Welcome to Traveling Well’s latest Reality Tour.
See what happens the first time a tour hits the road!
This go around we’ll be following a pair of long-time marketing employees (Lorrie and Barbara) as they ride the inaugural departure of Discover Panama: A Land Between the Seas. Find out why this new tour is proving so popular.
Each [...]
After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, our group participated in a welcome meeting and met their tour guides Patrick and Robert. The other Collette staff was also introduced.
Along for the ride is Allison Flint, Product Manager. She was most responsible for creating this amazing tour – no small task. Crafting the itinerary, contracting with [...]
The Adventure Begins! As Day 2 got moving, the group was off on the first exciting leg of their Panamanian adventure. Two vans set out for the Panamá Viejo Visitors Center/Museum and the Cathedral Tower.
Panamá Viejo is what remains of the oldest Spanish settlement on the Pacific. The infamous pirate Henry Morgan attacked this spot [...]
More from Day 2
“After a relaxing lunch we headed to the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center,” Barbara said. “There we stood on the observation deck and watched a US Navy ship going through the locks, followed by large container ships.”
In the Miraflores locks, ships are lowered or lifted in three stages. This is what we mean [...]
There’s a reason it’s called Monkey Island.
After breakfast at leisure the group followed the canal north to the Gamboa Resort.
This exotic retreat proved to be a great jumping off point for the adventures ahead. After talking to Barbara and Lorrie pre-departure, I knew they were looking forward to relaxing here.
Next, the group proceeded to [...]
Next, the group set out for the Caribbean side of Panama.
“We visited the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s Galeta Marine Laboratory and our Collette Foundation site,” Barbara said.
“There was a great overview presentation by Stanley Heckadon, a biologist at the laboratory,” Lorrie said. “He had each staff person introduce themselves and provided a history of the [...]
In Colon, the group boarded the Panama Canal Railway for the journey back to Gamboa.
Panama’s geography has always made it a natural for transit from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Before the canal existed, passengers used the railway to cut down on time at sea. Ships would land in Colon and offload passengers who would [...]
On Day 4, half of the group awoke early and joined a Gamboa guide for a 6:30 am nature walk of the resort grounds, spotting a variety of birds.
“After breakfast we traveled a short distance outside the grounds to board the Pacific Queen,” Lorrie said. “Everyone was looking forward to our partial transit of the [...]
“Another 10!”
Today was an optional day for passengers. They could choose to enjoy:
An all day excursion to Smithsonian’s Barro Colorado Island.
A fishing trip on Gatun Lake.
Resort options, including kayaking or an aerial tram ride.
They could even just relax by the pool or on the hammock that graced each room’s balcony.
“Lorrie and I chose the Barro [...]
The group woke to showery skies and headed for the Chagres River. Upon arrival, the rain had stopped and as often happens on amazing travel days, the skies cleared.
“We then boarded the dugout canoes for our journey across the river,” Lorrie said.
Each canoe was powered by a small engine and included a member of [...]
Day 7 was a day of leisure
“The weather took a turn for the worse,” Barbara said. “We were getting a storm from Guatemala.”
Some passengers (including Lorrie) joined the optional excursion to see the third lock – Gatun Lock and Portobelo Fort.
Even though it was a rainy day, the passengers were thrilled to see Gatun Lock. This [...]
There’s a secret to Traveling Well – Sometimes you have to take what the destination gives you.
As we find our group near the tail end of their trip, it’s been raining.
Yet as Barbara put it, “Today was a historical day for Panama. It was just the third time in its history that the canal closed [...]
Ah. Now comes the bittersweet day of departure for everyone…
“We woke to the clouds breaking,” Lorrie said. “The sun was trying to shine so we grabbed our cameras and headed out to the grounds of the resort.”
“In the distance you could see the line of ships waiting to pass through the canal – it [...]
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