Crossing the Panama Canal: Panama to Costa Rica

Embarkation at 12:00 pm in Colon 2000. Welcome cold snack and salad bar. Safety drill and departure at 1:00 pm. The ship is positioned at the Canal entrance for the Canal transit starting at 5:00 pm. We cross the Gatun Locks and enter the Gatun Lake. Welcome dinner. Late evening we reach and cross the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores Locks before reaching the Pacific side and Panama City in the early hours.

Early morning arrival at Flamenco Marina, Panama City. Morning Optional Panama City tour to discover the old Panama City, Casco Viejo, its architecture, cathedrals and historical buildings. Late afternoon sailing to Playa Muerto/Darien, Panama.

Today, join our optional excursion to Darien National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre stretching across two continents: Panama in North America and Colombia in South America. We’ll meet the Panamanian Emberá, one of 7 indiginous groups native to the country.They are proud and very friendly and known for their beautiful handicrafts and well preserved traditions. We will be invited to dance with them. We return to the ship for lunch. Afternoon sailing to Granito De Oro. Overnight at sea.

Midday arrival at Granito de Oro Island for an amazing swimming and snorkeling experience in this little paradise island. Deck BBQ and sailing to nearby Coiba island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest island in Central America. Afternoon walking tour with our Ship Naturalist who will take you for a short walk to discover the local forest and animal life. Free time for swimming and snorkeling on Coiba. In the afternoon, we leave Coiba and sail to Golfito. Overnight at sea.

We reach Golfito in the early morning for immigration procedures and our optional shore excursion to Casa Orchideas. Late afternoon departure towards Drake Bay. Late evening arrival in Drake Bay and overnight at anchor.

Welcome to Quepos, a small town and gateway to the Manuel Antonio Reserve known for its tropical plants and wildlife. Optional excursion in Corcovado National Park/Osa Peninsula, a nature preserve and tropical rainforest that occupies almost a third of the Osa Peninsula. Visitors are almost guaranteed to see some of the most incredible wildlife living in the jungles of the reserve including red-eyed tree frogs, quetzals, tapirs, harpy eagles, white-lipped peccaries, monkeys, and scarlet macaws. Swimmers can have the amazing opportunity to share the warm waters with marlins, dolphins, and pilot whales. Evening arrival in Quepos, Costa Rica. Overnight at anchor.

Like much of Costa Rica, Drake Bay is a haven for wildlife. You’ll understand what we mean after an excursion through the tropical rainforest. Here, you’re almost guaranteed to see incredible species including red-eyed tree frogs, quetzals, tapirs, harpy eagles, white-lipped peccaries, monkeys, and scarlet macaws. A swim in the bay is sharing space with marlins, dolphins and pilot whales. See – we told you it’s impressive! After lunch on board, you can take the optional Forest Canopy excursion. Afternoon sailing to nearby Playa Biesanz for an afternoon swim. (Forest Canopy tour excursion participants rejoin the ship in Playa Biesanz). Tropical evening on board. Late night sailing to Puerto Caldera. Overnight at sea.

Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica (3PM – 4PM)
Disembarkation at 9:00 am after breakfast.