Please note the tour price reflected on the brochure is subject to change. Due to seasonality, and taxes prices of the tour are subject to change without due notice. Please consult with the operator directly for the recent price.
Highlights of Panama
Overview
Highlights (Bullets)
- Discover the Best of Panama.
- Explore Panama City, the rainforest and the beach.
- Take a boat tour through the Panama Canal into secret waterways.
- Spot Capuchin and Howler monkeys
- Visit the most interesting places in Panama City
- Observe the magnificent Miraflores Locks
Short Description
Upon arrival in Panama, your will be met at the airport by a Gamboa Tours DMC* Representative holding and Apple Vacations sign. Your Representative will guide you to your transfer.
Itinerary
Day 1: A Gamboa Tours Representative will meet you at the airport upon arrival and guide you to your shared transfer to Crowne Plaza (or similar standard hotel), where you will stay for 2 nights. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Day 2: After breakfast, you will enjoy the half-day city tour. During this tour, you will visit the most interesting places in Panama City including: Casco Antiguo-the oldest sector of modern Panama City, founded in 1673 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Panama City is a beautiful, colorful and vibrant city built in 1519 by Pedro Arias Davila, a Spanish Govenor, who made it the capital of the Republic of Panama. It is considered one of the most important cities in the Americas. Miraflores Locks/Panama Canal-this classic experience brings you to the very best that Panama has to offer. Observe the magnificent Miraflores Locks and most likely witness their operation. (Breakfast included)
Day 3: Transfer from Panama City to Gamboa Rainforest Resort. Monkey Island Boat Tour-Take a boat tour through the Panama Canal into secret waterways to find hidden islands where Capuchin and Howler monkeys can be seen leaping in the trees above. This Panama Canal tour provides a unique opportunity for viewing wild monkeys in their natural habitat. Other animals you might spot on this tour includes two and three-toed sloths, crocodiles, and turtles that are native to Gatun Lake. The boat ride passes through the Panama Canal, giving you the chance to spot huge container ships during their passage across the world. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight at Gamboa Rainforest Resort. (Inclusive Plan–all meals & drinks included)
Day 4: After breakfast, enjoy a guided transfer to an Embera Community in the Chagres River. Embera Indigenous Tour–This trip is truly paradise found in its purest form! The enchanting journey takes you deep into the dense jungles of Chagres where the Emberá Indians have lived for centuries. The adventure begins with a one-hour ride up the river in dugout canoes, the Emberá traditional, hand carved boats. (Inclusive Plan–all meals & drinks included).
Day 5: Enjoy breakfast at Gamboa Resort then a transfer to The Westin Playa Bonita. Rest of day at your leisure (Inclusive Plan–all meals & drinks included).
Days 6 & 7: Days at leisure to relax at the beach (Inclusive Plan–all meals & drinks included).
Day 8: Transfer from The Westin Playa Bonita to airport (breakfast included).
Availability
24 Apple Vacations Travel Reviews & Ratings
Highlights of Panama
Company Reviews
TERRIBLE....TERRIBLE! DO NOT USE THEM!
Poor
We are extremely disappointed in our recent trip/experiences for multiple reasons.
Let me start by saying that we were scheduled to depart on 2/12/23 @ 6:30am. When we arrived at our departure terminal we were told that “Swift Air” had an issue the previous day any wasn’t going to make it. Yet no one was notified of this delay. We then boarded a replacement plane, sat on that plane for about an hour but “Swift Air” never transferred a permit. We had to deboard the plane. We were given a $15 voucher while things were worked out. That $15 voucher didn’t event cover a meal at the airport! 2 hours later we were told that we would depart at 4pm however we never left the terminal until after 6:26pm. That was approximately 14 hours we sat in the airport.. During that time I contacted Apple Vacations twice, I was reassured we would have a shuttle when we arrived in Cancun. We get through customs, my husband’s luggage was lost and there was NO shuttle available. Let me also say this was our 1st time out of the country, scared to death cuz we had no idea where we were going and now had to get in a Taxi with someone was not hired to transport us and the paid $120!
This was a 20th Anniversary trip and we were scheduled to “Renew our wedding vows on Tuesday February 14th, Valentine’s Day”. Well yet another disappointment because we still didn’t have the lost luggage which had our clothing, flowers for ceremony, make up and many other personal items.
The luggage did finally arrived late Tuesday, late as in 10pm!
Not only was our trip cut short, we basic lost two days.
Oh wait there is more, the way home “Swift Air” delayed at least 90 minutes BUT one of our checked bags was opened and personal items were stolen from the luggage.
Yes I filed a claim with the travel claims, yes Apple gave us a $200 voucher per person and a $570 refund. Unfortunately this doesn’t make up for the time lost, the rescheduling of ceremony vows and the items that were stolen. The resort we stayed at is more than $570 a night also let’s consider the taxi fees we had to pay because we had no shuttle.
The way that Apple Vacations and Swift Air handled these situations were absolutely horrible and we are honestly hesitant to rebook any future trips.
I doubt that anything will change with this email but I felt that someone should hear our story.
Thank you for reading-
~ Jodi
Terrible hours, horrible customer service, zero help, most stressful vacation I have ever been on in my life!!
Don’t buy into the $500 resort credit.
Travel agent was great, trip was great, but Apple Vacations was basically absent!
Be prepared, you pay but will not receive
I used to travel with Apple Vacation many times, and I never had any issues; however, this time our flight has been changed and we did not receive any notification from Apple Vacation ( we just checkedit online by ourselves). The transportation from and to the airport was included and paid, but somehow once we arrived in Cancun our group was not on the Amstar list. Even though we had proof of paid transportation, it was not provided.. We had to pay 2nd time for transportation. No words from Apple Vacation about reimbursement, about compensation for our inconvenience and questionable safety. Also, do not expect that you will receive paid champagne and other inclusions in the room without asking multiple times the customer service representatives.
In addition, Apple Vacation representatives never looked for us in the hotel. Yes, we arrived late in the afternoon, but the next day nobody contacted us, so we had to look for them. And the very first question was what excursions we are interested in. Nothing about transportation back to the airport.
Also, we requested some rooms with 1bed and with 2beds. Once we arrived, we were told, no requests had been made.
Please be aware APPLE VACATION doesn't offer the best quality service anymore.
Details
Flight & Transport Inclusions
All internal ground transport
Group Size
Standard Group - 25 + people
Trip ID#:
appvachigpan
Meals Included
- 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 5 dinners.
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