Embark on a thrilling journey through the heart of Central America as we unveil the ultimate 10-day Panama itinerary, where adventure, culture, and natural wonders collide in an unforgettable experience.
This 10-day travel itinerary for Panama mostly focuses on Bocas del Toro, with some time spent in Panama City to see the Canal and explore the historic Casco Viejo neighborhood.
Our guests frequently comment that 2 days is enough time to see Panama City and that they wish they would have stayed longer in Bocas del Toro (who doesn’t want to stay longer in an overwater bungalow?), so we have structured this itinerary accordingly!
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Bocas del Toro Weather
You’ve already heard that it rains alot in Bocas del Toro and that the weather can be unpredictable. Our best recommendation is to be mentally prepared for some rain during your trip. Bocas del Toro is in the rainforest, and it does, in fact, rain a lot in the rainforest.
Some of the activities listed in our 10-day travel Itinerary for Panama are sunny, good weather activities, and some activities can handle any weather. So think of our things to do as being interchangeable with any day of the week.
We have structured them currently to offer a nice flow of activities, to keep you excited and entertained but also with plenty of time for relaxation.
10-Day Panama Itinerary With Bocas del Toro
This Panama Itinerary focuses on Panama City and Bocas del Toro.
Why just Bocas del Toro when there are so many other cool places to explore in Panama?
Bocas del Toro is one area with affordable overwater bungalows, over 20 beaches, and endless activities. It is also very uncrowded, unlike most other destinations in the Caribbean.
Did we mention there are an abundance of overwater bungalows? (It’s the only segment of tourism that Panama can compete with Costa Rica, as Costa Rica doesn’t have overwater bungalows!)
This Panama Itinerary features a good mix of relaxation, exploration, excitement, and overwater bungalows. If any of these activities don’t suit your interests or abilities, be sure to check out our other activity guides for interchangeable ideas: 33 Best Things to do in Bocas del Toro, and 10 Best Things to do in Bocas del Toro and 7 Things you Should NOT Do in Bocas del Toro
Day 1: Arrival in Panama City
Arrive in Panama City and check into your hotel in the Casco Viejo district. (These are the hotels we recommend)
Spend the afternoon exploring the colonial streets and back alley boutiques in Panama City’s trendiest and most beautiful neighborhood. Indulge in the best food Panama has to offer, and grab a drink tonight at one of the many stunning rooftop bars.
- Cost: International Flights ???
- Hotel: $200 – $300
- Taxi From Airport to Hotel: $35
- Dinner and Drinks for 2 at a trendy restaurant: $80
Check Flights Below:
Day 2: Visit the Panama Canal and Fly to Bocas del Toro
Have an easy morning, enjoy a wonderful breakfast at your hotel, and then hop on a guided tour of the Panama Canal.
You can leave your luggage with the driver as you visit the Miraflores Locks, Canal History Museum, and watch an amazing 45-minute IMAX movie about the history of the Panama Canal. (The IMAX Movie is so worth it!)
If you’ve got the extra time, stop for lunch at the Mercado de Mariscos. Pick out some fresh fish or lobster and have them prepare it for you any way you want!
Getting to Bocas del Toro By PLane
You will land in Bocas del Toro on Isla Colón, the main island of the archipelago. Grab a taxi from the airport and tell them to take you to your accommodation (overwater bungalow).
Check-in at your overwater bungalow, I mean “accommodation”, and enjoy the afternoon with a refreshing welcome cocktail! Take dinner at the hotel tonight and get the scoop on Bocas del Toro from the hosts – what’s the weather, how are the activities, what are the best things to do, ect.
- Flights: $60-$140 each
- Morning Private Transportation: $50 (Hotel to Canal to Airport)
- Canal Entrance Fee: $10
Day 3: Enjoy your accommodation and explore the surrounding area and Bocas Town.
Today is all about getting the feel for your accommodation and understanding the surrounding areas and islands.
If you picked a place to stay close to the center, then take a water taxi over to Bocas Town and walk the streets for a bit. Pick up any supplies you may need for the rest of your trip.
After you’ve explored Bocas Town, you can hop over to Isla Carenero and spend some time at Bibi’s on the Beach or at Carenero Beach. (Can’t spend a day in Bocas without getting in the water, right?) You can also walk around Carenero Island to explore the stunning coastline and see the local community.
Around 4PM you’ll want to head over to The Floating Bar, again via water taxi. Grab a drink (or three) and some fish tacos to hold you over until dinner.
Do dinner in Bocas Town tonight and stay a little later for some nightlife and salsa dancing! Tomorrow is a relaxing boat trip day!
- Water Taxis: $24
- Snacks and Drinks: $40
- Floating Bar: $20
- Dinner and Drinks in Town: $30
Insider Tip: The biting bugs can be loco on Isla Carenero around happy hour/ sunset time, so bring bug spray or long-sleeve clothing.
Water taxis around the center of the islands can range from $1 – $5. Prices are always per person but group rates can be negotiated.
Day 4: Boat Trip to Cayo Zapatilla with snorkeling, dolphin watching, and starfish
- Time: 9:30 – 3:30
- Cost: Around $180 for the private tour or $30 per person in town for a group tour.
You didn’t come to a Caribbean archipelago to stay land-locked, so hop on a private boat tour through the islands and see what adventures await you on the Cayo Zapatilla Tour!
The main attraction of this tour is to spend some time on the Cayos Zapatillas, two shoe-shaped islands with white sands, palm trees, and some of the most beautiful turquoise waters in Panama.
You’ll also get a chance to see Bocas’ uniquely evolved bottle-nose dolphin species, the “Bocas Dolphin,” go snorkeling across a vibrant coral reef, and see an abundance of starfish in their natural habitat called “Hollywood.”
We like to end this tour at The Floating Bar for sunset cocktails and tacos!
Please understand that the majority of the group tours sold in Bocas town DO NOT follow proper dolphin-watching guidelines. These captains typically chase the dolphins and try to get as close as they can so you can take a picture of the dolphins. Please insist that your Capitan respects the dolphins!
Dinner: Dinner can be found back at your accommodation. After a long day in the sea and sun, you’ll want to take it easy. Drink some water and rest up for the next day!
- Boat Trip: $180 or $30
- Lunch on Boat Trip: $20
- Dinner and Drinks: $30
Read our Quick Travel Guide to Bocas del Toro
Day 5: Rainforest and Beach Hike with an Afro-Caribbean guide named Titi on Bastimentos Island
- Time: 11-5
- Cost: $45-$65 per person depending on group size
- Contact Titi: +507-6788-1331 (Whatsapp)
Take a guided hike through the lush rainforests of Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park and spot some exotic wildlife like sloths, monkeys, and toucans.
Titi is the only guy who does this tour, and it’s one of the most unique hikes on offer in the archipelago. You’ll get to see three of Bocas del Toro’s best beaches, try some rare tropical fruits, learn about the flora and fauna, and eventually share a Coco Loco with the legend named Polo at Polo Beach (our favorite beach in Bocas!).
Check out our Isla Bastimentos Travel Guide.
Dinner: You’re gonna be tired after this 10km hike, so plan on dinner at your accommodation this night.
- Tour: $45 – $65 per person
- Water Taxis to/ from Old Bank: $10
- Dinner: $30
Insider Tip: Plan/ contact Titi a few days ahead of time to secure his availability, the people of Bastimentos can be elusive sometimes!
Day 6: Morning relaxation and Scuba Diving or a Surf Lesson in the afternoon
You’ve been tearing it up in Bocas del Toro so far, so spend the morning taking it easy at your overwater bungalow.
Then keep the aquatic adventures rolling in the afternoon by going scuba diving or taking a surf lesson. Bocas del Toro offers world-class surfing and some amazing underwater dive spots. Explore the vibrant coral reefs of Bocas del Toro and spot some colorful marine life, such as nurse sharks, turtles, and rays.
We recommend: Panama Dive School or La Buga for Scuba Diving, and Escuela del Mar or Mono Loco for Surf Lessons.
Finish the afternoon at The Floating Bar for some sunset cocktails, fish tacos, and live music.
- Scuba Diving 2 tank dive: $85-$100
- Floating Bar: $30
- Water Taxis: $20
Day 7: Horseback Riding or ATVing at Bluff Beach on Isla Colón
This day can go easy and relaxing or exciting and extreme, your choice!
The horseback riding tour at Bluff Beach takes you on a 3-hour gallop through the rainforest where you can spot monkeys, sloths, and toucans. You’ll make a pit stop at “La Piscina,” a beautiful swimming pool cut out of the coral rock coastline. Finish the tour back at Bluff Beach for a cocktail and pizza at Bom Bom Beach Bar.
If you want to get down, dirty, and dangerous, then swap the horses for ATV’s from Flying Pirates and level up your Bluff Beach experience. This is the most exciting and extreme tour in Bocas, and the level of risk depends on how fast you want to go!
Dinner: Grab dinner in Bocas Town or somewhere outside of town like Arboloco or Skully’s
- Water Taxis: $20
- ATV: $100
- Horseback Riding: $55
- Dinner and Drinks: $30
- Land Taxis: $30
Day 8: Sloths, Bat Cave and Red Frog Beach
Get your big boy pants on and prepare yourself for the best thing to do in Bocas del Toro: the Nivida Bat Cave Tour with Rutilio Milton! This is the only guy you should ever be doing this tour with, as he is the one who pioneered the tour over 20 years ago, and was the first from his community to explore the cave!
The tour lasts around 3 hours, and a large part of it is an incredibly scenic boat ride up a river through the rainforest canopy. You’ll see sloths, monkeys, and caiman alligators along the way.
The cave involves climbing, swimming, cliff jumping, darkness and tight spaces, so be prepared for the time of your life!
After the tour, have Rutilio drop you off at Red Frog Beach – you just earned yourself a cold beer and more fish tacos! There are beach bungalows and beach chairs for rent here, so just bring your dirty selves and wash off in the ocean before getting settled in!
Dinner: It’s been a long and exciting day, so have a relaxing dinner at your accommodation tonight.
- Cave Tour: $45 plus $8 Cave Entrance Fee
- Red Frog Beach Entrance: $5
- Food and Drinks at Red Frog Beach: $25
- Water Taxi After Red Frog: $8
Day 9: Take the mid-day flight back to Panama City
Enjoy your last morning in Bocas del Toro and take the midday flight back to Panama City. Check yourself into the stunning Sofitel Legend Hotel in Casco Viejo and basque in all the luxury amenities you may have missed the last week in Bocas (like Air Conditioning).
- Air Panama Flight: $60-$140
- Hotel Room: $300
- Transportation: $30
- Dinner: $40
Day 10: Departure
Fly Home (and plan your next vacation)!
- Taxi to Tocumen Airport: $35
- International Flight Home: ???
How to Get to Bocas del Toro
So you’ve read our 10-day Panama itinerary and you are interested in learning more about what the country has to offer.
Well, you’ll be happy to know that Panama City is only a 3-hour flight from the southern USA, and it’s a major regional hub with direct flights from all over the world.
After you’ve booked flights to Panama City, you’ll want to get flights on AirPanama.com to Bocas del Toro. Yes, you can also take the bus, a shuttle, or rent a car and drive to Panama City, but flying is simply the best, easiest, and quickest way, so that’s what we recommend the most.
Read the detailed guide on how to get from Panama City to Bocas del Toro
Getting from Panama City to Bocas del Toro by Plane
- Step 1: Book International Flights to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama City, Panama (Check Flights)
- Step 2: Book flights with AirPanama.com from PAC (Albrook International Airport) to BOC (Bocas del Toro Isla Colon Airport). The Albrook Airport is a smaller airport located on the opposite side of Panama City from the Tocumen Airport, so it is recommended to leave 3 hours in between your flights to account for immigration and traffic (2 hours minimum!).
- Step 3: Arrival in Bocas del Toro: Arrive, get your bags, and exit the airport. There will be airport taxis ready to take you to you overwater bungalow!
Where To Stay in Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro is comprised of 9 main islands and hundreds of smaller islets and cays. There are many different areas to stay in and each area offers a different experience. We recommend doing a little research into the areas before making your decision on where to stay.
Logistics are important and greatly affect the experience that every area offers. Some areas involve using the water taxi system, while others can have cars, land taxis, and transportation you can rent like golf carts or scooters.
To get a better idea of the whole picture, you’ll want to check out our Island and Area Guide where we break this all down in more detail.
Here are 5 of our Top Recommendations for Where to Stay in Bocas del Toro:
- #1: Sol Bungalows
- #2: Nayara Bocas del Toro
- #3: La Coralina Island House
- #4: Bambuda Bocas Town
- #5: Casa Cauario
#1: SOL BUNGALOWS (Our Overwater Bungalows)
Sol Bungalows combines privacy, luxury, sustainability, and affordability all into two incredible overwater bungalows. We’ve been open since 2021 and have only received the best possible reviews from our guests, and never gotten a bad one. You simply can’t go wrong by choosing to stay here! And who doesn’t have an overwater bungalow on their bucket list? Did we mention we offer Farm-to-Table Dining and breakfast is included? (We will have 4 bungalows starting November 2024!)
#2 NAYARA BOCAS DEL TORO
Did we mention that Bocas del Toro has several stunning overwater bungalows? Look out Maldives and Bora Bora, Panama is coming for you!
Nayara Bocas del Toro is Panama’s answer to the ultra-luxurious overwater resorts of Instagram fame. They feature 18 overwater bungalows, each with a private plunge pool, and something that most of Bocas del Toro’s eco-lodges don’t have: air conditioning (they must have new solar technology!).
The only thing that might keep you away is the price tag, with nightly rates comparable to other international resorts. You’ll save a lot of money on the flights to get here though!
Spending 2 nights here out of a 10-day Panama Itinerary is definitely worth it!
#3 La Coralina Island House
La Coralina Island House is located on Isla Colón, the main island of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago. We recommend splitting your stay into two different accommodations so you can get a feel for the different areas of Bocas del Toro, and staying up in this area is one of the top places to stay.
La Coralina is super luxurious with a giant swimming pool, featuring several beachhouse-style accommodations, a spa, and a restaurant. You’ll feel like you’re in Bali, as much of the wood construction was imported from there.
Bambuda Bocas Town
For a hotel in the center of the action, Bambuda Bocas Town is the perfect mix of relaxation, trendiness, and amazing Caribbean breezes. Enjoy their giant outside deck and open-air restaurant, with sweeping Caribbean views on the quieter side of town. The owners of Bambuda Bocas Town have an amazing interior designer, so these rooms are about as stylish as they come in all of Panama!
Casa Acuario
Casa Acuario is an overwater house featuring 4 private rooms located across from Bocas Town on the quieter Isla Carenero. It’s built in the colonial style with intricate wood finishes and bright Caribbean paint. This is the “Old Bocas” that gives the archipelago its unique flare and appeal!
The rooms are fully equipped with AC, Hot Water, and small kitchens. Each room has a beautiful view across the Caribbean sea onto Bocas Town and to the mainland mountains. Sunrises and Sunsets can be enjoyed from their decks! Breakfast is not included in the stay but they do offer one of the best breakfasts around!
When to Visit for your 10-day Panama Itinerary
If you only have a 10-day Panama Itinerary planned, then you need to visit during one of the best times to visit!
The best time to deploy this 10-day Panama Itinerary is during the high season and dry season months of January to March. Other good times to visit Panama can be found in May – June, and September – November.
Holidays play a big role in changing the vibe throughout the country: Christmas and New Year see almost non-stop celebrations, as well as in November, when 5 national holidays fall throughout the month, including 3 independence days. Panamanians have fierce national pride, and these holidays are celebrated with complete dedication!
February is also a great time to execute this 10-Day Travel Itinerary for Panama. February sees Carnival come to Panama, which is the second country after Brazil (where it was founded) to embrace the festivities. Bocas del Toro is a great place to experience Carnival when the streets of Bocas Town are taken over by Diablos – kids and teenagers dressed in intricate costumes depicting the devil, and armed with whips to chase and whip the evil spirits (usually other kids and teenagers). ‘
We Hope This 10-day Panama Itinerary helps!
Use our 10-Day Panama Itinerary as a guideline for your next trip to Panama! You don’t want to miss out on the culture, food, and architecture of Casco Viejo, and of course the overwater bungalows and stunning beaches of Bocas del Toro. Try a surf lesson, salsa dancing, or go on a hike through the rainforest to spot sloths and monkeys.
Feeling really up for an adventure? How about the bat cave tour or taking the ATV’s through rugged jungle terrain. Don’t forget to take some “me-time” and enjoy plenty of relaxation as well!
Find More Panama Travel Guides on our Blog:
Getting from Panama City to Bocas del Toro (Quick Guide)
7 Best Affordable Overwater Bungalows in the Caribbean
Bocas del Toro Surfing Guide: Surf Spots, Seasons & Lessons (2024)
Surfing in Panama: Travel Guide & Best Surf Spots
Bocas del Toro: Quick Travel Guide 2024 (By A Local)
