SPECIAL JOURNEYS
Panama – Colombia
Season 2017
7 nights program
BOGOTA / PAMAMA CITY/ GAMBOA / COLON / PORTOBELO
Daily transport time
D1 Bogotá In
D2 Bogotá / Panamá
D3- Panama City / Gamboa (50 minute ride)
D4- Panama City / Colon (1 hour by train) / Gatun Locks (30 minute ride) / Portobelo (1h15 ride).
D5- Panama City / Gamboa – or viceversa – (4 hour boat ride)
D6- Panama City
D7- Panama City / Bogota
D8- Bogota Out
TECHNICALS INFORMATIONS
- Formalities –. For Europeans, passport with a 6 month minimum validity
- Health – No obligatory vaccine but we definitely suggest to get a yellow fever vaccination prior to your trip to Colombia (referring to the areas in the Amazon and Tayrona national park)
- Climate – In Colombia Temperate and cold in the Andes (Bogota,). Please note the course in altitude (between 2000 and 2600 m altitude). In Panama tropical (hot and humid). Dry season spans between January to April
- Recommendation – We suggest you pack a raincoat, sunblock, bug spray, hat, water shoes and $USD in cash
HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR TRIP
HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR TRIP IN COLOMBIA
- Assistance throughout the journey of our team on site, all speaking professionals
- Services of bilingual guides.
- In Option: Tasting of typical dishes at each step to discover the delicious Colombian cuisine.
- Visit of Gold Museum of Bogota largest collection of pre-Columbian gold objects, witnesses to the art and culture of Indigenous peoples of the country.
HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR TRIP IN PANAMA
- English speaking guide services
- Comfortable private transportation with A/C
- Stroll in the streets of Casco Viejo, UNESCO Historical Site
- Enjoy the beautiful view from Amador Causeway
- Hop on the historical train that goes along the Banks of the canal
- Discover the ruins of Portobelo, rich in history
- Discover the Miraflores Locks, on the Pacific side of the famous Panama Canal
- Watch the lush flora and fauna in the Rainforest Discovery Center
- Unforgettable partial transit of the famous Canal of Panama
- Shop in the trendy Multiplaza Mall
HOTELS
Bogotá
NH Collection Bogotá WTC Royal*****
The NH Collection Bogotá WTC Royal hotel adjoins Bogotá’s World Trade Center on 100 Street, in one of the city’s major business districts. It’s a large and spacious modern hotel with good transportation links to the rest of the city.
A few blocks from the Parque 93 entertainment and business area, spectacular savannah and mountain views from the top floor terrace
A wide range of room types are available, from comfortable and cost-effective executive rooms with desks to adjoining suites with private terraces. Complimentary WiFi, cable TV and MP3 player docking, soundproof windows
Web Site www.nh-collection.com
PANAMA CITY
LAS AMERICAS GOLDEN TOWER*****
Located on the heart of Panama City’s commercial district and right across Paitilla Hospital, Hotel Las Américas Golden Tower Panamá offers an indoor heated pool and free WiFi access.
The luxurious accommodations feature modern décor and are equipped with a flat-screen TV, coffee maker and a safe. The bathrooms will provide a hairdryer and free toiletries.
Web Site http://lasamericasgoldentower.com/
Day 1 – Arrival to Bogota
Arrival at El Dorado International Airport of Bogotá, reception by one of our representatives and formalities of arrival. Transfer and accommodation at the hotel NH ANDINO ROYAL BOGOTA**** or SIMILAR First, visit of The Monserrate, from where you can have a wonderful view of the city, a magnificient panoramic point of the town. This place can be reached by cable car or funicular. Walking tour in the historic center, La Candelaria and discovery all the houses and churches of the XVIIIe and XIX centuries.
Lunch in local restaurant
The course begins with the church of “El Carmen”, a small church built in the mid 17th century and rebuilt in 1926 in larger, to accommodate the growing number of faithful to the “Virgen del Carmen”. On the way to the “Plaza Bolívar”, enjoy the “Casa del Nariño”, home of the President of Colombia, and gardens in the heart of which is an astronomical observatory. The austere facade of the church “Santa Clara” today contains a museum of Colonial Art. Around the “Plaza Bolívar” is located the “Capitolio Nacional”, the “Palacio de Justicia”, the “Alcaldía Mayor” of Bogotá, but also the “Catedral Primada”, the “Capilla del Sagrario” and the “Palacio del Arzobispado”.
Visit Gold museum – is part of the Bank of the Republic; it was created at the initiative of Julio Caro and Luis Angel Arango to avoid the disappearance of many pre-Columbian treasures.
Visit Botero Museum – Art collection donated in 2000 by Fernando Botero, the Colombian artist recognized internationally and is exposed permanently.
Dinner at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel
Day 2 – Bogota / Panama city tour
Breakfast at the hotel
Depart towards “El Dorado” airport of Bogotá and transfer to take the flight towards Panamá City
Arrival to the Tocumen International Airport.
Lunch in a local restaurant
Discover the colonial district called Casco Viejo (classified World Heritage Site by Unesco).
Walk through the streets of this charming neighborhood: churches, Plaza de Francia (view on the modern city), Bolivar Square, etc.
Then continue the day with the discovery of Amador Causeway, originally designed as the canal’s Pacific breakwater, linking the mainland with the tiny islands of Naos, Perico and Flamenco.
You will also be able to stop in front of the Biomuseum to take a picture of this amazing building designed by the famous architect Frank Gehry.
Transfer to the hotel LAS AMERICAS GOLDEN TOWER***** or SIMILAR.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 – Gamboa Rainforest / Panama Canal
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure early in the morning to go to Soberania Park. You will discover the Rainforest Discovery Center. It was built mainly with recycled materials of the old buildings in the Canal Zone (wood, metal). You can climb a tower of 30 meters where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the jungle and observe many species of birds and other animals. You will continue the observation of the fascinating nature of Soberania Park along the famous ‘‘Pipeline Road”, a legendary route for birdwatchers, but where you can also spot many mammals (howler monkeys, capuchins, tamarins, sloths, anteaters, agoutis), reptiles (lizards, snakes), amphibians, insects, etc.
Lunch in a local restaurant by the Gatun Lake
After lunch, you will visit the Miraflores Locks, where you can observe the transit of ships through the locks. Admission also includes the exhibition room and the projection of a 3D video of the history of the canal.
Dinner in a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 – Colon by train / Portobelo / Gatun Locks
Breakfast at the hotel.
You will depart early in the morning to reach the Caribbean coast following the old route the “Camino Real” used by merchants. You will hop on the transisthmic train, decorated as in the days of the gold rush to follow the Panama Canal.
Then you will visit the Gatun Locks, on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal, where you can observe the operation of the first locks on the Atlantic side.
Finally, you will discover Portobelo walled town classified by Unesco.
Delicious Afro-Caribbean lunch in a local restaurant
After lunch, you will visit the Church of the Black Christ and Portobello museum which contains important historical documents also recognized by UNESCO in 1980.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 5 – Partial transit of the Canal
Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast, transfer to the port of embarkation at Amador Causeway. The partial transit may be southbound or northbound, you will pass the two systems of locks of the Pacific side of the Canal: the Miraflores Locks and Pedro Miguel Locks. You will also pass through the Gaillard Trench (Corte Culebra), Lake Gatun, under the Puente Centenario (Centennial Bridge) and the Puente de las Americas (Bridge of the Americas).
Lunch on the boat
Dinner in a local restaurant with folkloric show and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 – Shopping Tour
Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Multiplaza Mall, a modern and trendy Shopping Mall centrally located.
Lunch in a local restaurant
Free afternoon in Panama City.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 – Panama / Bogota
Breakfast the hotel.
Free time
Lunch at the hotel
At the given time, the guide will pick you up at the hotel for the transfer to Tocumen Airport.
Arrival at El Dorado International Airport of Bogotá, reception by one of our representatives and formalities of arrival.
Transfer and accommodation at the hotel NH ROYAL WTC BOGOTA***** or SIMILAR
Dinner included in the hotel
Overnight at the hotel
Day 8 – Bogota – OUT
Breakfast at the hotel
Depart towards “El Dorado” airport of Bogotá and transfer to take the flight towards Istanbul
Flight: TK 175 BOG/IST 09h30 -09h25+1 (flight not included).
END OF OUR SERVICES.