Ancon Expeditions

Ancon Expeditions (P.O. Box 0832-1509 WTC, Panama City, Republic of Panama, tel. 269-9414 or 269-9415, fax 264-3713, www.anconexpeditions.com) is Panama’s top nature-tour company.

It’s known for employing some of Panama’s best naturalist guides, particularly in the Darién. These include Hernan Araúz (www.hernanarauz.com), Rich Cahill (www.richardjcahill.com), Iván Hoyos (ivan [at] panamensis [dot] com), and Rick Morales (morales.rick [at] gmail [dot] com), all of whom I’ve traveled with and can recommend. They’re all fluent in both English and Spanish.

Hernan (one of Panama’s top birding guides and Darién experts) and Rich are particularly experienced, with multiple trans-Darién treks and many shorter adventures to their credit. They’re a blast to travel with: filled with a sense of fun and adventure, but always responsible and safety-conscious. I’ve learned a lot from both.

Ancon Expeditions also runs some unique ecolodges, including ones in Cana, Punta Patiño, and Bocas del Toro. Tours range from easy day trips to ambitious, multiday treks through the forest.

The company occasionally organizes ocean-to-ocean adventures through the heart of the Darién. It also offers a weeklong trip that includes a multiday hike along what remains of the historic Camino Real, which once stretched from Panamá La Vieja across the isthmus to Portobelo.

Boquete Outdoor Adventures

Boquete Outdoor Adventures is a fairly new operation led by John Miller (cell 6474-0274, www.boqueteoutdooradventures.com), who worked for 10 years at the Nantahala Outdoor Center as a rafting guide and kayak instructor. It offers a variety of trips but specializes in weeklong white-water kayaking adventures in western Panama.

Chiriquí River Rafting

Chiriquí River Rafting (tel. 720-1505 or 720-1506, cell 6618-0846, www.panama-rafting.com) is a safety-conscious, highly professional operation that I’ve had great experiences with. It primarily runs white-water rivers in the western highlands, but it also offers tamer river trips.

Ecocircuitos

Ecocircuitos (tel./fax 314-1586, www.ecocircuitos.com), based at the Country Inn and Suites in Amador, offers a wide range of short and multiday tours around the country. It hires friendly and accommodating guides who speak English and Spanish.

Exotics Adventures

Exotics Adventures (tel. 223-9283, www.panamaexoticsadventures.com) is led by a Frenchman named Michel Peuch who comes highly recommended. Unusual offerings include a fast and arduous ocean-to-ocean Darién trek and a kayak trip in Bocas del Toro. His Darién trips focus on the western end, relatively close to Panama City and far from the dangers of the Darién Gap. These include hikes along the El Llano–Carti Road to Kuna Yala. Other offerings include a day hike along a part of the Camino de Cruces.

Gold Coast Expeditions

Gold Coast Expeditions (tel. 441-4339, cell 6635-2292, http://goldcoastpanama.homestead.com) is run by Skipper and Jill Berger, longtime residents of the Caribbean side of the former Canal Zone. They offer a variety of snorkeling/diving, sailing, and sightseeing trips around Panama, with the Caribbean side of the canal area their specialty. Popular trips include kayaking excursions around Portobelo and the lower Río Chagres.

Iguana Tours

Iguana Tours (tel. 226-8738, 226-1667, or 226-4516, fax 226-4736, www.nvmundo.com/iguanatours) specializes in trips to Isla Iguana off the Azuero Peninsula, but it offers a range of tours all over the country.

José Saenz

José Saenz(based in Panama City, cell 6614-7811, tel./fax 399-4003 or 251-0698, www.goldenfrog.net) is a taxi driver, but if you spend any amount of time in Panama you’ll realize he’s an important part of the tourist infrastructure. I highly recommend him. He’s punctual, responsible, polite, dependable—and a safe driver. These are qualities to prize among Panama taxi drivers.

He charges US$25 for transfers to and from Tocumen International Airport. Transfers to or from most Panama City hotels to the domestic airport at Albrook is US$5. With enough notice, he can make hotel and domestic airline reservations. He charges US$12 an hour for Panama City tours. These prices are for one or two people.

José also offers tours all over Panama, including Chiriquí, the Azuero Peninsula (his specialty; that’s where he’s from), and Bocas del Toro. Rates for this vary. Besides his air-conditioned cab, he has access to a minibus and pickup truck. He speaks pretty good English.

Nattur Panama

Nattur Panama (tel. 442-1340, fax 442-8485, www.natturpanama.com) is headed by Willie Martinez, who is recognized as one of the best birding guides in Panama. The company offers a range of nature tours throughout the country. Its unique offerings include stays at Martinez’s own ecological retreat, Willie Mazu, in the species-rich Fortuna area.

Unfortunately, the lodge was badly damaged in a terrible storm and is temporarily closed. The owners plan to rebuild it eventually.

The group recently opened a similar retreat near Colón. It also offers a popular boat tour on the Río Chagres near the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal.

Panama Travel Experts

Many offerings from Panama Travel Experts (tel. 265-5323, fax 265-5324, U.S. tel. 877/836-5300 or 707/226-2640, www.panamatravelexperts.com) are higher-end multiday packages that include stays at luxury hotels, but the group also offers less expensive day tours.

Pesantez Tours

Pesantez (tel. 223-5374 or 263-7577, www.pesantez-tours.com) is a long-established company that enjoys a solid reputation. It specializes in tours of Panama City and cultural tours, rather than nature trips.

San Blas Sailing

San Blas Sailing (tel. 314-1800 or 314-1288, www.sanblassailing.com) arranges memorable multiday yacht tours of Kuna Yala (San Blas Islands). Though not cheap, these trips are not as expensive as one might expect and offer good value. For those who don’t have yachts of their own, it’s the best way to explore and enjoy the islands.

Scubapanama

Scubapanama (tel. 261-3841 or 261-4064, www.scubapanama.com) is Panama’s biggest dive operator. Common offerings include diving around Portobelo, a dive in both oceans in a single day, and diving in the Panama Canal.

© William Friar from Moon Panama, 3rd Edition