The Perfect Panama Experience

Depending on your departure location, you'll likely arrive in the evening at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, via Copa Airlines. I stayed at Central Hotel in Casco Viejo (Old Town), a safe and historic UNESCO heritage site just outside Panama City and a 15-minute Uber ride from the next airport. The package from Dolphin Blue Paradise includes a special rate at Central Hotel, making it more affordable and a very nice place to stay for two nights before heading to Dolphin Blue Paradise for four nights.

Spending two nights in Casco Viejo before experiencing the archipelago makes the vacation incredibly well-rounded, maximizing your Panama experience. By booking the package with Dolphin Blue Paradise, I received a complete itinerary and travel guide for Panama City, allowing me to discover the hidden gems of Casco Viejo, including restaurants, museums, markets, spas, and more. Upon arriving at Central Hotel, I went to dinner at a great restaurant recommended by Dolphin Blue Paradise. It was reasonably priced and very good. After dinner, I took a stroll around Casco Viejo, familiarizing myself with the area and settling in.

I enjoyed a delicious complimentary breakfast at the Central Hotel. Afterward, I took an Uber to the Panama Canal and explored the locks and the canal's history, which turned out to be much cheaper than booking a museum tour. Using Dolphin Blue Paradise's Panama City guidebook, I found a great place for lunch and had an amazing Thai massage afterward. For dinner, I visited another fantastic restaurant recommended by DBP, then prepared for my travels the following day.

I woke up early and enjoyed breakfast at the hotel. Afterward, I took one last stroll around the town and picked up a couple of souvenirs. The Uber ride from Central Hotel to Albrook Airport took no more than 15 minutes. Checking bags and waiting to board was a smooth process. The plane I boarded was small, offering breathtaking views of the serene blue waters of the archipelago below. Upon landing, I was warmly greeted by Marcus, one of the staff members, who took my bags and offered me the option of a taxi or a 10-minute walk. I chose to walk to explore Bocas Town and experience its vibrant atmosphere.

Following a scenic 30-minute boat ride, which included beautiful views of the archipelago, mangrove canals, and a glimpse of dolphins in Dolphin Bay, I was dropped off at an over-water restaurant. There, I was welcomed with a drink, and my bags were taken to my cabana. The introduction was delightful, and I shared my plans for the next three days with the owner, Yuh Schabacker, allowing her to plan the rest of my stay. For lunch, I enjoyed a delicious homemade flatbread topped with vegetables from the garden and homemade marinara sauce. The rest of the evening was spent unpacking and relaxing at the swim dock with my book until dinner.

For dinner, I enjoyed a three-course meal that included an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert. The meal began with an appetizer of cucumber soup and a homemade tortilla. The main dish was grilled wahoo, a local fish, which was amazing. Dessert was a fantastic chocolate coconut pie garnished with a passionfruit sauce. Everything was made with fresh ingredients, and the food was amazing. After dinner, I returned to my room to find a lovely turn-down service, which included a refilled thermos of water, a neatly arranged mosquito net over the bed, extra fans, fresh flowers, and a room sprayed with citrus mosquito repellent. Overall, it was a fantastic first night in paradise!

I woke up early to kayak around Dolphin Bay in search of dolphins and check out the surrounding environment. During my adventure, I was lucky enough to spot three dolphins. Upon returning, I enjoyed an amazing complimentary breakfast of homemade bread and homemade jams, yogurt with homemade granola, fresh fruit from the garden, a mix of fresh coconut and fruit juice, and a main dish featuring a poached egg over thinly sliced lettuce with a lime sauce and bacon bits.

During the day, I booked the "Castaway Tour," which included an hour-long boat ride to Playa Bahía Azul, a picturesque remote beach with nobody in sight. The white sandy beach stretched along the bright blue and green water, creating a stunning scene. We then visited a village called Ensenada and saw the lifestyle of the Ngäbe tribe. Afterwards, we drove 20 miles out and fished, catching a black tuna which we would later eat fresh. The views were amazing and the water was a pure blue color.

When we got back, I freshened up for dinner. The appetizer was a tuna Poisson cru with the tuna I had caught that day, followed by grilled snapper, and finished with flambé pineapple and pineapple ice cream. Another amazing day concluded with a fantastic dinner and turn-down service.

I woke up early and went on a nature hike with the nature expert and head gardener Roque. His keen eye allowed us to spot more than 10 sloths and monkeys, and he even picked a cacao plant for me to taste. Roque explained the history of world-class Belgian chocolate and shared that his mom has a cacao farm that used to sell to Lindor. The hike was amazing, and Roque's knowledge of the surrounding area was impressive.

After the hike, I ate breakfast, which included the daily homemade bread and homemade jams, yogurt and granola, and a sourdough galette with ham and cheese, my favorite breakfast of the entire trip. Today, I chose to book an excursion to Monkey Island and Zapatilla. Monkey Island was incredible, with countless monkeys playing all around me. I had the chance to feed and hold the rescued and orphaned monkeys.

After Monkey Island, we drove out to Zapatilla, one of the islands where the show Survivor was filmed. Marcus knew a great spot with nobody around, so we beached the boat and set up a picnic under a palm tree overlooking the beautiful archipelago. Marcus prepared a pasta salad and served a cold fresh coconut to drink, which was fantastic. After lunch, I grabbed a snorkel set and swam in the perfectly clear water, spotting many fish and coral.

On the way back, I enjoyed a nice local beer and watched the serene islands and water pass by.

Before dinner, I booked an hour-long waterski session which was fantastic. I even waterskied next to dolphins in Dolphin Bay! The water was glassy and the views were outstanding.

Once I was back, I took a siesta, napping in a hammock on the swim dock. After my nap, I took a stroll through the garden, spotting all of the various fruits, vegetables, spices, and herbs they grow. I even picked a fresh mango off the mango tree for myself.

For dinner, I had an appetizer of homemade hummus and pita bread, followed by koftas with baba ghanoush, and banana ice for dessert. Everything was delicious, as usual. After dinner, I sat out late admiring the stars and the bioluminescence that lit up the dark water, which was an incredible sight. After stargazing and experiencing the bioluminescence, I got ready for my last day.

It was the final day, and I woke up early to pack and get ready to leave. Breakfast included fresh bread and jams, yogurt with granola and fresh fruit, and a croque madame which was excellent. The fresh juices that Yuh makes are also excellent. I bought a bar of cacao made by Roque's mother, which can be used for baking and making very good hot chocolate.

After breakfast, I checked all of my final purchases in an invoice, and once cleared, I paid and boarded my luggage onto the boat, which was docked by Marcus at the restaurant. I took my final view of Dolphin Blue Paradise as we drove off towards Bocas Town. Upon leaving Dolphin Bay, we spotted a family of four dolphins jumping in and out of the glassy water.

I was escorted back to the airport where I waited to board. My layover between flights was six hours, giving me four hours of free time before I needed to go to Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. When I landed at Albrook, I took an Uber back to Old Town and had a great lunch that was recommended to me by DBP. Once I was ready to leave for the airport, I Ubered to Tocumen International and flew back home.