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Islas Secas in the Gulf of Chiriquí

Panama · 7 nights · City and island

Casco Viejo and a Private Island: 7-Night Itinerary

  • Couples
  • Honeymoon

In short. Three nights in Casco Viejo, Panama City's old quarter, then four on Islas Secas, a private archipelago in the Gulf of Chiriquí reached on the resort's own plane. Two hotels, one flight of just over an hour and no long drives.

Nights
7
Stops
2
Fly in / out
PTY
Best months
Dec to Apr

Facts checked 10 November 2026

Why this route

  1. Two hotels and one flight. You unpack twice, and the only journey of any length is the resort's own plane, just over an hour.
  2. Three nights in Casco Viejo, the old quarter, with the Panama Canal and the Chagres rainforest close enough for a morning.
  3. Islas Secas is a private archipelago of 14 islands, all-inclusive, with diving and a forest spa run by the resort.

Our team

The route at a glance

Route map of Casco Viejo and a Private Island

Numbered stops in order. Solid line by road, dashed line by air or boat.

  1. Casco Viejo, Panama City 3 nights
  2. Islas Secas, Gulf of Chiriquí 4 nights

Day by day

Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo

Days 1 to 3 · 3 nights

Casco Viejo, Panama City

Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo

Getting here: A private transfer from Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to your hotel in Casco Viejo.

  1. Day 1
    Arrive in Panama CityLand at Tocumen International Airport and transfer to Casco Viejo. The evening is yours, for a first walk through the old quarter's plazas.
  2. Day 2
    The Canal and the old quarterA morning at the Miraflores Locks watching ships move through the Panama Canal, then a food walk through Casco Viejo.
  3. Day 3
    Rainforest or the airA visit to an Emberá community in Chagres National Park or, if you prefer, a helicopter flight over the Canal and the Chagres.
Islas Secas

Days 4 to 7 · 4 nights

Islas Secas, Gulf of Chiriquí

Islas Secas

Getting here: The resort's own scheduled Twin Otter from Panama City, just over an hour, landing between 12:00 and 15:00.

  1. Day 4
    Fly to the islandsThe resort's flight from Panama City, then the afternoon to settle into your casita.
  2. Day 5
    Under the waterDiving or snorkeling with the resort's own team.
  3. Day 6
    A day on the waterOut by boat around the archipelago. From July, humpback whales are in the gulf.
  4. Day 7
    A day of your ownThe forest spa, the beach, or simply a slow day on the island.
Day 8
Fly home The resort's morning flight back to Panama City, then on to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) for your flight home.

Where you stay

Casco Viejo, Panama City

Hotel La Compañía Casco Antiguo
PremiumHotel La Compañía Casco Antiguo

A restored Jesuit convent with five restaurants and a rooftop pool

Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo
LuxurySofitel Legend Casco Viejo

A 1917 club building on the Casco Viejo waterfront

Islas Secas, Gulf of Chiriquí

Islas Secas
LuxuryIslas Secas

A private 14-island archipelago, 20 miles off Panama's Pacific coast

Is it for you?

Perfect if you

  • want a short trip with real comfort and very little travel
  • love the sea: diving, snorkeling and days on a boat
  • are celebrating something and want an island almost to yourselves

Think twice if

  • want to see several regions of Panama in one week
  • want the coffee highlands or the Caribbean side: our longer routes cover both

How it compares

RouteNightsStopsBest for
Casco Viejo and a Private Island7Casco Viejo, Panama City, Islas Secas, Gulf of ChiriquíCouples who want a short trip with very little travel
Island Odyssey by Yacht with Kontiki7Boquete and boarding, Islas Secas, Canales de Afuera, Coiba: the Monkey Trail and Granito de Oro, Coiba: the penal colony and the San Juan River, Isla Uva and Brincanco, Islas ParidasCouples and families who love the sea and want Coiba without changing hotels
City, Canal and Pacific Golf Beach8Casco Viejo, Panama City, El Valle de Antón, Río Hato, Pacific RivieraFamilies and groups who would rather not fly inside Panama

Questions travelers ask

How do we get to Islas Secas?

On the resort's own scheduled Twin Otter from Panama City, a flight of just over an hour. Arrivals land between 12:00 and 15:00 and departures leave between 08:00 and 10:00.

When is the best time to go?

Mid-December to mid-April is the dry season on Panama's Pacific side. Humpback whales are in the Gulf of Chiriquí from July.

Is Islas Secas all-inclusive?

Yes. Meals and the resort's activities are part of the stay, so the island days need no planning on your side.

Can we change the hotels or the nights?

Yes. Every trip is built around you: more nights on the island, Hotel La Compañía instead of the Sofitel in Casco Viejo, or a third stop.

Why book with us

Built by My Costa Rica, a destination management company based in Costa Rica since 2004, trusted by more than 25,000 travelers.

Make it yours

Tell us your dates and who is coming, and we will shape this route around you.

Make it yours

Sources: Islas Secas, Getting Here (islassecas.com, read 9 November 2026); Pacific dry season (birdingpanama.com, read 9 November 2026); the hotel pages on this site, read 10 November 2026.

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