Family trips to Panama

Why choose Panama for a family trip?

Panama has many advantages for families

• Accessibility: short distances between regions, frequent domestic flights, good roads in tourist areas
• Variety of activities: beaches, forests, historic sites and water sports all within a small area
• Health and safety: good medical infrastructure in main towns, no compulsory vaccinations (except yellow fever, depending on origin)
• Predictable climate: well-defined dry season (December to April) facilitates organization
• Observable wildlife: monkeys, sloths, tropical birds and marine mammals are easy to spot, even with young children

How does a family tour in Panama work?

Family tours generally last between 8 and 15 days. The pace is deliberately moderate: one or two activities per day maximum, with free time to enjoy the accommodations. Travel is organized by private transport with driver, which avoids driving fatigue and allows you to adapt to unforeseen circumstances.

The selected accommodations feature family-friendly facilities: connecting or family rooms, swimming pools, and often gardens where children can play. Meals take into account the eating habits of younger guests, with simple options available in most restaurants.

Activities designed with children in mind

Every family tour in Panama includes activities specifically designed to captivate children:

• Crossing the Panama Canal by boat, to observe how the locks work
• Visits to conservation centers (sloths, frogs) with an educational approach
• Snorkeling in the coral reefs of Bocas del Toro or the San Blas Islands
• Meeting with an Emberá community, including craft demonstrations and river bathing
• Short hikes in the rainforest with guides specialized in wildlife observation
• Local cooking workshops or initiation to traditional dances

Family trips to Panama: at what age should you go?

Our tours are designed for families with children aged 5-6 and over. Before this age, the tropical climate, travel and certain activities can be tiring. From the age of 6, children can take full advantage of the discoveries on offer and actively participate in hiking and water sports.

For families with teenagers, we offer tours that include more physical activities: longer hikes, surfing at Santa Catalina, or exploring the mangroves of the Gulf of Chiriquí by kayak.

The right accompaniment

Each family tour benefits from special accompaniment: French-speaking guides accustomed to family groups, 24/7 on-site assistance, and flexibility in the way the days unfold. If a child is tired, or if the weather requires a change of program, itineraries can be adjusted.

We also provide practical pre-departure recommendations, including the appropriate medical kit, clothes to bring, advice on dealing with jet lag with children, and a list of fun activities during the trip.

An itinerary designed for little ones

Tours are built around specially adapted highlights: canopy walks, sailing between the islands of Bocas del Toro, visits to family farms in the Antón Valley. We avoid long journeys and overcrowded sites in favor of stops where you can linger, observe and touch. Children meet sloths, follow tracks in the mud, listen to stories in an Emberá community on the banks of a river.

Activities for learning on the move

Each stop offers a different insight into the country: traditional chocolate-making, traditional fishing on the Pacific coast, wildlife discovery in reserves supervised by enthusiastic guides. Nothing is set in stone, and everything is designed to keep children and adults alike involved in the journey.

A trip on a human scale

At Terra Panama, we tailor-make each itinerary to suit the age of the children, the desires of each individual, and the time you wish to devote to each stage. Far from standardized tours, we imagine trips that leave room for the unexpected, for spontaneous play on an empty beach or silence in the forest. Because in Panama, memories are often made far from the beaten track.