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Overview
New York Jazz Academy® Jazz Ambassadors Travel Tours take you around the world, immersing you in jazz music and culture across all the continents. Previous NYJA® Jazz Ambassadors Travel Tours have taken participants to Cuba, Panama, Germany, and China.
Explore the tabs on this page for information on our upcoming January 2026 Panama trip. You’re invited to come along with us!
Discover The NYJA® Difference
Traveling with NYJA® Jazz Ambassadors Travel Tours provides culturally immersive, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that lead to a vacation and jazz intensive unlike any other.
Pro Guides
With NYJA®, you are traveling with members of the NYJA® community, including jazz professionals who help elevate your experience in every setting, sharing with you their knowledge of specific musical traditions of each locale, in addition to performing and coaching musicians throughout the tour.
Fun For All
Each tour offers unique blend itinerary items—from sophisticated and enriching experiences and cultural activities to special musical moments meant for both the musician and the jazz fan.
Authenticity
Thanks to our pro guides and our relationships with local cultural and musical experts, you’ll engage with people, cultures and traditions in ways that show you more than just the sights.
Insider Access
Our guided tours provide access to extraordinary opportunities that aren’t available to the general public—providing you a “backstage pass” to music worldwide.
Panama 2026 Overview
- Bocas del Toro + Panama City, Panama
- January 9–18, 2026
- 10 days, 9 nights
Tour Highlights
- 3 nights in Bocas del Toro – Island Concerts, Jam Sessions, Nature Excursions, Beach Time
- 6 nights in Panama City – Panama Canal, Historic District, Jazz Festival, and more.
- All-access Panama Jazz Festival passes
- Enjoy 4 days and 3 nights of performances by jazz artists from all over the world, in addition to workshops and clinics presented by local and international artists, including John Pattitucci and Danilo Pérez.
- Workshops, jam sessions, and concerts as NYJA featured artists
- Headlining NYJA performance at the Ateneo Theater
- Finale opening performance at the outdoor Plaza concert (c. 50,000 attendees)
- Performance at Tres Gatos nightclub
- Panama Canal Tour and Historic Sightseeing
- NYJA faculty provide coaching, insight, and mentorship throughout your journey.
- Enjoy 5-star amenities in the city and authentic, charming accommodations by the sea in Bocas del Toro.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Friday, January 9: Welcome to Panama
- Flight from your home city to Panama City (PTY airport)
- Evening Arrival in Panama City
- Spend the night at hotel in Panama City
Day 2 – Saturday, January 10: Welcome to Bocas del Toro
- Early morning hotel checkout
- Morning flight (1 hour) from Panama City (PAC airport) to Bocas del Toro (BOC)
- Morning arrival in Bocas del Toro
- Hotel check-in
- Welcome dinner with NYJA group
- Evening jam session in Bocas Town
Day 3 – Sunday, January 11: Beaches & Music
- Morning beach time and exploration
- Optional surfing or paddleboarding
- Evening concert with NYJA performers
Day 4 – Monday, January 12: Nature & Island Adventures
- Boat tour through the archipelago (dolphin spotting, Isla Zapatilla)
- Snorkeling in the reef
- Night jam session or free time
Day 5 – Tuesday, January 13: Fly to Panama City + Tres Gatos Concert
- Early morning hotel checkout
- Morning flight to Panama City (PTY)
- Check-in at Wyndham Albrook Mall Hotel
- Evening performance at Tres Gatos nightclub
Day 6 – Wednesday, January 14: Explore Panama City
- Guided tour of the Panama Canal
- Casco Viejo historic district tour
- Canal Museum and artisan markets
Day 7 – Thursday, January 15: Festival Kickoff
- Morning workshop and NYJA performance
- Evening concerts at the Panama Jazz Festival
Day 8 – Friday, January 16: Ateneo Theater Feature
- NYJA concert at Ateneo Theater
- Attend evening festival concerts
Day 9 – Saturday, January 17: Outdoor Festival Finale
- NYJA opens the final festival concert at Plaza
- Perform for up to 50,000 attendees
- Closing night celebration
Day 10 – Sunday January 18: Return Home
- Morning check-out and airport transfers
- Depart Panama City (PTY) for home city
Video
Details and Rates (as low as $1,436)
Accommodations
- Bocas del Toro island lodging (3 nights)
- Panama Jazz Festival housing at Wyndham Hotel (6 nights)
Ages
- Minimum Age: 11
- Suggested Age: 14–adult
Rates
- $1,436 member rate
- $1,795 regular rate
Rates include:
- Panama Jazz Festival passes
- NYJA performances, workshops, and excursion guides
- Jazz coaching and mentorship throughout
- Tour hosts
Rates do not include:
- Airfare and local transportation
- Housing/Hotel accommodations
- Meals and personal expenses
- Optional Excursion fees (boat tours, Panama Canal, bus tours, etc.)
- Travel insurance
Real Cost of Travel
International travel expenses can add up. This trip is no exception, despite it being one of the greatest highlights of our year here at NYJA. A fair estimate is that the additional costs per person, assuming a shared room, may come to $2,800 for the 10-day experience. Please review the following additional cost estimates to develop a sense of the true cost of the Panama 2026 trip.
- $750 R/T airfare (JFK-PTY)
- $320 R/T airfare (PTY-PAC)
- $120 Local transportation (Uber)
- $675 Housing/Hotel accommodations (9 nights @$75/night)
- $400 Meals (20 meals @$20)
- $175 Panama Canal boat tour (Full-day excursion)
- $160 Bocas del Toro eco-tour (Full-day excursion)
- $200 Tips and Gratuities
Submit Panama tour fee below
NYJA Jazz Ambassadors is the travel division of NEW YORK JAZZ ACADEMY®.
Disclaimer: Trip itinerary details are subject to change. Should itinerary details change, and any items are removed from the itinerary, every best effort will be made to provide excellent alternative replacements.
Questions
If you have questions, or if you are ready to take the trip with NYJA®, please contact us via email.
Interested in learning more about upcoming tours with NYJA®? Check out other destinations here.
The party has already started! Here’s the Panama Jazz Festival’s Joshue Ashby and C3 Project celebrating with NYJA® on an exchange visit to NYC.
