Panama Tour Blog by Caravan Tours

In our Caravan Panama travel blog, you’ll find unique articles on what to see and things to do when vacationing in Panama, in Central America. Learn more about the history behind the Panama Canal including the canal locks, Gatun Lake, the Miraflores Visitor Center Museum, the Amador Causeway, the Bridge of the Americas, and Casco Viejo, the “Old Quarter” of Panama City.

Caravan Tour Includes Chagres River Cruise

Although visitors to this central American country generally overlook the significance of the Chagres River Panama, we have included this river cruise on our fully guided Caravan Panama tour.

Our tour begins in Panama City, which is recognized internationally as a great place to live, work, and even retire. As well, the architectural ruins and old world heritage buildings of Old Panama (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) continually attract tourists from around the globe.

 

Panama also gained worldwide recognition in 1914 with the opening of the Panama Canal, an engineering marvel that forever changed shipping and marine transportation between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

However, there is much more to this country than the historical ruins and man-made wonders, and that’s why we have included a Chagres River Panama cruise on our tour. Read more

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Monkey Island on Gatun Lake Panama

Have you heard of Monkey Island Panama?

One of the comments made by travelers on Caravan Panama vacations is the surprise at how quickly Panama City’s downtown core and metropolitan area turns into lush rainforest.

More and more travelers from around the world come to vacation in Panama City. They vacation here to take in the many surrounding tourist attractions such as the Panama Canal, the Amador Causeway, or the Bridge of Americas. However, in most cases, it is the natural beauty of the country that is impressed upon their minds as they leave.

A popular must-see natural attraction is Monkey Island Panama, located in Gatun Lake within the Gamboa rainforest – just 40 minutes by boat from Panama City. Read more

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Panama Canal Rainforest Vacations

Apart from the canal, your Panama rainforest vacation will also highlight the area’s colorful sights, sounds, and natural diversity of flora, fauna, and wildlife. Many argue that Panama’s rainforests are the most studied and observed in the world. Did you know that the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute is located in Balboa, Panama?

Unfortunately Panama rainforests have been seriously affected by Canal construction and use. When the canal was first built, large portions of the rainforests were flooded and incurred significant losses in both biodiversity and forest coffee.

Today, Panama rainforests cover approximately 58% of the country’s land area. Read more

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Panama Embera Indian Village Chagres River Tour

Take a fully escorted, all-inclusive Panama tour with Caravan Tours and you will have the chance to visit an authentic Embera Indian Village.

The Embera-Wounaan Indians live in Panama’s province of Darien. Still very primitive and untouched by the outside world, these Chocó people are very friendly and open to tourists, enjoying the opportunity to share their culture with others.

 

One highlight of Caravan’s 8 Day All Inclusive Panama Tour is a morning’s trip up the Chagres River to visit a Panama Embera Indian village. Read more

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Vasco Balboa Explorer of Panama

This Caravan Tours’ blog will explore some interesting Vasco Nunez de Balboa facts.

The Port of Balboa Panama is Central America’s busiest port and is located on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal in the Balboa District, which is part of Panama City. Both the town of Balboa and the Port of Balboa were named after the Spanish Conquistador Vasco Nunez de Balboa.

But who was Vasco Nunez de Balboa?

Vasco Balboa – Discovered the Pacific Ocean

Panama City is full of rich heritage that dates all the way back to 1513 when Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa was the first to cross the Isthmus of Panama. To his delight Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean. He was the very first explorer to make it to the Pacific coast after traveling the Atlantic Ocean and exploring the New World, then crossing by land to the Pacific side of Central America. Read more

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