Sail between two seas exploring two national parks, one wildlife refuge, and a conservation area on this 11-day cruise to Costa Rica and Panama. Witness the amazing wildlife of Manuel Antonio National Park, and discover the Osa Conservation Area´s abundant biodiversity including monkeys, frogs, caimans, anteaters, scarlet macaws, coatis, and 16 different species of hummingbird. End the cruise in historic Panama City visiting wild Darien Jungle and the pristine Pearl Islands Archipelago. As you sail, admire the beautiful scenery and take the chance to explore tranquil bays, cultural villages, and the best of the region by kayak or foot.
Highlights
Travel the Mogue River by motorized canoe and look for its vast wildlife
Wildlife viewing in Darién Jungle by motorized dugout canoe and on hikes
Night transit along the Panamá Canal, a marvel of engineering and human tenacity
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
You’ll be greeted at the airport upon your arrival and swooped off to the hospitality suite before transferring to the vessel for a warm welcome from your captain, crew, and wellness hosts. Toast to adventure over dinner as you sail along the Pacific coast.
At the southeastern tip of Nicoya Peninsula—in the tangled mangroves of Curu—the cycle of life is everywhere. Local “residents” include everything from exotic birds and deer to army ants, frog-eating snakes, and hungry crocodiles. Step carefully as you cross the swinging bridge, you don’t want to land on the menu! Land crabs shift in and out of their burrows with such force it’s enough to make the earth move. A hike on the Finca de Monos trail is prime monkey viewing. They are everywhere. Offshore, the vibrant, turquoise waters near Isla Tortuga offer inviting opportunities to snorkel, kayak, and paddleboard.
Adventure lies around every bend in the isolated, wild Osa Conservation Area, home to the country’s largest national park, Corcovado. The area is known for its diverse plant and animal species—a whopping 2.5% of the entire planet’s biodiversity is found here—including all four of Costa Rica’s monkeys, tree frogs, caimans, anteaters, scarlet macaws, coatis, and 16 different species of hummingbird. Explore this vast area putting feet to trail on an invigorating hike through the jungle. At the end of the day, enjoy the sunset with a tropical beverage in-hand during cocktail hour and retell stories of the day with your travel-mates.
A birder’s paradise, explore a tropical preserve exploding with vibrant color. From bromeliads, ginger plants, and heliconias, to toucans, hummingbirds, mischievous monkeys, and fluttering butterflies—there’s a mesmerizing kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, and tastes in every tree and bush you pass on your walking tour. In Golfo Dulce, which separates Oso Peninsula from the mainland, explore the rare flora and fauna of mangroves by kayak and skiff.
Sail through the islands of Coiba National Park, making a stop at postcard-perfect Granito de Oro islet. Offering a little bit of everything despite its small size, volcanic outcroppings at either end of this tiny landmass and a dense, mini-jungle in the center are connected by gorgeous white sand beaches. Named one of the world’s top 10 diving sites, your day of play features snorkeling among abundant marine life, kayaking around rocky outcroppings, and lounging on the warm sand. It’s another perfect day in paradise.
Wake up in paradise. Start with fresh-brewed coffee and a little limbering up with guided stretches on deck. As always, the hardest part is picking the “what.” Your guides know the trails and help you spot monkeys, hummingbirds, and towering balsa trees. Slip into the drink for a kayak or snorkel. Go exploring by skiff. Or, just kick back in a hammock under swaying palms. Then it's cruising time. Sit in on a presentation on nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness led by your wellness hosts or settle into a comfy lounge chair and take in the views.
Cruise through the diverse isles and atolls in the Gulf of Panama hosting hundreds of avian and marine mammal species. Guides give presentations and your captain determines the best locations and activities based on what nature delivers. And be on the lookout for a silvery glint streaking across the water—it could be mobula rays taking flight.
Untouched and untamed, the Darién Jungle is nearly as wild and magnificent today as it was for early conquistadors 500 years ago. Explore the vast Punta Patiño Nature Reserve on foot, part of Darién Province and the largest natural protected area in Central America. Traveling the Mogue River by motorized dugout canoe, your expedition guide helps you spot wildlife—astonishingly-colored roseate spoonbills, ibises, osprey, and raccoons can be seen fishing for breakfast from the water’s edge. After welcoming formalities at a local Emberá village, share their customs and stories, and have an opportunity to buy handicrafts from the villagers, including their highly-prized and intricately-woven rainforest baskets.
Discovered by Spanish conquistadors and named for the flood of pearls found, the 90 islands and nearly 130 islets of the Pearl Islands are now almost entirely uninhabited by humans and instead boast a plethora of tropical flora and fauna. Gear is simple today—have your binoculars handy for superb bird watching on a skiff tour of Bartolome Island’s bird sanctuary. Magnificent Frigatebirds, Brown Pelicans, and Yellow Warblers are likely to pop into your field of vision. For more exploration, select your modus operandi—kayak, paddle board, skiff, or snorkel—and cardio-up in a nature lovers’ dreamscape. Take in the whole of it, as you prepare for one of the most memorable travel experiences—transiting between two seas along the 48-mile marvel, the Panama Canal. The lock authority gives the final go-ahead for your evening transit. Join your shipmates on deck for a toast as the canal lights up and the temperature subsides. A story of engineering and human tenacity, it took over 75,000 workers to build it and takes you about eight hours to transit.
It’s your last day, and it’s a big one. Take in a little history and a “walk on the wild side” among the battlements and canons of San Lorenzo Fort. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in the 1500s by the Spanish crown as a military stronghold and sacked multiple times by swashbuckling pirates. This evening, your wellness guides bring the lessons together reflecting on body, mind, soul, and setting new goals for healthful living. Cap off your week with a celebratory Farewell Dinner, and then join your expedition team for a slideshow highlighting your adventures.
Enjoy an early breakfast aboard and say adios to your crew. Upon arrival at the port, you’ll be transferred to Panama City to connect with your flight home.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$7,095
Select a Date
Navigator Cabin
Queen or twin beds, desk & chair, view window, private bath with shower. #103-108
Select a Date
Trailblazer Cabin
Queen or twin beds, desk & chair, view window, private bath with shower. #205-206, 209-212, 215-222
- All rates are quoted in USD and represent cost per person, based on double occupancy
- Children ages 8-13 are welcome on all sailings and will received a $500 per child savings
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 167 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 167 reviews on
5 hours ago
Adventure Life has been an extraordinary travel resource for us over the years and today was no exception. Our River Cruise booking was handled by Jess (who has been our personal trip planner for several years) the same day as our inquiry. Suggestions were given for cabin choice and pre-trip options (that were not shown on the cruise line's website) like airport transfers and prepaid gratuities. Trip insurance recommendations followed and we were assigned a travel co-ordinator till the end of the tour. All we have to do is show up! Great service from friendly folks.
APtravelwell
1 day ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
1 day ago
Although there was a lot of paper work, I received help and guidance when I needed it.
Donna Kirby
2 days ago
Our travel was flawless! The rider pickup (airport, hotel, ship) was seamless. Jane's recommendation for Emerald Cruise Sakara was everything I wanted but the experience was soooo much more. Adventure Life took care of each and every detail and this was the easiest of all my travels.
Anne Petty
3 days ago
Follow up was effective any questions were answered in a timely manner