Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Panama: the Canal, Casco Viejo and the Guna Yala islands
6 days from Panama City: two nights for the Canal and Casco Viejo, then by 4x4 and boat to three nights in a Guna-run island lodge in San Blas.
6 days · Round trip from Panama City · up to 12 guests
A sailing canoe in the San Blas islands Photo: Alex Proimos from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sailing_in_San_Blas,_Panama_(8395179124).jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 6 days, 5 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Panama City
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Easy
Two guided city walks of about 1.5 and 2.5 km on flat streets and cobbles in the heat, the Miraflores Locks viewing terraces, one 3-hour 4x4 drive on a steep, winding road each way, open motorboat rides of 20 to 45 minutes that can be bumpy, and optional snorkelling in shallow water. Getting in and out of the boats means stepping over the side, sometimes into knee-deep water. Any walk or swim can be sat out.
- Meals included
- 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 315 (estimated price)
- Season
- Dry season, December to April
Highlights
Why this trip
- Ships raised and lowered in the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal
- Casco Viejo on foot in the late afternoon, ending on the old sea wall at sunset
- The busy pedestrian Avenida Central at dusk, walking into the old town for the welcome dinner
- The 4x4 road over the forested hills of the Guna Yala comarca to the Cartí port
- Three nights on a Guna island, in a private cabin a few steps from the water
- A natural pool of shallow sandbars with starfish, and snorkelling off a small island
- A community visit with Guna mola makers, on the community's own terms
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 315 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Panama City
Tocumen International Airport to your hotel in Panama City, then the Cristo Rey church and a walk along Avenida Central
- Dinner
- Stay in Panama City
- Drive about 1 h
Fly into Tocumen International Airport (PTY), about 25 km east of the centre. A driver meets you in the arrivals hall for the 30 to 60 minute drive into the city, along the bay past the banking towers. At about 4:30 pm your See Sight Tours guide meets the group and the van makes a short stop at the white Cristo Rey parish church, one of the city's landmark churches. The van then drops us at Plaza 5 de Mayo, and we walk about 1 km in under an hour along the pedestrian stretch of Avenida Central, lined with shoe shops, fruit sellers and early 20th-century facades, to the edge of Casco Viejo as the heat goes out of the day.
Evening
Over a welcome dinner of Panamanian dishes such as sancocho, ceviche and fried plantain, your guide explains the week: why day 3 starts early, what to pack for the islands and which bag stays at the hotel.
Included
- Pick-up at Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
- Short stop at the Cristo Rey church
- Guided walk along the pedestrian Avenida Central to the edge of Casco Viejo
- Welcome dinner and briefing
Easier option: Skip the walk and meet the group at the restaurant; the van can bring you.
Free time: Free until the 4:30 pm walk
Activity: Land by about 1 pm to join the walk; later arrivals are met and join the group at dinner.
The Miraflores Locks and Casco Viejo
Panama City to the Miraflores Locks and the Amador Causeway, then on foot along Avenida 3 de Noviembre into Casco Viejo
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Panama City
- Drive about 1 h
Morning
After breakfast we drive about twenty minutes to the Miraflores Locks at the Pacific end of the Panama Canal, opened in 1914 and run by Panama since the end of 1999.
Evening
We stay about 90 minutes, timed to the day's posted ship transits, which your guide checks the evening before; in the morning the ships in the locks are mostly northbound, heading for the Caribbean. From the terraces you watch a ship the length of a city block raised or lowered with a few metres to spare, and the museum explains how the locks work. Lunch is a sit-down meal on the Amador Causeway, built from rock dug out of the canal, looking back at the skyline. After a rest through the midday heat, the van drops us at about 4 pm at the top of Avenida 3 de Noviembre, a different street from last night's, and we walk down it under the viaduct and past the stalls to the seafood market and the waterfront, then into Casco Viejo: the cathedral square, the golden altar of the San José church, Plaza Bolívar and the French plaza, ending on the old sea wall at sunset. Dinner is free.
Included
- Miraflores Locks visitor centre entry, with the viewing terraces and museum (about 90 minutes)
- Sit-down lunch on the Amador Causeway
- Guided walk of about 2.5 km along Avenida 3 de Noviembre to the waterfront and through Casco Viejo to the sea wall at sunset
Optional experiences
- The Biomuseo on the Amador Causeway or the Panama Canal Museum in Casco Viejo, at your own cost
Easier option: Ride the van to Casco Viejo and join the walk there, skipping the Avenida 3 de Noviembre section.
More active option: After sunset, carry on with your guide along the Cinta Costera waterfront path.
Free time: Midday rest and dinner free
Activity: About 2.5 km on foot in the late afternoon, on pavements and cobbles; it is hot, so bring water and a hat. Pack your small island bag tonight.
By 4x4 and boat to Guna Yala
Panama City to El Llano and over the hills to the Cartí port, then by boat to our island
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Guna Yala islands
- Drive about 3 h
Morning
This is the trip's one early start: the 4x4s leave at about 5:30 am, the normal pattern for this road, so we clear the Guna Yala checkpoint before the queue builds and cross to the islands in the calmer morning water. Your main bag stays at the hotel. We drive east on the Pan-American Highway to El Llano, then north on the El Llano to Cartí road, about 40 km of steep, winding climbs and drops through forested hills that only four-wheel drives may use. At the checkpoint we show passports and the entry fee is paid for you. From the Cartí port a motorboat takes 20 to 45 minutes to our island lodge, run by a Guna family.
Afternoon
After settling into the cabins, lunch is fresh fish, rice, plantain and coconut. The afternoon is free: swim, snorkel off the beach or sleep in a hammock.
Evening
After dinner, the generator or solar power goes off early and the stars come out.
Included
- 4x4 transfer from Panama City to the Cartí port
- Guna Yala entry fee and island fees
- Motorboat from Cartí to the island lodge
- All meals at the lodge
- Snorkel mask for the stay
Easier option: Rest in the shade after lunch; there is nothing you have to do this afternoon.
More active option: Snorkel along the island's edge with your guide in the afternoon.
Free time: Afternoon free on the island
Activity: About 3 hours by road, the last hour steep and winding; take motion-sickness tablets if you need them. Stepping out of the boat can mean wet feet.
The natural pool and a snorkelling island
A boat day among the islands of Guna Yala
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Guna Yala islands
- By boat
Morning
After breakfast we board the lodge's boat with a Guna captain for a morning among the islands. The first stop is a natural pool, a wide sandbar in the open sea where the water is waist-deep and clear, and starfish often lie on the sand; please look and leave them in the water. Next we cross to a small island to swim and snorkel over seagrass and patches of coral, where you see reef fish rather than big animals. If the wind is strong, which is common from about January to March, the captain picks the most sheltered spots, and the plan can swap with tomorrow's.
Afternoon
We are back at the lodge for lunch, and the afternoon is free: swim, read, buy a mola from the Guna women who paddle out to sell them, or walk round the island, which may take ten minutes.
Evening
Dinner is at the lodge, usually fish or chicken with rice. After dinner your guide briefs us on the community's visiting rules for tomorrow.
Included
- Morning boat trip with a Guna captain
- A natural pool on a sandbar
- Swimming and snorkelling at a small island
- All meals at the lodge
- Evening briefing on the community's visiting rules
Optional experiences
- A longer boat trip to the Cayos Holandeses, the outer islands, paid locally to the lodge if the sea allows
Easier option: Stand or float in the waist-deep natural pool, or stay on the beach at the second island.
More active option: Snorkel at both stops and again off the lodge island in the afternoon.
Free time: Afternoon free on the island
Activity: Open boat rides of 15 to 30 minutes between stops, which can be wet. Bring reef-safe sun cream and a rash vest; the sun reflects off the water.
A Guna community visit
Our island to a Guna community island and back
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Guna Yala islands
- By boat
Evening
Last evening your guide went over the rules, which the community sets: ask before photographing anyone, and expect a small fee if they agree; cover shoulders and knees; follow the local guide; and never take a coconut, because every palm in Guna Yala has an owner. After breakfast we take the boat to a Guna community island arranged by the lodge, where houses of cane and palm thatch stand close together on the sand. With a Guna guide we walk the lanes, visit the congress house where the community meets, and spend time with mola makers, who sew layered, cut-away cloth panels worn on the front and back of the women's blouses and explain what the patterns mean. Crafts are for sale, never required. We are back at the lodge for lunch. The afternoon is free for a last swim, and at sunset the group gathers on the beach for the final island dinner.
Included
- Boat to a Guna community island and back
- Guided visit with a Guna guide, including the congress house and mola makers
- All meals at the lodge
Easier option: Sit with the mola makers rather than walking the whole village.
More active option: In the afternoon, snorkel or paddle a lodge canoe round the island, if the lodge has one free.
Free time: Afternoon free on the island
Activity: The village walk is short and flat on sand. Bring small US notes in case you want to buy a mola or pay for a photo.
Back to Panama City and home
Our island by boat to the Cartí port, by 4x4 to the Panama City hotel for your bags, then by van to lunch and Tocumen International Airport
- Breakfast and lunch
- Drive about 3.5 h
Morning
A last breakfast and swim, then the boat leaves at about 8:30 am for the Cartí port, where the 4x4s wait.
Afternoon
The road back climbs over the same forested hills to El Llano and runs west along the Pan-American Highway, about 2.5 hours, to our Panama City hotel at about midday. There we collect the main bags from storage and change into our own van. A sit-down farewell lunch nearby takes about an hour, and the van then drives about 45 minutes to Tocumen International Airport (PTY), arriving at about 2:30 to 3 pm. Boat and road times depend on the sea and the checkpoint, so for international flights, which need about three hours at the airport, book a flight home leaving after about 6 pm. If you are staying on in Panama City, the van drops you at your hotel instead; we can quote extra nights, or join you to the Panama highlights trip through Boquete and Bocas del Toro.
Included
- Motorboat from the island to the Cartí port
- 4x4 transfer from Cartí to the Panama City hotel
- Main bags collected from the hotel's storage
- Sit-down farewell lunch
- Van to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) or a Panama City hotel
Free time: No free time: the day ends at Tocumen International Airport or your city hotel.
Activity: Book a flight home leaving Tocumen after about 6 pm.
- Panama City2 nights
- Guna Yala islands3 nights
- Panama Cityend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: December to April is the dry season: hot, sunny days in Panama City and less rain on the islands. It is also the windy season on the Caribbean coast, especially from about January to March, so the boat rides can be bumpy and spray-soaked, and the captain may change which natural pool or reef we visit. Starfish are usually seen in the shallows of the natural pools; reef fish are small and colourful rather than big, and nothing is promised.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- A short Panama trip that pairs the Canal and the old town with island time
- Travellers happy to unplug: little power, no air conditioning and almost no internet on the islands
- Curious travellers who want to meet a Guna community with a guide, on its rules
- Solo travellers who want company and a guide who handles the 4x4, boats and fees
- An add-on to the Panama highlights trip through Boquete and Bocas del Toro
Not for you if you want
- Anyone who needs air conditioning, hot showers or a resort: the island lodge is simple by design
- Travellers who get badly seasick: the open-boat rides can be rough in the windy months
- Divers: scuba diving is not allowed in Guna Yala, and snorkelling here is about calm water rather than big reef life
- Those who want nightlife or restaurants every evening on the islands
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
5 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Panama City2 nights
- Guna Yala islands3 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 5 nights: Panama City (2) and a Guna-run island lodge in Guna Yala (3)
- Panama City: a 3-star-plus hotel in or near Casco Viejo with private bathroom, hot water and air conditioning
- Guna Yala: a private cabin for each room with real beds, mosquito nets and its own bathroom (cold water, power in the evening only, no air conditioning)
- Luggage storage at the Panama City hotel during the island nights
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up and drop-off at Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
- An air-conditioned van with driver in Panama City
- 4x4 transfers from Panama City to the Cartí port and back to the Panama City hotel
- Motorboats from Cartí to the island lodge and back
- The lodge's boat for the natural pool, the snorkelling island and the community visit
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group for the whole trip, including the island nights
- The Miraflores visitor centre's own exhibits, a Guna captain on the boats and a Guna guide for the community visit
Activities
- Short stop at the Cristo Rey church and a guided walk along Avenida Central, Panama City
- Miraflores Locks visitor centre, Panama Canal
- Guided walk along Avenida 3 de Noviembre and through Casco Viejo, Panama City
- Guna Yala entry fee and island fees
- A natural pool on a sandbar, Guna Yala
- Swimming and snorkelling at a small island, with a mask, Guna Yala
- Guna community visit with a Guna guide, Guna Yala
Meals
- 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinners
- Welcome dinner in Panama City
- Sit-down lunches on the Canal day and the day back
- Full board for the three island days
Not included
- International flights to and from Panama City
- Travel insurance
- Lunch on day 1 and dinners on days 2 and 6
- Drinks, including drinks at the island lodge
- Tips for your guide, drivers, boat crew and community guide
- Photo fees in the community, if you choose to photograph people
- Crafts and molas
- Optional activities such as a partial canal transit, the Biomuseo or a Cayos Holandeses boat trip
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 315 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Five nights (two in a Panama City hotel and three in a private island cabin), 14 meals including full board on the islands, airport transfers, the 4x4s and boats, the Guna Yala entry and island fees, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, the Miraflores Locks, two guided city walks, the natural pool, snorkelling and the community visit.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests, which fits two 4x4s, one island boat and one lodge table. The other San Blas small-group trip on the market runs to 16 and uses multi-share huts. If you want even fewer people, book the private trip for your party only.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide stays with the group for the whole trip, including the three island nights. In Guna Yala, local people lead where the territory is theirs: a Guna captain runs the boats and a Guna guide leads the community visit, because visits are on the community's terms.
What are the island lodges in San Blas like?
Simple. We use a Guna-run lodge where each room is a private cabin with real beds, mosquito nets and its own bathroom. Showers are cold, power runs in the evening only, there is no air conditioning, and internet is weak or absent. Meals are fresh fish or chicken, rice, plantain and fruit. We name the lodge when we confirm your dates.
How fit do I need to be?
Easy fitness is enough. The city walks are about 1.5 and 2.5 km on the flat, in the heat. The harder parts are a steep, winding 4x4 road and open boats that can be bumpy, with a step over the side into shallow water to land. Snorkelling is optional, and the natural pool is waist-deep.
I am travelling solo. Is there a single supplement?
Solo travellers are welcome. You can share a room at the twin-share price, or have a room and island cabin of your own from CAD 315 more, shown up front when you request to book. There is no other solo charge.
When is the best time to visit San Blas?
December to April, Panama's dry season, which is when this trip runs. Expect sunny days and less rain on the islands. It is also the windy season on the Caribbean coast, especially from about January to March, so boat rides can be wet and the captain chooses the sheltered spots on the day.
What are the rules when visiting a Guna community?
Ask before photographing anyone and expect to pay a small fee if they agree. Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees. Follow your Guna guide, and never take coconuts, because every palm has an owner. Buying a mola is welcome but never required. Your guide briefs the group the evening before.
Do I need a visa for Panama?
Canadian, US, UK and most EU passport holders do not need a visa for a tourist stay. You need a valid passport and proof of onward travel, and your passport is checked again at the Guna Yala checkpoint on day 3. We confirm the passport-validity rule for your passport when you book.
How does booking work?
Choose your start date and request to book. We check availability and provide the final quote, itinerary and booking terms before you accept. No payment is taken when you send the request. The small group starts from CAD 1,840 per person sharing, taxes included, with the Guna Yala fees, island meals and boats in that price.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. Besides the small group, the trip comes as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose, from CAD 3,310 per person sharing. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote the hotel, lodge, transfers and guided visits.
Can I combine this with the rest of Panama?
Yes. This trip ends in Panama City, so it works before or after our 8-day Panama trip through the Canal, Boquete and Bocas del Toro. Tell us when you request to book and we will quote the nights in between.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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