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The Buenaventura Golf and Beach Resort on the Pacific Riviera

Panama · 8 nights · By road, no flights

City, Canal and Pacific Golf Beach: 8-Night Itinerary

  • Families
  • Multigenerational

In short. Eight nights with no domestic flights: Panama City and the Canal, two nights in the crater town of El Valle de Antón, then three at The Buenaventura on the Pacific Riviera. Every leg is by road.

Nights
8
Stops
3
Fly in / out
PTY
Best months
Dec to Apr

Facts checked 10 November 2026

Why this route

  1. No domestic flights at all: every leg is by road, about two hours to El Valle and one more down to the coast.
  2. The Canal and an Emberá community in the Chagres rainforest, both from the city.
  3. The Buenaventura has Nicklaus golf, a beach club and a spa, with room for the whole family.

Our team

The route at a glance

Route map of City, Canal and Pacific Golf Beach

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

  1. Casco Viejo, Panama City 3 nights
  2. El Valle de Antón 2 nights
  3. Río Hato, Pacific Riviera 3 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.

  1. Day 1
    Arrive in Panama CityLand at Tocumen International Airport and transfer to your hotel. The evening is yours.
  2. Day 2
    The CanalA partial transit of the Panama Canal by boat.
  3. Day 3
    The EmberáA visit to an Emberá community in Chagres National Park, then an evening in Casco Viejo.
Hotel La Compañía del Valle

Days 4 to 5 · 2 nights

El Valle de Antón

Hotel La Compañía del Valle

Getting here: About two hours by road west from Panama City.

  1. Day 4
    To El ValleThe drive to the crater town of El Valle de Antón.
  2. Day 5
    Waterfalls and zip linesZip lines, waterfalls and the hot springs.
The Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort Panama, Autograph Collection

Days 6 to 8 · 3 nights

Río Hato, Pacific Riviera

The Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort Panama, Autograph Collection

Getting here: About an hour by road from El Valle down to the coast.

  1. Day 6
    Down to the coastThe drive to the Pacific and an afternoon at the beach club.
  2. Day 7
    Golf or the beachNicklaus golf, the pools or the beach.
  3. Day 8
    The spaA slow last day, with the spa.
Day 9
Home By road back to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) for your flight home.

Where you stay

Casco Viejo, Panama City

JW Marriott Panama
PremiumJW Marriott Panama

A 70-floor tower on the bay side of Punta Pacifica

Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo
LuxurySofitel Legend Casco Viejo

A 1917 club building on the Casco Viejo waterfront

El Valle de Antón

Hotel La Compañía del Valle
LuxuryHotel La Compañía del Valle

Sculpture park, large spa and three restaurants inside a volcanic crater

Río Hato, Pacific Riviera

The Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort Panama, Autograph Collection
LuxuryThe Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort Panama, Autograph Collection

Nicklaus golf, a beach club and a spa on the Riviera Pacifica

Is it for you?

Perfect if you

  • are travelling with children or grandparents
  • want the Canal and a beach without small planes
  • like golf, pools and a beach club

Think twice if

  • want a private island or remote nature: try Casco Viejo and a Private Island or Cloud Forest and Caribbean

How it compares

RouteNightsStopsBest for
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
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

Questions travelers ask

Is it really all by road?

Yes. About two hours from Panama City to El Valle, and about an hour from El Valle down to Río Hato on the coast.

Is it good for families?

It was built for them: no small planes, short drives, and a resort with a beach club and pools at the end.

When is the best time to go?

Mid-December to mid-April is the dry season on the Pacific side. Because nothing depends on a flight, it also works well in the school holidays.

Can we change the hotels or the nights?

Yes. JW Marriott Panama for families in the city or the Sofitel for couples, and more beach nights if you like.

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: Panama City to El Valle and El Valle to Río Hato by road (maps, 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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