Tales from TravelLocal: Stefan’s family trip to Panama

It may be small, but Panama draws the line between South and Central America, and welcomes both the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans to her balmy shores. The Darien National Park forms a lush jungle border with Colombia to the south, while the forests of the north are entwined with those of Costa Rica. Between these are mountains, tropical wildernesses, forests and beaches, all populated by welcoming locals. Despite this breadth of experiences, Panama is compact, and you can enjoy wildlife, cloud forests, beaches, indigenous cultures and the gloss of Panama City, all within one trip. We caught up with our Chief Technology Officer, Stefan, for his insights on planning the perfect TravelLocal family trip to Panama based on his recent adventure with our local experts: read on to feel inspired…

A family trip to Panama: Stefan’s adventure with TravelLocal

First off, tell us about your trip to Panama, when you visited and who you traveled with?

We visited Panama in January this year—perfect timing to escape the German winter! I traveled with my wife and our almost six-year-old daughter. We chose Panama because we wanted a destination that would offer great nature experiences and swimming opportunities for our daughter, who had just learned to swim last year.

What was your itinerary in a nutshell?

Our itinerary was the perfect mix of nature, beaches, and a touch of culture for us. We started in Valle de Anton in the crater of an extinct volcano, then headed to the Pacific coast at Playa Corona for beach time, followed by an incredible two-day adventure to the San Blas Islands in the Caribbean.

The last days of our trip, we went up to Cerro Azul in the mountains for some light jungle hiking, then down to Panama City with visits to the Old Town and—of course—the Panama Canal, finishing with a day trip to Soberania National Park.

Read more: Our guide to exploring the Panama Canal

Do you feel this tailor-made itinerary worked for you and your family?

It worked fantastically for our family! The mix of mountains, jungle, rivers, Pacific coast, and Caribbean islands gave us the kind of nature experiences we look for in a relatively compact area.

Our daughter loved the variety – swimming in jungle lagoons and rivers one day, snorkeling in crystal-clear Caribbean waters with colorful fish the next. The pacing felt just right with active days balanced by more relaxed ones.

Could you tell us about your experience booking with TravelLocal, and connecting with a local expert to plan your itinerary?

Working with TravelLocal and our local expert Peter was very smooth thanks to several effective video calls during the planning process, an approach I’d recommend to everybody. Peter understood what we were looking for and tailored the itinerary to us.

For certain hikes, boat rides, or experiences, I wasn’t sure if it was feasible with a six-year-old but Peter provided accurate advice and reassured us about what’s possible. Also, the recommended mix of self-drive during the first days and a car with driver and guide in the second half turned out to be perfect for us. Lastly, the accommodations, located in beautiful nature, close to the sea or with lush gardens, were all great.

Read more: Between continents and cultures: a Panama travel guide

What were the most memorable highlights from your trip? And on the flip side, is there anything you would’ve done differently in hindsight?

Some magical moments stand out: first, being able to snorkel right off the beach in front of our simple hut on the San Blas Islands—sharing this activity I love with my daughter for the first time was absolutely amazing. The water was clear with colorful fish.

Second, hiking through the jungle at Cerro Azul to reach a lovely river where we could swim and float in complete solitude—just us and nature.

There were rare moments when our daughter got a bit bored (e.g. the English IMAX movie about the canal), but that’s to be expected with kids.

Can you share any pleasant surprises or anything special you’ve learned about Panama from your trip?

What surprised us was how much diversity can be explored with little time on the road—we experienced mountain forests, Pacific beaches, Caribbean islands, tropical rainforest, and Panama City, all within a relatively compact region.

What would you recommend to travelers planning their first trip to Panama?

To make the most of your time, either invest effort into planning your itinerary yourself, or—if detailed travel planning isn’t your thing like in my case—work with a local expert who knows the country inside and out.

Read more: Interview with our local expert in Panama

Make it happen

Turn your dream family trip to Panama into reality: seek out the advice of our seasoned local experts, who’ll help craft an itinerary you can feel confident about. Based entirely around your family’s needs and budget, with all the flexibility and peace of mind you could ask for, it’ll be an authentic experience you and the kids will never forget.