On our previous trips to Panama, we’d found appealing properties in the capital, one of the most fascinating (and coolest) cities in Central America. We also discovered a hideaway near a beautiful national park in the biologically diverse countryside: Panama is home to more than 10,000 species of plants, 1,000 species of birds and over 250 species of mammals, all in an area slightly smaller than South Carolina. But with limited hotel choices, Panama remained an add-on to a larger itinerary. Now, with the addition of recommended hotels on both its coasts, the country can stand alone as a destination — one that’s off the beaten path but easy to reach from the United States.

In this 10-day itinerary, you’ll begin in Panama City’s Casco Viejo before journeying to a private island resort just off the Pacific coast. From there, you’ll head inland into Panama’s lush mountains, where you’ll enjoy whitewater rafting and a guided coffee plantation tour. Next, you’ll visit the Caribbean, where the remote archipelago of Bocas del Toro offers a suite of tropical adventures, including surfing, snorkeling and island-hopping.