How many travellers will be in my group?

Maximum 12 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.

Yes — there's no compulsory single supplement on our small-group tours. You get your own room at no extra cost. About 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you'll be in good company.

How fit do I need to be?

Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.

When are the next departures?

The next available departures are 24 November 2026; 23 November 2027. See the "Choose your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.

What's included in the tour price?

Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure transfers; All accommodation; Ground Transportation; and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.

Where exactly does this trip go?

This tour visits Panama and Nicaragua. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.

Panama24 daysMax 12 travellersSolo-friendly

Panama and Nicaragua – The Heart of Central America

Explore Panama's iconic canal and Caribbean archipelago alongside Nicaragua's colonial cities and volcanic landscapes — all in a small group of just 12.

View dates & prices

As Featured In

About this journey

What to expect on this trip

Discover two captivating neighbours on one seamless journey, beginning in Panama City’s UNESCO-listed Casco Viejo. With so many things to do in Panama City, from witnessing the ingenuity of the Panama Canal to meeting Emberá communities, you’ll then continue exploring coffee estates, cloud forests, and coral-rich islands from Boquete to Bocas del Toro. Continue to Nicaragua for a rich blend of colonial charm and volcanic drama, taking in Managua’s viewpoints, León’s cathedral rooftops, and Granada’s horse-drawn streets and lake islets. Walk crater rims at Masaya, amble misty trails on Mombacho, and learn the story of coffee and sustainable farming in Selva Negra. Unwind on Ometepe Island beneath twin volcanoes, then finish on the Pacific shores of San Juan del Sur, where golden beaches, marine life, and laid-back evenings round off an itinerary that balances history, nature, and coast with genuine cultural encounters.

The journey

Panama and Nicaragua – The Heart of Central America

Key moments

What makes this trip special

Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.

Your route

Indigenous Cultures and Living Traditions
The tour offers two distinct and meaningful encounters with Indigenous communities: a dugout canoe journey to an Emberá village on the Gatun River where music, dance, cosmology, and craftsmanship are shared over a communityprepared lunch, and a visit to a Ngäbe-Buglé community in Bocas del Toro, welcomed with genuine hospitality and pride. These are respectful exchanges that go well beyond the surface, offering real insight into ways of life rarely encountered on mainstream travel itineraries.
Volcanic Landscapes and Geothermal Wonders
Nicaragua's volcanic character is woven throughout the second half of the tour, from the ascent of Cerro Negro — where the trail crosses black lava dunes to reach an active, smoking crater — to the bubbling mud pools and steam vents of Hervideros de San Jacinto. The climax arrives at Masaya Volcano National Park, where the group drives to the very rim of the Santiago crater to observe its gaseous, incandescent lava lake at close quarters.
Cloud Forests, Coffee, and Highland Life
The Chiriquí highlands around Boquete and the Selva Negra estate in Nicaragua offer two deeply immersive encounters with mountain ecosystems and the cultures they sustain. In Boquete, hanging-bridge forest walks, a specialty coffee finca visit, and an artisan rum tasting combine naturally with a guided hike into the UNESCO-listed La Amistad International Park; in Nicaragua, a walking coffee tour at Selva Negra reveals a complete model of sustainable agriculture and social enterprise.
Colonial Cities and Caribbean Coasts
Panama City's dual identity — the atmospheric cobbled lanes of Casco Viejo alongside the ruined grandeur of Panamá Viejo — gives way in Nicaragua to the revolutionary energy of León and the elegant Spanish-colonial splendour of Granada, with a cooking class, a horse-drawn carriage tour, and rooftop cathedral views among the highlights. Between these inland cities, the Bocas del Toro archipelago offers an entirely different register: laid-back Afro-Caribbean island culture, coral reefs, and white-sand beaches on the Caribbean coast.
Island Life and Pacific Wilderness
The tour's final act moves between two contrasting island experiences: Ometepe, the twin-volcano island rising from vast Lake Nicaragua, where pre-Columbian sculpture parks and natural swimming pools invite unhurried exploration, and San Juan del Sur on the Pacific coast, where the beach town atmosphere and the remarkable seasonal spectacle of Olive Ridley turtles nesting at Flor Beach provide a memorably gentle close to the journey.

Full itinerary · 24 days

Free — no sign-up

Dates & prices

Choose your departure

Reserve your place with a £350 per-person deposit; the balance is due 70 days before departure. Prefer your own space? A single room is available on every departure.

Departs	Returns	Status	Price pp	Single supp.
24 Nov 2026	17 Dec 2026	Guaranteed	£6,095	+£1,340	Book now
23 Nov 2027	16 Dec 2027	Guaranteed	£6,095	+£1,340	Book now

Departure
24 Nov 2026 → 17 Dec 2026
Guaranteed
From
£6,095 pp
Single supp. +£1,340
Book now
Departure
23 Nov 2027 → 16 Dec 2027
Guaranteed
From
£6,095 pp
Single supp. +£1,340
Book now

Can’t find the right fit?

Every one of our Panama journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.

Tailor my trip

What's included

What your tour price covers

Included in the price

Arrival and departure transfers
All accommodation
Ground Transportation
Services of a driver and English-speaking local guides
Meals as listed
Entrance fees as per the itinerary
Flight Panama City – Managua

Budget separately for

International flights
Items of a personal nature
Any airport taxes
Travel Insurance
Visa (if applicable)
Drinks
Tips (discretionary)

Before you go

Essential information

Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.

Foreign Office travel advice

We constantly monitor official travel advice, including the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Panama Travel Advice, and will always advise clients of any warnings before departure. At the time of writing, there are no specific warnings against travel to the parts of Panama that we visit on our tours.

Please contact us if you have any specific concerns or would like to understand what measures are in place to ensure your trip remains safe and trouble-free.

For additional official guidance, travellers may also refer to:

US Department of State — US State Department Panama Travel Advisory
Australian Government — Smartraveller Panama Advice
Government of Canada — Canada Travel Advice for Panama

Please note this information applies primarily to British citizens — nationals of other countries should check the current position with their respective government travel authority.

Voices from the road

What travellers say about us

Reviews from across our small-group programme — Mongolia, Madagascar, the Silk Road and beyond. Independently rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ travellers.

“Jason was very helpful and the booking process was quick and easy. UD offers itineraries that many competitors do not. I thoroughly enjoyed both trips I've taken with them. While they may not suit everyone, I have happily recommended the Senegal tour to fellow travellers.”

Bernice Hird

“Excellent customer service, reliable itineraries and ability to solve local issues when they arise”

Gustavo Musto

Uruguay

“I like the small size of groups, the range of destinations and excellent itineraries. This is my third holiday with your company and I have found your itineraries really good.”

Traveller from the UK

“London to Istanbul by train - great trip from concept to execution. Very glad to have participated. Mark was an excellent and empathetic leader. ”

Ken Nathanson

Hong Kong

“Excellent company to book with. Complex tour mostly delivered as per itinerary with professional and pleasant local representatives. ”

Adam Choonara

“Jason was outstanding, patiently answering my many questions about the Senegal trip, particularly regarding accessibility. He was professional, supportive, warm and friendly, giving me the confidence to book. I truly appreciate his exceptional service and support.”

Ramnit Bassi

“Undiscovered Destinations is able to find wonderful support staff and will go to the far corners of the earth.”

Patricia Taylor

“This is my third trip with UD and all have been first rate. ”

Judith Hoyle

“I am very satisfied with every trip that I have doe with you since you match my interests in culture and tribal peoples.”

Eric Ferkins

“Jason was incredibly helpful and efficient in getting us booked last minute on this trip when our trip with another company was cancelled with no notice.”

Sarah Keir

Want to customise this tour?

Make Panama and Nicaragua – The Heart of Central America your own — adjust the route, dates, pace or who travels, or start from a blank page with a specialist. We'll bring the details of this trip straight into your enquiry.

Customise this tour

More to explore

More tours in Panama

Panama – From Canal to Caribbean

This journey through Panama combines history, culture, and natural beauty in equal measure. Beginning in the colonial quarter of Panama City, explore the stories of two cities and witness the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal. With so many attractions to explore in Panama City, this is just the start. Travel deep into the rainforest to meet the Emberá people, discover UNESCO-listed fortresses, and experience the highland town of Boquete with its cloud forests, coffee fincas, and hanging bridges. Crossing the Continental Divide leads to the turquoise waters of Bocas del Toro, where coral reefs, mangroves, and island culture await. The adventure concludes with rainforest walks, striking modern architecture, and a farewell in Panama City.

From

£3,995£3,795

Colombia and Panama – Bridging the Americas

This epic 28-day adventure through Colombia and Panama reveals the diverse cultural, historical, and natural wonders of two of Latin America’s most captivating nations. Beginning in Bogota, this itinerary is one of our popular Colombia Tours, taking you through the country’s colonial heritage, the spectacular Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, and the beautifully preserved town of Villa de Leyva. Journey south through the Tatacoa Desert, the archaeological treasures of San Agustin, and the elegant “White City” of Popayan, before continuing into the lush Coffee Region, where traditional fincas, sugar plantations, and rolling hills define the landscape. Crossing into Panama, explore the contrasts of Panama City – from the ruins of Panamá Viejo to the grandeur of the Panama Canal. There’s no shortage of incredible experiences in Panama City – meet the Indigenous Emberá and Ngäbe-Buglé communities. Discover the highlands of Boquete, the wildlife-rich cloud forests of La Amistad International Park, and the idyllic Caribbean islands of Bocas del Toro with their coral reefs and tropical tranquillity. Blending archaeology, culture, coffee, and coastlines, this immersive journey captures the essence of Latin America at its most authentic and varied.

From

£6,545

Panama and Bolivia – Tropical Trails and Andean Heights

This extraordinary 27-day journey combines the tropical beauty of Panama with the dramatic landscapes and cultural riches of Bolivia, offering a seamless exploration of two contrasting yet equally fascinating Latin American nations.Begin in Panama City, where colonial heritage and modern ambition meet — there are countless things to do in Panama City before venturing to the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal and the vibrant Indigenous communities of the Emberá and Ngäbe-Buglé. Continue through the lush highlands of Boquete and the turquoise waters of Bocas del Toro, where coffee, cloud forests, coral reefs, and Caribbean rhythms intertwine. Explore our Panama tour packages for more adventures in this incredible country.

From

£7,195

Keep exploring