Colón is the second largest city in Panama, at the Caribbean entrance of the Panama Canal. Colón is today an important port, and the free trade zone created in 1953 contributed greatly to the development of the city. Colón was founded in 1850 by Americans working on the Panama railroad connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts through the isthmus of Panama; the city rapidly overshadowed the older Caribbean ports of Panama when the canal opened.

With its 220 or more islands and islets, the Las Perlas archipelago is named for the pearl oysters in the Gulf of Panama that were harvested for jewelery or used as currency during the colonial era. Today the pearls have disappeared from these azure waters but you can still explore the sea beds and observe the graceful ballet of shoals of multi-colored fish. On the secluded and unspoilt island of Mogo Mogo, vast stretches of white sand caressed by a crystalline sea make for excellent diving in this extraordinary marine sanctuary.

Optional Excursions: 

Ecocruise on Gatun Lake: 3h 30m. From your ship, embark your coach for a 1-hour transfer to the Gamboa Resort, situated on the shores of Gatun Lake. From there, enjoy a boat trip on Gatun Lake, formed as a result of the damming of the Chagres River during the construction of the Panama Canal. Wildlife abounds in this area, including various species of monkeys, sloths, anteaters, iguanas, and a variety of birds. You and your interpretive guide slowly cruise the back channels, island and bays that make up this unique ecosystem where you try to discover many of the wildlife residents of the area in their natural habitat. Cameras are a must as this is considered the world’s premier location for viewing monkeys in the wild. National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, and Animal Planet have all filmed documentaries on these islands and species of monkeys.

Miraflores Locks: 2h 30m. Take this opportunity to pause and view the gargantuan ships that make their way through the Panama Canal and visit the four exhibition halls, organized by themes that constitute the heart of the Miraflores Visitors Center. After the visit, return to the pier and your ship.

Authentic Embera Indian Village: 5h. This tour was designed for you to step aboard a time machine and travel back more than 600 years, to a Central America only few have had the privilege of experiencing. More than a tour, this is a journey into the lives of the Embera Indian Tribe, a proud people who have been able to maintain their traditions and lifestyle as it was before the Spaniards colonized the region. Start out the expedition aboard an air-conditioned vehicle where your guide gives you an overview of Panama on the way to the jungles of the Central Region. Your host prepares you for the cultural feast you are about to experience by sharing the history and customs of the Embera Indians who are the keepers of the Rainforest and Chagres River.

Nicknamed the “Pearl of the Pacific”, Guayaquil is the most inhabited city in Ecuador. Founded by the conquistadors in 1535, it borders the coasts of the province of Guayas. You can stroll without any cares in the world, in the upper part of the city, next to the Las Peñas district. This Bohemian district with its colorful houses offers an impressive view of the city, if you’re courageous enough to climb the steps which separate the chapel rooms from Cerro Santa Ana lighthouse. The city is also blessed with many parks and gardens, perfect for taking a breather.

Optional Excursions: 

Scenic Guayaquil & Historic Park: 5h 15m. Depart the pier for a panoramic drive through Guayaquil on the way to the Historical Park. Located on the banks of the Guayas River, Guayaquil is Ecuador's principle port and largest city. Guayaquil's strong culture and traditions stand in amazing contrast to the modernity of its new constructions. The first stop is the Seminario Park, with an equestrian statue of South America's liberator, Simón Bolívar. The latter is also called "the park of the iguanas", as here they roam undisturbed and perch on the treetops, blending perfectly with the green leaves. Beside the park is the neo-gothic Metropolitan Cathedral. Pass by the Centennial Plaza that honors the heroes of Guayaquil's independence, and then to the heart of the business district of the city with the Plaza of the Administration with the striking Government and Municipal Buildings.Then drive to the southern Malecon 2000 where you find the Latin America Integration Square, and Plaza Olmedo, which are together, at the beginning of a 2.5 km. (1.5 mile) waterfront, running parallel to the River Guayas and featuring historical, cultural, and entertainment areas. Also see the famous Moorish Clock Tower. Then, take the road to Samborondón, a very modern and residential area, to visit the Historical Park or Parque Histórico, which is a project of cultural, recreational, environmental, educational, and tourist program created by the Central Bank of Ecuador to preserve the culture and customs of the Ecuadorian coast in an area of 8 hectares. The park is divided in three sections, each one dedicated to the preservation of an important part of our history: Wildlife, Urban-Architecture, and Traditions.

The Artists of Guayaquil: 3h 15m. Depart the quayside and head to the refurbished historic areas of Las Peñas and Cerro Santa Ana, which present the idealized version of a South American hillside village with their brightly painted homes and cobblestone alleyways. This area is currently also undergoing an urban regeneration process to benefit the area's approximately 4,000 residents. Many well-known local artists live and work in this area to take advantage of the quaint atmosphere, beautiful views, and many cafés and restaurants. The route takes you on a short stroll through the neighborhood, visiting a studio of one of the Guayaquileño artists and also to the Casa de Artista association. The next and last stop is at the colorful and vibrant arts and crafts market called Mercado Artesanal Guayaquil where you have time to see and shop for handicrafts.

Santay Island Walking Tour: 3h 30m. Depart from the pier and drive north to Santay Island. This small island lies in the Guayas River, 800 meters from the city of Guayaquil. The area comprises 2,179 hectares that are internationally recognized as a Ramsar site. The Ramsar Convention's mission is "the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world". Santay Island is also a protected area. It is characterized by its coastal fauna and flora. The island has registered 12 species of reptiles, 2 species of amphibians, 13 species of mammals and 128 species of birds. The island is home to five mangrove species and 69 species of local plants, besides that, Santay is a refugee for the endangered coastal caiman. The trail is loop shaped and you return to the same starting point where your coach is waiting for you to return to the pier in Guayaquil and your ship.

When your ship calls at Salaverry, this is the occasion to discover Trujillo, an elegant colonial town with brightly colored façades, decorated with ornate wooden balconies. With its yesteryear charm, this city is also a cultural symbol of Peru, as it is home to the vestiges of the Chimú and  Mochica civilizations. Chan Chan, the former capital of the Chimù kingdom, is the largest adobe citadel in pre-Colombian America, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Admire the Moche pyramids, the Huaca del Sol, and the Huaca de la Luna, decorated with colorful mythological frescoes.

Optional Excursions: 

Trujillo and Temples of the Sun & the Moon: 4h. Depart from the port of Salaverry port for the 30-minute drive to the Sun & Moon huacas. These amazing huacas (pron. wa-cas), or temples, were built during the Mochica era (1-650 A.D.) on the left side of the Moche River in Southern Trujillo. Also visit the Huaca de la Luna, built as an extension to the hill, which uncovers the secrets of the Mochica civilization through walls with vibrantly painted reliefs carved from the adobe structure. Next, drive to Trujillo downtown for a panoramic visit of the different streets, surrounded by colonial mansions now recovered to their full magnificence by local institutions; visit two historical houses which are very good samples of XVII century mansions with iron balconies. Before the return drive to the ship, enjoy some free time to take pictures around the main square.

Huaca Dragon and Chan Chan: 4h 30m. Your first stop is at the citadel of Chan Chan, the ancient capital of the Chimu Empire from the 13th century and the largest adobe (mud) city that has been discovered yet. The city has a maze of streets, canals, water reservoirs, terraces and pyramids so vast that, in spite of the profound impacts of climate through time, the majority of it is still standing. Chan Chan was added as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. The city is severely threatened by erosion from El Niño, which causes heavy rains and flooding on the Peruvian coast. Continue to Huanchaco town, a fishing village where the old craft of fishing using the Caballitos de Totora (tall reed sea horse boat) used by the Mochica and Chimu culture in ancient times is still used. Enjoy a live demonstration of local fishermen building the Caballitos de Totora. Next, travel to Huaca Dragon (or Rainbow Temple). This Huaca, one of the best-preserved Chimu ceremonial centers and an adobe pyramid that dates back approximately 1,100 years, is believed to have been the first settlement of the Wari Culture in the Moche Valley. Your next stop is in Plaza de Armas in Trujillo before you head back to the pier.

Optional Excursions: 

Jesuit Heritage of Lima: 4h 30 m. This tour offers the best of colonial and modern Lima and gives you an overview of the city. Explore the Main Square, designated as the center of the city by Lima's founder, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, in 1535. Although city planning was uncommon then, he laid out 117 blocks in neat rectangles on the south bank of the Rimac River, a plan that still exists today. As you stroll around this attractive square with your guide, see the Government Palace, the City Hall, and visit the Cathedral with its ornate choir stalls, the chapel, the main altar and a Christ made of carved ivory, as well as the crypt with Pizarro's remains.

Visit the Santo Domingo Convent, the oldest church and convent in Lima. Reboard your coach and drive to the church of San Pedro, built by the Jesuits in the 16th century. For the beauty of its architectural and its valuable iconography, this convent has become one of the pillars of Peruvian cultural heritage. Her intricate altars and colonial paintings are some of the most impressive in the city. Continue through the fashionable residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores. A brief stop is made at Parque del Amor, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean, before the return to Callao and your ship.

Archaeological Museum and Indian Market: 4h 30m. The National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru is the oldest state museum in the country. Its importance is rooted in the vast, varied cultural patrimony housed in its exhibition rooms and storerooms. Ceramics, textiles, metals, organic materials and lithics related to invaluable human remains preserved with techniques that still surprise specialists make up the legacy of Peru's pre-Hispanic past. This space is a meeting place with the history of Peru. After the museum visit, reboard your coach and enjoy a panoramic drive through Pueblo Libre and Miraflores, where the Indian market is located. A stop is made in this giant handicrafts market with dozens of stalls. There, handicrafts from all over Peru, from the jungles of Iquitos to the Andean city of Cuzco, can be found. After some free time, reboard your coach for the one-hour drive to the pier and your ship.

Pachacamac Ruins: 4h 30m. A 20-mile drive south of Lima, along the Pacific coast, takes you to one of Peru's most renowned ancient pilgrimage sites dating back to A.D.200. The ruins of Pachacamac in the Lurin Valley cover 4 square miles. The ruins consist of adobe buildings and temples and still visible are the remains of the Temple of the Sun God and remarkable irrigation works and reservoirs built by the Incas during their occupation of the area. The ruins encircle a hill; its top is formed by the temple of the sun. This vast pyramid was built in 1350 using adobe bricks. It was partially restored. Mamaconas is one of the principal buildings, which was also restored. Here the "selected women" learned how to weave the fabrics where the clothes of the Inca were made. Further north you can find the temple of Urpi-Huachac (the woman of Pachacámac) but there are only ruins. On the top of the temple of the sun, one has a good sight of the whole site. It has a spacious museum, well-organized exhibit, gold artifacts, vessels made of ceramics, and textiles used by the ancient Peruvians.

As the country's primary fishing and trading port, Callao is the maritime gateway to Peru. From the town center, journey on to the capital, Lima, and wander around the Plaza Mayor (formerly Plaza de Armas), crowned with its gorgeous bronze fountain. Embellished with neo-colonial buildings such as the Government Palace or the Cathedral of Lima, the esplanade is a symbol of the city's founding by conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535. Two streets away is the Monastery of San Francisco, one of the city's best-preserved colonial structures. Further south, don't miss the superb cloisters and patios of the Casona San Marcos.