Panama City Extension

Welcome to Panama City, the cosmopolitan capital of Panama. Situated on the Pacific Ocean and along the Panama Canal, Panama City is perhaps the most modern capital in all of Central America. The city was rebuilt after the original city (Panama Viejo) was destroyed by fire in 1671. The city’s old quarter (Casco Viejo) is what remains of the original settlement. Both areas are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Today is an arrival day and you are free to explore at your leisure.

You will tour the city’s old quarter (Casco Viejo) including a visit to Plaza Francia, a square which commemorates the people of France who played a role in the construction of the Panama Canal. Here, you will also find the Canal Museum, where you can learn more about the construction of the canal. Today’s sightseeing will also take you to the Biomuseo, a museum which celebrates Panama’s natural history. The museum was designed by
world-renowned architect Frank Gehry and contains a number of indoor and outdoor exhibition galleries to explore.

Today you will head to the Agua Clara Visitor’s Centre, an observation centre located on the Atlantic Ocean and the site of one of the lock chambers of the Panama Canal. From here you can see cargo vessels transit the canal as well as take in breathtaking views of nearby Gatun Lake. In a projection room you can learn more about the history of the canal before taking an ecological walk. From Agua Clara you will head to the Miraflores Visitor’s Centre where you can see another lock from a different perspective. Here, there are four exhibition rooms and a movie theatre and you will take a special private visit to the canal platforms and control cabins.

Led by a naturalist guide, you will travel out of Panama City to Gamboa where you will walk the Pipeline Road to the Panama Rainforest Discovery Centre. The facility consists of a visitor centre, observation tower and a number of forest trails and is considered one of the best places to go birdwatching. Here you will have the opportunity to spot hummingbirds, manakins, anteaters, blue cotinga, trogons and toucans as well as aquatic birds such as wattled jacanas, least grebes, herons and snail kites. Other wildlife to keep your eyes peeled for include crocodiles, coatis, butterflies and monkeys. Afterwards, you will head to Gatun Lake and sail on the Panama Canal to the forest banks to look for capuchin monkey, three toed sloth and howler monkeys.

You will be transferred to the airport to depart for your next destination.