Tour Costa Rica And Panama Canal | Visit Costa Rica, Colombia

Others

All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consult) Complimentary dry bag backpack Comprehensive pre-departure information Port surcharges, permits and landing fees Gratuities for ship crew

Guide

Educational lectures and guiding services from expedition team

Meals

All meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage Beer, house wine and soft drinks with dinner Captain’s Welcome and Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages

Transport

Shared airport transfer provided by the hotel to our group hotel on day 1 Transfer from San Jose to Puerto Caldera on day 2 for embarkation

Accommodation

One night’s hotel accommodation with breakfast in San Jose on day 1 One night’s hotel accommodation with breakfast in Cartagena de Indias on day 14 On-board accommodation during voyage including daily cabin service

Not included:

Flights

Flights are not included

Others

International or domestic flights to or within Central America, unless specified Transfers not mentioned in the itinerary Airport arrival or departure taxes Passport, visa, reciprocity fees and vaccination charges Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges Hotels and meals not included in itinerary Optional excursions not included in the itinerary Optional activity surcharges All items of a personal nature including but not limited to: alcoholic beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses, Wi-Fi, email or phone charges

Insurance

Insurance is not included

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: San Jose, Costa Rica
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: San Jose, Costa Rica

Upon arrival at San José international airport, a complimentary airport transfer service is provided by DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cariari. As you exit the international terminal, a representative will guide you to the pick-up point for the transfer located in front of El Malinche restaurant. The free shuttle service departs every hour between 4.30 am until 10.30 pm.

Upon check-in, hotel reception will provide you with Aurora Expeditions cabin tags. Please fill out the luggage tags clearly, showing your name and cabin number to allow us to deliver your luggage to your cabin ahead of your arrival. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cariari (or similar)
Day 2 Day 2: Embark In Puerto Caldera
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Embark In Puerto Caldera

After a leisurely buffet breakfast, transfer to Puerto Caldera (approximately two hours) for embarkation. After boarding, there is time to settle into your cabin before our important safety briefings. Afterwards, enjoy lunch on board as you sail to nearby Isla Tortuga, to snorkel, dive, swim, kayak or stand-up paddleboard. The marvellous marine life includes: tropical fish, pufferfish, turtles, sting rays, white tip reef sharks, and occasionally dolphins. In the evening, get to know your fellow expeditioners, expedition team and crew at a Captain’s Welcome Dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure.
Day 3 Day 3: Curú National Wildlife Refuge
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Curú National Wildlife Refuge

Curú National Wildlife Refuge is a privately-owned nature reserve offering visitors outstanding eco-tourism experiences. The refuge is the first privately-owned refuge in Costa Rica, encompassing more than 3,700 acres of tropical forests, mangroves, and well-marked paths. 17 hiking trails wind through the varied terrain within the reserve, where you may see white-tail deer, armadillos and iguanas. Various monkey species are prolific within refuge including native capuchin, spider, and howler monkeys. Located on the southern Nicoya Peninsula of north-western Costa Rica, the refuge is brimming with wildlife and hosts one of the most beautiful beaches and protected bays on the Nicoya Peninsula, a great place to Zodiac cruise, kayak, dive or snorkel.
Day 4 Day 4: Manuel Antonio National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Manuel Antonio National Park

Boasting over 100 species of mammals, 184 species of birds and an impressive variety flora, Manuel Antonio National Park understandably attracts wildlife enthusiasts from all over the world. Costa Rica’s star attractions - two and three toed sloths, as well as white-faced monkeys, toucans, agoutis, armadillos and coatis are a few of the exciting animals that you may encounter within the park.

We anchor off the shores of Espadilla Beach and shuttled ashore by Zodiac. There are a number of clearly-marked hiking trails to choose from—a circular loop trail (1.4 km/0.9 mi) around a high promontory bluff, which includes a visit to the highest point on the hike – Punta Catedral that offers sweeping views of the bay below.
Day 5 Day 5-6: Osa Peninsula And Gulfo Dulce
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5-6: Osa Peninsula And Gulfo Dulce

Over the next two days, we explore the untamed Osa Peninsula, considered by National Geographic to be ‘one of the most biologically intense places on earth’. Considered to be the crown jewel of Costa Rica’s park system, Corcovado National park is the country’s largest and one of the most remote parks in Costa Rica. It is home to the largest and only tropical primary lowland rainforest in the world, and provides habitats for a vast number of endangered plant and animal species including the scarlet macaw, various frogs, and the tapir - the largest terrestrial mammal in Central and South America.

The following day, we enter Gulfo Dulce, or Sweet Gulf. The large bay hugs pristine beaches, rivers and tall evergreen forests - a protected area known as the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve. As one of the wettest places on Earth with over 200 inches/5000 mm of rainfall a year, the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve features some of the world’s tallest trees.

We visit a private reserve called Casa Orquideas, a botanical garden located next to Piedras Blancas National Park.On a walk through the gardens, you can enjoy displays of colourful orchids, heliconias, palms, and a variety of birds including toucans, macaws, tanagers, and honey creepers that feed from the flowers. The warm tropical waters in the gulf are a popular playground for dolphins - great for snorkelling, paddle-boarding, kayaking, and Zodiac cruising.
Day 6 Day 7: Coiba National Park, Panama
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Coiba National Park, Panama

We continue to Coiba National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, located off the southwest coast of Panama. The national park includes the main Coiba Island, 38 smaller islands and the surrounding marine areas within the Gulf of Chiriqui. Protected from the cold winds and effects of El Niño, Coiba’s Pacific tropical forest features exceptionally high levels of endemic mammals, birds and plants. It’s the last refuge for a number of threatened animals including the crested eagle.

On Coiba Island, we plan to spend the morning at Granito de Oro islet, a unique place that allows snorkellers to encounter a diversity and volume of marine life that only scuba divers able to experience. This is one of the world’s most sought-after diving destinations. Enjoy the morning snorkelling among abundant marine life or paddling around rocky outcroppings. Along ‘Monkey Trail’, hikers can explore a forest that is home to wildlife including mantled howler monkeys and the threatened crested eagle.
Day 7 Day 8: Coiba National Park, Panama
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Coiba National Park, Panama

This morning we land at Punta Clara, which served as a penal colony from 1919 to 1996, where Panama’s most notorious criminals and political prisoners were incarcerated. At the peak of its operations, the prison housed up to approximately 3,000 inmates in about 30 camps spread around the islands. You can visit the dilapidated penitentiary buildings or walk along the beach looking for scarlet macaws, yellow caracara and various seabirds. Back on board, enjoy lunch as we set towards the Pearl Islands.
Day 8 Day 9: Pearl Islands
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Pearl Islands

The Pearl Islands of Panama is an archipelago located in the North Pacific Ocean in the Gulf of Panama, coveringaround 250 small islands. The Spanish Conquistadors discovered the islands in 1503 and gave the Islands its name due to the great amounts of pearls found on them. The Pearl Islands were originally named by the Spanish explorer Vasco Nuñez de Balboa due to the bountiful pearls that were harvested off the islands’ shores. The Pearl Islands are most famous for their spectacular and tranquil white sand beaches, untouched forests, and colourful coral reefs offshore – ideal for diving, snorkelling and kayaking.

The largest of the islands is Isla Del Rey but Isla Contadora is the only destination in the archipelago that is equipped with enough infrastructure to attract a large number of visitors. In addition to Isla Contadora, we plan to visit a few nearby islands including Bartolome to enjoy some aquatic activities before exploring Pachequilla, and Pacheca island, also known as Isla de Los Párajos (Bird Island) because it hosts several colonies of seabirds.
Day 9 Day 10: Emberá Mogue Village, Darién, Panama
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Emberá Mogue Village, Darién, Panama

There are few places on Earth like the Darién - a region of great interest to biologists, anthropologists, and a notorious route for smuggling narcotics. It is a place of immense natural beauty, where life in the rainforest has remained relatively unchanged for the indigenous communities that live there. It is Panama’s last frontier. The Darién is enormous. The province itself spans some 16,671 square kilometres (6,437 square miles) and contains Panama’s largest national park and most the country’s most extensive lowland tropical forest. However, with only 40,000 inhabitants, the Darién is also the most sparsely populated part of Panama. Its residents live in small, impoverished towns, and include members of the Guna and Emberà-Wounaan indigenous groups.

For many, the Darién is little more than the place where the Pan-American Highway ends and the Darién Gap begins. The gap is the only missing link in a system of roads that connects North and South America, all the way from Alaska to Patagonia. Darién National Park, which spans a total of 579,000 hectares (1,430,740 acres), is the largest national park in Central America. Rarely visited, the region is characterized by unspoiled sandy beaches, jagged rocky coasts, mangrove swamps, and tropical forests bursting with endemic and rare species of plants and birds such as the scarlet macaw, toucan and harpy eagle. Mammals include ocelot, jaguar, Baird’s tapir, anteater, sloth, coatis and kinkajou. In an effort to save the Darién from being poached by loggers and developers, UNESCO inscribed the Darien National Park into its list of World Heritage Sites in 1983. You will visit Mogue, an Emberá community in the Darién, a remote destination where you will be rewarded with a unique look at a traditional Emberá village. The village is accessible after a 30-minute Zodiac ride (during high tide) up the scenic and swampy Mogue River surrounded by rainforest. You may see birds such as willets, whimbrels, and laughing falcons. Nearing the village, we will be warmly welcomed by the community leaders who will meet our Zodiacs and personally transfer us to their village using their traditional boats. On arrival, the village is a 15-minute walk from the shore of the river. Mogue was established by the indigenous Emberá in the 1960s and tourism plays a substantial role in sustaining its existence.

Upon arriving at the village, the Emberá women will perform a traditional blessing dances to welcome us followed by a more formal welcome by the main ‘Nocoe’ (chief). It is customary for the Emberá to share food and fruits of the season with visitors. Local artisans are proud to show you their handicraft skills such as woodcarving, mask-making, weaving and jewelry-making – all available for purchase, and a wonderful way to directly support the community. On guided hikes, you might be able to spot a harpy eagle or crested eagle—the nests of both birds have been spotted here in the past.
Day 10 Day 11: Panama City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Panama City

Three million years ago, the Isthmus of Panama emerged from the sea and changed the world forever. It divided an ocean and joined two continents together, triggering one of the most important natural evolution events in the hi story of the world. Today, this narrow land bridge in Central America is home to more species of birds and trees than the whole of North America. Panama is of course world-famous for its 77 km / 48 mi canal that connects the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean.

Panama’s history has been formed by a rich pre-Columbian era for more than 12,000 years. Early cultures in Panama were the Monagrillo, the Cueva and the Conte, particularly famous for their pottery, which was the first in the Americas. The first European claiming the territory of today’s Panama was Rodrigo de Bastidas, coming from Colombia’s Atlantic coast in 1501. In 1513 Vasco Nuñez de Balboa became the first Spaniard to see the Pacific Ocean from the top of a hill. Four days later he and his men stood at the shores of the Pacific Ocean. In 1519 Panama City was founded, and became an important hub for seized goods making its way from Peru to Spain.

In 1671, English buccaneer Henry Morgan looted and completely destroyed Panama City. These ruins of Old Panama (Panama la Vieja) are open to visitors. In the same decade, a new city and what’s today known as Casco Viejo was constructed 10 km / 6.2 mi away from Panama la Vieja.

Shore Excursions (please choose one of the following)

Miraflores Visitor Centre and Colonial City Tour at “Casco Viejo”

At the Miraflores Visitor Centre, you will find different activities to learn and fully enjoy the Panama Canal. In the cinema, watch a short 10-minute film on the history of the Panama Canal from its beginnings to the present. Four exhibition halls portray the Canal’s history and biodiversity, while three terraces and observation decks are ideal places for observing the Canal’s operation, the passage of ships through the locks and how they move. Inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites in 1997, Panama City’s Casco Viejo (Old Quarter) is a compact treasure trove of 16th and 17th century colonial architecture. The oldest continuously occupied European city in the Americas on the Pacific coast, Panama Viejo as it is now known was founded in 1519. The excursion includes visits to two exceptional sites as well as a guided walk around the historic quarter and the cobblestone streets for a leisurely look at many historic landmarks including: Plaza Herrera, San José Church, Plaza Francia, Plaza Bolívar with the San Francisco de Asis Church, Plaza Mayor (where the Metropolitan Cathedral is located). After the tour, you have the option of exploring Casco Viejo at your own pace or return to the ship. A shuttle service will be available to transfer you back to the ship if you even if you extend your time in the old town.

Gatun Lake Expedition & Walking Tour at “Casco Viejo”

Gatun Lake is a large artificial lake with a unique ecosystem that forms a major part of the Panama Canal, carrying ships for 33 km (20 miles) on their transit across the Isthmus of Panama. At the time it was created, Gatun Lake was the largest man-made lake in the world. The vegetation at Gatun Lake offers ideal habitats for a large number of bird species.

The excursion starts with boat trip heading north on the Canal for 25 minutes where we may get close to some of the larger ships that transit the canal daily. Enjoy a slow cruise along the forested banks of Gatun Lake, a protected area, looking for wildlife such as Capuchin Monkeys, three-toed sloth, howler monkeys, various kinds of toucans and other bird life. This is a place to observe the raw regenerative power of the forest as it struggles to claim what was once wild. Enjoy lunch at a resort located in the shores of the Gatun Lake. Afterwards, head to Casco Viejo, Panama’s historic colonial centre listed as a UNESCO world heritage site filled with delightful colonial houses, narrow cobblestone streets and impressive churches. In the “Casco Antiguo” lies French Park, a monument to the French builders who started the Panama Canal. Some superb museums are found in the Old Quarter, including the Canal Museum, which traces Panama’s history. Transfer back to the ship or explore Casco Viejo at your own pace. A scheduled shuttle service will transfer you back to the ship.
Day 11 Day 12: Panama Canal Crossing
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Panama Canal Crossing

Crossing the Panama Canal will surely be a highlight for many travellers. Each year, over a million people visit the canal to witness this engineering marvel at work. Starting in the Pacific Ocean, you will be able to admire the Bay of Panama and Panama City’s splendorous skyline before passing under the ‘Bridge of the Americas’. The vessel will then transit through the first set of locks, the Miraflores Locks, where it will be lifted 16 metres in two distinct steps. Next, your ship will enter Miraflores Lake, which is a small artificial body of fresh water that separates Pedro Miguel Locks from Miraflores Locks. The vessel will transit through Pedro Miguel Locks, which is one of the two sets of locks on the Pacific side, and here the vessel is lifted 9 metres in one step. After exiting Pedro Miguel locks, your boat will travel through the Gaillard Cut, where the Chagres River flows into the canal. The Gaillard Cut (also known as Culebra Cut because its curves resemble a snake) is one of the main points of interest for visitors because it was carved through the Continental Divide and this section of the canal is full of history and geological value.

As you transit the cut you will see dredging occurring to control the sediments entering the canal because of the terrain’s susceptibility to landslides. Sail through Gatun Lake, which was formed by erecting the Gatun Dam across the Chagres River, and during your transit through the lake, you will pass the Smithsonian Research Station at Barro Colorado. The last of the three locks in the Gatun Locks, the only set of locks in the Atlantic sector. At Gatun Locks, the vessel will be lowered a total of 26 metres in three distinct chambers.

The complete crossing from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean takes approximately 10 hours, a journey that once took almost two weeks to complete, where vessels were forced to sail around the notoriously rough seas around Cape Horn at the bottom of South America to reach the Pacific coast.
Day 12 Day 13: At Sea
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: At Sea

Sail to Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. While at sea, enjoy a few final presentations from our team of experts. Edit photos, finish the book you’ve been enjoying, or simply relax on your private balcony or in one of the many publicspaces on board the ship.
Day 13 Day 14: Cartagena De Indias
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Cartagena De Indias

Disembark in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, inscribed by UNESCO as a site of Outstanding Universal Heritage. The city’s rich history, diverse culture and energy captivates visitors with its vibrancy, Afro-Caribbean character, indigenous influences and some of the best-preserved colonial architecture in all of South America.

Founded in 1533 by Pedro de Heredia, Cartagena was formerly one of the gateways to the Caribbean for the Spanish. It was here they would store the riches plundered from South America before they were transported back to the old world. It is not surprising therefore that the city drew the attention of buccaneers and pirates who attempted, on many occasions, to seize the city, most notably by Sir Francis Drake who in 1586, "mercifully" agreed not to destroy the city in return for 10 million pesos. It was after the attack by Drake that plans were made to fortify the city and work on the defensive fort walls began. These walls, still stand today, and mark the boundary between the old and new parts of the city. The walls and fort, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, took a total of 200 years to build and complete, and the Spanish finished them just 25 years before Colombia gained Independence.

Today’s introductory tour will take you through Cartagena’s old town under the Puerta Del Reloj (Clock tower entrance) into the Plaza de los Coches. Your expert local guide will tell stories of the myths and legends, histories and stories of Cartagena from ancient times right up to the present. From the Plaza San Pedro Claver with its stunning Church, to the Plaza Bolivar with its shady areas, where you can watch the world go by. During the walk you will visit the Inquisition Palace, built in the 17th century, and considered one of the most elegant and characteristic colonial constructions in its time.

A short walk away and your final stop is a visit to San Pedro Claver Cloister, monastery and museum built in homage to San Pedro - the protector of slaves. The cloister where Pedro Claver lived and died has become a special place of silence, and reflection – a shrine to his life’s work. Here, visitors will find examples of pre-Colombian ceramics and a museum filled with religious art. Adjoining the monastery is a baroque church designed by German and Dutch architects, where the remains of Saint Pedro Claver is enshrined.

The tour ends with a transfer to our group hotel. After check-in, enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. (Breakfast included. Lunch and dinner at own expense)

Accommodation: Hyatt Regency (or similar)
Day 14 Day 15: Cartagena De Indias
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: Cartagena De Indias

After breakfast, farewell your fellow travellers and check-out of your room before making your own way to the airport for your onward journey.

+11

15 days tour

Costa Rica And Panama Canal

This tour includes:

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Itinerary of your trip Costa Rica And Panama Canal

Day 1: San Jose, Costa Rica

Day 2: Embark In Puerto Caldera

Day 3: Curú National Wildlife Refuge

Day 4: Manuel Antonio National Park

Day 5-6: Osa Peninsula And Gulfo Dulce

Day 7: Coiba National Park, Panama

Day 8: Coiba National Park, Panama

Day 9: Pearl Islands

Day 10: Emberá Mogue Village, Darién, Panama

Day 11: Panama City

Day 12: Panama Canal Crossing

Day 13: At Sea

Day 14: Cartagena De Indias

Day 15: Cartagena De Indias

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