Adventure through the Panama Canal
(5 Days / 4 Nights) Price from: $ 515.00

Tour the old Panama City, with its convents, monasteries and public buildings of ancient architecture. Marvel yourself with the Panama Canal, one of the largest engineering works ever built in the world and enjoy of a day of relaxation where you can still visit the city or shop in its many stores.

Day 1: Welcome to Panama. Suites Ambassador, Suite (B)

Today at the appropriate time a CRS Tours representative will meet you at the Tocumen International Airport to assist and transfer you to your hotel located in Panama City. You will also receive an information kit. Once arrival, please check-in & overnight. Your transfer will take 25 - 30 minutes approximately. Small tropical country in size but huge in biodiversity, Panama offers the visitor an incredible and exuberant natural variety. An abundant vegetation and colourful variety of animals, gives you the opportunity to experience countryside vitality and the abundant Panamanian tropic.  The ecologic richness is inherent of what lives in this biological bridge of numerous species which move between North and South America, since three million years ago.  The great biodiversity that Panama offers is what propelled the Smithsonian Institute of the United States to establish in the country the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), operating since 1923.  The contact with nature in this tropical paradise is a gratifying experience to whoever visits this country, which has destined more than 30% of the national territory to natural reserves.

Day 2: Half Day City Tour. Suites Ambassador, Suite (B)

 Depart from the hotel to visit Panama Viejo, the first city founded in the isthmus by Spanish conquerors at the beginning of colonization. few years following the discovery of the isthmus of Panama, Balboa went through the Darien jungle and discovered an ocean that was until then unknown to the Europeans, the American Pacific Ocean, named by them the South Sea. The first city built by the Spanish conquerors in the coast of said sea in 1619 was Panama, later invade d, looted and destroyed by the pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. The city was abandoned and its inhabitants were relocated in another city some kilometres to the West. From that old city remain the ancient architecture of the cathedral, convents, monasteries, public buildings and a bridge, all of them built from stone. Panamá La Vieja has been declared by the UNESCO as Patrimony to the Humanity. Tourists may visit the ancient stone buildings and walk through the ancient stone streets which are currently covered by grass. It will feel like a very ancient voyage.

Day 3: Partial Panama Canal Transit. Suites Ambassador, Suite (B)

Today at the appropriate time you will be transferred from your hotel in Panama City to Flamenco Marina for your Panama Canal Partial Transit check-in. Once arrival to Flamenco Marina you will check-in for your Canal Transit. This tour departs at the Flamenco Resort and Marina at 9:30 a.m. Passengers board motor coaches for a 45 minute ride to the town of Gamboa where the Panama Canal Dredging Division is located. Once in Gamboa, passengers aboard the Pacific Queen to start the water portion of the tour. We enter the canal at the north end of the Gaillard Cut, where the Chagres River flows into the canal. The Gaillard Cut (also known as Culebra Cut because its curves resemble a snake) is one of the main points of interest for visitors because it was carved through the Continental Divide and this section of the Canal is full of history and geological value. The Pacific Queen will travel the Cut's 13.7 kilometers on the way to Pedro Miguel Locks. As you transit the Cut you will be able to appreciate the continuous maintenance that this area requires, because it is very susceptible to landslides. In this area you will also be able to observe the work in process for the Panama Canal expansion project.  Before reaching the Pedro Miguel Locks at the southern end of the Cut, you will be able to view the new Centennial Bridge which crosses over the Canal. Next, the Pacific Queen will enter Pedro Miguel Locks, which is one of the two sets of locks on the Pacific side, and here the vessel is lowered 9 meters in one step. You will then enter Miraflores Lake, which is a small artificial body of fresh water that separates Pedro Miguel from Miraflores Locks, the latter being the final set of locks before reaching the Pacific Ocean. At Miraflores Locks the vessel is lowered 18 meters in two distinct steps. Once in the Pacific Ocean the vessel will sail to the beautiful Flamenco Marina where passengers disembark. On the way to Flamenco, you will pass under the Bridge of the Americas, and later, you will be able to admire the Bay of Panama and Panama City's splendorous skyline.

Day 4: Free Day in Panama City. Suites Ambassador, Suite (B)

 Today you will have a free day for relaxation and exploration of the nearby areas on your own. Optional activities / tours can be arranged upon request.

Day 5: Transfer back to Panamá airport. Departure.

At the appropriate time, you will be transfer to Tocumen Intl. Airport. Check-out from the hotel and relax in your private transfer until you arrive to Tocumen Airport. You will arrive to the airport 3 hours before your flight for your check-in at your counter.

Includes:

• Personalized information, maps, brochures, vouchers.
• Land Transfer in and out from Tocumen International Airport (SIB)
• 04 nights lodging at hotels indicated at the preceding itinerary. Breakfast and local taxes.
• Half Day City Tour (includes: transportation, bilingual guide, entrance fee to Panama La Vieja Visitor Center and Tower).
• Partial transit in Panama Canal (includes: Bilingual guide/narrator, Full lunch, soft drinks and water (all you can drink), Transportation by bus from Panama City (Flamenco Resort & Marina) to Gamboa where the tour starts)

Excludes:

• Optional activities
• Bank fees
• International taxes - Departure taxes ($40.00 per person for Panama)
• Meals not specified in the itinerary & Alcoholic beverages
• Personal equipment
• Extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service, etc.)
• Gratuities

Price Conditions:

Price per person in US dollars, based on double occupancy.

Includes local taxes. Subject to availability

Valid Rate All Year Round

US$ 515,00 per person

November 01, 2011 to October 31, 2012

Additional cost might apply if traveling between Dec 20 – Jan 05 or Easter week (Apr 01-08) 2012

Important Note:

What makes us different? You can customize your trip to fit your exact needs. Maximize fun time and minimize hassles, mistakes and travel time. Every detail from airport pick-up to adventure tours and activities are arranged by us to make sure the only thing you have to worry about is having fun. Use our quick and easy trip customization form and find out how affordable your dream Costa Rica vacation can be! With CRS you don´t just vacation in Costa Rica, you experience it!

What To Bring:

The most important things to bring are your travel documents: a valid passport, flight and hotel information, health insurance card and driver's license (if you plan on renting a car in Costa Rica). We advise you to make three copies of these documents. Put one copy in your carry-on bag, one copy in your suitcase and leave one copy at home.

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