Question 1

How many days do I need for a Panama tour?

Accepted Answer

One week is enough to see Panama, a claim we make about few other places in the Extraordinary Journeys destinations portfolio. (Though you’ll never regret staying longer.)  Direct flights from multiple U.S. cities mean you arrive without the fog of a long-haul journey, and Panama runs on Eastern Time, so there’s no jetlag to sleep off and no first day lost to recovery.   With seven days, you can move from Panama City to the cloud forest to coast/islands without feeling rushed. Ten days opens up room to dig deeper. You might add the Gulf of Chiriquí, Valle de Anton, or simply stay put longer in a place that earns it.

Question 2

How to get to Panama?

Accepted Answer

Copa Airlines is the primary carrier, flying from multiple U.S. cities including New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Houston. Flight times from the East Coast run around five to six hours. Tocumen International Airport has been substantially overhauled in recent years and is now a comfortable, well-connected hub with solid dining, shopping, and onward connections throughout Latin America.

Question 3

How will I get around Panama?

Accepted Answer

Your Panama tour will be seamless. The journey may include private vehicles, domestic flights, and/or boats — each chosen to suit the destination and pace of your trip. With tickets secured and transfers carefully coordinated by Extraordinary Journeys, you’ll move comfortably and efficiently around Panama, arriving exactly where you need to be with ease.

Question 4

Do I need a tourist visa for Panama?

Accepted Answer

U.S. passport holders do not currently require a visa to enter Panama for tourism.   Requirements can change, so we always recommend confirming current entry requirements with your Extraordinary Journeys specialist before you travel.

Question 5

Is English widely spoken in Panama?

Accepted Answer

In hotels, restaurants, and throughout the tourism industry, English is widely spoken — particularly in Panama City, Boquete, and the major island destinations. Panama has a large expat community, especially in the highlands, which means you're likely to hear English spoken aloud. In smaller communities and more remote areas, Spanish is essential, though a few phrases go a long way. Throughout your journey, our fluent English-speaking guides ensure smooth communication and cultural clarity at every turn.

Question 6

How much does Panama travel cost?

Accepted Answer

Our luxury Panama itineraries start at $800 per person per day, depending on the category of accommodation, the activities included, and the time of year. Panama tends to offer better value than comparable destinations in the region; the same caliber of experience you might find in Costa Rica often costs meaningfully less here, with fewer crowds. Your Extraordinary Journeys specialist will build a personalized itinerary tailored to your priorities and budget.

Question 7

Is Panama a family-friendly destination?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Panama is family-friendly, from tot to teens and with grandparents in tow. Our team loves sending families to Panama (and have done so ourselves), which means we know which experiences and properties to reach for.    Direct flights and jumping minimal time zones (if any at all) make it easy to hit the ground running, especially for young travelers. Panama is fairly compact, and straightforward logistics mean travel days are not too onerous. Layer a laid-back, family-oriented culture with a range of experiences (canal tours, wildlife spotting, swimming, surfing) that map well onto mixed-age groups.     Plus, a Panama family trip largely unfolds outdoors and in nature, where children are most at home and screens lose their grip without a fight. At the coast, children thrive, barefoot and sandy, cannonballing from bows, snorkeling atop coral gardens, and watching baby turtles emerge from nests. The sloth rehabilitation center at Gamboa, just outside Panama City, is a particular favorite with younger travelers.    Whatever your family’s ages, needs, and accommodations, we will plan a considered journey that sees everyone’s interests and feels like a vacation for all.

Question 8

Is Panama a good destination for honeymoons?

Accepted Answer

Panama is not an obvious honeymoon choice and that’s exactly why the right couple will love it. The honeymoon hallmarks are here: Caribbean beaches, cobblestone streets, private catamarans, a cloud forest spa day. But what makes a Panama honeymoon with Extraordinary Journeys different is what you won't see coming. The picnic for two set on a sandbar or the cocktails that appear at sunset from thin air. They’re moments that feel celebratory and conjured just for you.  Keep reading about South America honeymoons.

Question 9

What wildlife will I see in Panama?

Accepted Answer

Panama’s wildlife won't stop you with its scale, but it will enchant you with color, diversity, movement, and the sense that the forest is always watching back.  In the cloud forest above Boquete, the resplendent quetzal glides through the canopy like a bright green bullet while impossibly blue morpho butterflies drift through clearings. The harpy eagle (one of the largest raptors on Earth) inhabits the same highland forests. Along the Canal waterway at Gamboa, crocodiles idle in the shallows while sloths arrange themselves in the canopy above, and four species of monkey — howler, capuchin, spider, and tamarin — make themselves comically impossible to ignore.   On the water, Panama earns a category of marine wildlife all its own. Humpback whales arrive in the thousands off the Pacific coast between July and October, calving in the warm shelter of the Gulf of Chiriquí. Whale sharks move through the waters around Coiba between January and March. Manta rays, sea turtles, nurse sharks, and 12 species of dolphin populate both coasts, while the textured and technicolor reefs of Bocas del Toro support the majority of Caribbean coral species.

Question 10

How does Panama compare to Costa Rica?

Accepted Answer

The two Central American neighbors share similar geographic attributes: both are compact isthmus nations hugged by Pacific and Caribbean coast, and dotted with volcanic peaks. For us, it’s more about the feeling. Panama is quieter, has a richer indigenous cultural connection, and offers archipelagos as destinations, not day-trips. It’s where you go when you want Costa Rica before the crowds arrived and pura vida became a bumper sticker.

Question 11

Which currency does Panama use?

Accepted Answer

Panama runs on the U.S. dollar, making it one of the most financially effortless destinations for American travelers. No currency exchange, no math.   Notes are identical to U.S. currency; the only difference you'll notice is in the coins, which Panama mints locally under the name Balboa, in denominations that mirror U.S. coins and circulate interchangeably alongside them.   Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and larger businesses throughout Panama City and the main tourist regions. Cash remains useful and sometimes essential in remote areas like the San Blas Islands, where the Guna Yala community operates largely on a cash basis.   The Extraordinary Journeys Operations Team will supply everything worth knowing well before you travel.

Panama Travel

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Why visit Panama?

Panama, your way

Why visit Panama?

Panama, your way

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What to expect on a luxury Panama tour

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Expert guides

Extraordinary experiences

When is the best time to go Panama?

Where to go in Panama

Panama City

Panama travel FAQs

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We go deep

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We know it’s personal