Jewish Heritage & Tropical Discovery in Panama
April 1-8, 2027

Led by Rabbi Elie Spitz,

Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation B'nai Israel of Tustin, CA

8 days, 7 nights for $3095 per person, double occupancy, land only

Package includes:

7 nights at the Plaza Paitilla Inn, a 4 star hotel in the heart of the Jewish community of Panama City, standard room with breakfast
Round trip airport transfers
Guided tours as listed in the itinerary below, including entrance fees
Shabbat services and Shabbat dinner at Kol Shearith Israel Synagogue
Additional meals as listed
English-speaking guide
Driver with air-conditioned vehicle throughout
Kosher meals upon request (in a few locations where kosher meals cannot be provided, vegetarian meals will be provided instead).

Pricing

$3095 per person, double occupancy

$3495 per person, single occupancy

Itinerary

Day 1

April 1:

Arrive in Panama and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2

April 2:

Breakfast at the hotel.

Discover the rich and thriving Jewish life of Panama. Begin with a visit to Shevet Achim Synagogue, one of the country's most important Orthodox Sephardic congregations.

Get lunch on your own at Jeffrey's Bakery (kosher) before wandering the aisles at Super Kosher, one of the largest kosher supermarkets in Latin America.

In the afternoon, visit Kol Shearith Israel Synagogue, a conservative congregation for Friday night Shabbat services and a traditional Shabbat dinner. After dinner, Rabbi Spitz will interview the Masorti Rabbi, Gustavo Kraselnik, on his life in Panama and the Jewish community there.

Day 3

April 3:

Breakfast at the hotel.

Enjoy a relaxing Shabbat.

Optional on your own: Visit the Bio Museo, designed by world-famous architect Frank Gehry. Open from 9 am - 3 pm. Entrance fee is $20 per person. From there you can walk along the scenic Amador Causeway for waterfront views of Panama City and the Pacific entrance to the canal.

Optional Sunset Experience: Sunset Panama Bay Tour featuring spectacular views of the skyline, Bridge of the Americas, Amador Causeway, and Flamenco Island (approximately $75 per person).

Evening dinner at Sabroso Panama, featuring traditional Panamanian cuisine and folkloric dance.

Day 4

April 4:

Breakfast at the hotel.

Begin with a tour of Panama City, starting with Casco Antiguo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to learn about Panama City's history and how Casco Antiguo has evolved into a hub of art, design, and culture in modern times.

Enjoy a coffee tasting xperience at the world-famous Geisha Coffee.

Drive down the Amador Causeway for an amazing view of the Panama City skyline before heading to the Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal. At the Locks, get a birdseye view as ships traverse the Panama Canal In the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center, you'll get an in-depth look into the history of the Canal and how the locks work.

Group dinner (not included) at one of Panama City's certified kosher restaurants: Aroma Gourmet or Fuego Bar & Bistro.

Day 5

April 5:

Breakfast at the hotel.

Head to Lake Alajuela and board a boat that will take you up the Rio Chagres and into the jungles of Panama. Here, visit an Embera indigenous community for a glimpse into the life of this ancient culture and its people. The Embera people have lived in Panama since well before the arrival of the Spanish and other European colonizers who looked to claim the land.

Experience the Embera people's traditional music and dance, learn about the artistic traditions that they carry on to this day, and enjoy a lunch of typical Embera cuisine wrapped in palm leaves, all gathered from the jungle.

Return to Panama City for overnight.

Day 6

April 6:

Early morning departure to Panama's Caribbean coast to visit the Spanish fortifications of Portobelo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Take a boat excursion through the stunning Caribbean waters to Isla Mamey and Isla Grande where you can see wildlife as you float through the mangroves.

Lunch at a local resort before you enjoy some free time to swim or relax in the Caribbean.

Return to Panama City by bus.

Day 7

April 7:

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to the Gamboa Rainforest where you'll take a boat on Gatun Lake for a safari to spot wildlife such as sloths, capybaras, iguanas, tropical birds and more. Then head to visit Monkey Island. Explore the island and see white-faced capuchin monkeys and howler monkeys roaming free in their natural habitat.

Return to Panama City in the evening.