Panama City & San Blas Islands
The canal and historic old town combined with two nights on the Guna islands, island-hopping snorkeling, and staying in thatched huts—perfect for a short holiday.
Spend the first two days exploring the city and the canal, the middle three days hopping between two island groups on a tour run by the Guna people, and return to the city to visit the ruins before departure. Facilities on the islands are basic, making this suitable for those who accept rustic accommodation and want to see pristine Caribbean islets. This itinerary only covers the western islands near Carti, skipping the eastern ones.
Landslides may close the highway during the rainy season; seas can be rough from December to April.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrival & Stroll in Casco Viejo
Panama City & Canal（Casco Viejo、Church of San José (Golden Altar)、Plaza de Francia & Las Bóvedas）
Take a taxi from Tocumen Airport to the city (approx. 40 minutes), and explore Casco Viejo entirely on foot.
Stay: Casco Viejo
Day 2 · Canal Locks & Amador Causeway
Panama City & Canal（Miraflores Locks、Biomuseo、Amador Causeway）
Take a taxi to the locks (approx. 30 minutes), transfer to the Amador Causeway in the afternoon, and return to Casco Viejo in the evening.
Bring plenty of small-denomination cash; there are no ATMs on the islands.
Stay: Casco Viejo
Day 3 · Enter Guna Yala & Snorkel at Perro Chico
San Blas Islands (Guna Yala)（El Llano–Cartí Road & Cartí Port、Isla Perro (Assudub) Shipwreck、Chichime Cays）
Take a shared 4WD at 5:00 AM to Carti (approx. 3 hours), transfer to a speedboat to the island, and snorkel along the way.
Bring your passport; the entrance checkpoint will verify it and collect an entry fee.
Stay: Chichime and Perro Diablo Islands
Day 4 · Island Hopping & Snorkeling in Cayos Holandeses
San Blas Islands (Guna Yala)（Cayos Holandeses）
After breakfast, take a speedboat to Cayos Holandeses, with short boat rides between islands throughout the day (approx. 1 hour in total).
The itinerary is adjusted based on sea conditions; accommodation and routes may change at short notice.
Stay: Holandeses Cays
Day 5 · Visit Guna Community & Return to the City
San Blas Islands (Guna Yala)（Gardi Sugdub (Cartí Sugtupu)） → Panama City & Canal
Take a speedboat to a local community and Carti in the morning, then return to the city by 4WD in the afternoon, arriving in the evening.
Arrival times can be unpredictable; do not schedule a flight for this evening.
Stay: Casco Viejo
Day 6 · Visit Ruins & Depart
Panama City & Canal（Panamá Viejo）
Take a taxi from Casco Viejo to Panama Viejo (approx. 25 minutes), and continue to Tocumen Airport (approx. 20 minutes).
The ruins are closed on Mondays; if it is a Monday, you can visit the Museo de la Mola instead.