Panama: Snorkeling Marine Parks of the Pacific and Caribbean

About This Trip

Trip Highlights

Exploring the second biggest coral reef in the eastern Pacific in the Gulf of Chiriquí . 800 species of fish, 33 species of sharks, and 20 species of cetaceans can be found in this extremely productive ecosystem.
Travel to Isla Uvas and the Islas Secas Archipelago, two rarely visited gems of the Panamanian Pacific.
Snorkel the warm, calm seas at Bocas del Toro, home to hundreds of different sponges, seahorses, tropical fish, and almost 80 coral species.

Panama is a country full of hidden treasures. This small country is the bridge between continents and the narrow division between two oceans, a unique position that has bestowed it with enormous biodiversity. During this 9-day trip the focus will be on visits to the main marine conservation areas on both the Pacific and Caribbean oceans and enjoy Panamá’s outstanding Marine National Park System. On our itinerary are three important marine protected areas: Isla de Coiba, Golfo de Chiriquí on the Pacific side, and Bastimentos (Bocas del Toro area) on the Caribbean side.

Don't miss -> Meet Three of Panama's Best Marine Parks

There will be plenty of opportunities for snorkeling and wildlife observation. Transportation on this trip is a combination of country sightseeing road transfers, scenic and sometimes bumpy boat transfers, and a domestic flight back to Panama City from Bocas del Toro. We will also visit the famous Panama Canal. Join us on this engaging comparative exploration of the Pacific and Caribbean marine ecosystems of Panamá!

Notes on Trip Costs

Trip price does not include international airfare, but does include domestic flight from Bocas del Toro to Panama City. Click here for our full expedition terms and conditions.

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Conservation Impact

Founded in 1969, Oceanic Society is America’s oldest 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ocean conservation. As pioneers of “eco travel,” our expeditions have been designed to directly support our mission. They not only positively impact our travelers, but also the people, places, and wildlife we go to see. Your expedition costs include fees that support conservation and promote sustainable livelihoods in the communities we visit, and Oceanic Society's earnings are invested back into our global research and conservation programs. In 2019, we also established our Expedition Impact Fund (EIF) as a way to grow our impact. The fund is seeded annually with money earned from our expeditions, and supplemented by donations from Oceanic Society travelers. Through the EIF, we award grants to our partners for their on-the-ground efforts to protect ocean habitats and the wildlife and human communities that depend on them.

Dates & Prices

April 13-21, 2024

Cost $4,975 / person. Single supplement fee: $895. Group size limit: 10.

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Itinerary

The following itinerary is provided for informational purposes and is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances or circumstances beyond our control. Accommodations may be substituted with comparable hotels based on the final group needs or changes to the itinerary. Note: (B, L, D) denotes the meals provided each day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Day 1: Panama City

After arrival you will be transferred to our hotel in the Casco Viejo neighborhood, the historical center of Panama City. Early arrivals can join a walking tour around Casco Viejo. This evening we will have a welcome dinner with introductions and trip orientation. Overnight at Hotel Villa Palma, Casco Viejo, Panama City. (D)

Day 2: Panama Canal - Pacific Coast

After breakfast we visit the Miraflores locks where the ships from the Pacific will float up towards the level of the Miraflores lake in the Panama Canal. From the tower of the information center we will have a great view on the historical locks, see the new locks further away and learn about the recent amplification of the canal. For first time visitors, the scale and activity of the canal zone is impressive – huge container ships and parallel train tracks with long trains loaded with piggy-back containers show how important Panamá is for global trade. We drive across the Panama Canal and have lunch along the Panamerican highway during our drive towards Santa Catalina in the province of Veraguas (~5.5 hours),

We will spend two nights in Santa Catalina, a fishing village, and a famous surfing destination is where we stay for two nights. Overnight at Hotel Santa Catalina. (B,L,D)

Day 3: Isla Coiba National Park

We will spend a few days on the Pacific side in the Gulf of Chiriquí area, west of the Azuero Peninsula and home to two of Panama's national marine parks. The most eastern is Coiba Marine National Park, where visitors will find the second largest coral reef of the eastern pacific (~330,000-acres). Coiba island is often compared to the Galapagos for the diversity of marine life and similar geology. The large species that inhabit these waters including humpback whales (July-Sept.), manta rays, and different sea turtle species. 800 species of fish, 33 species of sharks, and 20 species of cetaceans are found in this extremely productive ecosystem. The second marine protected area, Chiriquí National Marine Park is situated towards the West, in front of the coastal town of Boca Chica.

One-hour boat ride to our first snokel. Our guide will highlight the unique attributes of this area and discuss efforts on marine conservation. Recently, many endemic species have been discovered on Isla Coiba, since it has historically been off limits for nature investigation because of a prison that has been decommissioned. Depending on local conditions and tides we will visit different sites and islets for snorkeling and wildlife observation. A nature walk to see birds on the main island is a nice break between the snorkeling together with a pick-nick lunch. In the afternoon we will return to the mainland with the boats (~1 hour). Overnight at Hotel Santa Catalina (B,L,D)

Day 4: Boca Chica

Today we drive (~4 hours) passing the city of Santiago and along the Panamerican highway further west into the province of Chiriquí. Our destination today is Boca Chica. In the afternoon we will enjoy the hotel grounds and do a sightseeing boat tour in the in nearby lush mangrove ecosystem and look for birds. This area is the eastern most section of an internationally recognized Important Bird Area – David Mangroves. Besides enjoying exploring the canals with biodiversity literally oozing all around us, we will keep an eye out for the globally threatened Yellow-billed Cotinga, Yellow-crowned Parrots, and the regionally endemic Black-hooded Antshrike. This will also be a great opportunity to talk about “Blue Carbon” and why these coastal ecosystems are so important. Overnight at Hotel Bocas del Mar, Boca Chica. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Isla Secas

Today’s adventure is to explore the Islas Secas archipelago. A rarely visited group of small tropical islands in the Marine National Park Gulf of Chiriquí with good snorkeling opportunities. We will leave early from the hotel (50-minute boat ride each way) and will spend most of the day snorkeling and enjoying some isolated beaches with a delicious picnic lunch. Overnight at Hotel Bocas del Mar, Boca Chica. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Bocas del Toro Archipelago

This morning we prepare for departure towards the Caribbean side of Panama. From the Chiriqui province to Bocas del Toro we drive a scenic route crossing the continental divide to the port of Almirante (~4.5 hours). Small boats bring us to the main island, Isla Colón of the Bocas del Toro archipelago. Our hotel is based right in town, from where we will depart on our snorkeling adventures. Overnight at Hotel Divers Paradise. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Snorkeling Bastimentos National Marine Park

Hundreds of different sponges, seahorses, tropical fish and almost eighty coral species attract snorkelers to the warm calm Caribbean seas of Bocas del Toro. Sheltered areas are found on the southern side of the islands, offering calm snorkeling waters with varied coral reefs to explore. Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park is where most idyllic snorkeling areas are found like Crawl Cay and at Cayos Zapatillas - sites we will visit today. Overnight at Hotel Divers Paradise. (B,L,D)

Day 8: Bocas del Toro - Panama City

We will have another snorkel session or nature tour this morning at Hospital Point on Solarte island. We will get back to Isla Colon to pack and have lunch before we go to the airport for an afternoon flight back to Panama City. Farewell dinner in the historical Casco Viejo neighborhood. Overnight: Hotel Villa Palma. (B, L, D)