Costa Rica and The Panama Canal

This morning, your luggage will be collected from the hotel and transferred directly to the port for sanitisation, clearance and delivered to your cabin ahead of your arrival on board. Please ensure that your luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Any valuables or personal items should be kept on you throughout the day.   

Final, mandatory pre-embarkation health screening and COVID (rapid antigen) testing will be completed before enjoying a sightseeing tour of Cartagena, before transferring to the pier for embarkation in the late afternoon. Settle into your cabin before attending important safety briefings and enjoy the thrill of departure as we ‘throw the lines’ and set sail.  

This evening, get to know your fellow expeditioners and our friendly Expedition Team and crew at the Captain’s Welcome Dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure. 

As we sail to Panama, our team of experts will begin their series of entertaining and informative talks on topics including the history of European exploration of the region, the local people and their cultures, and the colourful plants and wildlife. 

Crossing the Panama Canal will be a highlight for many travellers. Each year, over a million people visit the Panama Canal to witness this engineering marvel at work. Our vessel will sail through artificial lakes and three sets of locks—Gatun, Pedro Miguel and Miraflore— to reach the Pacific Ocean. The complete crossing takes approximately 10 hours, a journey that once took almost two weeks to complete. Prior to the canal’s construction, vessels were forced to sail around the notoriously rough seas at Cape Horn, Chile, to reach the Pacific coast. 

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 history 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-kilometre (48-mile) canal that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific 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 kilometres (6.2 miles) away from Panama la Vieja.  

Shore Excursions (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 kilometres/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. 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. 

There are few places on Earth like the Darién, a region of great interest to biologists and anthropologists. 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. Our visit to the village is tide dependent and scheduled around high tide. As we travel by Zodiac along 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 escort us to their village in 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. 

The Pearl Islands of Panama consisting of some 250 small islands and islets are located in the North Pacific Ocean in the Gulf of Panama. The Pearl Islands were originally named by the Spanish explorer Vasco Nuñez de Balboa for the bountiful pearls that were harvested off the islands’ shores. The Islands are renowned for their spectacular and tranquil white-sand beaches, pristine forests and colourful coral reefs, and at Bartolome Island, we enjoy water activities.  

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

On Coiba Island, we spend the morning in the area of Granito de Oro islet, a unique place that allows snorkellers to encounter a diversity and volume of marine life that is usually reserved for scuba divers. This is one of the world’s most sought-after diving destinations. The local ranger will provide guidance on the optimal places where we can enjoy water activities.   

Coiba Island also 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 may have the opportunity to visit the dilapidated penitentiary buildings or walk along the beach looking for scarlet macaws, yellow caracara and various seabirds.  

We exit Panama at Coiba Island and continue our journey as we sail to Costa Rica.  

In Golfo Dulce we enter Costa Rica. Golfo Dulce, or Sweet Gulf, is a large bay that 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 5,000 millimetres (200 inches) of rainfall per year, the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve features some of the world’s tallest trees.  

The warm tropical waters in the gulf are a great place to enjoy aquatic activities. Spinner dolphins are often seen frolicking in the bay. There are ancient coral reefs to explore, where you can see enormous coral gardens and the creatures that inhabit them. On land, there are more pristine rainforest trails for you to explore, where you can marvel at the extraordinary flora and fauna that contributes to Costa Rica’s biodiversity.   

The untamed Osa Peninsula is 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 is one of the most remote parks in Costa Rica. It is home to the largest tropical primary lowland rainforest in the world and provides habitat for a plethora of endangered plant and animal species, including the scarlet macaw, various frogs, and the tapir - the largest terrestrial mammal in Central and South America. We enjoy a hike along well-marked trails within the national park to not only search for wildlife but to also experience the incredible wet tropical rainforests that are home to lianas, epiphytes, palms, gingers, orchids, and towering trees measuring over 60 metres (197 feet).  

Boasting over 100 species of mammals, 184 species of birds and an impressive variety flora, it is easy to understand why Manuel Antonio National Park attracts wildlife enthusiasts from all over the world. Two and three-toed sloths - Costa Rica’s star attractions, 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. There are a number of clearly-marked hiking trails to choose from, including a 1.4-kilometre (0.9-mile) circular loop trail that visits the highest point on the hike at Punta Catedral, which offers sweeping views of the bay below.  

After exploring the park for its superb for wildlife, you can cool off with a swim at Espadilla Beach or Manuel Antonio Beach, located within the park. At nearby Biesanz Beach you can enjoy activities such as snorkelling and kayaking.  

Curú National Wildlife Refuge is the first privately owned refuge in Costa Rica that offers more than 3,700 acres of coastal tropical forests, mangrove swamps, and grassy fields. Located on the southern Nicoya Peninsula of northwestern Costa Rica, the area is teeming with abundant wildlife and hosts one of the most beautiful beaches and protected bays on the Nicoya Peninsula. 17 hiking trails wind through the varied terrain of the refuge, where you may glimpse white-tail deer, armadillos, iguanas and scarlet macaw. Monkeys are prolific here, including the native capuchin, spider, and howler monkeys.  

Afterwards, we visit Isla Tortuga (Turtle Island), where you can relax on the white-sand beach or swim in the balmy sea. Snorkellers can enjoy the abundant, colourful, tropical fish that swim near the shoreline, and not far from the island lie three shipwrecks waiting to be explored.  

This evening, celebrate the end of your adventures with newfound friends, Expedition Team and crew at the Captain’s Farewell Dinner.  

During the early morning, we cruise into Puerto Caldera, where are free to disembark at approximately 8.00 am. Farewell your Expedition Team and fellow passengers as we all continue our onward journeys. Transfer to San Jose airport or to your centrally located hotel.   

NOTES: We do not recommend booking flights departing prior to 1.00 pm on the day of disembarkation, as we may experience delays at the conclusion of the voyage. 

Due to strict regulations enforced by local environmental authorities to conserve and protect the pristine places visited on this voyage, permits can be cancelled by authorities at any time with very little notice. Under such circumstances, Aurora Expeditions reserves the right to change our itineraries with little or no prior notice.

In the spirit of expedition travel, we encourage exploration and adventure offering flexibility in challenging environments. This itinerary is only a guide and is subject to change due to weather, sea, pack-ice and other conditions beyond our control.