Cayo Zapatilla in Bocas del Toro, Panama

          COSTA RICA PANAMA · TWO COUNTRIES, ONE CLEAR ROUTE
        

Costa Rica and Panama, one route: the tours worth booking on each side.

Eight day tours with live 'From' prices, from Arenal and Monteverde to the Caribbean coast, across the Sixaola border to Bocas del Toro and on to the Panama Canal. Each card names the meeting point and what's included.

See Top Tours ↓ View Live Options · #1 Pick ↗ Free Costa Rica & Panama Insider Guide (2026)

Where are you on the route? Jump to it

Costa Rica highlights Caribbean coast Bocas del Toro Panama City Sixaola border guide Plan the route

          ✓ 8 Vetted Local Operators · Named Meeting Points
          ✓ Free 24h cancellation on all 8 top picks
          ✓ Secure checkout with trusted booking partners
        

            SECTION 01 · HANDPICKED & VERIFIED EXPERIENCES
          

Costa Rica & Panama Tours Worth Booking

One proven day tour per stop on the classic two-country route. Prices are live 'From' fares. Filter by stop:

                01 · COSTA RICA CLASSIC
              

Verified · Viator

                ARENAL · 11 HRS
                From $89.25
              

La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs Full Day

The classic Arenal day in one booking: La Fortuna waterfall, a volcano hike and a hot springs resort, with lunch, park and waterfall fees and La Fortuna hotel transport included.

Departs: Red Lava office in front of Relax Termalitas, La Fortuna; pickup in the La Fortuna area

Check: Child rate from age 4. Pickup outside central La Fortuna not included.

✓ Free cancellation Secure checkout · Viator

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                02 · CLOUD FOREST
              

Verified · Viator

                MONTEVERDE · 2–3 HRS
                From $35
              

Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Walk with a Naturalist

A small-group walk through Monteverde's cloud forest with a naturalist and a shared spotting scope, plus a stop at the hummingbird gallery.

Departs: Reserve reception, Monteverde (arrive 20 minutes early to buy tickets)

Check: Reserve entrance tickets and transport not included.

✓ Free cancellation Secure checkout · Viator

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A three-toed sloth (representative of Manuel Antonio wildlife)

                03 · PACIFIC WILDLIFE
              

Verified · Viator

                MANUEL ANTONIO · 4 HRS
                From $49
              

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour with a Naturalist

Four hours on Manuel Antonio's trails with a nature specialist and spotting scope, looking for sloths, monkeys and birds. Snacks are included.

Departs: Ask for Jade Tours at the park entrance gate; pickup within Manuel Antonio and Quepos

Check: Park ticket not included. The park is closed on Tuesdays.

✓ Free cancellation Secure checkout · Viator

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                04 · BEFORE THE BORDER
              

Verified · Viator

                PUERTO VIEJO · 3 HRS
                From $65.50
              

Puerto Viejo Sloth Jungle and River Kayaking Tour

A three-hour local-guided jungle walk to find sloths, then a river kayak, on the Caribbean coast before you cross into Panama. Snacks and kayaks are included.

Departs: The rasta-coloured ranch (green, yellow and red) in the middle of the beach, Puerto Viejo

Check: Child rate from age 4. Transport not included.

✓ Free cancellation Secure checkout · Viator

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                05 · REEF + RAINFOREST
              

Verified · Viator

                CAHUITA · 5–6 HRS
                From $90
              

Cahuita National Park Tour and Water Experience from Puerto Viejo

A guided walk along Cahuita's beach-side rainforest trail, home to sloths and howler monkeys, plus time in the water. Private transport from Puerto Viejo is included.

Departs: Pickup in Puerto Viejo

Check: Bottled water not included. Booking may need operator confirmation.

✓ Free cancellation Secure checkout · Viator

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                06 · PANAMA ISLANDS
              

Verified · Viator

                BOCAS DEL TORO · 7 HRS
                From $50.99
              

Bocas del Toro Island Hopping Day Tour to Zapatilla Beach

A seven-hour boat day around the Bocas archipelago to Cayo Zapatilla, with snorkel gear, fruit, water and a bilingual guide.

Departs: Richard's Dock, Avenida H Norte, Bocas Town (Isla Colón)

Check: Lunch and the Bastimentos park fee (paid online) are not included.

✓ Free cancellation Secure checkout · Viator

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Kayaking through mangroves (representative)

                07 · SMALL-GROUP ECO
              

Verified · Viator

                BOCAS DEL TORO · 4 HRS
                From $100
              

Bocas Mangrove Kayak & Reef Snorkel Eco Tour

A late-afternoon paddle out of Saigon Bay with a biologist guide, through mangroves to a reef snorkel. Kayaks, snorkel gear, binoculars and water are included.

Departs: Santuario del Mar, Isla Colón (tell the taxi driver; walk the boardwalk to the dock)

Check: Child rate from age 3. Confirmed by the operator after you request it.

✓ Free cancellation Secure checkout · Viator

Book Now · See Availability ↗ Details →

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                08 · PANAMA CITY
              

Verified · Viator

                PANAMA CANAL · 5 HRS
                From $89
              

Panama Canal & City Tour with Hotel Pickup & Canal Entry

A five-hour Panama City tour with hotel pickup, a certified local guide and the Panama Canal visitor center entry ticket included. A good finale if you fly home from Panama City.

Departs: Panama City hotel pickup between 7:00 and 7:30 AM (cruise option from Amador)

Check: Bring a refillable bottle; no plastic bottles are provided.

✓ Free cancellation Secure checkout · Viator

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More tours on the Caribbean and Panama side

Culture, night walks, rafting and Bocas extras. Each opens live dates.

PUERTO VIEJO · CULTURE

Bribri Magic Chocolate and Waterfall Experience

From $75 · Bribri chocolate and waterfall day.

See Availability ↗

PUERTO VIEJO · CLASS

Hands on chocolate making class. From bean to bar, Puerto Viejo

From $47.37 · Bean-to-bar chocolate class in town.

See Availability ↗

MANZANILLO · NIGHT

Explore the Dark Side of Nature: Manzanillo Refuge Night Walk

From $70 · Night walk in the Manzanillo refuge.

See Availability ↗

CAHUITA · FULL DAY

Puerto Viejo: Cahuita Park Hike and Snorkel, and Sloth Sanctuary

From $158 · Hike, snorkel and a sloth sanctuary.

See Availability ↗

PACUARE · FROM PUERTO VIEJO

White Water Rafting Pacuare River with Lunch From Puerto Viejo

From $147 · Whitewater rafting day with lunch.

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BOCAS · NIGHT

Bioluminescence Snorkeling and Boat Experience at Bocas del Toro

From $49.99 · Bioluminescence snorkel and boat.

See Availability ↗

BOCAS · CONSERVATION

Giant Sea Turtle Conservation Tour in Bocas del Toro

From $45 · Sea-turtle conservation at Bluff beach.

See Availability ↗

PANAMA CANAL · BOAT

Boat tour in the Panama Canal to Monkeys and sloths islands

From $69 · Canal boat to monkey and sloth islands.

See Availability ↗

TWO-COUNTRY KIT

From our travel essentials page: what border-crossers need most.

Packing cubesSee details on Amazon ↗Packable rain jacketSee details on Amazon ↗Waterproof phone pouch for boat daysSee details on Amazon ↗Power bank for long transfer daysSee details on Amazon ↗

MORE LIVE OPTIONS

Want to compare more options? These are live GetYourGuide results for Bocas del Toro tours.

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FULL CATALOG & LIVE CALENDAR

Crossing at Sixaola? Read the step-by-step border guide before you go.

Sixaola Border Guide → All Experiences

              SECTION 02 · DAY-BY-DAY FIELD PLANS
            

Curated Costa Rica & Panama Itineraries That Actually Work

Switch between our 1-Day, Weekend, 3-Day, Family, and Couples blueprints. Each block is sequenced around real transfer times and links directly to the bookable experience.

One Day in Bocas del Toro

Islands by day, mangroves by late afternoon.

01 · 9 AM

Zapatilla island hopping

Leaves from Bocas Town.

Verified on Viator · From $50.99 Book Zapatilla ↗

02 · LATE PM

Mangrove kayak and snorkel

Or save it for day two.

Verified on Viator · From $100 Book the Kayak ↗

03 · EVENING

Dinner in Bocas Town

Water taxis run between islands.

Verified on Viator · From $50.99 See Bocas Tours ↗

          SECTION 03 · NEIGHBORHOODS, PORTS & STARTING HUBS
        

Costa Rica to Panama: 6 Stops Compared

Knowing which neighborhood, pier, or region your tour departs from saves hours in transit. Click any area below for our dedicated sub-guide:

Arenal Volcano. Photo: Joshua ten Brink / WildPhotography.com

AREA 01

Best for: volcano & hot springs

Arenal & La Fortuna

The usual first stop after San José: waterfall, volcano trails and hot springs.

              Explore Area Guide & Departures
              →
            

AREA 02

Best for: cloud forest

Monteverde

Hanging bridges, reserves and night walks; slow mountain roads in and out.

              Explore Area Guide & Departures
              →
            

The main beach in Manuel Antonio National Park

AREA 03

Best for: wildlife + beach

Manuel Antonio

Costa Rica's most-visited park; easy to pair with the Pacific coast.

              Explore Area Guide & Departures
              →
            

Palm-lined beach near Puerto Viejo. Photo: Joshua ten Brink / WildPhotography.com

AREA 04

Best for: Caribbean culture

Puerto Viejo & Cahuita

The staging town for Sixaola, with Cahuita's reef and rainforest trail nearby.

              Explore Area Guide & Departures
              →
            

AREA 05

Best for: islands & snorkel

Bocas del Toro, Panama

An island archipelago reached by road and water taxi after the Sixaola crossing.

              Explore Area Guide & Departures
              →
            

A ship in the Panama Canal at Miraflores

AREA 06

Best for: the finale

Panama City & the Canal

Fly home from Tocumen after a canal and old-town day.

              Explore Area Guide & Departures
              →
            

              SECTION 04 · SEASONALITY & TIMING
            

When to Visit Costa Rica & Panama: Month-by-Month Guide

Costa Rica's Pacific side is driest roughly December to April. The Caribbean coast, including Puerto Viejo and Bocas del Toro, has its own pattern and is often drier in September and October, when the Pacific is wettest. That makes autumn a good time for the Caribbean half of the route.

BOOKING URGENCY RULE

Bocas boat days and Arenal combo tours fill first in the dry season and holiday weeks. All eight picks offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before, so you can hold dates while you finalise the border day.

Check Live Dates & Availability ↗

Month	Typical Weather	Crowd & Demand Level	Best Experiences & Seasonal Events
Jan	Dry (Pacific)	High	Book Arenal and Monteverde early
Feb	Dry (Pacific)	High	Good all-round route month
Mar	Dry, hot	High (Holy Week some years)	Easter week fills buses and boats
Apr	Transition	Medium-High	Pacific heats up
May	Rains begin (Pacific)	Medium	Green season starts
Jun	Rainy afternoons	Low-Medium	Mornings for tours
Jul	Mixed; Caribbean can be rainy	Medium	Mid-year holidays
Aug	Rainy (Pacific)	Medium	Plan flexible transfer days
Sep	Wet Pacific; Caribbean often drier	Low	Good month for Puerto Viejo and Bocas
Oct	Wettest Pacific; Caribbean often drier	Low	Lead with the Caribbean half
Nov	Rains easing (Pacific)	Medium	Caribbean can turn rainy
Dec	Dry season returns (Pacific)	High (holiday peak)	Holiday weeks book out early

            SECTION 05 · SLEEP NEAR YOUR MORNING DEPARTURE
          

Where to Stay in Costa Rica & Panama (3 Vetted Tiers)

Three Puerto Viejo stays, the usual overnight before the Sixaola crossing, one per budget. These are Agoda partner properties; rates change daily, so check today's price for your dates.

Plan Your Route →

The Caribbean coast near Puerto Viejo. Photo: Joshua ten Brink / WildPhotography.com

                TIER 01 · ADULTS-ONLY SPA
                Live rates on Agoda
              

Namu Garden Hotel & Spa – Adults Only

📍 Puerto Viejo

Listed on Agoda as an adults-only hotel and spa in Puerto Viejo.

Recommended Stays: Namu Garden Hotel & Spa (Agoda partner property)

Check Rates at Namu Garden →

A palm beach on the Puerto Viejo coast. Photo: Joshua ten Brink / WildPhotography.com

                TIER 02 · BEACH & JUNGLE
                Live rates on Agoda
              

Cariblue Beach and Jungle Resort

📍 Puerto Viejo

Listed on Agoda as a beach and jungle resort on the Puerto Viejo coast.

Recommended Stays: Cariblue Beach and Jungle Resort (Agoda partner property)

Check Rates at Cariblue →

                TIER 03 · JUNGLE B&B
                Live rates on Agoda
              

El Tucan Jungle Lodge

📍 Puerto Viejo area

Listed on Agoda as a jungle lodge B&B in the Puerto Viejo area.

Recommended Stays: El Tucan Jungle Lodge (Agoda partner property)

Check Rates at El Tucan →

              SECTION 06 · E-E-A-T EDITORIAL METHODOLOGY & VERIFICATION
            

A route planner, built stop by stop.

We pick one day tour per stop on the classic Costa Rica–Panama route, based on what's included, how clearly the meeting point is named and how it fits a border-crossing schedule. We never invent star ratings or awards. Meeting points and inclusions come from each operator's live listing.

VERIFIED EDITORIAL RECORD

EasyCostaRica Travel Editorial Desk

Last updated & link-audited: Oct 30, 2026

About This Guide Border Guide Disclosure

✓ Both sides covered

Costa Rica classics, the Caribbean coast, Bocas del Toro and Panama City.

✓ Hidden fees flagged

Bocas lunch and the Bastimentos park fee, Manuel Antonio's park ticket, La Fortuna pickup limits.

✓ Confirmation rules shown

We flag tours the operator confirms manually.

✓ Verified links only

Every Book Now button opens a live listing with dates and terms.

Photography & License Attribution: Original Costa Rica photography © Joshua ten Brink / WildPhotography.com; additional destination imagery sourced via Wikimedia Commons contributors under CC BY / CC BY-SA licenses (see full image credits & source files).

            SECTION 07 · FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
          

Costa Rica & Panama Tours & Travel FAQ

Direct, practical answers to the questions travelers ask most before booking Costa Rica & Panama tours, day trips, and transfers.

Read the Sixaola Border Guide →

How do you get from Costa Rica to Bocas del Toro?

Most travellers go from Puerto Viejo to the Sixaola–Guabito border, cross on foot, then continue by road to Almirante and by water taxi to Bocas Town. Our border guide covers each step.

Where should I stay before crossing into Panama?

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is the usual base: it's close to the Sixaola border and has Cahuita and Manzanillo nearby for day trips.

What are the best tours in Bocas del Toro?

Island hopping to Cayo Zapatilla is the classic. A mangrove kayak and reef snorkel is a quieter small-group option. Both leave from Isla Colón.

Are there extra fees on Bocas tours?

Often. On our Zapatilla pick, lunch and the Bastimentos park fee are not included (amounts on the listing). Check each card.

How many days do I need for Costa Rica and Panama?

Our existing routes run 10 to 21 days. A common split is a week in Costa Rica (Arenal, Monteverde or Manuel Antonio), two or three days on the Caribbean coast, then Bocas and Panama City.

When is the best time to do the Caribbean side?

The Caribbean coast is often drier in September and October, when Costa Rica's Pacific side is at its wettest.

Is the Panama Canal tour worth it at the end of the trip?

If you fly home from Panama City, yes. Our pick includes hotel pickup and the canal visitor center ticket in about five hours.

Do these tours include transport?

Some do. Arenal includes La Fortuna hotel transport, Cahuita includes pickup in Puerto Viejo and the canal tour includes Panama City hotel pickup. Bocas tours meet at the dock.

Can I cancel if the border day runs late?

All eight picks offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before, per their live listings.

                SECTION 08 · FREE 2026 INSIDER FIELD GUIDE
              

The Costa Rica & Panama Insider Guide (2026)

A printable cheat sheet: eight tours along the route with meeting points and inclusions, plus five ready-made itineraries and the Sixaola crossing in brief.

✓Eight tours on both sides of the border
✓1-day, weekend, 3-day, family and couples plans
✓Hidden fees on Bocas tours

Costa Rica and Panama, one route: the tours worth booking on each side.

Costa Rica & Panama Tours Worth Booking

More tours on the Caribbean and Panama side

Curated Costa Rica & Panama Itineraries That Actually Work

One Day in Bocas del Toro

Zapatilla island hopping

Mangrove kayak and snorkel

Dinner in Bocas Town

Caribbean Weekend Before the Border

Sloths and river kayak

Cahuita National Park

Cross at Sixaola to Bocas

Three Days Across the Border

Puerto Viejo sloth walk

Sixaola crossing, then mangroves

Zapatilla island hopping

Two Countries with Kids

Arenal full day

Puerto Viejo sloth walk

Bocas island hopping

Route for Two

Monteverde guided walk

Sunset-side mangrove paddle

Canal and city tour

Costa Rica to Panama: 6 Stops Compared

Arenal & La Fortuna

Monteverde

Manuel Antonio

Puerto Viejo & Cahuita

Bocas del Toro, Panama

Panama City & the Canal

When to Visit Costa Rica & Panama: Month-by-Month Guide

Where to Stay in Costa Rica & Panama (3 Vetted Tiers)

Namu Garden Hotel & Spa – Adults Only

Cariblue Beach and Jungle Resort

El Tucan Jungle Lodge

A route planner, built stop by stop.

✓ Both sides covered

✓ Hidden fees flagged

✓ Confirmation rules shown

✓ Verified links only

Costa Rica & Panama Tours & Travel FAQ

How do you get from Costa Rica to Bocas del Toro?

Where should I stay before crossing into Panama?

What are the best tours in Bocas del Toro?

Are there extra fees on Bocas tours?

How many days do I need for Costa Rica and Panama?

When is the best time to do the Caribbean side?

Is the Panama Canal tour worth it at the end of the trip?

Do these tours include transport?

Can I cancel if the border day runs late?

The Costa Rica & Panama Insider Guide (2026)

Send me the Costa Rica & Panama Insider Guide