Issue 29 March 19th 2023

Hello

It's been rather cold here in Virginia the last few weeks and I am more than ready for our next family getaway somewhere warm! How are you doing? Have you had enough of winter yet, are you ready to plan your next getaway, or just patiently waiting to start gardening at home?

While we don't offer gardening services, we do offer awesome tailor-made vacation packages to some of the most biodiverse destinations, which could inspire your floricultural skills, or provide a welcome distraction, your choice!

A simple, affordable, and practical way to travel through many of our destination countries, is by car. A self-drive tour offers complete freedom and flexibility. You decide where you travel, when, and at what pace. No more early morning wake-up calls and hectic itineraries. Stop to smell the roses, and take as many photos along the way as you like! The tempo of your vacation is totally up to you.

We mastermind the trip details, including booking accommodations and arranging car rental, and round-the-clock local support for anything unplanned, which means you can spend less time worrying about logistics and more time vacationing!

Read on to find out more about self-drive tours and their benefits!

Safe travels

Anja

Panama

Planning the perfect self-drive tour

What is a self-drive tour? A self-drive tour means you’ll have a suggested itinerary and some services, such as the rental car and hotel accommodation, arranged. But you are ultimately responsible for getting from point A to point B each day. Where you go and how long you stay for is totally up to you, and there’s no limit to the type of trip we can create and customize for you!

We will also provide detailed information for your journey, including directions, distances, and safety tips, along with recommendations for restaurants and must-see sights so you can make the most of your trip.

Our self-drive tours are organized in cooperation with our local agencies who are at your disposal 24/7 while you are on the road.

This Country Has Been Voted The Best Place To Retire For The 11th Time (& Why You Should Visit)

Panama is the best place in the world to retire to. That’s according to the 2022 Retirement Index. The index is published every year by International Living, a monthly subscriber-based publication that provides detailed information regarding the best places in the world to live in or retire to. The publication also provides information regarding travel and investment opportunities in different countries. If the announcement by International Living is anything to go by, Panama seems to be cementing its legacy as the best place to retire with each passing year.

Camino de Cruces National Park

The Camino de Cruces, a stone road which dates back to 1530, connected the Caribbean with the Pacific during the Spanish-colonial period, centuries before the trans-isthmus railway or Panama Canal. Today the Camino de Cruces National Park, less than 10 miles north of the capital, serves as a…

The best road trips in Panama: 6 odysseys that show the natural and cultural heritage of the country

riving in Panama is less about cruising through wide-open spaces and more about taking winding roads to hidden, jungle-shrouded enclaves.

Few destinations can boast such a variety of outstanding geographical diversity. Having your own vehicle on the isthmus provides access to a slew of memorable sites otherwise poorly served by public transport.

In Panama, you can have breakfast by the Pacific Ocean and lunch by the Caribbean Sea. You can spend your morning lolling on sugar-white beaches and your afternoon scaling rugged mountain peaks. On the same day, you can experience the urban bustle of the capital and the teeming wilds of the rainforest.

These are the best road trips in Panama.

Bocas Bali in Panama Joins Nayara Resorts

Nayara Resorts has expanded its reach into Panama with the addition of Bocas Bali to its portfolio. Originally opened in 2021, the all-inclusive, adults-only Bocas Bali property has 16 over-water villas on a private island in the Bocas del Toro area, off the Caribbean coast. Fringed by approximately three miles of coral reefs, the property is known for its fully solar-powered, off-the-grid accommodations and its commitment to protecting the coral reefs and mangroves.

The 16 over-water villas enable guests to snorkel, paddle-board, or kayak directly from their rooms. Some villas offer glass floor panels for viewing underwater marine life, while others have saltwater pools and steps leading to the sea. Soon, the property will unveil its first Treehouse. There are plans to add several more later this year and the next, with some "floating" 40 feet above the ground.

Around The World

Cheap Places to Travel 2023: Favorable Exchange Rates Make These Destinations Cheap Places to Travel

There are many factors to consider when planning a vacation, from finding cheap places to travel and the safety of your intended destination to hotel options. But like it or not, there’s one thing that influences our travel decisions more than anything else: money. All those resort fees, plane tickets, and life-changing meals add up pretty quickly, so at the end of the day, we really want to prioritize places where our greenbacks have the most spending power.

We did a little digging to find the countries where the U.S. dollar goes the furthest, based on current exchange rates. And while our fickle global economy means those rates can change at any time, there are certain places that have consistently offered more bang for our buck over the years—and, fingers crossed, they should stay that way well into 2023.

About

This travel update is brought to you every month by Anja Phillips, owner of TropiQ Trips. If you enjoy these free, curated updates and want to help out a small business, please forward our sign-up page and share it on Social Media. Thanks so much.

TropiQ Trips provides customized tours to Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, Belize, and other countries in Central America & the world. We create unique travel experiences - at no extra cost to you!

Planning a Panama vacation or just curious about this tiny but oh-so-diverse country? Make sure to join our private Panama Travel Community.

Tourism is a critical revenue source for nearly every country in the world. We work with local agencies in each of our destinations. When you travel with us, you support small hotels, businesses, and local families, not big cooperations - here and there.

If you’d like to get started with planning your once-in-a-lifetime vacation, please reach out by replying to this email, emailing us, or scheduling a call.

I can't wait to work with you!

Anja

P.S. Already booked a trip? Please do not overlook travel insurance. We have partnered with InsureMyTrip because they are the best option to compare plans and find the right coverage for you.