Itinerary

Our Panama and Costa Rica cruise begins in Panama's capital city. From here, we drive across the Isthmus of Panama to Colon where we board ship and set sail on the first section of our Panama Canal transit, anchoring in Gatun Lake for the night. In 1904, the United States began building a canal that would link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans like never before, making trade and travel both faster and safer. When it was completed in 1914, ships no longer needed to go all the way around the tip of South America; they could cut through the canal saving 8,000 miles and several months of transit time. Today, roughly 14,000 ships pass through the Panama Canal each year—and one of those transits will be ours.
Day 2: Panama Canal Transit—Barro Colorado Nature Monument
Board expedition landing craft this morning for an excursion into Barro Colorado Nature Monument in Gatun Lake. This large island in Gatun Lake encompasses nearly 14,000 acres of wild jungle terrain, and is inaccessible to most travelers. By special arrangement, guides from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute accompany us through the dense tropical forest that so challenged the builders of the canal. We then re-board the ship to continue our transit through this engineering marvel that embodies both the history and future of global shipping. We'll see the gargantuan Panamax and Neopanamax vessels—the biggest ships on Earth—as well as all the landmarks: the Amador Causeway, Bridge of the Americas, and the Centennial Bridge that frames the Gaillard Cut, which we pass through to enter the Miraflores Locks. A daylight journey through the canal cannot be
Day 3: Gulf of Panama Islets
Our ship is equipped with expedition landing craft and kayaks, enabling us to explore the sea and wild shores at eye level. Today, we utilize both to access a cluster of small islands in the Gulf of Panama for a delightful introduction to the region’s prolific and varied birdlife. Observe large numbers of roosting and nesting seabirds including brown pelicans, magnificent
Day 4: Coiba National Park
We'll have options for easy hikes on a network of trails through the lush tropical forest that blankets Isla Coiba, as well as numerous water activities: go kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming or snorkeling among schools of colorful tropical fish. The ship's staff will assist both novice and experienced snorkelers alike. If you'd prefer to remain on the white sand beach, the ship's naturalist diver will take underwater footage, which is shared during our evening gathering in the lounge.
Day 5: Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
Today we make our first landfall in Costa Rica. At Casa Orquideas, a privately owned botanical garden accessible only by boat and special invitation, we'll see a profusion of orchids while looking for butterflies, tanagers,
Day 6: Golfo Dulce / Osa Peninsula
We go ashore at Playa Blanca, a pristine sand and coral beach on the eastern shore of the Osa Peninsula. This promontory of land flanked by the Pacific Ocean on one side and Golfo Dulce on the other is one of Costa Rica's most remote destinations, a primitive paradise of primary rain forest, empty beaches and tiny settlements. We travel inland to meet some of the inspiring local residents who live in this far-flung corner of Costa Rica, sustaining a life on the land through cultivating cocoa,
Day 7: Osa Peninsula—Corcovado National Park
We anchor off the Osa Peninsula today, with access to Corcovado National Park. This remote region on Costa Rica's southern Pacific coast lies off the standard tourist itinerary, and we'll enjoy an immersion in
Please note: All departures include a special green sea turtle nesting season experience at Osa Conservation as part of our Osa Peninsula activities. See "Important Information" on our Dates, Fees & Info page for more details.
Day 8: Puerto Caldera—Disembark / San Jose / Depart
Our ship makes its way north to Puerto Caldera on Costa Rica's Pacific coast where we disembark this morning. A transfer
Physical Rating: Easy to Moderate
Note: This itinerary should serve as a guideline only: actual stops are determined by weather, wildlife activity, and a host of other factors in order to provide the best possible experience. This flexibility is what makes traveling on our nimble expedition ships so much more rewarding than on a large vessel with a locked-in voyage plan. Some itineraries travel in reverse.