HIGHLIGHTS

Be ready to paddle in a week all main rivers that Panama has to offer. Each river with its own unique environment will give you a refreshed new day every day. From the pristine jungles of Chagres National Park to the wild rivers of Chiriqui you will get to know our Panama.

We start from easy rivers progressing to more challenging ones. Great for nature lovers, river rats, everyone that enjoys paddling outdoors.

View Jungle and Cloud Forest in a larger map.

ITINERARY

1st day: Arrival to Panama City

You will be welcomed by us at Tocumen International Airport, near Panama City, and transferred to a downtown hotel. We will have a welcome meeting for the group at 07:00 pm in the hotel lobby.

Lodging at Hotel Marbella**

2nd day: The Chagres Challenge

Get ready for an early start at 5:00 a.m. when you will be picked up and taken in an all-terrain vehicle to the remote village of San Cristobal, which is past the mountains of Cerro Azul, northeast of Panama City.

After a wild 4x4 drive through our own made highway, you will hike for about 2-3 hours on a trail within Chagres National Park up to Rio Piedras, a Chagres River tributary. Here you will get into rafts to float downstream (Class II-III rapids) into the untouched jungles of the upper basin of the Chagres River.

We will set up camp in a river shore around 4:00 p.m. Tales around a cozy campfire are a sure thing.

Lodging at Tent Camp – breakfast, lunch, dinner

3rd day: Embera Indian Village

After breakfast you will help to take down our camp and leave no trace behind.

Then, you will continue rafting further downstream passing an impressive granite canyon with some white water rapid action, and ending just before encountering Alajuela Lake.

There you will be expected by a “piragua” (native dugout canoe equipped with outboard motor) that will take you to their Embera Indian Village.

These Embera Natives migrated to Chagres National Park more than 20 years ago, where they found the same habitat that they were so familiar with in the remote  Darien Jungles, by Colombia.

After sharing the kind hospitality of Embera Natives we will get back to our “piragua” that will take us to the nearest road. A driver will be expecting to bring you back to civilization, and to your new destination, Santa Clara Beach, about a 2 hour drive, to the west of Panama City. Here you will be pampered by the sound of the breaking waves of the Pacific Ocean for a good night sleep.

Lodging Hotel Veraneras* – breakfast, lunch

4th day: Rio Grande White Water, Class III

After an early breakfast we will head northwest, about a 1.5 hour drive, towards Rio Grande where depending on the river's water level we might raft or kayak it. And then, we'll hit the road further west and up to Boquete in the mountain region of Chiriqui Province, where the cooler climate will surprise you. Around dinner time you will reach your hotel. The rest of the evening you can walk around the town enjoying the fresh and cool air.

Lodging Casa Romero** – lunch

5th day: White Water River Rafting, Chiriqui

After an early breakfast, you will head towards the border with Costa Rica, at Paso Canoas. Close by, you will experience a breathtaking, adrenaline rush, rafting tour of the Chiriqui Viejo River with most rapids being Class III-IV.  Depending on the water level and departing section you will be rafting for about 3-4 hours.

Lodging Casa Romero**– lunch

6th day: Cloud Forest Hike, Chiriqui

After breakfast you will be taken to hike “Los Quetzales” trail from Cerro Punta to Boquete crossing Volcan Baru National Park (or a similar cloud forest hike). With luck, you will see the magnificent Quetzal, a bird only found in cloud forests of Central America. This hike will last 4 – 5 hours and ends in Boquete where a driver is waiting to take you to David Airport in time to take the last flight to Panama City

Lodging Hotel Marbella***– lunch

7th day: Mamoni (Class III-IV) or Pacora(Class III) in duckies

By now we would have paddled all rivers worth running in Panama except the Mamoni, within only a 1.5 hour drive from Panama City towards the north east. If by any chance it is flooded we might choose the smaller Pacora River but our objective will be to paddle in duckies

Lodging Hotel Marbella***–breakfast, lunch

8th day: Departure

After breakfast you will be transferred to Tocumen International Airport (depending on departure time). If time allows it you can search for great buying deals at shopping mallsl or visit ethnic cultural exhibition at Los Pueblitos, or visit the Panama Canal Miraflores Locks. It is up to you ! (These auggested activities are not included).

Breakfast

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT DOES IT INCLUDE ? All mentioned transportation, rafts or duckies and related gear, camping gear, guides, trip's meals. Our guides are trained in white-water navigation skills, first-aid and CPR. All mentioned activities are guided and included.

Lodging and catering:
3 nights at Hotel Marbella**, Panama City
1 night at Tent Campsite by upper Chagres River, Chagres National Park, Panama
1 night at Las Veraneras Lodge*, Santa Clara, Cocle
2 nights at Casa Romero**, Boquete, Chiriqui
3 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 1 dinner

Transfers:
Ground transfer from Tocumen International Airport to Panama City. All ground transfer from Chagres National Park to Santa Clara, Ground transfer from Santa Clara to Chiriqui, Air Transfer from David to Panama City,
Ground Transfer from Panama City to Tocumen International Airport,à All transfers within Panama are included.

NOT INCLUDED: International flight, Airport taxes, personal expenses, tips, meals not specified in itinerary, extras in hotels (laundry, room service, phone calls)

WHO CAN GO ? This land package set departures are designed for couples, friends, or singles above 18 years old that enjoy to team up for paddling outdoors. Lodging has been chosen considering local style, confortable, and basic accommodations with out luxury.

However, any person from twelve to 60 years old, in good health, ready to walk for about two and a half hours through an irregular and muddy path could do it with minor modifications.

Private groups with some customization can be arranged.

WHAT SHOULD YOU TAKE ALONG ? Daily items: Swimsuit or a pair of shorts for navigating, sneakers or light boots with good soles, a cap, sun-block, a light jacket or windbreaker (in case the weather turns chilly), a towel and dry set of clothes for after the day trip. Blanket, flashlight, personal hygiene items.

WHAT SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT ? At day tours leave objects than can be deteriorated by water or valuables like jewels, cash, credit cards, etc. Id that shows that you are legally in the country will be required to paddle Chiriqui Viejo River and Mamoni River where migration controls are established along the way.

PRICE:

US $ 1,910.00 per person in double room
US $ 2,117.00 per person in single room

SEASON:

This package can be done year round. It will be tailored to river water levels choosing rafts or duckies, and suitable river sections.

River water levels are highest in October-November which is the peak of the rainy season, and lowest in March-April-May which is the end of the dry season.

The best season is November through January when rivers are still high but it does not rain much.

NOTES:
(1) Aventuras Panama reserves the right, at its criteria, to exchange program with similar activities or accommodations in case it considers it necessary.
(2) Participants should get familiar and agree with Aventuras Panama Terms and Conditions.