Colón

Panamanian history and heritage are yours to discover in the country’s capital and at the famous canal. You’ll travel first to Fort Amador, built to protect the canal’s western, Pacific side. To reach the fort, you’ll ride over the long, palm-lined causeway – also once part of a U.S. military base -- that offers spectacular views of Panama City’s modern skyline. Then it’s on to the heart of the capital, the colonial center known as Casco Viejo.

When the Gatun Dam was built across the Chagres River more than a century ago, it created Gatun Lake close to the Atlantic port city of Colon. On this ecological adventure, you’ll paddle in the same waters that carry ships for more than 20 miles as they make their way across the isthmus, representing a critical component of the Panama Canal system. Follow your experienced guide as you explore close to the shores of the little islands that dot the lake, keeping a lookout for tropical birds and other wildlife, like capuchin monkeys.

With the arrival of Europeans in the Americas, the Embera people began to migrate from their traditional homeland in Colombia’s Choco region to the rainforests and waterways of the Panamanian isthmus. Discover how they have maintained their longstanding traditions over the centuries on a visit to one of their villages. This cultural exploration begins with a drive from the coast, through the jungle and into Chagres National Park. Along the way, your guide will share Panamanian history and discuss Embera culture.