IDEXX April - May 2019 80 pax - IBTM World
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IDEXX April – May 2019 80 pax
A tiny land of contrasts! Panama is famous for its Canal, the marvel of engineering that joins the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. But reducing Panama to its Canal would be an insult to the destination’s extraordinary diversity. The country boasts a vibrant modern capital city, one of the richest ecosystems on Earth, lush jungle, pristine beaches, heavenly archipelagoes, indigenous tribes and wonderful colonial sites. Paradoxes are plenty – the US legacy of modernity and skyscrapers neighbors Unesco sites that played a major role in the Spanish conquest. Wealthy businessmen fly to their next meeting with their helicopter, while indigenous people paddle their dugout canoes across the lush tropical rainforest of Chagres national park, watched by howler monkeys and toucans. The Neo-Panamax canal expansion means even more business than usual, but you can pick a deserted island and play Survivor for the day.
USEFUL INFO Visa : Visitors from Poland receive a 90 day automatic tourist permit upon landing in Panama. Time difference : GMT -5. Climate : Tropical and humid, with a dry and a rainy season. Currency : US dollar. Electric current : 120V, 60Hz.
YOUR HOTEL
W Hotel
• Superb 4 star with modern design. • 1 restaurant - 3 bars - Outdoor pool - Spa.
• Located in Obarrio, center of PTY. • In-room massage, yoga class, aerobic
• 203 rooms including suites from floors classes.
16 to 23. • 10,452 sq. feet of meeting space.
Arrival in Panama City Transfer to the hotel Private check in and dinner Night at the Hilton Hotel
DAY 1
PANAMA CITY
Que sopa?
Discovering Panama City from the plane, before landing at
Tocumen, is an impressive surprise. With 70 skyscrapers, the
city boasts the 3rd most impressive skyline of all Americas, after
New York and Chicago.
When Ferdinand de Lesseps and his French engineers arrived
here, to build the canal at the end of the 19th century, Panama
City was confined to the colonial district of Casco Viejo. During
the American occupation of the canal zone, from 1914 to 2000,
the town expanded a bit, but the fantastic real estate boom really
began at the beginning of the 21st century.
Driven by a 2 digits economic growth and a ferocious attraction
of foreign capital, thanks to the country’s ”flexible” tax policies,
the capital city of Panama quickly turned itself into the “Dubaï of
Central America”. To face this incredible expansion, real estate
developers now have to gain over the Pacific ocean with artificial
land, and build satellite districts, like the new residential and
financial district of Costa del Este.
There’s no center per se in Panama City. The town is made of a
combination of residential and business districts, divided into
avenues and streets, like in the USA. Compared to other capital
cities of Central America, you will feel in another world here.
Surprisingly rich, clean, and modern, Panama City is one of the
safest cities in Latin America.
New investments are pouring in. The infrastructure is constantly
improved, the most crazy projects of high-rises are on the go,
and the first subway in Central America was opened in 2015.
DAY 1 EVENING
Panama City
• 16h40 : Arrival on Lufthansa flight. Immigration and customs.
Welcome by our German speaking guide.
Panama City
Centre
• 17h40 : Transfer to Hilton Panama. Tocumen
INT'L
Tocumen / Hilton Panama Viejo
25 min Panama
Canal Hilton Panama
Bridge of the Casco Viejo
Americas
• 18h15 : Private check-in at the hotel.
• 19h30 : Walking dinner around the swimming pool.
• After dinner : Night at Hilton Panama.
DAY 1 EVENING
Panama City
• The guests will enjoy the wonderful rooms and the • Outdoor walking dinner at the Terrace of W Hotel
luxury comfort of the hotel, while having a shower Panama, with a spectacular view of the skyline.
and changing before the dinner.
DAY 2
DAY 2 MORNING
Emberas
• 08h00 : Breakfast at the hotel.
• 09h00 : Self-drive of luxury 4WD cars to Chagres national park.
Trump Tower / Puerto Espave Colon
1h45 min Puerto
Espave
Lake Gatun
Puerto Espave / Puru village
1h10
Panama
City
• 10h30 : Get on board the Embera ”cayucos” (motorized piraguas dug in a single piece of
tree trunk).
• 12h00 : Arrival at the community of the Embera Puru, Indian village made of wooden
houses with thatch roofs, located on the shore of rio Pequeni.DAY 2 MORNING
Emberas
• Transfer along the beautiful “forestale” road, through • Peaceful navigation across the stunning scenery of
a tunnel of tropical vegetation, to arrive to the dock Chagres national park (lake, canyons and emerald
where you will board the indigenous piraguas. river) to reach the Indian village.DAY 2 LUNCH
Emberas
• 12h15 : Welcome by the Embera musicians. A refreshment will be served
by our staff, who brought an ”open bar” of soft drinks from Panama City early
in the morning.
• "Charla” (welcome speech) by the tribe’s chief, translated by the guide.
• 12h45 : Indigenous lunch prepared and served by the Embera women.
The lunch is eaten with the fingers, under the main palapa of the community.DAY 2 LUNCH
Emberas
• After being welcomed by musicians, the guests will • Lunch menu : fresh tilapia caught in the river,
meet the chief, who will introduce his community cooked in spices and served in a leaf of banana
and the Embera customs under the main palapa. tree, with patacones (dumplings of plantain).DAY 2 PM
Emberas
• 13h15 : Activities at the community : admiring the wonderful artisanal craft, walk in the
rainforest with the medicine-man of the tribe, to learn about the medicinal plants, walk in
the village, temporary tattoo made with vegetal ink… And for those who wish, a
refreshing swim in the emerald river, or a football game with the Embera kids.
• 14h45 : Before the group leaves, the tribe will perform some traditional dances and
songs, that take place during the annual inter-communities ceremonies.DAY 2 PM
Emberas
• The medicine man will lead you through the jungle • After an entire day spent interacting with these
and show you the plants he uses to heal the friendly and peaceful Amerindians, you will not want
wounded and cure the sick. to go back to “civilization”.DAY 2 PM
Emberas
• 15h00 : Return to Puerto Vigia with the piraguas (only 30 min down the river stream).
• 15h45 : Return to Panama City by bus. After this day spent in the isolation of the
rainforest, getting back to Panama City’s “jungle of concrete", only located 1h30 away, is
a total choc and contrast.
A feeling particular to Panama : the country is a diversity
of worlds in a tiny territory!DAY 2 EVENING
Red devils!
• The famous ”Diablos rojos” are American school buses • The owners of the "red devils" spend fortunes to have them
imported to Panama. Local artists let their imagination go painted and refurbished inside, with the unavoidable
wild and redesign them with delirious paintings, mixing massive speakers blasting Latin music, and fluffy kitsch
cartoons, gorgeous ladies, biblical scenes and soccer stars. decoration, proudly displaying their social status.DAY 2 EVENING
Tomillo
• 17h45 : Arrival at the hotel and free time before the dinner.
• 19h40 : Transfer to the colonial district of Casco Viejo, and Tomillo
quick walk in the cobblestones streets to feel Casco “by night".
- Elegant design & nice outdoor
W hotel / terrace
Casco
- Creative fusion cuisine, served
10 min
“tapas style"
- The “Americano-Panameño” chef
• 20h00 : Dinner at restaurant Tomillo. turned this brand new restaurant
into the new hype of CascoMotorboat on the Canal Lunch at San Lorenzo Visit Neopanamax Locks Dinner at La Vespa
DAY 3DAY 3 MORNING
Canal
San
• 08h00 : Breakfast at the hotel. Lorenzo
• 09h00 : Transfer to the village of Gamboa.
Gatun
Yacht
W hôtel / Club Gamboa
Gamboa
45 min
Panama
City
Gamboa / Gatun Yacht Club
1h30
• 10h00 : Boarding privatized speed-lanchas for an adventure on the Panama canal !
• 11h30 : Arrival at Gatun Yacht Club, north of the canal, on the Atlantic side.DAY 3 MORNING
Canal
• Navigate at full speed on the canal, alongside the • Watch Panama’s fauna, part of one of the richest
massive supertankers, across the superb wild ecosystems in the world : monkeys, crocodiles,
landscapes of Lake Gatun. toucans, sloth, eagles, turtles, etc...DAY 3 MORNING
San Lorenzo
• 11h45 : Transfer to San Lorenzo fortress, across the lush tropical
vegetation of San Lorenzo national park, after crossing the locks
of Gatun, at the foot of the doors.
Gatun Yacht Club / San Lorenzo
30 min
• 12h15 : Arrival at the colonial fortress of San Lorenzo.DAY 3 LUNCH
San Lorenzo
• 12h30 : Set-up lunch inside the ruins of the San Lorenzo fortress, Unesco World Heritage.
Spectacular views of the Atlantic ocean and the mouth of Chagres river.
A delicious buffet lunch, brought from Panama City by our catering supplier, will delight you in
this magical site, in the shade of a tent.JOUR 3 LUNCH
San Lorenzo
The fortress of San Lorenzo was built at the end of the 16 th century by king Philippe the 2nd, to protect the mouth of the Chagres river,
a strategic transit site for Spanish galleons loaded with riches from the New World, on their way back to Spain. The most infamous
pirates attacked it, among them the legendary Francis Drake (in 1596) and Henry Morgan, who sacked it in 1671, after slaughtering
the 320 soldiers stationed at the fort. He then used it as a base to attack the coveted town of Panama Viejo.DAY 3 PM
Neo-Panamax locks
• 14h00 : Transfer to the visitors center of the Neo-Panamax locks.
San Lorenzo / Aguas Claras
30 min
• 14h45 : Visit of the locks, to witness the passage of the monstrous Neo-Panamax ships
through the canal. The locks literally are elevators of water that lift the boats from sea level
to 26 meters above the ocean, the altitude of Lake Gatun. At the visitor center, you will
watch the cargos manoeuver from the observation platform, and a movie about the history,
the construction and the challenges of the Panama canal.PANAMA CANAL
Bigger ships!
Container-holders, bulk carriers, supertankers, “ro/ros” (roll on /
roll off, automobile carriers) and cruise ships, are the main types
of ships that cross the Panama canal. There are 40 of them on
average that undertake the 70km crossing between the 2 oceans
every day, in a trip that takes from 8 to 10 hours. A considerable
economy of time (and money) compared to the huge detour that
ships had to take around Latin America, via Cape Horn, before
the inauguration of the canal. Ships pay a passage toll based on
their weight, a rule that generates on average 6 millions of dollars
per day for the canal.
The Americans built the locks to the size of the biggest ship at
the time, the Titanic. Hence, since 1914, the entire commercial
fleet in the world has been built with these dimensions, known as
the ”Panamax” format, in order to fit through Panama’s locks.
Nowadays, the exponential growth of global trade has led to the
launch of even bigger boats, the ”Neo-Panamax” (up to 49m
wide and 370m long), that can carry 4 times as many containers
as a regular Panamax. These floating monsters were until now
limited to intra-oceanic routes, or to transits via the Suez canal. A
business loss for the Panama canal (since the boats pay
according to their weight) and a limitation to the growth of
international trade…
Following a national referendum, the ACP (Autoridad del Canal
de Panama), decided to build a second canal, with 2 new sets of
gigantic locks, in parallel to the existing one. A 9 billion dollars
project, that is expected to see a return on investment after only
2 years of operation. Inauguration on the 26th of June 2016 !DAY 3 PM
Historic train
• 16h15 : Transfer to the train station of Colon.
Gatun / Colon
30 min
• 16h45 : Boarding the historic train – Reserved seats in 2 wagons.
• 17h15 : Departure to the train station of Corozal, located at the outskirts of Panama City.
Colon / Corozal
1h
• 18h15 : Arrival at Corozal station and transfer to the hotel (30 min).DAY 3 PM
Historic train
• Ride through the isthmus alongside the canal, across • The Panama railroad was built during the gold rush in
stunning wild landscapes (lake Gatun & jungle), under a sky California. Later, the train was used extensively during the
bathed in the sunset colors. The trip lasts one hour and is a works of excavation of the canal. A fascinating history, to be
delight to the eyes. discovered on board !DAY 3 EVENING
Vespa
• 18h45 : Arrival at the hotel and free time.
• 20h00 : Transfer to the district of Punta Pacifica.
Vespa
- Outdoor covered restaurant,
W Hotel / Oceanside
Vespa
10 min - Great views of the Pacific ocean and
the skyline of Costa del Este
• 20h15 : Dinner at restaurant Vespa. - Italian Fusion cuisine
- Beautiful design & trendy atmospherePrivate transfer on Catamaran Lunch and day use on island Private flight to Las Perlas Evening at JW Marriott
DAY 4PEARL ISLANDS
Paradise !
The Pearl Islands (Islas de las Perlas) are a group of
approximately 200 islands and islets (many tiny and uninhabited)
lying about 48 km off the Pacific coast of Panama City.
The islands were first occupied by Amerindians who were (with
their leader Terarequí) wiped out within two years of the islands'
discovery by the Spanish. Famous conquistador Vasco Nunez de
Balboa named the islands ”Las Perlas" soon after discovering an
abundance of pearls there, in 1513. Another Spaniard, Gaspar
de Morales, is infamous for exterminated 20 local Indian chiefs,
by releasing starving hunting dogs to tear them to pieces, alive.
The Spaniards then needed workers to harvest pearls and
imported African slave labor, in the 16th century, whose
descendants now live on the islands (mostly from fishing).
The Islands were frequently used by pirates in the years that
followed, and were relatively undisturbed until the 1960s and
1970s, when the building of a resort on Contadora took place, to
which the Shah of Iran retreated in 1979.
Nowadays, most of the Pearl islands are untouched, boasting a
pristine nature and wild deserted beaches. The terrestrial and
marine fauna is abundant, whales are easy to spot here from
April to November. Contadora is the most developed island,
many wealthy Panamanians owning a private beach villa on its
shores. Several other islands are now (unfortunately) being
developed into yacht marinas, boutique hotels, golf courses and
private mansions. A Ritz Carlton is being built on Isla Pedro
Gonzales, and should open by 2018.DAY 4 MORNING
Las Perlas
• 08h00 : Breakfast at the hotel.
• 07h30 : Transfer to JW Marriot.
W hotel /
Panama
Marina City
15 min Las
Perlas
Isla
• 08h00 : Boarding on your private Catamaran. Chapera
• 08h30 : Full-speed navigation on the Pacific to the archipelago of Las Perlas.
PTY / Chapera Island
2h30DAY 4 DAY USE
Las Perlas
• 11h00 : Arrival at Chapera Island.
• 11h00-14h30 : Day use on the island with buffet lunch (fresh catch of the day, grilles
meats, seafood and Caribbean sides), set-up on the beach.
• Music – Open bar rum / beer / fruit juice / water, sodas and coffee.
Beach games and snorkeling equipment available.DAY 4 DAY USE
Las Perlas
• Isla Chapera is a wild island (it doesn’t belong to anyone), • The sea bordering the island is turquoise, thanks to the
located it the back of the famous island of Contadora. Only white sand shores. Enjoy a relaxing day on this "Robinson
inhabited by marine birds, Chapera has one of the most Crusoe" island, with barbecue lunch, open bar, music and
beautiful white sand beaches in the archipelago. beach games. A hidden paradise !DAY 4 PM
Buenaventura
• 15h00 : Transfer to Contadora airstrip (30 min), where your private planes await.
• 15h45 : Flight to the airport of Rio Hato.
Isla Contadora / Rio
Hato
30 min
• 16h15 : Landing in Rio Hato. Security check. Rio Hato /
Buenaventura
20 min
• 16h30 : Transfer to Buenaventura.
• 17h00 : Private check-in. Welcome drink and refreshing towel.
The luggage of the group has already been delivered to the rooms.
Free time at the hotel.YOUR HOTEL
Playa Blanca
• The nicest beach hotel in the country. • 5 restaurants - 3 bars - 6 pools - Spa.
• Located on Playa Blanca, 1h30 from PTY. • Luxury amenities - Room service.
• 114 rooms including 32 suites. • Golf course - 660 sqm meeting space.DAY 4 EVENING
Buenaventura
• 20h00 : Dinner at Resort.
• After dinner : Heavenly night at JW Marriott. The only noise you will ever hear here, is birds
chirping.Relax at Playa Blanca Lunch at Tagua pools Activities a la carte Gala dinner on the beach
DAY 5DAY 5 DAY
Playa Blanca
• Relax and enjoy the long wild beach of Playa Blanca, that • Activities "a la carte" during the day : jet-ski, 4 wheel on
extends several kilometers alongside the Pacific Ocean, the beach, massage, horseback ride next to the ocean,
or one of the resort’s 6 pools. Lunch at restaurant Tagua, snorkeling excursion, hobie-cat, flyboard, surf lesson,
around the laguna pools. kitesurf lesson, catamaran cruise, golf, etc…DAY 5 EVENING
JW Marriott
• 20h00 : Gala dinner at the beach deck.
• After dinner : Night at JW Marriott.DAY 6 Relax at Playa Blanca Lunch at Resort Transfer and departure
DAY 6 PM
Departure
• 14h00 : Transfer to Tocumen International airport.
Buenaventura /
Tocumen
2h30 min
• 16h45 : Check-in at KLM desk.
• 18h50 : Departure to Amsterdam.You can also read
