accommodations to the Tocumen International Airport is fully covered during the specific time. Price does not include • Air fair • Arrival and departure transfer from another Airport not mentioned in the package. • Gratuities-Tips (Tour director / driver) • Personal Expenses • Your personal good health habits and environment awareness • Travel Insurance • All that is not stated in the inclusions list

Program

Day 1:

Welcome Pana Folks
Your transportation from the airport may be shared with other participants or private, your transportation will be awaiting on your arrival for your pick-up and transfer to your hotel, and assistance with checking if needed. First rendezvous, is a dinner to celebrate your participation and the chance to meet and break the ice with your fellow Pana folks.
Meals: Dinner

Day 2:

The Indigenous Folks and the Panama Canal
It is better to start reading a book from the first page then the last one, therefore, you will discover the natives first, who live right in the middle of the Jungle, a secondary national park, putting the focus on their origin, culture, custom, traditions and life styles. Top with the lake, waterfall, museum, their empirical method of transportation, traditional homes, school and their fascinating traditional cuisine.
The Panama Canal marked the beginning of a new era, a visit to the Visitor center of the Panama Canal including its museum, locks systems and watch possible ships going through ending their journeys.
Meals: Breakfast, the traditional Indigenous Meal.

Day 3:

San Lorenzo & Portobelo Fortresses of gold and ashes.
The ruins of El Castillo de San Lorenzo and those of Portobelo, once formed the strategic points of defenses of San Lorenzo at the Mouth of the Chagres River and the two fortifications of Portobelo. Narrate silently and vividly the prosperity of Panama in that era and its important geographical position to the benefits of the Spanish crown and the opportunities presented to the world maritime commerce.
This journey answers many historical questions, emphasizes in the people, culture, wealth and historical facts pertaining to Portobelo, San Lorenzo and Panama in general. The Panama Canal and its expansion of both 20th and 21st century.
The now World Heritage sites (UNESCO) in Panama dated from the 16th century to protect the Spanish crown interests and to assure a safe transfer of gold and silver from one city to another and ocean to ocean, were attacked countless time and witnessed the bloody wars of the Caribbean against the Spaniards by the buccaneers, mercenaries, corsairs, privateers and pirates. The claim of the discovery of the Pacific Ocean back in the early 16th century, had brought forth the Dry canal, where the Spaniards and travelers around the world were using the Camino Reales from Portobelo and Caminos de Cruces from San Lorenzo along with Panama Viejo formed the Historical Triangle Routes. This also led to the construction of the first interoceanic railway in the region in the 19th century and the construction of the Panama Canal in the early 20th century. Besides of the abundance of wealth that were accumulated in Panama Viejo, Portobelo and San Lorenzo, it is worth mentioning the courage and contribution of the enslaved persons, the Cimarrons and how they brought freedom to their fellowmen and how they shaped the future and culture for many generations.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch (Caribbean taste)

Day 4:

A The Monkeys and Sloth Adventures.
This is the most complete eco-friendly Experience Ever in the Panama Canal Rain Forest, not only you get to appreciate the wildlife in the surroundings. A great ride in the Panama Canal Lake alongside of the other ships cruising the canal, including Cruise Ships and that alone is gold.
Visit the different monkey’s islands, take pictures of them in their natural habitat. There are some special ingredients added to upgrade your experience from an Ordinary experience to an Extra-Ordinary ecological experience. We visit the exhibitions center where many species can be observed, and of course the Sloth Sanctuary visit. You learn highly important ecological knowledge that are imparted by the local guides on the site.
Planned visit of the one and only Bio Museum and Land Mark and Frank Gehry only masterpiece in the region. It’s a museum that focused on the natural history of Panama, whose isthmus was formed very recently in geologic time, with major impact on the ecology of the Western Hemisphere.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 5:

CHAO PANA
You have officially become a Pana Folks and understand the true meaning of the words, there is nothing more inspiring than that. The say good things come to an end, and we say it does not have to be, all this is a farewell we will still be connected through those unforgettable memories and moments, and without the shadow of a doubt one of the best if not best Upbeat Journeys of your life. We will be available at your hotel lobby to assist with Checkout if needed and provide you transformation to the Airport.

Price includes

• Health Protocol
• Tour Directors
• Bottled water for each day tours
• Fruits on some tours
• Transportation for every day tour
• Free Airport transfers on Arrival Day
• Free Airport transfers on Departure Day
• Accommodations
• 4 Breakfasts
• 3 Lunch on all day tours
• 1 dinner
• All excursions’ Entrances Fees
• All tours tax

Accommodations
A+ rated accommodations in the Metropolitan area near all and most important amenities of the city. Accommodations in the hotels are rooms with two beds and private bath or shower. A limited number of single rooms are available. Triple rooms are usually two beds, sometimes with a cot, rollaway or sofa bed.

Arrival Transfers
Transfers from Tocumen International Airport only in Panama City to your accommodation’s facility regardless the time of the day your arrival is set for, is fully covered.

Departure Transfers
Transfers from your Accommodations to the Tocumen International Airport is fully covered during the specific time.

Price does not include

• Air fair
• Arrival and departure transfer from another Airport not mentioned in the package.
• Gratuities-Tips (Tour director / driver)
• Personal Expenses
• Your personal good health habits and environment awareness
• Travel Insurance
• All that is not stated in the inclusions list

Itinerary

Day	Overnight	Itinerary highlights
1	Wyndham Albrook Mall or similarPanama City	Panama City Airport - Tocumen - Transfers services upon Arrival are included, from Tocumen International Airport to your accommodation.
2	Wyndham Albrook Mall or similarPanama City
3	Wyndham Albrook Mall or similarPanama City
4	Wyndham Albrook Mall or similarPanama City
5		Panama City Airport - Tocumen - Transfers services upon departure are included, from your accomodation in Panama city to Tocumen International Airport.

Accommodations provided in each place

Place	Best Value
Panama City	Wyndham Albrook Mall or similar