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Islands and anchored boats in the Islas Paridas, Gulf of Chiriquí
Photo: Kontiki Expeditions

Panama · 7 nights · Small-ship voyage

Island Odyssey by Yacht with Kontiki: 7-Night Itinerary

  • Couples
  • Multigenerational
  • Adventure

In short. Seven nights aboard the Kontiki Wayra, a 40-meter expedition yacht with 9 staterooms and room for 18 guests, from the Boquete highlands through Islas Secas, Coiba National Park, Isla Uva and the Islas Paridas to Boca Chica. A different island every day, two naturalist guides on every landing, and we plan your days on land around it.

Nights
7
Stops
7
Fly in / out
DAV

Facts checked 10 November 2026

Why this route

  1. A 40-meter yacht with 9 staterooms and at most 18 guests, so the trails and beaches of Coiba National Park are shared with very few people.
  2. You unpack once. Every morning the yacht is anchored somewhere new: Islas Secas, Canales de Afuera, two days at Coiba, Isla Uva and the Islas Paridas.
  3. We build the land around it, with nights in Panama City or Boquete before you board and the flights and transfers in between, all planned by one team.

Our team

The route at a glance

Route map of Island Odyssey by Yacht with Kontiki

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

  1. Boquete and boarding 1 night
  2. Islas Secas 1 night
  3. Canales de Afuera 1 night
  4. Coiba: the Monkey Trail and Granito de Oro 1 night
  5. Coiba: the penal colony and the San Juan River 1 night
  6. Isla Uva and Brincanco 1 night
  7. Islas Paridas 1 night

Day by day

Freshly picked coffee cherries

Day 1 · 1 night

Boquete and boarding

Aboard the M/Y Kontiki Wayra

Getting here: Kontiki's shuttle collects you at your hotel or the airport for check-in and boarding.

  1. Day 1
    Boquete, then on boardA morning in the cool Chiriquí highlands, with the coffee tradition of the Ngöbe community and a walk in the cloud forest, then on board for your first night.
Islas Secas from the air

Day 2 · 1 night

Islas Secas

Aboard the M/Y Kontiki Wayra

Getting here: By yacht, overnight.

  1. Day 2
    Islas SecasSnorkeling over the reefs with sea turtles and schools of fish, a picnic on one of the beaches, and kayaks along the shore.
A snorkeler in the clear water of Coiba National Park

Day 3 · 1 night

Canales de Afuera

Aboard the M/Y Kontiki Wayra

Getting here: By yacht, inside Coiba National Park.

  1. Day 3
    Canales de AfueraAn island inside Coiba National Park with very clear water for snorkeling and freediving. Scuba for certified divers is possible on some departures: ask us first.
A reef shark over the sandy sea floor at Coiba

Day 4 · 1 night

Coiba: the Monkey Trail and Granito de Oro

Aboard the M/Y Kontiki Wayra

Getting here: By yacht to the north of Coiba.

  1. Day 4
    Coiba, the northAn early walk on the Monkey Trail with howler monkeys and birds calling, then snorkeling around Granito de Oro and the islets nearby, where rays, turtles and reef sharks are often seen.
A guest wading through the mangroves of Coiba

Day 5 · 1 night

Coiba: the penal colony and the San Juan River

Aboard the M/Y Kontiki Wayra

Getting here: By yacht along Coiba.

  1. Day 5
    Coiba, the historyThe ruins of the old penal colony, once called Central America's Alcatraz, then the San Juan River mangroves by kayak, where crocodiles and scarlet macaws live.
Loungers on the sun deck of the Kontiki Wayra

Day 6 · 1 night

Isla Uva and Brincanco

Aboard the M/Y Kontiki Wayra

Getting here: By yacht, north of Coiba.

  1. Day 6
    Isla Uva and BrincancoKayaks or paddleboards along Isla Uva's wild coast, then a guided walk on Brincanco looking for howler monkeys and birds.
A palm-lined beach in the Islas Paridas

Day 7 · 1 night

Islas Paridas

Aboard the M/Y Kontiki Wayra

Getting here: By yacht to the Gulf of Chiriquí.

  1. Day 7
    Islas Paridas, an easy dayMangroves and sheltered bays by kayak or paddleboard, starfish and nurse sharks over the reef, then loungers and shade on the beach for the afternoon.
Day 8
Back on land Breakfast under way as the yacht cruises to Boca Chica, then Kontiki's shuttle back to the mainland. We arrange your flight home or your next stay from there.

Is it for you?

Perfect if you

  • love snorkeling, kayaking and paddleboarding straight off the boat
  • want to see Coiba and the islands of the Gulf of Chiriquí without moving hotels
  • are a family or a group of friends who could take the whole yacht privately

Think twice if

  • get seasick easily: the yacht can move under way, and landings are by dinghy, sometimes wading ashore
  • need scuba diving guaranteed every day: diving is arranged case by case, so ask us first
  • are traveling with children under 6, the minimum age Kontiki suggests

How it compares

RouteNightsStopsBest for
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
Casco Viejo and a Private Island7Casco Viejo, Panama City, Islas Secas, Gulf of ChiriquíCouples who want a short trip with very little travel
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

Is there a shorter version?

Yes. Kontiki also sails a 4-night Island Odyssey: Boquete, Islas Secas, two days at Coiba and then Boca Chica. It leaves out Canales de Afuera, Isla Uva and the Islas Paridas.

Can we scuba dive?

Ask us first. Coiba and Canales de Afuera are excellent for diving, but scuba depends on the dive arrangements being confirmed in writing for your dates, so we settle it with Kontiki before you book. Snorkeling gear is on board for everyone.

Can we charter the whole yacht?

Yes. The Kontiki Wayra can be chartered privately for up to 18 guests, and the route and pace are then shaped around your group. Four of its staterooms interconnect, which works well for families.

What is included on board?

Your stateroom, every meal from the onboard chefs, soft drinks, wine, beer and cocktails, two naturalist guides on every outing, park entrances, snorkel gear, kayaks and paddleboards, and Kontiki's shuttle to and from the yacht. Fine wines, spa treatments and crew gratuities are extra.

What about the nights before and after?

Kontiki does not include them, and that is where we come in. We plan the rest of your Panama trip with you, such as Casco Viejo in Panama City or a few nights in the Boquete highlands, with the flights and transfers in between.

Will the route always run as shown?

The captain can change the order or a stop for weather and sea conditions, as on any expedition yacht. Your guides brief you on each day the evening before.

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: Kontiki Expeditions, Island Odyssey Expedition, 7 and 4 night itineraries, inclusions, staterooms and FAQ (kontikiexpeditions.com/panama, read 10 November 2026). Photos courtesy of Kontiki Expeditions, several by Katjana Cabenda, Dana Bjarner and Maysa Santoro as named in Kontiki's own files. Coordinates from OpenStreetMap.

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