Things to Do in Panama: Reefs, Rainforests & Historic Forts

Adventure Tours

Panama’s small size and varied landscapes makes it an ideal place for adventurous activities. These activities are safe, fun, and typically suitable for people of all ages and abilities. Travelers to Panama can enjoy rafting, zip lining, horseback riding, ocean kayaking, scuba diving, and ATV riding. Qualified, professional guides lead the tours and ensure that travelers have a safe and memorable experience.

Cultural Tours

Culture runs deep in Panama. With historic ruins, lively markets and seven indigenous groups, travelers won’t have any trouble experiencing Panama’s strong cultural dimensions. These tours bring visitors into close contact with the heart of Panamanian culture—they include visits to coffee plantations, historic forts, museums and performing arts centers, and indigenous villages. They are a great way to get a feel for where Panama has been and where it is going.

Educational Tours

To truly appreciate a new country, you must first understand it. Educational tours are aimed at helping travelers comprehend the cultural, environmental, and agricultural practices that contribute to Panama’s unique identity. You might take a guided hike in the forest or head off on a birding expedition. You can learn about sea turtles by watching them nest or enroll in a Spanish language course and begin speaking the national language. Whatever you choose, you’ll leave with a better understanding – and appreciation – of Panama.

Leisure Tours

Travel can be fast-paced and tiring. These tours slow things down and help travelers unwind and enjoy their experience in Panama. Some tours, like spa days and massage treatments, are purely the province of relaxation. Other tours allow travelers to appreciate the country in a leisurely, agreeable manner—they might include a safari float or a boat ride up the Panama Canal.

Marine Tours

As the land bridge between Central America and South America, Panama borders both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Its coastline stretches some 1,550 miles (2,490 km) and includes a diverse sampling of beaches and islands. Marine tours allow travelers to enjoy the ocean in a variety of ways – swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, sea kayaking, deep-sea fishing, and marine mammal observation. These tours combine the spray of the sea with the rays of the sun and expose travelers to some seriously beautiful areas. You’ll also have the chance to spot a number of marine creatures, including tropical fish, dolphins, manta rays, and whales.

Nature Tours

Panama has spectacular natural areas—there are massive forests, extensive coral reefs, mangrove wetlands, and all manner of creatures within the country’s borders. These tours bring travelers face-to-face (or face-to-fin in some cases) with the animals and tropical plants that populate the country. They include hikes with naturalist guides, bird watching expeditions, mangrove tours, turtle nesting, marine mammal observation, and night hikes.