Panama Beach Life: Island Hopping from San Blas to Bocas del Toro

This journey begins at Panama City. On the first day, we meet at 17:00.

Your Coordinator will add you to the WhatsApp group for your trip about 15 days before departure.
 It’s a great way to start getting to know your travel mates, receive more details about the first day’s meeting point, and ask any pre-departure questions you might have.

This journey ends at Panama City. On the last day, you are free to leave at any time, so whether you need to book a flight, a train, or wish to continue the journey on your own, you can organize your return as you prefer.

A minimum of physical effort is expected for walks in nature. All sports activities are optional.

For this itinerary, soft luggage is required for logistical reasons and the convenience of the whole group - including yourself! Soft luggage includes backpacks, duffel bags, or sports bags, but not trolleys or bulky suitcases. The Travel Coordinator will provide guidance on the ideal baggage before departure via the WhatsApp group.

Panama is in the Eastern Standard Time (EST) zone, and it does not observe daylight saving time. This means that if it is 12 pm in the UK, it will be 7 am in Panama. If it is 12 pm on the East Coast of the USA, it will be 12 pm in Panama as well. Panama's consistent time makes it easy to plan your travel without worrying about seasonal clock changes.

In Panama, the official currency is the Panamanian Balboa (PAB), but the United States Dollar (USD) is also widely used and accepted. The Balboa is pegged to the USD at a 1:1 ratio, so you can use USD without needing to exchange for Balboas. You can exchange currency at banks or exchange bureaus if needed.

You can pay in Panama using cash, credit cards, and mobile payments. Credit cards like Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted in urban areas, but smaller shops and rural areas might prefer cash. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are also available in many places. Make sure to have some cash on hand for small purchases or when visiting less touristy areas. ATMs are common in cities, so withdrawing cash is convenient if needed.

Tipping in Panama is appreciated but not mandatory. In restaurants, you might find a service charge already included, but if it's not, leaving a tip of about 10 percent is common. For taxis, rounding up the fare is a nice gesture, although not expected. In hotels, you can tip bellhops a couple of dollars per bag. Remember, tipping is a way to show appreciation for good service, so it's entirely up to you.

In Panama, you can find Wi-Fi in most hotels, cafes, and public places, especially in major cities like Panama City. However, coverage might be spotty in rural areas. For a more reliable connection, we recommend you buy a local SIM card or an e-SIM data plan. Providers like Movistar, Claro, and Digicel offer various packages to suit your needs. This way, you can stay connected wherever you are, especially when exploring off-the-beaten-path locations.

In Panama, the official language is Spanish. However, English is widely spoken, especially in tourist areas. Here are some useful Spanish expressions you might hear or use:

• Hello - Hola
• Thank you - Gracias
• Please - Por favor
• Excuse me - Perdón
• How much is it? - ¿Cuánto cuesta?
• Where is...? - ¿Dónde está...?
• Yes - Sí
• No - No

Understanding a few basic phrases can make your trip more enjoyable and help you connect with locals.

In Panama, the plugs used are type A and type B, similar to those in the USA. The electrical tension is 120 volts with a frequency of 60 Hz. If your devices have different plug types, we suggest you bring a universal adapter to ensure compatibility. Always check your devices to make sure they can handle the voltage to avoid any issues.

The main religion in Panama is Roman Catholicism, with a significant portion of the population practicing it. Protestantism is also widely practiced. In Panama, religious holidays like Christmas and Easter are celebrated with much enthusiasm and are important cultural events. You will notice various religious festivals and processions, especially during Holy Week. While there are no specific dress requirements related to religion for travelers, it's always good to dress respectfully when visiting churches or religious sites.

Heading to Panama? Here's a handy list of essentials to pack in your backpack:

• Clothing:
  • Lightweight t-shirts and tank tops
  • Shorts and light trousers
  • Swimsuit
  • Light jacket or sweater for cooler evenings
  • Raincoat or poncho for the wet season
• Shoes:
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Flip-flops or sandals
  • Water shoes for beach or water activities
• Accessories and Technology:
  • Sunglasses
  • Hat or cap
  • Lightweight backpack for day trips
  • Smartphone and charger
  • Power bank
• Toiletries and Medication:
  • Sunscreen and insect repellent
  • Personal toiletries
  • Basic first aid kit
  • Common travel medication like pain relievers, antihistamines, and anti-diarrheal pills

Panama's tropical climate makes light and breathable clothing ideal. Keep in mind that the weather can be quite wet, so prepare for rain, especially during the rainy season from May to November.

Panama has a tropical climate with two main seasons: the dry season and the rainy season.

• Dry Season (December to April): Warm and sunny, especially in areas like Panama City and the Pacific coast. Best time to visit for beach activities.
• Rainy Season (May to November): Expect heavy rain and high humidity, particularly in the Caribbean coast and rainforest areas. Rain showers are typically short but intense.

The highlands, such as Boquete, are cooler year-round. We recommend you plan your trip during the dry season for a more pleasant experience.

Return international flights are not included on our trips because we want to give you full autonomy and flexibility. You can choose your preferred airline, fly from the airport that works best for you, and decide how many stopovers you want to make along the way.

As flights are not included, you also have more flexibility with your travel dates: you could arrive at your destination a few days early or return home a bit later – or even continue independently to a nearby destination!

An "Available" departure means that the trip isn’t confirmed yet and we’re waiting for a few more travellers to sign up… which could be you!

If you book the trip please wait for it to be confirmed before booking your international flights.

The question of all questions! Here’s some more information: 

• The Money Pot is a common fund collected in local currency from all travellers on the trip and managed by your Travel Coordinator. 
• It is used to streamline payments for extra activities, goods and services that the whole group decides to do. This guarantees flexibility in choosing activities and excursions at the destination in line with the mood of the group. 
• It is typically collected on the first day of the trip in local currency, although at times, the Travel Coordinator may ask for it to be paid before departure.
• You’ll find the Money Pot amount on the website under the section ‘What’s included in the Money Pot’. To find this look for ‘What’s included’, scroll down to ‘Money Pot? Click here’ and you’ll find the details.
• The amount varies depending on the destination chosen.
• It is usually used for group expenses that all travellers decide to take part in, but sometimes if you opt out of an activity it might make more sense for it to come out of the Money Pot. In these cases the Coordinator will return the amount for this activity back to you at the end of the trip. 
• It is estimated based on the experience of other groups but can vary depending on what activities your group is keen for. As such, the Travel Coordinator may need to increase the amount during the trip.
• If not all of the Money Pot is spent, the difference will be returned to all travellers at the end of the trip. 
• The Money Pot also covers the Travel Coordinator’s share of the activities included in the Money Pot, except for those activities that are free for the Travel Coordinator.
• If you pay in advance for part of the Money Pot before the trip for certain non-refundable optional activities, unfortunately, the amount cannot be refunded if the trip is cancelled. 

We offer several payment methods to fit every need:

1. Credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express);
2. Instalment payment with Klarna (you’ll pay for the trip in three equal amounts);
3. PayPal (for selected destinations);
4. Revolut Pay to pay even faster straight from your Revolut account.

Anyone who books a WeRoad trip has the option to cancel or modify the trip – including both the dates and the destination – free of charge up to 31 days before departure. In case of cancellation up to 31 days before departure, you will receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price. If you make a change, a price adjustment will be applied to the new trip chosen – meaning, if the new trip is cheaper, we will refund the difference; if it’s more expensive, you will need to pay the difference.

If you’ve purchased the Flexible Cancellation Option (which you can add in the first step of the booking process), you can request a cancellation or trip change until 8 days before departure. In case of cancellation, you’ll receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price, minus the cost of the Flexible Cancellation option. 

How to request a cancellation or change to your trip? Send us an email at [email protected] or a WhatsApp on +447716573700. Please share the booking reference for the trip you want to cancel or change, and, in case of a change, the new trip you would like to join.

For our trips we usually use locally owned accommodation instead of big hotel chains. It’s our favourite way to really experience the local culture and, whenever we can, support the local economy. Typically, you’ll stay in hotels, apartments, guesthouses and hostels with the same standard maintained across all trips in the same destination.

The list of accommodation for your trip will be shared with you by your Travel Coordinator 2-5 days before departure, along with other useful details for your adventure!

Yes! We might not know the flights for everyone else in the group, but there are ways to find out which flights your fellow WeRoaders will be taking. 

1. All travellers can share their flight details after booking on their My WeRoad account so that other travellers on the same trip can see these details anonymously. 

2. Alternatively you can join our Facebook group: Solo Travellers | WeRoad Community – (here is the extended link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/963298767843213 ) Look for a post about the trip you’re interested in or ask the group admin for help in getting in touch with your future travel companions!

3. If the Coordinator has already been assigned to the trip you’re keen for, you can easily find their Facebook post on the website. Click 'Ask the Coordinator' and follow the link here. 

Our groups usually consist of 8–12 travellers, with a minimum of 3–4 and a maximum of 15. 
Everyone on our trips speaks English, and travellers join us from across the UK, Europe and beyond. Our trips are open to people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, with an average age of 34 across all trips.

Each group will be joined and led by one of our experienced Travel Coordinators, who’s there to ensure everything runs smoothly and the group feels well-supported. 

If you’d like to know more about our typical WeRoad groups do reach out to us on WhatsApp on +44 7716573700. 

Yes! If you're curious, you can take a sneak peek at the group before booking. 
You’ll find the info in the ‘Group’ section for each trip on the departures page, showing how many WeRoaders have already booked. 

Click the little arrow and you’ll even see their gender and ages – but hey, that’s exclusive info, so we’ll ask you to log in or sign up to see that!

For some trips, in the itinerary section, you’ll find the number of nights and the location (not the hotel) where you’ll be spending the night(s). The location shown is the one we usually go for on most trips, but in some cases, you might stay in a nearby town. This will depend on logistics or availability of accommodation. 

The list of accommodation for your trip (and therefore also the exact locations) will be shared by your Travel Coordinator 2-5 days before departure, along with other useful information for your adventure!

The WeRoad Travel Coordinator is an experienced and skilled traveller who will be the perfect companion for your trip. They will manage all the logistical aspects of the itinerary like transport, timings, accommodation, restaurant bookings and meeting points, so that you can enjoy the trip without this hassle. They’re there to support the group, ensure everything runs smoothly and will no doubt make the trip a lot of fun along the way too! 

The Coordinator will set up a WhatsApp group approximately 2 weeks before departure. This will be the moment to ask any pre-departure questions and get to know the rest of the group! If the trip you are interested in already has a Travel Coordinator assigned, you can contact them before booking. Their details will be on the trip page, or you can search for their name here. After booking, you will find their contact details in your My WeRoad account, under ‘Bookings and Trips’ > ‘Your Upcoming Trips’ > ‘Trip Details’.

Yes, on all our trips you will share a room with other WeRoaders in your group. By default this will be people of the same gender, unless you tick ‘I'm OK with a mixed gender room’ when you book. The bathroom will either be private or shared only with other travellers on the trip. The rooms might be twins, triples, quadruples or multi-share (up to 8 people in exceptional cases), depending on the destination and availability.

You will never share with people from outside of the WeRoad group, except in certain cases for local experiences, which are specifically mentioned in the itinerary or communicated before booking. These typically involve specific nights in unique accommodation like tents, homestays, or camping, offering a more adventurous travel experience in exchange for some comfort.

On some of our trips we can offer a private room for an additional cost. Just tick the ‘Private Room’ option at checkout to get this added. For some of our trips if you book as two travellers together you can add this private room free of charge. Look out for this option at checkout. 

Please note that if you do book a private room with a friend/partner this could be either a double or a twin room so please email [email protected] if you have a preference on this. 

When you set off on a WeRoad trip, you’re officially a WeRoader – and as we often say, 'once a WeRoader, always a WeRoader'. This means that once you’re part of the community, a little piece of WeRoad will always stay with you.

But you’re not just a WeRoader during your trips, far from it! The community is alive and active all year round: you can stay in touch by following and interacting on our social media channels, like the Facebook group or the Instagram profile. You can also come along to one of our many events that we run in different cities worldwide. Check out and sign up to our events by downloading the WeMeet app here.