Panama Heli-Adventures

Are you planning a Panama getaway this summer or in 2020? If you want to do something more adventurous and exciting, hop on a helicopter ride and have an unforgettable vacation with unique pictures and stories to tell. 

Did you come to Panama to admire the mind-blowing Panama Canal? To see the tropical rainforest, rivers, the Guna Yala Archipelago, pristine islands, coastlines, and maybe the Gatun lake. Taking a helicopter flight in Panama City is not only an excellent way to experience all of that but also to travel far and see more. You also will be able to land in unique areas and start hiking towards beautiful adventures.

The visibility from these helicopters is unparalleled and our pilots are trained with an emphasis on safety and responsibility.  

Our most popular tours are the following:

Panama Canal and Panama City Tour  Full Panama Canal Tour and Panama City Tour.  East and west side of Pacific Canal Locks, Miraflores, Pedro Miguel and The New Cocoli Locks.  Also the Borinquen Dam, Centenario Bridge, Gailard (Culebra) Cut, Gamboa Resort, Gatun Lake, Gatun Dam, “Vietnam” Chagres river flight near its mouth on the Atlantic Ocean, San Lorenzo Spanish Fort, Gatun Locks and new Agua Clara locks (Atlantic Side Locks).  Before returning back to the airport we do a full Panama City Tour. Approximately 55 minutes.  

Panama Canal, Panama City and Cultural Encounter with the Embera It’s more than a full hour flight of the Canal and Panama City Tour, plus a stop at a Native American Community (Embera Quera) who’s origins where in the Amazon and due to their peaceful nature kept migrating north (because of tribal conflicts) to the jungle between Panama and Colombia.  This one hour and 30 minute visit will consist of sharing with the Emberas to enjoy their music, dances, history and food.  The adventure includes the cost of the stop at the Village, lunch and the Village’s Show (everything is included).  It’s really an extraordinary experience with a very healthy and happy community living a relatively modern life while conserving and sharing their culture and heritage.  Total time for this tour, 10 minute preflight speech, 25 minutes first flight, 1:30 visit at Emebera Quera community, and 40 minutes last flight, so allow approximately three and one half hours taking into account the transfer from your hotel and back to it.

Panama Canal and beach day at Contadora Island – Day trip to Contadora Island starting at 10AM with a Full Panama Canal and City Tour prior to flying towards this small island.  This Tour includes everything as described in the first and best selling 55 minute Panama Canal and Panama City Tour, plus a round trip Helicopter flight to Contadora Island which is located 35 nautical miles southeast of Panama City on the Pacific Side of the Istmus.  Not included in this tour are day passes of $35.00/person that includes a beach chair and lunch at the Island’s best beach.

If you want to fly out to other Pearl Islands on the Pacific Side of Panama, such as Pedro Gonzalez (Pearl Island Project), Viveros Island or San José Island (Hacienda Del Mar Resort).

On the Atlantic Side we offer a day trip to San Blas – Helicopter Flight from Panama City to El Porvenir Island, capital of the San Blas Native American Reserve, will take you on a beach escape in the Caribbean side of Panama.  At El Porvenir our boat Captain, Tico and Jaime his mate,  will take you to a beautiful island where you will be able to enjoy its beautiful white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters of the Panamanian Atlantic coast.  At the same time you will have a chance to meet and engage with the Kuna people and enjoy their food (lunch), maybe buy some of their famous “Molas” and share a little with this small community.  I will either stay at El Porvenir waiting for you, or fly back to Panama and fly back when you are ready to bring you back to the city.  Tico, your boat captain, will stay with you (at your Island, obviously very far from you) so that you can leave the island anytime you want.  We could leave Panama City as early as 8:00am and be back no later than 5pm (6pm in the dry season).  

Beach Day at Famous Playa Venao -Enjoy a whole day at this world famous Surfer’s Beach Break that has surf schools, board rentals and a nice variety of restaurants and quaint small hotels.  The flight would take you over the Western Pacific shores of Panama which are quite scenic and you will be there in approximately one hour (4-5 hours by car).  Included is the round trip flight and you decide the time to leave the city as early as 7AM and come back as late as 5:00PM.

Beach Day at World Famous Santa Catalina Beach  – Enjoy a whole day at this world famous Surfer’s and Scuba Diver’s paradise that has a decent variety of restaurants and activity.  There are surfer and scuba academies and all equipment may be rented there.  The flight would take you over the Western Pacific shores of Panama which are quite scenic and then across the Azuero Peninsula and you will be there in approximately one hour and 20 minutes (6-7 hours by car).  Included is the round trip flight and you decide the time to leave, as early as 7PM and come back as late as 5:00PM.

Rum Tasting at Panama’s oldest and most prestigious distillery, Hacienda San Isidro, managed and owned by Varela Hermanos – Enjoy a unique tour and Rum Tasting at Panama’s Oldest Sugar Mill and Alcohol Distillery.  Located in the small town of Pesé in the middle of “Panama’s interior” or “heartland”, this factory is where Panama’s national alcoholic beverage “Seco Herrerano” is made, and where one of the finest rums in the world, “Ron Abuelo”, and it’s multiple varieties, is made and aged.  The tour includes round trip transfer by helicopter to Pesé and the factory’s Premium Tour and Rum Tasting.  During the first leg of the flight we will include an over flight of Panama City, Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks, Centennial Bridge, new Cocoli Locks and finally over Panama’s Pacific Beach Resorts (Olaya Blanca, Buenaventura and others) before landing at Hacienda San Isidro after about a 1 hour and 15 minute flight (4 hours by car).  After that the Premium Tour begins and includes the following:

  • Visit to the Colonial Home of the Mill’s founder in the town of Pesé
  • Brief Oxcart “Carreta de Bueyes” Ride to experience how the sugar cane was carried to the Mill for years 
  • Welcome cocktail
  • Sugar Mill and Distillery Tour to understand the process of the Seco Herrerano and Ron Abuelo
  • Visit to one of 19 warehouses, were the aging process takes place
  • Panama’s heartland typical lunch
  • Rum Tasting of the 8 rums, including Finish Collection, Two Oaks and Top of the Line Centuria 
  • After the tastings an Open Bar for up to 30 minutes
  • Certificate of Rum Tasting to each participant 

I recommend to takeoff at 9AM, arriving at Hacienda San Isidro at around 10:30AM, do the tour, the lunch, the tasting and lastly the open bar.  Leaving Hacienda San Isidro at 4PM approximately and arriving Panama City at 5PM.

Fishing Day at Famous Tropic Star Lodge at Piñas Bay -all prices upon request!

For details and quotes, please contact annie@ecocircuitos.com