Panama Photography Tour
From Casco Viejo's colorful streets to the Panama Canal and Boquete's cloud forests—immerse in a photographer's paradise.
Why Panama for Broader Photography Tours
A Photographer’s Paradise in a Compact Destination
Panama is a dream destination for photographers who want to capture an extraordinary variety of subjects without spending days in transit. Within a relatively small geographic footprint, you will transition seamlessly from ultra-modern skylines and historic colonial ruins to deep rainforests and pristine tropical coasts. This tour is designed to push your creative boundaries across multiple photography genres, including landscape, street, portrait, and wildlife photography.
Key Visual Highlights of the Tour
Our carefully planned route focuses on Panama’s most visually compelling and contrasting environments:
- The Panama Canal: Capture the sheer scale of this engineering marvel. The contrast of massive container ships framed by lush jungle borders offers unique opportunities for industrial, documentary, and scale photography.
- Colonial Architecture in Casco Viejo: This UNESCO World Heritage site is a treasure trove for street and architectural photographers. You will shoot vibrant, pastel-colored colonial buildings, textured ruins, ornate balconies, and local street life, all backdropped by the distant, gleaming skyscrapers of modern Panama City.
- Indigenous Emberá Villages: Travel by dugout canoe into the rainforest to meet the Emberá people. This respectful cultural exchange provides a rare opportunity for powerful environmental portraiture, capturing their traditional body painting, intricate beadwork, and thatched-roof dwellings in soft forest light.
- Diverse Natural Landscapes: Experience the ultimate environmental contrast. We will shoot the moody, mist-shrouded canopy of high-altitude cloud forests—perfect for macro and bird photography—before heading to the sun-drenched, turquoise waters and white sands of Panama’s Caribbean beaches.
Is This Tour Right for You?
This tour is ideal for photographers of all skill levels who want to build a diverse portfolio in a single trip. Here are a few practical details to help you decide:
- Physical Demand: Light to moderate. Expect short hikes on forest trails, walking on uneven cobblestones in Casco Viejo, and boarding small motorized canoes.
- Gear Recommendations: To make the most of this itinerary, we recommend bringing a versatile zoom lens (like a 24-70mm) for street and landscapes, a telephoto lens (at least 200mm to 300mm) for wildlife in the cloud forests, and a sturdy travel tripod for golden hour shots on the coast.
Suitability & conditions
A practical overview of the pace, comfort, and conditions to expect on this journey.
The journey at a glance
Following the route
The journey moves gradually through 4 chapters.
Route shown schematically for orientation.
Detailed itinerary
Welcome to Panama
- Transfer from Tocumen International Airport to Hotel Central
Panamá City – Gamboa
- Cerro Ancon Walk
- Transfer from Hotel Central to Gamboa
- Gatun Lake and Panama Canal Boat Tour
Embera Puru
- Transfer from Gamboa to Puerto Corotu
- Embera Puru Community Visit
San Blas Islands
- Transfer from Panama City to Cartí Port by 4×4
- Boat transfer from Cartí Port to San Blas Islands
San Blas Islands
- Gorgy Island Snorkeling and Island Visit
San Blas Islands
- Coco Bandero Swimming, Snorkeling and Kayaking
San Blas – Panamá City
- Boat transfer from San Blas Islands to Cartí Port
- Transfer from Cartí Port to Panama City by 4×4
- Transfer from Casco Viejo to Punta Pacifica
End of the adventure
- Transfer from Hotel Central to Tocumen International Airport
Accommodation
Where you’ll stay
Hotel Central
Central Hotel Panama occupies a restored Belle Époque building in Casco Viejo, Panama City's historic quarter, steps from Independence Square and the cathedral. Air-conditioned rooms are modern and comfortable, and the hotel offers an outdoor pool, spa, gym, four restaurants and a bar, with free Wi-Fi and private parking. It is a convenient base for exploring the old city and the Panama Canal area.
Gamboa Rainforest Resort
Altitude: 43m (141 ft)
Gamboa Rainforest Resort is a luxury hotel located in the heart of the Soberania National Park rainforest. It offers a wide array of nature activities and a spa.
San Blas Sailing Catamaran
Price Details
Our tour prices are based on a tiered pricing model. more guests = lower price, per person. That means the prices go down on a per-person basis as more people book onto a specific tour departure.
Price Base
- Price for 2 people: 4.795 EUR (599 EUR/day)
- Price for 3 to 4 people: 4.195 EUR (524 EUR/day)
- Price for 5 to 6 people: 3.395 EUR (424 EUR/day)
- Price for 7 to 8 people: 2.895 EUR (362 EUR/day)
** Prices are based on double occupancy / twin share basis.
Included
- Hotels mentioned in the program
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Hotels mentioned in the program- Hotel Central — 2 nights · Uncategorized Hotel
- Gamboa Rainforest Resort — 2 nights · Uncategorized Hotel
- San Blas Sailing Catamaran — 3 nights · Uncategorized Hotel
- Transportation in comfortable vehicles (Car / Van), as well as Boat / Ferry
- Meals indicated in the program: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunchs, 7 dinners
- 1 cocktail before dinner
- Water is included
- Professional photographic guidance & instruction by Tristan Quevilly
- 1h skype session of photo editing in Lightroom or Photoshop
- Restaurant gratuities / tips
- Pre-trip planning assistance
- Detailed trip notes with practical information and cultural insights
- Access to Remote Expeditions custom travel app
Not Included
- Lunch on Arrival day and Departure day
- Tips
- Domestic flights
- International flights
- Additional drinks and meals
- Medical insurance
- Expenses not specified in the program
- Tips
- Travel, Medical & Cancellation insurance
- Additional drinks and meals
- Expenses not specified in the program
- Camera Equipment
Deposit
- 30% (1.019 EUR approx)
Payment Options
- Bank Transfer (Recommended): Free
- Credit / Debit Card: Secure payment via Revolut. A 3% processing fee applies.
- paypal
Booking Conditions
- Deposit: 30% to secure your booking
- Final payment: Due 90 days before departure
- Cancellation more than 90 days before departure: Deposit retained as a 4-year travel credit
- Read the full Terms & Conditions ↗
A few kind words
Colombia Photography Tour 2026
Top notch photographic experience for enthusiasts of nature, culture, and portraits. Tristan is well connected to the area and the local communities with a specialty in indigenous tribes and less-visited areas. Additionally, he is an excellent teacher and will provide incredibly helpful instruction on exposure, lighting, and composition. Our tour was incredibly well organized and ran on time, with full days of photography. I fully recommend Remote Expeditions for your photographic travels!
You are in good hands with Tristan!
Tristan does an amazing job at putting together a culturally rich experience. He also does a great job at adapting to his clients needs and interests. He responds well to feedback. He is both professional and personable. I feel as though I had the opportunity not only to photograph many different elements of Colombia, but that I truly experienced the country and its culture. Our adventure took us from birding in the mountains outside of Cali, to visiting remote indigenous tribes, to visiting active fishing villages, to learning about local and historical musicians and customs, to beautiful settings in the mountains and along the seashore.
I give Tristan the highest recommendation as a guide for Colombia.
Colombia Birding Tour
I visited Colombia with Tristan of Remote Expeditions and would highly recommend him. He put together a wonderful itinerary with great knowledge of the areas and attention to details to give us a wonderful sampling of the country. He is personally very gentle and fun by nature and you will return home feeling very happy and satisfied. Whatever your special interest is, I’m sure he can make an itinerary to exceed your goals.
The difference is in the details
Journeys shaped by experience
Every route is built from time spent in the field: knowing when to linger, when to move on, and which small details are worth noticing.
Room for the unexpected
The best moments are not always on the itinerary. We leave enough flexibility to follow a good conversation, an unusual sighting, or a changing landscape.
Local relationships that open doors
Our journeys are grounded in long-term relationships with people who know their home intimately and are proud to share it in their own way.
A small group, properly looked after
With only a few travellers, decisions remain personal. We can adapt the pace, answer questions, and make sure everyone feels part of the journey.
Extend your journey
Optional extensions and add-ons you may consider for your trip. Each can be added to your itinerary on request — just let me know.