Our People
  • Amy Waters snow biking Our Team

    Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.

  • William Dalrymple Our Tour Experts

    We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.

  • Liz Bonnin Heroes and Heroines

    The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.

Sea turtle in the waters of Bocas del Toro

Panama Holidays

One of the world’s eco-tourism hotspots. Speak to our travel experts and create a Panama experience that certainly isn’t recycled – there’s coral gardens, volcano views and untouched forest all waiting to be ticked off.

Until recently Panama has not figured as a major holiday destination, but it is now re-inventing itself as an eco-tourism destination and its popularity is going to explode. For the moment it remains slightly quirky – which of course appeals to us enormously – with some interesting places to stay and things to do. For those with a love of travel and adventure then Panama must move up the list of places to go.

Resplendent Quetzal
Resplendent Quetzal

What to expect on your Panama holiday

Panama is best known for its iconic piece of engineering, the Panama Canal, but there is so much more to this beautiful country. Few realise the biodiversity found in Panama. Panama acts as a natural biological corridor connecting North and South America, and with a third of the country protected by reserves and national parks, it is not surprising that it plays host to over 1,000 species of bird (the largest number in Central America), 10,000 species of plant, 218 species of mammal and 226 species of reptile.

Embera Village, Panama
Embera Village, Panama

What is surprising, perhaps, is the stark contrast between the wealth of Panama City and the fact that a short distance away from the indigenous Embera tribe still travels by canoe. You will find other tribes in Panama’s remote regions, including the Kuna, with their pre-Columbian heritage, who inhabit a semi-autonomous area which includes 365 Caribbean islands.

Don’t expect to find Panama hat weaving – Panama hats are actually made in Ecuador!

Explore Panama

  • Darien National Park
  • Colon
  • Boquete
  • Bocas del Toro

Experiences

Panama offers incredible experiences that will help us to create a bespoke and memorable journey for you.

San Blas, Kuna Yala, Panama

Snorkel in San Blas

Snorkel in crystal waters.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Kuna Woman Creating Molas, Panama

Kuna Culture

Immerse yourself in the Kuna culture and traditions.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Canopy Camp, Humming Bird, Dari�National Park, Panama

Hike the Rainforest

With a Kuna guide, explore and hike the rainforest in the San Blas Archipelago.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Miraflores Locks, Panama City, Panama

Panama Canal

Visit the famous canal, an extraordinary feat of engineering.

Hummingbird, Chiriqui, Panama

Camino de Cruces

Walk part of the historical trail, Camino de Cruces, that connects the Pacific to the Atlantic coast; a well-trodden path by merchants, slaves and gold seekers alike.

Canopy Camp, Toucan, Darién National Park, Panama

Bird Watching

Discover the prolific birdlife including toucan, scarlet macaw and the extremely rare harpy eagle.

Sea turtle in the waters of Bocas del Toro

Turtle Watching

Observe sea turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs.

Darien Embera, M/V Discovery, Panama

Darien Rainforest Experience

Discover this pioneering region of endless rainforest, winding rivers and indigenous people.

Caribbean Houses, Bocas del Toro, Panama

Bocas Town

Experience the Caribbean nightlife of Bocas Town.

Sacred green bird

Canopy Lodge

Stay at Canopy Lodge for superb birding and photography experiences.

Suggested lodge

Where to Stay

Every captivating tailor-made itinerary needs a perfect base. Our team has handpicked this collection of properties to give you luxury options in styles to suit any adventure.

More luxury accommodation

Meet our experts

A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.

John Faithfull

One of John’s favourite spots is the viewing platform at the Miraflores Locks, where he has spent many happy (read “geeky”) hours being mesmerised by the machinations of the canal’s lock gate process.

Talk with our experts
  • 1 800 571 2985

Frequently asked questions about Panama

Is Panama safe to travel around?

What is the time zone in Panama?

How long are the flights to Panama from the UK?

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Send us an enquiry

Complete our enquiry form and start your next journey.

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Very satisfied with all aspects of our trip. Steppes kept us fully informed of the progress of the arrangements and gave us various choices of hotels.

Nick

Why Choose Steppes?

Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.

Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?


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