Few countries pack as much contrast into a week as Panama, from the colonial streets and canal locks of the capital to the untouched jungle and empty beaches of a private island in the Gulf of Chiriqui. This seven-day escape pairs the history and energy of Panama City with days of pure seclusion on Isla Palenque, where rainforest meets seven quiet shores. It is for the traveler who wants both the story of a place and the space to forget the world entirely. 

ITINERARY

• DAY 1 | Arrival in Panama City
• DAY 2 | Old Quarters & the Canal
• DAY 3 | To the Gulf of Chiriqui
• DAY 4 | Isla Palenque
• DAY 5 | Isla Palenque
• DAY 6 | Isla Palenque
• DAY 7 | Departure 

DAY ONE: ARRIVAL IN PANAMA CITY

You are met on arrival at Tocumen International Airport and transferred privately to Casco Viejo, the historic old town of the capital, where Hotel La Compañía awaits. Set within a beautifully restored 1688 Jesuit mission, it is a place where the city's storied past meets the life of the old quarter. Settle in, and let the evening open gently with a welcome cocktail on the rooftop, the colonial rooftops and the modern skyline beyond catching the last of the light.

DAY TWO: OLD QUARTERS & THE CANAL

The morning begins with a climb up Cerro Ancon, the green hill that rises above the city, for sweeping views across the skyline, the rainforest, and the mouth of the Panama Canal. You continue to the lively Fish Market for a tasting of fresh ceviche, then into the streets of Casco Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of colonial and neoclassical facades, past Santa Ana Park and the old cafes that give the quarter its character. Lunch is at La Tapa del Coco, a modern take on Afro-Panamanian cooking hidden in the city. In the afternoon, you travel to the Miraflores Locks to witness one of the world's great feats of engineering, as vast cargo ships are raised and lowered through the canal.

DAY THREE: TO THE GULF OF CHIRIQUI

After breakfast, a short flight carries you west to David, followed by a scenic drive to the coastal village of Boca Chica. There you board a boat for the short crossing to Isla Palenque, a private island retreat framed by jungle and empty beaches. Here barefoot luxury and true wilderness meet, and the rest of the day is yours to settle in, with the whole island waiting to be discovered.

DAY FOUR: ISLA PALENQUE

A day to move at the island's pace. Unwind by the pool, wander miles of secluded sand, or seek out the rainforest trails alive with monkeys and anteaters. The more active can kayak or paddleboard through clear water, snorkel the reefs, or try their hand at rock fishing, while the day may just as easily be given over to nothing at all. Meals draw on fresh local flavors at the beachfront restaurant.

DAY FIVE: ISLA PALENQUE

Another unhurried day. Follow a jungle path to a hidden beach, take to the water at first light, or simply let the hours pass from hammock to shoreline. The rhythm here is set by the tides and the light, and the island rewards those who let it.

DAY SIX: ISLA PALENQUE

A final full day to savor the quiet. Return to a favorite beach, take a last swim over the reef, or close the stay with a rum tasting as the sun drops toward the Pacific. It is a day to do as much or as little as you please, on an island that feels entirely your own.

DAY SEVEN: DEPARTURE

After a final morning by the sea, you take the boat back to the mainland and the short flight to Panama City, connecting for your onward journey home.

ACCOMMODATION

Hotel La Compañía, Panama City

A beautifully restored 1688 Jesuit mission in the heart of Casco Viejo, and the first Central American hotel to join the Unbound Collection by Hyatt. History and modern design come together across its rooms and courtyards, with five restaurants, two bars, a spa, and a rooftop overlooking the old town.

The Resort at Isla Palenque

A private island sanctuary of 400 acres of rainforest fringed by seven secluded beaches, on the edge of the Gulf of Chiriqui National Marine Park. With just eight barefoot-luxury beach casitas and a villa estate, sustainably sourced Panamanian cuisine, and a wealth of included activities from kayaks and snorkeling to jungle trails, it is a place of both adventure and deep seclusion.