The Best of Panama
At a Glance
Our popular ‘The Best of Panama’ package combines the country’s main highlights into a week-long vacation. Spend your first three nights in the capital city as you explore the historic Casco Viejo and the Miraflores Locks, go peacock bass fishing on the Panama Canal itself, and experience the diverse culture and nightlife of Panama City. Next you’ll head to western Panama to experience beautiful beaches and world class sport fishing. Combine offshore fishing for giant marlin and yellow-fin tuna at famous hot spots like the Hannibal Bank with inshore fishing for massive cubera snapper, grouper, and roosterfish. We’ll customize your trip to cater your time in Panama City to your interests and fish as many days as you like.
Destinations: Panama City & Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama
Duration: 6-9 days
Package Details
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Day One
Fly into Panama City, Panama where you will be met and taken directly to your waiting private transfer. You will spend your first night in the modern capital city where you can choose between a luxury hotel downtown or an exclusive boutique in the historic Casco Viejo part of town.
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Day Two
Today you will enjoy a private tour of Panama City and the Panama Canal with our expert bilingual guide. First you’ll head over the 500 year old ruins of the first Spanish settlements in Panama Viejo. As you pass through the city your guide will point out other famous locations like former dictator Manuel Noriega’s home, the new Trump Tower, and the best shopping and restaurants. Next head out to the Amador Causeway, a popular road built out into the ocean connecting four islands to the mainland. Enjoy duty free shopping and panoramic vistas of the city from here. Your next visit will be to the French Colonial part of town, Casco Antiguo. Named a UNESCO World Heritage site, Casco Antiguo is full of boutique shops, great little restaurants, and beautiful colonial architecture. Last but not least we will take you to the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal. Visit their museum to see how 100 year old engineering still functions perfectly today at one of the world’s most impressive modern marvels. We’ll time your day perfectly so that you are able watch enormous 1000 ft long Panamax ships go through the locks from the Visitors Center Tower.
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Day Three
Let’s go fishing! You’ll be picked up early in the morning for a full day of fishing on the Panama Canal. You’ll fish on the man-made Lake Gatun, formed during the construction of the canal in the early 1900s when the Chagres River was damned. Lake Gatun is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world and is home to an incredible amount of marine life including peacock bass, rainbow bass, snook, tarpon, snapper, jacks and even crocodiles and manatee! Troll and sight cast along the rainforest covered banks, river mouths, and acres of submerged forest to provide for the Panama Canal Grand Slam – peacock bass, snook, and tarpon. Most peacock bass are 2-3 pounders and can be caught in droves, but 7-10 pounders are considered trophies and are caught with a bit more skill and patience.
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Day Four
Late in the morning we will pick you up and take you to the Albrook Airport for a quick flight to David located in western Panama. You will be met there and taken one hour to the sleepy fishing town of Boca Chica. You’ll stay at the boutique Seagull Cove Lodge, which is a welcome change from the mega resorts that line Panama’s central coast. With just five cabanas you’ll experience privacy, friendly service, and the relaxing natural beauty of the Gulf of Chiriqui. The five rooms feature a queen bed or two double beds, vaulted ceilings, ceiling fans, AC, satellite TV, private baths, orthopedic mattresses, and private terraces with beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean.
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Day Five
Let’s go fishing! Your fishing day will start at 7 AM as you’ll run 50 miles offshore to the world famous fishing grounds of the Hannibal Bank. This unique seamount, named after the USS Hannibal which discovered it in 1914 while doing depth sounding surveys for the Panama Canal, is home to some of the world’s best big game offshore fishing. Warm blue water and nutrient rich currents that rise up the Hannibal Bank create the perfect habitat for baitfish like bonito, small yellow-fin tuna, dorado, and rainbow runners – all favorites on the marlin menu. Both blue and black marlin are caught here throughout the year, most in the 300-500 lb range, although every year there are stories of unexpecting anglers raising a grander. The squid chains, teasers, and dredges will be out as you troll plastics or circle-hook rigged ballyhoo, but for the best action try slow trolling live bait like a 5-15 lb bonito or mackerel and see what happens. In peak tuna season you can expect to see huge boils of feeding yellow-fin tuna throughout the day.
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Day Six
Free day! Relax at the pool and your own private beach where kayaks are complimentary. We can also set up a snorkeling/island hopping tour to explore the numerous islands and secluded white sand beaches that dot the Gulf of Chiriqui. While out on the water you can expect to see dolphins, turtles and even whales (most common from Aug-Oct).
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Day Seven
Let’s go fishing! Today is your last full day in Panama so head back out for another incredible day of fishing. If you’ve already landed the marlin or tuna of a lifetime then today focus your offshore efforts on different species by going inshore for the day. We can catch up to 30 different species in these waters including three species of jacks, several different snapper & grouper, mackerel, and of course our famous roosterfish. You’ll spend this day trolling live bait and casting poppers & stick baits around the hot spots that make up “Jurassic Park” like the Islas Secas, Isla Parida, and Isla Ladrones.
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Day Eight
Take and early flight from David back to Panama City and then we’ll transfer you over to the PTY Airport for your international flight home.
Best of Panama Fishing Package Highlights:
- VIP Airport Meet & Greet upon arrival into the PTY Aiport
- Private air-conditioned transfers with English speaking driver.
- Spend three nights in the modern capital city of Panama City at 4-star hotel. This can be downtown or in the historic Casco Viejo section of town.
- Enjoy a private guided tour of Casco Viejo and the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal.
- Experience the excitement of fishing for peacock bass and snook on the Panama Canal itself.
- Domestic flights between Panama City and David (50 mins)
- Ocean-front accommodations at one of our favorite boutique hotels in the Gulf of Chiriqui (we’ll hand pick the best fit for you)
- Private fishing charters with experienced, local captains. Our crews have been fishing here for over a decade.
- Private offshore & inshore fishing charters on our 29′-33′ center consoles. Boat is 100% yours.
- All bait, tackle, gas, lunch and drinks (beer/water/soda) are included
- All Panama taxes
- Free quotes on travel insurance
- 24/7 support once you are here in country
Black Marlin
Yellowfin Tuna
Cubera Snapper
Mullet Snapper
Horse-eye Jack
Broomtail Grouper
Blue Marlin
Dorado
Mackerel
Lane Snapper
Bluefin Trevally
Striped Marlin
Wahoo
Schoolmaster Snapper
Rainbow Runner
African Pompano
Sailfish
Roosterfish
Red Snapper
Jack Crevalle
Black Grouper
Why Fish With CAF?
Media & Press
All fishing vacations booked with Central America Fishing include the following:
- Free Vacation Planning (no fees + direct rates)
- VIP Airport Meet & Greet upon arrival into SJO
- Private, air-conditioned transfers with English speaking driver.
- Luxury, private accommodations hand-picked and customized for your group. Choose between private condos & villas, luxury beach resorts, exclusive boutique hotels, and fishing lodges.
- Private fishing charters
- All eco / adventure tours you’d like to include
- All Costa Rican taxes
- Free quotes on travel insurance
- Pre-arrival assistance with dinner reservations, tee times, pre-stocking your condo or villa, hiring a private chef, and special requests.
- 24/7 support once you are here in country
Most Popular Fishing Packages
– COSTA RICA –
Los Suenos Fishing
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– PANAMA –
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Panama Tuna Fishing
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– BELIZE –
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– GUATEMALA –
Most Targeted Species
