Panama and Costa Rica trip | Packaged trip beautiful Panama & Costa Rica

Located on the spectacular Pacific coast in northwestern Costa Rica, Guanacaste is known for its pristine beaches, volcanic landscape and exotic creatures. This Costa Rican province is considered the quintessential tropical paradise. Guanacaste's landscape consists of vast open grassland plains dotted with dry tropical forest surrounded by white sandy beaches. Visitors can spend a lazy day at the endless Playa Blanca beach, enjoy first-class diving and a variety of water sports at the beautiful Playa Hermosa beach, and visit the Santa Rosa National Park, with pristine native vegetation and inhabited by more than 200 bird species . Don't miss the Papagayo Peninsula known for its world-class golf course.

Surrounding the Arenal volcano is a paradise. Arenal National Park is a wonderful place for hiking and horseback riding. Along slopes, through forests and across streams, you are likely to encounter wildlife while the volcano provides a beautiful backdrop at all times. The further you descend the slope, the greener it gets until you find yourself at the foot of the mountain in the middle of the tropical rainforest. West of the volcano is Lake Arenal, where you can hire kayaks and admire the volcano from a different angle. Be sure not to miss the la Fortuna waterfall, which can be reached by car up to the viewpoint but by foot or on horseback you can reach the waterfall itself and take a refreshing dip if you wish. In the process, you can visit hot springs. For example, visit the famous Tabacón hot springs.

Panama City is a modern metropolis on the Pacific Ocean and the Panama Canal, the world’s most famous shortcut. In ‘Casco Viejo’, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll find old Spanish colonial buildings and various government buildings. From this old quarter, situated on a peninsula, you can see the many skyscrapers of the modern city in the distance. This ‘Dubai’ of Latin America is undergoing rapid development, and every month it seems as though a new building has been added to the skyline. One of the liveliest neighbourhoods is ‘Bellavista’, where you’ll find plenty of restaurants and bars.
What makes Panama City special is that, right in the heart of the city, you’ll find a tropical forest where you can go for lovely walks and even spot wildlife (including many exotic birds, iguanas and sloths). A walk through the city’s ‘green heaven’ also takes you to a lovely viewpoint from where you can see the Panama Canal and the Miraflores Locks; next to the latter is a museum about the construction of the canal that you certainly shouldn’t miss.
Just outside the city lie the ruins of Panama Vieja, the remains of the town originally founded by the Spanish, before the pirate Henry Morgan burnt it to the ground.

A trip to Panama is not complete without a visit to the Miraflores Visitor Centre and a cruise through the Panama Canal. The Miraflores Locks are about a 20-minute drive from the centre of Panama City. The centre features a museum, a video presentation on the construction of the Canal and a terrace overlooking the passage of cruise ships and cargo vessels. The locks came into operation in 1914 and comprise a system with a 26-metre difference in height. Every year, more than 14,000 ships pass through the 77-kilometre-long canal. Since the canal was widened and modernised, that number has risen sharply.
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The archipelago offers travellers many attractions, such as a rainforest rich in flora and fauna, stunning beaches, mangroves and a vibrant underwater world (with excellent diving opportunities). There is plenty to do and see, but all at a relaxed pace and in a friendly atmosphere. You won’t find any major hotel chains here (yet), which means the islands have retained their authenticity.
You can also enjoy fantastic diving here. The underwater world is breathtaking! From your (unique) accommodation, you can go on various excursions, including trips to a range of beautiful dive sites.

Manuel Antonio is situated on the Pacific coast. It is one of the country’s smallest yet best-known nature reserves. The park is home to large populations of the four species of monkey found in Costa Rica. These can be spotted here relatively easily. Every afternoon, the squirrel monkeys make their way from the coast (within the national park) deeper into the forest, where they spend the night. The following morning, the ritual begins anew, but in the opposite direction. It is at times like these that you are most likely to encounter the monkeys. Above all, it is a delight to see how the monkeys make this journey as a close-knit group. The combination of green, forested mountains that seem to rise straight out of the sea and the white beaches creates a stunning landscape.

The Nicoya peninsula is one of Costa Rica's 'off-the beaten track' destinations, separated from the mainland by the Gulf of Nicoya. Visitors who come here find it well worth it. Nicoya has idyllic sandy beaches, aquamarine bays and excellent eco-tourism opportunities that make it an unforgettable travel experience. Popular pursuits here include sport-fishing, fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving, surfing or just soaking up the sun on the peninsula's array of beautiful beaches but also bird watching and wildlife viewing in the various nature reserves.

Colourful Panama forms the land bridge between North and South America and is world-renowned for the world’s most famous ‘shortcut’: the Panama Canal. Panama City is often referred to as the ‘Dubai of the Western Hemisphere’, a cosmopolitan city where there’s always something happening and skyscrapers seem to be springing up like mushrooms. Yet the city also has a historic centre, ‘Casco Viejo’, which is listed as a World Heritage Site; the best boutique hotels can be found in this part of the city. Just a 30-minute drive away lies the world’s most accessible tropical rainforest, which, despite its proximity to the city, is an excellent place to explore the country’s diverse flora and fauna. The jungle has been inhabited by the Embera Indians for centuries.

On the Caribbean coast and on the San Blas Islands lives another indigenous tribe: the colourful Kuna people. The lodges you’ll find here are rustic yet situated on idyllic little islands, where you’ll spend a few days amongst this remarkable community. The word ‘Panama’ is said to mean ‘abundance of fish’. Water and the coast are therefore key elements of your trip to Panama; the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean are just 80 kilometres apart, and there are hundreds of small islands off the coast.

This part of Costa Rica has a very different character from the rest of the country due to Afro-Caribbean influences. The beautiful beaches and clear waters of the Caribbean Sea offer you a warm welcome. You can search for the most beautiful beach or visit the beautiful Cahuita national park, for example. You can also rent bikes and take a tour of Caribbean villages or organise a snorkelling trip to discover the many colours of coral.

Situated just 45 minutes from the centre of Panama City, on the banks of the River Chagres, lies the small town of Gamboa. A place of unrivalled tranquillity, bordering the tropical rainforests of Soberanía National Park, Gamboa offers a wealth of sights, sounds and activities for birdwatchers, nature lovers and adrenaline junkies. Strangely enough, it’s also one of the best places in Panama to spot wildlife such as toucans, monkeys and sloths! Several walking trails have been laid out to explore the jungle.

The small Costa Rican town of La Fortuna is just a 2-hour drive northwest of San Jose, at the foot of the majestic Arenal volcano. La Fortuna offers an excellent base to explore the beautiful surroundings and serves as a gateway to the scenic Arenal Volcano Park. Enjoy a comfortable stay in a wide range of guesthouses and lodges with stunning views of the volcano towering over the city. You can also enjoy some spectacular views from scenic vantage points and hike across hanging bridges through the rainforest. Don't miss the beautiful La Fortuna waterfall and natural pool, the shimmering Lake Arenal and the forest-covered slopes of Chato volcano. Known for its wonderful combination of adventure and nature, La Fortuna is bound to captivate you.

Located in Costa Rica's northern Central Valley, the small town of Bajos del Toro is an ideal base for nature lovers, hikers and bird watchers. The town lies at the foot of the towering Poas volcano and is surrounded by a number of protected natural areas including the Poas Volcano National Park, Juan Castro Blanco National Park and the Bosque de Paz Rain / Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. The climate in this area is humid, making the vegetation very lush and you can find beautiful waterfalls, streams and lakes This spectacular natural environment offers plenty of opportunity for outdoor adventure, including: trout fishing, horseback riding, rafting, mountain biking, hiking, or soaring between the treetops on a zipline tour. Don't miss the impressive Cataratas del Toro waterfall, a 100-metre-high waterfall in a volcanic crater.

Located in Costa Rica, the spectacular scenic Caribbean south coast is best known for its pristine golden sandy beaches fringed by swaying palm trees and lapped by crystal clear turquoise waters. This coastline offers you the quintessential tropical holiday experience with pristine natural charm. You can spend lazy days on idyllic Caribbean beaches, snorkelling in the crystal-clear waters and surfing some epic waves. Don't miss the remarkably beautiful Cahuita National Park, with an offshore stretch of coral reef; as well as the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge with its paradisiacal beaches, hidden coves, mangroves, small islands, coral reefs and lush rainforest inhabited by abundant wildlife.

The Central Pacific Coast is known for its excellent surfing opportunities, pristine beaches and quaint towns. Enjoy a wide range of wonderful activities such as; visiting the famous Manuel Antonio National Park with lush forests and a remarkably beautiful coastline, exploring the town of Jaco which serves as an excellent base to explore the beautiful west coast and enjoy the perfect beaches of Playa Blanca, Jaco Beach and Playa Hermosa. Other popular activities include swimming, surfing, hiking, fishing, bird-watching or just relaxing on the beach.

Colon Island is located in Bocas Del Toro province in Panama and is the main island of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago. There are many restaurants and bars on the island, some of which offer spectacular views. Transport is readily available by taxi or private boat rental, but the easiest way to travel is by bicycle. The main attraction of Colon Island are its spectacular beaches, the most popular being Starfish Beach, Sandfly Beach, and Big Creek Beach.

Punta Cocles lies just south of the bustling beach town of Puerto Viejo along Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast and is a stunning Caribbean beach paradise. This small town is known as the capital of this coastal region and boasts a long and picturesque 3-kilometre stretch of soft, golden sand, surrounded by swaying palm trees.
Enjoy the beaches, explore the unspoilt underwater world of colourful coral reefs teeming with exotic fish, take a stroll along the coast, and spot monkeys playing in the trees, as well as a host of tropical birds, sloths, green iguanas and crabs. Don’t miss this chance to explore the amazing Cahuita National Park and the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge; the Talamanca Indian Reserve is also well worth a visit.

Limon province stretches across the lowland Caribbean coast and is one of seven provinces in Costa Rica. This beautiful region is considered one of Costa Rica's most pristine natural wilderness areas. Known for its palm-fringed beaches, majestic mountains, mangrove forests, lush tropical jungles and its extensive network of waterways, Limon is a nature-lover's paradise. Adventure lovers can look forward to exploring the magnificent mountain range known as the Cordillera de Talamanca. Visitors can spend lazy days on a series of picturesque white sand beaches lined with coconut palms, sample an array of local Costa Rican specialities and enjoy the vast array of bird species that inhabit the mangrove swamps. Other highlights include: watching giant sea turtles lay their eggs on the sandy beaches of Tortuguero, snorkelling on the colourful coral reefs at pristine Cahuita or Punta Uva and surfing at Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.