|
| |
Fascinating Panama!
Fourth of July Week!
June 27-July 5,
2008
Download Itinerary
Our trip includes Panama City
and its rich history, an educational visit through the famous Panama
Canal locks, visit an Indian village cultural experience, take an
aerial tram, stay at a rainforest lodge, and end your vacation at an
all-inclusive beach resort that offers all kinds of activities and
adventures! All this and almost all meals included (22!)!
Come join us! Last years group loved this trip!
What an exciting and adventuresome way to spend
the July 4th holiday week!
This trip to the fascinating Central American country of Panama will
include so much that you’ll understand why it is becoming a popular
vacation destination. If you loved Costa Rica, you’ll love this
country!
Panama is
located in Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica. Its location
on the eastern end of the isthmus forms a landbridge connecting
Central and South America. While
Panama is known mostly for its famous canal, the country's natural
attractions offer an irresistible lure to the exotic traveler.
Panama means "the place of abundant fish," in the native Indian
language, however, you will also find an abundance of wildlife in
Panama's many national parks, many white sandy beaches and
incredible rainforests, hundreds of islands and calm, tranquil reefs
and coves, the Panama Canal and a fantastic quantity of fresh
seafood! Panama also has more flora and fauna species and more land
set aside for preservation with far fewer tourists than it’s more
popular neighbors and the country offers some of the finest birding,
snorkeling and deep-sea fishing in Central America.
Panama has a cosmopolitan
capital city, lots of banks and shops, wonderful shopping and
traditional arts that reflect its ethnic mix including wood carving,
weaving, ceramics and mask-making.
Panama is a proud and
prosperous nation that honors its seven Indian tribes and its rich
Spanish legacy. It welcomes visitors so enthusiastically that it's
difficult to leave without letting you feel that you're in on a
secret that the rest of the traveling world will one day
uncover……come join us and discover all that Panama has to offer!
Price includes all of the following:
2 nights Panama
City
2 nights Gamboa Rainforest
Resort
4 nights Royal Decameron Beach
Resort
-
Taxes and Porterage at
hotels
-
Bilingual
Professional Guide for tours
-
Motorcoach
Transfers as noted in itinerary for
scheduled activities
-
Coolers on some
transfers/tours with 1 water and/or 1
soda per person
-
22 Meals
Total (!)
8 breakfasts
6 lunches
8 dinners in local restaurants
and the resorts including:
-Typical Panamanian dinner
with Folkloric Dance and Show
-Typical Embera Indians lunch
on culture visit
-4th of July and
Farewell Dinner Celebration for the group-Dinner party and Disco
Light Show with entertainment
Partial Panama Canal
Transit on Pacific Queen with lunch
Panama
City tour with entrance fee to Panama La Vieja Ruins
Aerial Tram and Education Exhibition in Gamboa rainforest resort
Embera
Indians Culture trip by dugout canoe with lunch
Tour
to El Valle De Anton
Entrance fee to El Nispero Zoo and Chorro Macho waterfalls
ITINERARY
Day 1, Friday, June 27, 2008
Arrival Into Panama City
On
arrival into Panama City, you will be transferred to our hotel.
Depending on the arrival time, the day is at leisure to start
exploring until our evening dinner at Manolo Caracol Restaurant,
specializing in Spanish Mediterranean Cuisine. After dinner is at
leisure to explore the nightlife! (D)
Hotel:
Marriott Panama City (2 nights)
As cosmopolitan as the city
surrounding it, the Panama Marriott Hotel offers the elegance,
outstanding service and amenities that you'd expect from a Panama
luxury hotel. Soaring 20 stories above the financial district, it
offers an ideal location for business and leisure travelers near
shopping, entertainment and vibrant night life. Among the most
preferred Panama City hotels, it's where you can enjoy a delightful
meal with friends at any of our 3 restaurants. Tempt Lady Luck in
the casino. Stay fit in the fitness center, take a dip in the pool,
or succumb to total relaxation in the indulgent spa. At day's end,
you can retire to your spacious guest room that treats you to
supreme comfort and conveniences like high-speed Internet and work
area. Located 12 miles from Tocumen Airport in the hub of the city
near Figali and Atlapa convention centers, shopping, and Coronado
Beach.
Free parking, car rental desk,
concierge, boutiques, casino, and spa. Includes hair dryer,
iron/ironing board, in-room coffee/tea, safe, mini-bar,
cable/satellite TV/VCR.
Day 2, Saturday,
June 28, 2008
Partial Panama Canal Transit/Panama City Tour
After breakfast, we
have a full and interesting day ahead of us! This
morning we get to experience what Panama is famous for-its’ locks in
the canal! Many
visitors are surprised how much of the canal looks like a wide,
slowly flowing jungle river instead of a highly mechanical system of
pumping stations and locks.
We’ll transfer to the
Flamenco Resort and Marina this am for a 45 minute ride to the town
of Gamboa where the Panama Canal Dredging Division is located. Once
in Gamboa, we’ll board the Pacific Queen to start the water portion
of the tour. We enter the canal at the north end of the Gailard cut,
where the Chagres River flows into the canal. The Gaillard Cut (also
known as Culebra Cut because its curves resemble a snake) is one of
the main points of interest because it was carved through the
Continental Divide and this section of the Canal is full of history
and geological value.
The Pacific Queen will
travel the Cut's 13.7 kilometers on the way to Pedro Miguel Locks.
As you transit the Cut you will be able to appreciate the continuous
maintenance that this area requires, because it is very susceptible
to landslides. Before reaching the Pedro Miguel Locks at the
southern end of the Cut, you will be able to view the new Centennial
Bridge which crosses over the Canal. Next, the Pacific Queen will
enter Pedro Miguel Locks, which is one of the two sets of locks on
the Pacific side, and here the vessel is lowered 9 meters in one
step. You will then enter Miraflores Lake, which is a small
artificial body of fresh water that separates Pedro Miguel from
Miraflores Locks, the latter being the final set of locks before
reaching the Pacific Ocean. At Miraflores Locks the vessel is
lowered 18 meters in two distinct steps.
Once in the Pacific
Ocean the vessel will sail to the beautiful Flamenco Marina where
passengers disembark. On the way to Flamenco, you will pass under
the Bridge of the Americas, and later, you will be able to admire
the Bay of Panama and Panama City's splendorous skyline.
After lunch, we start
our tour to see some of the most important sites of Panama City
beginning with the ruins of the original Panama, “Panama La Vieja”,
founded in 1519, the first city and Spanish settlement on the
Pacific Ocean, capital of “Castilla de Oro” and center of operations
for the conquest of South America. This city was built during the
16th century and was later partially destroyed in an attack by the
pirate Sir Henry Morgan in 1671.
Next,
we go to the “Casco Viejo”, a colonial area that represents the
second Panama City, characterized by its very special architecture.
Weather permitting, this tour will be a walking tour taking us
through the “Plaza de la Independencia” with its cathedral, the
“Palacio Municipal”, the San Jose church and its Golden Altar, the
“Arco Chato”, and the “Convento de Santo Domingo”, home to the
Religious Artifact Museum. The tour proceeds from the “Paseo de las
Bovedas” to the “Plaza de Francia” and ends at the Plaza Bolivar,
home to the national theater, San Francisco of Asis Church and some
newly renovated colonial homes.
Tonight, enjoy a typical Panamanian dinner with folkloric dance and
show. (B,L,D)
Day 3, Sunday, June 29, 2008
Arial Tram & Educational Exhibitions
Breakfast included and then we transfer to our lodging for the next
two nights, the Hotel Gamboa Rainforest Resort, where we’ll
experience an aerial tram ride and exhibitions.
The
aerial tram is located in 100 hectares of rain forest licensed to
Gamboa Rainforest Resort. Here one finds an exuberant flora and
fauna typical of Panama's neo-tropical forests. Flora includes
species such as the Guarumo (Trumpet tree), Manglillo, Mangavé, Higo
de Montaña, Espavé (Wild Cashew), Balsa, and others. This impressive
plant diversity is the food source for all kinds of indigenous
animals including these mammals: coatimundi, peccary, Howler monkey,
squirrels, capybara, and sloth. Beautiful birds such as toucans,
trogons, parrots, and momots are also plentiful.
Reptiles and amphibians found in the Panamanian forests include:
caimans, iguanas, and dozens of species of frogs. At the bottom of
the evolutionary scale is the world of the insects, many of which
are beautifully colored such as butterflies, dragonflies, cicadas,
and others. The tour through the educational exhibits (exhibits
include an orchid nursery, a snake exhibit (serpentarium), a
butterfly house, and a fresh water fish and reptiles ecology
exhibit) lasts about an hour and a half. This gives you an average
of twenty minutes per exhibit except for the model Indian village
exhibit where we allot half an hour. Lunch and dinner are included
today. Dinner is at Miraflores Restaurant that over looks the
Miraflores locks as the ships go in and out of the gates. (B,L,D)
Hotel: Gamboa Rainforest Resort (2 nights)
The Gamboa Rainforest Resort
is located on the Panama Canal, in the heart of Panamanian
rainforest, approximately 35 minutes away from Panama City on the
Pacific Coast, and 30 minutes from the Colon Free Zone on the
Caribbean. It is
within the Soberania National Park, and lies along the banks of the
Chagres River and Gatun Lake, the main water sources for the Panama
Canal and part of Panama's most precious assets. The resort has been
carefully designed to provide a variety of educational and adventure
experiences.
Onsite dining options include Corotu Restaurant,
Chagres RiverView, Los Lagartos, Iguana Cafe, and Las
Cascadas Pool
Bar. There is also the Monkey Lobby Bar for live music and
cocktails, and the Capibara Discoteque. The Spa features a beauty
salon, waxing salon, body and facial treatments, massage services,
and specialty baths. Other recreational facilities include fitness
center, tennis courts, kayak and pedal boat rentals, and jogging and
cycling trails. Discover the secrets of the upper rainforest canopy
with a ride on the Resort aerial tram.
Guest rooms feature mini-bars, in-room safes,
satellite TVs, crystal showers, hairdryers, make-up mirrors, irons,
ironing boards, coffeemakers, monogrammed bathrobes, fire protection
systems, and balconies.
Day 4, Monday, June 30, 2008
Full Day Tour-Emberas Culture with Lunch
After breakfast and then
today we find paradise in its purest form. This incredible journey
takes us to the jungles of Chagres, where we will visit the Emberá
Indians. Our adventure begins with a dugout canoe transfer up the
Chagres River. Along the way, we will negotiate rapids and discover
the jungle’s many splendors.
The Emberá are a unique
and beautiful people. They live much as they did when Columbus
arrived in the 1500's. You will soon forget the outside world as you
are immersed in their cultural dance and music. We’ll explore the
area’s abundant variety of birds and wildlife during a jungle trek
that includes a visit to local waterfalls. During our visit, we will
see that the Emberá possess amazing botanical knowledge – most will
be surprised to learn of their contributions to modern
pharmaceuticals. We are welcome to paint our bodies as the Emberá
do, with a natural fruit dye called Jagua. We will also have the
opportunity to view famed Emberá handicrafts. A typical lunch is
included with fried fish with Patacones (plantains) and tropical
fruit.
A peaceful ride in a
dugout canoe, a trek through the jungle, the opportunity to learn
from a magical culture - all this in one day and within one hour of
Panama City.
Tonight we enjoy a buffet
dinner at our resort.
Overnight at Hotel Gamboa Rainforest Resort. (B,L,D)
Day 5, Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Hotel Royal Decameron
After
breakfast we transfer by coach from the Hotel Gamboa Rainforest
Resort to Hotel Royal Decameron Resort and Casino for a total of 4
nights of fun, activities, a 4th of July party
celebration and relaxation! This resort has so much to do; you can
start exploring after check-in! After dinner there is always the
disco too! (B,D)
Hotel: Royal Decameron Beach Resort & Casino
(4 nights)
Only 90 minutes from Panama
City by two-lane highway, the Royal Decameron Resort is located in
Playa Blanca (White Beach), which enjoys the best microclimate of
the country. The resort offers you a great variety of services and
facilities, together with fun, sports and recreational activities,
on an extensive and relaxing white sandy beach fronting the Pacific
Ocean. This area has more sunny days each year. Without a doubt,
the Resort is the perfect choice to enjoy an incomparable vacation.
600 tropical style rooms with balconies, air conditioning, satellite
TV and telephone.
For recreational and sporting
pleasures Royal Decameron Resort offers unlimited use of all non
motorized water sports, a game room, horseback riding, tennis,
volleyball, soccer, introductory scuba classes, and daily activity
programs.
The beach is huge-sandy and
walkable for miles with thousands of colourful shells for the
picking. The resort has all the water toys: including kayaks, paddle
boats, sailfish, wind surfers, and snorkel gear, no extra charge.
Fishing and diving tours could be arranged. International shows and
live music every night, as well as a discotheque onsite and open
every night till 2:00am. Towels and chairs for the beach and
swimming pool are provided.
Other services at additional
cost: safety deposit boxes, laundry service, massage, car rental,
jet ski rentals, bicycle and all terrain motorbike rentals,
excursions, city tours, sport fishing and deep sea diving.
Guests will enjoy dining at
either of the resort's two buffets, or at any of the six specialty
restaurants, offering everything from Steak to Japanese cuisine.
There are three snack bars, three beach bars, two poolside bars, and
two lobby lounges, at the resort. There are also two boutiques.
Day 6, Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Leisure Day
Breakfast and then a
free day today to enjoy this resort area. Lots of water sports
available, most at no cost, enjoy walking the beautiful beach or
relax with a good book!
Overnight at Hotel Royal Decameron
Beach Resort & Casino. (B,L,D)
Day 7, Thursday, July 03, 2008
Tour to El Valle de Anton
Breakfast is
included. We get to enjoy a day tour today to El Valle de Anton.
This picturesque site, at 1200 feet above sea level (600 m), offers
a variety of attractions and exotic sights,
such as the famous golden frogs!
Also visit the El Níspero Zoo,
a
small zoo with a wide selection of native animals and birds, mostly
in good-sized cages. Spend time wandering round the
Botanical Garden, and we’ll see the Chorro El Macho
waterfall which is a few minutes' walk off the road on a path
through cool, thick forest. The entrance fee includes the loan of a
bamboo walking stick to help you cross the sometimes slippery
stones,
the petrogliphics
rocks decorated with what are believed to be pre-Colombian art. The
rocks with their strange designs
are worth a visit, if
only for the walk there that gives you lovely views of the valley.
Optional in El Valle –
Canopy adventure:
Also at El Macho
waterfalls, if you're not scared of heights, you can try
an adventure, crossing between platforms at the top of the trees
where you will observe the splendor ofthe tropical rain
forest. Approximately $55.
(B,L,D)
Overnight
at Hotel Royal Decameron Beach Resort & Casino.
Day 8, Friday, July 04, 2008
Leisure Day-Happy 4th of July!
Another
leisure day at this wonderful resort! Spend the time the way you
want-enjoy the sports and water activities, take a tour, enjoy the
beach or pool, get a spa treatment or massage, or maybe relax with
your new friends from the group at the bar. This evening we get to
party for the 4th of July and enjoy our farewell dinner!
Dinner at Café Med with a party on Las Marias Terrace and a disco
light show and entertainment. Maybe then we hit the disco! Yes,
sadly it really is time to head home tomorrow!
Overnight at Hotel Royal
Decameron Beach Resort & Casino. (B,L,D)
Day 9, Saturday July 05, 2008
To Airport and Flight Home
Check
out at the hotel. You can purchase a group transfer to the
International Airport in Panama City if your flight is after 1
pm. See transfer information under pricing. (B)
| Itinerary |
 Available:
Download Itinerary Now (PDF)
(Acrobat Reader required - allow up to 20 seconds for file to download completely)
|
|
Price |
$1499.00 land
only, per person, double occupancy, (remember we can assign
a roommate)
$ 545.00 want
a room to yourself? -add to above rate-VERY LIMITED
AVAILABILITY!!
Airfare
– not included in price. You must fly into and out of Panama
City. Air booked on own or we can assist.
Airport transfers -
Arrival transfer-
$16.00 or you may take a taxi to our hotel just a
short distance away from the airport.
Departure transfer-
$16.00 but only if you are taking a flight out after
1:00pm on departure day from Panama City airport. We will be
going to the airport directly from the resort in the
morning. If taking your own transfer back to the airport
from the resort (it is a little less than a 2 hour distance)
you can purchase a transfer-but pricing is based on the
number of people in the transfer.
Travel Insurance
is highly recommended for many reasons but also because this
trip will include some adventure and outdoor activities.
Please inquire when signing up for the trip. Price ranges
from $66- $173 depending on your age and total dollar amount
being covered, plus a $5 processing fee from the insurance
company. A travel insurance pamplet will be sent to you with
your trip invoice receipt for your deposit. Please review
it and call the insurance company directly to sign up.
FYI
--A valid passport
is required for travel and the expiration date must be at
least 6 months beyond your intended stay. Non-U.S. citizens
please check with your local consulate for entrance
requirements.
--No immunizations
are required for entry but check with your private medical
provider regarding any recommended immunizations or
medications you may want to take for this trip.
--Panama airport
departure tax of approximately $20 to be paid in
cash at your departure from Panama airport.
--Price does not include
items of a personal nature- i.e. phone calls, laundry, etc.,
meals where not included, alcoholic and other beverages not
offered with included meals, tips to guides and drivers,
travel insurance, Panama airport departure tax.
|
Fine Print –
Panama June 27- July 5,
2008.
Your payment for a reservation
on this trip constitutes consent and acknowledgement of all the
provisions in this Fine Print listed below and in the Singles Travel
Company General Terms and Conditions. Make sure you read both of
these important pieces of information and call us with any
questions. Please fax or mail to us the Reservation Form found on
our website with your reservation.
Payments
by credit card or check (payable to Travel Advisors of Los Gatos)
are accepted.
Payments A
deposit of $200.00 is due with your reservation. Final
payments due 65 days prior to the trip.
Cancellation Fee and Refunds
All cancellations must be in writing. Cancellations 91 days or more
prior to the trip will receive a full refund of your deposit, less a
$50 cancellation fee applied to your credit card. Any cancellations
within 90 days of departure, no refund will be provided. No refund
on unused portions of the trip. After airline tickets are issued,
airline cancellations are per the airline’s policy, usually no
refund and changeable with a fee.
Travel/Trip Cancellation
insurance is highly recommended
Download full Terms and
Conditions (PDF)
A Division of Travel Advisors of
Los Gatos
56 North Santa Cruz Ave.
Los Gatos, CA 95030
Toll Free: 888.286.8687
Local: (408) 354-6531
FAX: (408) 354-3871
Email: cruisestoursinfo@aol.com
CST# 1002864-10
All Site Contents Copyright © 2004
Singles Travel Company
All Rights Reserved.
|
