Rumble in the Jungle

Biking, Hiking, Kayaking, Zip Lining, Rappelling & Snorkelling
Adventure travel panama

Attention Adrenaline junkies – here's one for you: a 10-day Rumble in the Jungle! Zig-zag from the Pacific to the Caribbean on your own sweat and steam. On these Panama adventure tours, we bike on twisty trails through fertile valleys while watching ships transit through the Panama Canal. We hike through tropical rainforests abundant with exotic wildlife and rappel down rushing waterfalls in Las Minas. We snorkel in translucent seas filled with tropical marine life. We spend two nights camping on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean, filling our days with sea kayaking and fishing. Finally, we zip through a forest canopy, bolting between wooden platforms perched high in the trees. This Panama adventure tour is charged with active thrills and distinctive Panamanian culture.

WOW FACTORS

  • Biking dirt trails in the Panama canal zone
  • Rappelling down an invigorating 100 ft waterfall in Las Minas
  • Island hopping by sea kayak in the Gulf of Chiriqui in search of coral reefs
  • Hiking in Amistad National Park, the largest nature reserve in Central America

Trip Itinerary

DayDestinationActivityLodgingMeals
1Panama CityArrivalHotel-
2Soberania National ParkBikingHotelB,L
3Soberania National Park - PortobelloBikingHotelB,L
4Portobello - BoqueteBikingHotelB,L,D
5Chiriqui Viejo - BoqueteWaterfall RappellingHotelB,L
6Amistad National Park - BoqueteHikingHotelB,L
7Gulf of ChiriquiSea Kayaking & SnorkellingTentB,L,D
8Gulf of ChiriquiSea Kayaking & SnorkellingHotelB,L
9Boquete - Panama CityZip-liningHotelB
10Panama CityDeparture-B

Day 1: Arrival Panama City (Arrival)

Upon arrival you will be met by a BikeHike Adventures representative and transferred to a comfortable hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore Panama City. In the evening, we'll go over the itinerary discussing the adventure that lies ahead.

Day 2: Soberania National Park - Pipeline Trail (Biking)

This morning we head to Gamboa and the Soberania National Park to bike along the Pipeline Trail. We’ll spend approximately 4 hours cycling along steamy jungle trails that are shaded under giant tropical trees. This area is renowned for some of the best biking and bird watching in all of Panama, so keep your eyes peeled for the many exotic species. We’ll make it back to the van in time for a picnic lunch and then head to the Panama Canal in the afternoon to watch the steady stream of big ships passing through the locks. Overnight in Panama City. (B,L)

Day 3: Soberania National Park - Portobello (Biking)

We’ll feast on a Panamanian breakfast of champions before jumping into our vehicle for a drive back to Soberania National Park for another day of biking. The park is part of the Panama Canal Watershed. We’ll unload our bikes and set off pedaling, keeping an eye out for agouti, howler monkeys and three-toed sloth. The terrain is a double track dirt path, with good stretches of climbs and descents and through a humid climate. We’ll ride for approximately 3 hours before returning back to our van for lunch. Afterwards we’ll head to the historic town of Portobello where we’ll check into a comfortable hotel near the ocean and have the remainder of the evening at leisure. (B,L)

Day 4: Portobello - Boquete (Biking)

This morning we are back on our bikes heading to the rainforest region of San Lorenzo National Park. From the rangers station we’ll cycle along a series of paved roads and easy trails. We’ll ride to a sandy beach and then head to the fort of San Lorenzo, built during the 16th century. The fortress overlooks the mouth of the Rio Chagres. We return to our hotel for lunch and a shower, then transfer to the domestic airport for a flight to David. Upon arrival we’ll transfer to a comfortable hotel in Boquete. We’ll go out for a dinner in a local restaurant and have an orientation about the next few days in the mountains. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Chiriqui Viejo - Boquete (Waterfall Rappelling)

After a hearty breakfast we drive for 30 minutes to Las Minas where we head out for a three hour hike that will take us to the waterfalls. The Las Minas trail runs along a gurgling creek that spills into the Rio Caldera. We’ll also pass through plantations of coffee and strawberries. On the trail are three cascading waterfalls dripping from the canyon walls. They measure from 60-260 feet. We’ll set up our ropes on the second waterfall of 80 feet. Get ready for a blast of adrenaline as we rappel through the frothy curtain and back down to terra firma. We will have a picnic lunch at the the waterfall and rejuvenate with an invigorating swim under the falls. After lunch everyone has a chance for a second rappel. We’ll return back to our vehicle hiking 1.5 hours along the same trail and then head back to Boquete. The remainder of the afternoon we have some leisure time to explore Boquete before dinner. Overnight in the same comfortable hotel in Boquete. (B,L)

Day 6: Amistad National Park - Boquete (Hiking)

Today we switch gears and spend the day hiking. We start with a short drive to the trailhead, in Bajo Mono, and then hike through remote virgin cloudforest in Falling Waters and Amistad National Park. The park is abundant with native wildlife including over a hundred species of birds, including the Resplendent Quetzal, howler and white face monkeys and sloths. We’ll break for a picnic at a waterfall, where we can refresh under the falls. Afterwards we’ll start making tracks back to Boquete getting into town mid afternoon with time to enjoy the surroundings. (B,L)

Days 7 and 8: Gulf of Chiriqui (Sea Kayaking & Snorkelling)

After an early morning breakfast we drive to Pedregal to begin our 2-day sea kayak adventure. We start by covered motorboat first, for a one hour journey to the Golfo de Chiriqui. We'll motor past twisted mangroves, coral reefs, white sand beaches and uninhabited islands. If we're lucky we'll encounter playful dolphins along the way. These protected waters of Panama are teeming with marine life! Upon arrival on our deserted island we'll have lunch and take a bit of time to relax in hammocks while our guides set up camp. In the afternoon we'll head out for a group paddle and also have plenty of time for snorkeling in the turquoise seas. For those interested in fishing, there will be dusk and dawn opportunities. On day 7, we'll spend the night in tents, camping beneath brilliant skies filled with stars. We'll return to Boquete around 5pm on Day 8 and check back into our same Boquete hotel. (B,L,D on Day 7 and B,L on Day 8)

Day 9: Boquete - Panama City (Zip-Lining)

We start the morning with a good breakfast and then hit the trails for a short hike into the forest for a dose of adrenaline on a canopy tour. We'll glide through the treetops of century-old forests, high above the pristine rivers and waterfalls that make up the incredible collection of natural landscapes bordering the National Park La Amistad and the famous Baru Volcano. Afterwards, we'll head back to Boquete for lunch. Late afternoon, we'll transfer back to David to catch a domestic flight back to Panama City. Upon arrival, we'll be met and transferred back to our comfortable hotel in Panama City. The remainder of the night is free to enjoy the city nightlife. (B)

Day 10: Panama City - Departure

You'll be transferred to the international airport for your flight back home. (B)

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Trip Includes:

All accommodation (twin shared), meals as indicated (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner), internal transportation including 2 internal flights, mountain bikes, camping gear, airport transfers and veteran guides.

Trip Does Not Include:

Airport departure taxes, gratuities, meals not indicated and items of a personal nature.

Meals:

9 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 2 Dinners

Accommodation:

Hotel: 8 Nights

Tent: 1 Night

“Enjoyed the trip. Liked best the sea kayaking, snorkeling and both days of mountain biking”
– Laura Borton, Houston, Texas

"Our Tour Guide, Rolando, stopped at NOTHING to make sure that we were well accomodated and comfortable. He even helped me make changes to my travel plans so I could stay in Panama longer. What a great guide!"
– John Harper, Portland, Oregon

Click here for more BikeHike Testimonials.

About Panama:

Panama is the hidden eco gem of Central America. This narrow slice of land pushed up from the ocean floor four million years ago to bridge the gap between the North and South American continents. It boasts the most protected land in all of Central America, with 40% of the entire country declared national parks, making Panama Adventure tours a once in a lifetime experience. Picture long stretches of unspoiled whitesand beaches, virgin rain forests, misty cloud forests, over 900 species of birds, 1,500 species of trees and over 7,000 plants. Panama is a real tropical paradise for adventure travel enthusiasts. The best part of all — it's practically undiscovered compared to its Central American counterparts.

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