Best of Panama Vacation Package: Tropical Beach, Islands, and More

The trip was very good. We loved Panama City and the excursions we took there. Our disappointment concerns Bocas del Toro and what we were led to believe there. The beach conditions on all of Isla Bastimentos were not favorable for swimming or snorkeling. The seas were too rough, although that was not communicated to us.

Zicasso’s travel agent was very competent and patient with us about our needs and wants, and was very accommodating regarding changes to the trip. Panama is a beautiful country, with great people and amazing animal diversity. We saw lots of birds and monkeys. And the beaches we visited were the most inviting ever!!

We loved Panama. The hotels and restaurants were fabulous, and the people were gracious, even though most did not speak English. Google's translator was a necessity.

Overall, the tour company was not what I have come to expect from traveling with Zicasso. The communication going back and forth in planning the trip was difficult. At one point, they lost track of our payments and had to find the funds.

I was under the impression they were based in Panama, which they were not. We never got a call to see how we were doing. Some of the planned trips needed to be changed at the last minute because we didn't get the information on how difficult the trip would be (the trip to the volcano). What was then scheduled for us was not very interesting.

I will say our agent did try to accommodate us. He sent fruit to the hotel and tried to stay in touch by email.

We loved what he planned for us, like Monkey Island and the Embera village, and our hotel accommodations were lovely! Also, they planned a cooking experience with a charming chef … fun!

All our transportation was on time and the drivers very nice. Our guides were adequate, but communicating was often hard.

Zicasso's travel partner planned a wonderful two-week trip to Costa Rica and Panama for my wife and me. All the hotels, food, transportation, and activities were first-rate. We loved the rain and cloud forests in Costa Rica, the Old Town in Panama City, and the amazing resort off the Caribbean coast of Panama.

Costa Rica is a nature lover’s paradise, where we saw beautiful waterfalls, the Arenal volcano, and a wide variety of wildlife, from crocodiles and sloths to monkeys and toucans. At the resort, we kayaked, snorkeled, paddle boarded, and swam to burn off calories from all the delicious food and drink you can order any time of the day or night.

Our travel agent also did a great job of rescheduling one of our flights after it was canceled due to an aircraft accident over Oregon. He was always reachable by phone or text during our trip to answer any questions we had.

The trip was great. The hotels were particularly amazing and I have stayed at many hotels around the world. Tabacón was so unique, it could be my favorite part of the trip. My husband and son absolutely loved the resort and the gorgeous private beach (and monkeys). 

All of the excursions were amazing, except one. The horseback riding was on such a unique and wide open trail, we felt like we were alone in paradise on horseback (and the boys both expected to hate it!). Except for the fishing, the guides on every single tour were truly incredible and enhanced every experience. I would think twice before recommending that particular fishing charter. They were barely friendly and very unhelpful. 

Other than that, everything was perfect. Somehow, they even made the long ride from Arenal to Manuel Antonio pleasant. Zicasso's travel agent put together a wonderful experience.

We had a wonderful time in Costa Rica and spent our time in La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio.

We were welcomed at the airport by a driver and tour guide, and transferred to La Paz, where we had a great tour of the gardens, waterfall, and wonderful wildlife (including sloths), then continued our drive to the resort near La Fortuna. The hotel was beautiful, with magnificent rooms, volcano views, and a spectacular, expansive buffet each morning with an omelet station, fresh fruits, and an extended selection of local, delicious foods, including a smoothie station. The hotel staff were friendly and provided great service. On the first night, we ate at a restaurant at the hotel which had a limited menu for our family.

We had a wonderful guide on day two who brought us to the Arenal rainforest, with hanging bridges, an aerial tramway, and a zipline which was beyond a spectacular, adventurous experience that we will not forget. We enjoyed the hotel’s thermal pools and excellent dinner in La Fortuna (varied menu and open to substitutions).

On day three, we had another day of adventure on the Balsa River for whitewater rafting. Our family of six had a spectacular guide who kept us exhilarated and safe! It was a blast and perhaps the best family activity! We enjoyed dinner at a restaurant in La Fortuna (good food, but pricey).

We had another great guide for our hike in the Arenal Volcano National Park on our fourth day and dinner at a local place with a very limited atmosphere, but a spectacular meal brought out on grills to continue the cooking of steak, chicken, shrimp, and fresh fish, with delicious sauces on the side. It was plentiful, wonderfully displayed, and delicious.

Day five was supposed to be a five-hour transfer to Manuel Antonio to include a crocodile encounter and lunch. Due to the Easter holiday week, it took 10 hours, but our driver was kind and patient, and we enjoyed our time together. We learned a good deal of Spanish on the way. We arrived where rainforest and beach meet at the hotel. The hotel was beautiful, but rustic, overlooking the water, and we had dinner. The staff were all great and helpful, getting our luggage handled at 5am and transportation as needed for restaurants.

On day six, we enjoyed the morning at the adult pool. There were monkeys all around us in the canopies and trees. It was exciting to watch and take photos! We had lunch at the hotel and then the guide picked us up on time and took us for a fun adventure on Damas Island: an estuary and mangrove kayaking tour. We enjoyed the dinner provided with the kayak tour, then had a late-night BBQ at the hotel!

Day seven was action-packed, with a transfer and spectacular, passionate tour guide for our outing to Manual Antonio National Park. We had lunch at the hotel and then another very exciting ATV adventure! We had a fabulous dinner at a café with a beautiful atmosphere.

On our last day, we were transferred very early to the airport and said goodbye to an amazing, adventurous family vacation.

We want to thank Zicasso’s travel agents for all their help in planning this vacation. They were patient, attentive, and accommodating of our relentless changes to the plans and restaurants. They were with us all the way from planning to arrival, and always available for any questions or guidance. All the plans were executed seamlessly and on time, with quality recommendations and team support. Thank you for all the great moments and memories!