Product Description
Highlights
This trip includes an optional adventure in dugout canoes, paddling up the Mogue River to spend time with Embera Indians. It is not something you find on a traditional itinerary. While bigger cruise liners have to moor out at sea and commute into shore via tender, we’ll drop anchor in the middle of port towns like Quepos, Puerto Jiminez and Punta Patino. You can hop on or off the boat as you please. This is the adventure cruise for nature lovers. Crocodiles, turtles, Coiba Aguit, howler monkeys, scarlet macaws, kingfishers – you’ll have the chance to see them all in their natural habitat. There’s also an on-board naturalist with you for the entire journey. The Pacific waters off the coast of Panama are some of the most beautiful you’ll see anywhere. We’ll be swimming off the back of the boat and exploring the shore via zodiac boats
Overview
Central America is truly a place to fall in love with nature – be it dense, wildlife-filled forests, white beaches with irresistible waters, or vast jungle-ringed lakes – and you’ll get to experience it all on this memorable small ship adventure cruise. Aboard the M/Y Callisto, surrounded by rich fabrics, woodwork, antiques and fine works of art, cruise down the Pacific Coast and choose to explore lush nature reserves, snorkel among the marine life of idyllic islands, and indulge in beach barbecues. You can travel upriver in dugout canoes to a hidden village and spend time with the indigenous locals, swim in crystal clear waters, and enter the locks of the famous Panama Canal. With stops at the likes of Puerto Jimenez, Restingue Island, Punta Patino Darrien and Gatun Lake, this trip is a unique way to experience this diverse corner of Central America.
Breakfast Included: 7 Lunches Included: 6 Dinner Included: 7
Embarkation in Puerto Caldera Costa Rica
Embark on your journey between 3 and 4 pm. Once all passengers are on board, set sail for Quepos.
Quepos and Playa Biesanz
Arrive in the morning in Quepos where there is an optional excursion to Manuel Antonio Reserve, the jewel among Costa Rica's many national parks. This is sure to be a highlight of the cruise. The fragile rainforest ecosystem shelters an abundant wildlife including the easy-to-spot monkeys and a great variety of tropical birds. You are taken to the park entrance for your 1.5 hour a guided walk in the dense rainforest. Local guides and a naturalist lead you through small trails and you encounter an extraordinary animal life and a thousand different species of flora. The trail is very well maintained and is easy walking with no uphill climbs. The hike ends with a swim at a park's beach before returning to the Callisto. In the afternoon, take an optional Forest Canopy tour, or sail on with the Callisto to Playa Biesanz. In the evening, enjoy a tropical themed dinner and party on board the Callisto. Then sail overnight towards Golfo Dulce, departing late evening.
Puerto Jiminez and Casa Orquideas
Reach Puerto Jimenez early morning for an optional Osa Peninsula excursion. This takes a short and easy walk through a lovely patch of secondary forest where you will have the chance to see four different kinds of monkey and many species of bird, including scarlet macaw. Return to the ship for a late lunch while crossing Golfo Dulce en route to the afternoon stop. Casa Orquideas is a beautiful privately owned botanical oasis containing many species of tropical plants and plants brought from all over the world. There will be time for a swim before returning to the Callisto by tender. Sail on to Golfito for midnight immigration and ship clearance procedures, and spend the night at sea en route to Cebaco Island, Panama.
Restingue Island and Cebaco Island
Arrive in the morning at Restingue Island for an amazing swimming and snorkeling experience in this petite paradise island. Around noon, set sail to nearby Cebaco Island for a beach BBQ and time to swim and enjoy this beautiful beach. In the afternoon, sail on to Punta Patino, spending the night at sea.
Punta Patino, Panama
Today there is an optional excursion to Punta Patino in the Darrien National Park. and to the Mogue Embera Reserve. We sail upstream in dugout canoes and reach the Village of Mogue after passing through the mangrove ecosystem that lines the river. We are welcomed by Embera Indians, one of the seven indigenous groups living in Panama. They are known for their beautiful handicrafts and well preserved traditions. Overnight at anchor.
Pearl Islands
After an early morning departure, set off sailing towards the Pearl Islands for a day of swimming, snorkeling and a beach BBQ. In the afternoon, sail onto Panama City. On arrival, after immigration procedures, there is an optional excursion to Old Panama with dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in port.
Panama City
Embark on an optional morning excursion to the Gatun Lake and San Lorenzo Spanish forts. Visit the Panama Canal Expansion Observation Centre in Gatun and dine there for lunch. On the way back to Panama City, stop at the Canal Museum and have time to watch the movement of ships in the locks. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner on board the Callisto. Overnight in port.
Panama City
Disembark after breakfast.
