Phil Chie David Oneil in front of motor coach

Exploring Panama with Caravan Tours: Our First Group Travel Adventure

Were You on the Tour with Us or Did You Host Us?
Sign Up to See Our Private Panama Pics & Videos and Share Your Photos & Reviews

If you’d like to be notified when our private Panama photo and video gallery goes live, just drop your email below. You’ll get access to our pictures and a private photo-sharing space just for this tour, bringing together Google Photos, Facebook Albums, Dropbox, OneDrive, Flickr, iCloud, Snapfish and Youtube all in one place.

👉 YES! Email us when you post your photos. CLICK HERE TO BE NOTIFIED.

We’ll also keep you in the loop about future adventures and updates from our mountain home.  

Will You Be Coming Through Western North Carolina?

Our cabins are fully furnished and available as monthly or annual rentals, and they’re also listed on Airbnb. We typically have a 30-day minimum, but if we have availability, you’re welcome to stay with us completely free for up to 3 nights. Just message us through this website and cover the cleaning fee.

Planning a longer stay? Enjoy a $100 per month rebate off our lowest advertised price on reservations of 30 days or more.


A heartfelt thank you to Oniel and David for guiding us through an unforgettable journey in Panama

From the Mountains to Panama with Caravan Tours

At Blue Ridge Mountain Retreat Company, we usually stay close to home. Our peaceful small log cabins, available for monthly and annual rentals, are nestled deep in the mountains where guests come to relax, recharge, and enjoy the quiet beauty of nature.

Every so often, though, we trade the mountain air for a little adventure. This time, we stepped out of the forest and into our first ever group tour with Caravan Tours. The destination was the vibrant and beautiful country of Panama.


The Trip That Almost Didn’t Happen

We originally planned to take this Caravan Panama tour last year. But when Hurricane Helene swept through our area, we were left without power for more than two weeks. Like many others, we had to cancel our plans at the last minute.

Now that we’ve made the trip, we can honestly say it was worth the wait. Panama with Caravan Tours was exactly what we needed.


Caravan Tours Made It All Easy

Although we’ve taken guided day tours before in places like Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, and the Caribbean, this was our first full multi-day experience. We chose Caravan’s Panama tour because it offered a great mix of natural beauty, cultural history, and comfort. We are glad we did.

Caravan handled every detail so we could just focus on enjoying each moment. Our guide, Oneil, was warm, funny, and full of insight. Our driver, David, made every mile smooth and stress-free. It was clear they both cared deeply about making the experience special.

We visited the famous Panama Canal, explored charming towns, saw rainforests and wildlife, experienced the vibrant traditions of an Embera tribal village, and soaked up the rich culture of Panama from start to finish.


A Great Pace and a Comfortable Group

The group size was small, and the motor coach was large and air-conditioned. That meant we had room to relax and plenty of time to take in each stop without feeling rushed.

For those of us who live life at a slower, more intentional pace, Caravan Tours struck the perfect balance. The schedule gave us structure without pressure. Every day was full, but never overwhelming.


Photos, Videos, and More on the Way

We took hundreds of photos and videos during this Panama tour. More than we expected. We’re still sorting through them all and putting together a full gallery that we plan to share very soon.

We’re also creating a private space for others who were on the trip. You’ll be able to upload your photos, keep them private within the group, or make them public if you want to share the highlights.


Thank You, Caravan Tours!

We’re so grateful for this experience. Caravan Tours made exploring Panama simple, meaningful, and fun. Oniel and David brought knowledge and care to every part of the journey.

While continuing to welcome guests to our monthly and annual cabin rentals in the mountains, we’re already dreaming about where Caravan might take us next… Costa Rica??

Chie & Phil, The Blue Ridge Mountain Retreat Company Team

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