Six-Night Panama Vacation with Canal Tour

Included in all options:

• Round-trip airfare
• Two nights at Le Meridien Panama
• Four nights at the Westin Playa Bonita Panama
• Half-day Panama City and Canal sightseeing tour
• All transfers
• Daily breakfast<p>

Please contact TravelbyJen directly to learn of additional add-ons and excursions.<p>

Le Meridien

Le Meridien is located in the heart of Panama City, on the edge of Panama Bay. The hotel’s central location gives guests views of both the water and the city skyline, and puts them in prime position to explore several popular attractions, including the Panama Canal Museum. On a stroll through the old part of the city, Casco Viejo, you’ll see Spanish colonial churches and Moorish palaces. When you want to experience the modern side of this booming metropolis, head to one of the nightclubs or restaurants downtown.

Hotel Highlights:

• The hotel’s modern architectural elements include a soaring lobby with an overturned glass pyramid, and a dining room with dramatic mood lighting.
• At Latitudes Restaurant, three-star Michelin chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten prepares contemporary breakfast items such as scrambled eggs with an espresso steam.
• The outdoor pool on the sixth floor offers views of the bay as well as the city’s glittering skyscrapers.

Westin Playa Bonita

Located 20 minutes from Panama City, the Westin Playa Bonita sits near a small cove along the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The property fronts a one-mile stretch of narrow sand, and due to this somewhat remote location, there may be days when you have the beach all to yourself. A series of infinity pools looks out onto the ocean, providing guests with a number of spots to soak up the sun while sipping frozen tropical drinks.

Hotel Highlights:

• Seven dining venues run the gamut from Mediterranean to Thai food.
• The Sensory Spa offers a range of decadent treatments, including hot and cold hydrotherapies.
• Guest rooms feature private terraces with ocean or garden views.

Panama City Tour

This package also includes a guided sightseeing tour with a stop at the Panama Canal, which Frommers calls “one of the grandest engineering feats in the world.” At the Miraflores Locks, you can watch cargo ships passing from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Also on the tour: a visit to the Casco Antiguo district, which dates back to 1673. As you stroll along cobblestone streets, you’ll see old-fashioned plazas, Spanish colonial architecture, and landmarks such as the Church of San Jose, home to a stunning gold-covered altar.

Panama: Beach Paradise with Bustling Capital City

Panama, the southernmost country in Central America, has at times been overshadowed by its tourist-saturated neighbor to the north, Costa Rica. But in recent years, that trend has started to change. Adventurers are setting their sights on Panama’s beaches, which are often less crowded and commercialized than those in other warm-weather destinations. Much of Panama’s shoreline looks as it has for hundreds of years. Farther inland, there are tropical rainforests such as Chargres National Park, etched with rivers and lush highlands. In fact, nearly one-third of the country has been designated as protected land or turned into national parks.

Though the Panama Canal may be one of the country’s most famous landmarks, it’s far from the only attraction worth a visit. The capital, Panama City, has enjoyed renewal in recent years; expect skyscrapers, modern condominiums, and an energy and nightlife that rival any big city. The Frank Gehry–designed Biodiversity Museum, set to open in January 2014, salutes local wildlife, considered some of the most diverse of any country in Central America. In the capital’s historic Casco Viejo district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Jose Church has drawn crowds since it was built in the 16th century; the church is home to an altar gilded entirely in gold leaf.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.