Fall in love with the crystal waters of the Caribbean, Panama and Costa Rica on this 16-day cruise aboard the Sea Cloud Spirit. Begin your exciting journey in Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Enjoy the tropical scenery of the best diving and snorkeling spots in the Carribean. Explore the colonial center of Cartagena, Colombia. Sail through the Panama Canal, one of the world's most important waterways, and experience the natural diversity of the small countries of Panama and Costa Rica. Finally, disembark in Puntarenas, Costa Rica.
Highlights
Visit Grenada - the incarnation of a tropical paradise on Earth
Immerse yourself in the traditions and culture of Colombia
Transit via the Panama Canal - one of the world's most important waterways
Explore spectacular Costa Rica and visit Casa Orquideas park
St. Maarten is the only Caribbean island with 100 percent duty-free shopping. In Philipsburg, more than 500 stores sell luxury items like leather goods, electronics, cameras, designer clothes, etc. Water sports are big on both sides of the island, and numerous operators rent boats, supply equipment for parasailing, waterskiing, windsurfing or kayaking. or offer deep-sea fishing expeditions.
Two famous volcanic cones are indisputably the emblem of St Lucia and have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Gros and Petit Piton tower over the southern, windward side of the island and, in Soufrière, seem close enough to touch. The volcanoes have long been extinct, but the sulfur springs demonstrate the power of the earth's core and still bubble up. In the Botanical Gardens, natural abundance is combined with artistic arrangements to create a colorful tropical paradise. Some people claim that Josephine, who later became Napoleon's wife, used to bathe in the little pool in the garden.
Beautiful beaches, aromatic spice plantations, dense rainforests, waterfalls and a volcano that has long been extinct, picturesquely towering over this stunningly beautiful island. For many people, Grenada is the incarnation of a tropical paradise and St George's the most beautiful little port in the Grenadines. All around the horseshoe-shaped bay, numerous houses remind you of colonial times. There is a good reason why nutmeg is immortalized on the national flag. Alongside cloves, cinnamon, and ginger, it is one of the island's biggest exports.
The second-largest island in the ABC islands, which forms part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is an idyllic natural paradise with many different faces. In the hilly northern region, lush tropical greenery prevails and in the same areas have a desert-like character with cactuses as high as trees and natural salt lakes that attract whole flocks of pink flamingos. The island also gleams with rugged rocky cliffs, mangrove forests, several small bays, endless sandy beaches, and a long offshore coral reef.
Aruba, the most westerly island in the Netherlands Antilles, is also the last in the arc of the Antilles before you reach the South American mainland. Its capital, Oranjestad, founded in 1796, shows that everything here is a bit different. Caribbean pastel-colored houses and Delft tiles, carved wooden doors and Dutch gables, all-around balconies and colonial galleries. All of these features combine to create a style that can only have one name - Aruban. Aruba also offers a distinctive natural landscape, with an inland desert, extensive sand dunes, oddly formed cliffs, impressive cactus forests, strangely shaped divi-divi trees, and countless aloe plants.
Cartagena was once the richest city in the New World and a popular target for pirate attacks since a large part of the Spanish treasure was stored there. Sir Francis Drake also instilled terror into the Spanish city. After Drake's invasion, the city was fortified with an 11-kilometer (7 miles)-long rampart and the immense San Felipe fortifications. Today Cartagena is one of the most beautiful colonial cities on the American continent and is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The idea of connecting the Atlantic and Pacific at the narrowest part of Central America has been around for many hundreds of years, but from a technical perspective, this tremendous achievement only became possible much later. The French took on the project in 1881, after the successful opening of the Suez Canal in Egypt in 1869. But it would be more than 30 years before the canal was finally completed in 1914. This masterpiece of technology is just under 82 kilometers (50 miles) long, has 12 lock basins and negotiates a difference in altitude of 26 meters (85 foot). The Panama Canal is one of the world's most important waterways and most spectacular ship canal.
A monument on the seafront commemorates the man who gave the city its name. In 1513 Spanish conquistador Vasco Núñez de Balboa arrived here, becoming the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean overland. Nowadays, the Puente de las Américas, an enormous arched bridge carrying the Panamericana road, spans the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal in Balboa, connecting North and South America. East of the canal, the breathtaking skyscrapers tower above Panama City, whose glitzy boom town ambiance contrasts starkly with the lovingly restored Casco Viejo which dates back to the colonial era and the ruins of the old town of Panama Viejo which is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Day 13: Isla Coiba and Coiba National Park, Panama
The Coiba National Park covers the island of Coiba, the largest in the country, and 38 other smaller tiny islets. It is one of the world's largest marine national parks and is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Because the island broke off from the mainland around 15,000 years ago, a unique range of flora and fauna and an extraordinary variety of species are preserved here. Beautiful deserted beaches nestle up to the delightful turquoise sea.
Golfito is Costa Rica’s most southern port town. It located across from the Osa Peninsula on the Golfo Dulce. Golfito is known to surfers as the gateway to Pavones, just to the south, and to sport fishermen as the year-round sportfishing mecca.
The Orchid House is just a few-minute boat ride from Golfito. But this place is a world away and is a sanctuary for botanists and nature lovers. The gardens are a continuous work in progress but are meticulously maintained by the on-site naturalists. Plants including orchids, heliconias, bromeliads attract over 100 bird species that are attracted to the park’s grounds.
Quepos was a lively little port at the time of booming banana exports. Today it is a gateway to the Manuel Antonio National Park, which lies to the south. The park covers an area of just 683 hectares and is one of the most diverse rainforests in Costa Rica. Paths lead you from the beautiful sandy beach straight to the heart of this untamed green kingdom. More than 1,000 varieties of plant and prolific wildlife, including whole herds of inquisitive apes, sloths, coatis and raccoons, iguanas, many species of bird, and unique colorful butterflies have made this place their home.
Day 16: Puntarenas, Costa Rica | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Disembark after breakfast and continue your independent trip back 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.
$12,885
Select a Date
Superior Single
Superior Single Cabins (approx. 13 and 14.5 m²/139 and 156 sq ft) are equipped with a single bed, a small sitting corner with a table and a chair, a dressing table and a wardrobe. The bathroom is equipped with a sink, shower and WC. These cabins have portholes and are located on the Cabin Deck.
Select a Date
Superior
Superior Cabins (approx. 16.5 to 19 m²/177 to 204 sq ft) are equipped with a double bed (two single beds), a small comfortable sitting corner with a chair or couch and a table as well as a dressing table, wardrobe and bureau. The spacious bathroom is equipped with a sink, shower and WC. These cabins have portholes and are located on the Cabin Deck.
Select a Date
Deluxe
Deluxe Cabins (approx. 20 m²/215 sq ft) are equipped with a double bed (two single beds), a small comfortable sitting corner with a chair or couch and a table as well as a dressing table, bureau and wardrobe. The spacious bathroom is equipped with a sink, shower and WC. These cabins have portholes and are located on the Cabin Deck.
Select a Date
Deluxe Lido
Deluxe Lido Cabins (approx. 16.5 to 20 m²/177 to 215 sq ft) are equipped with a double bed (two single beds), a small comfortable sitting corner with a chair or couch and a table as well as a dressing table, bureau and wardrobe. The spacious bathroom is equipped with a sink, shower and WC. These cabins have portholes and are located on the Cabin Deck.
Select a Date
Junior Suite
Junior Suites (approx. 26 to 30 m² /280 to 323 sq ft including balcony) are located on the Panorama Deck and offer a private balcony and panoramic windows. The cabins include a sitting corner with a couch and a table, two single beds (of 90 cm x 200 cm each), which can be placed separately or as a double bed, and a walk-in closet. The bathroom is equipped with a sink, WC and bathtub.
Select a Date
Owner's Suite
Owner's Suites are located on the Panorama Deck, and have a sitting area and panoramic windows as well as a private balcony. Each of the suites (approx. 36 to 39 m²/388 to 420 sq ft including balcony) is equipped with two single beds (of 95 cm x 200 cm each) that can be placed separately or as a large double bed, and a walk-in closet. The bathroom features sink and bathtub; the WC is separate.
Notes
Cruise Rates Include:
Beautifully appointed cabin in the selected category
Welcoming bottle of champagne in your cabin
All meals from early-bird breakfast to the exquisite 4-course dinner menu with a choice of the main course
5-course gala dinner during the cruise
Welcome and farewell cocktail with champagne
Selected wines and beers thoughtfully chosen to complement lunch and dinner
All soft drinks and juices throughout the cruise
All alcohol-free coffee and tea specialties
Bottled water on the excursions
Fresh fruit basket in your cabin, replenished daily
E-mails can be sent free of charge from the on-board laptop
English-speaking tour guide
Travel documents with detailed destination information
All port fees
Use of watersports facilities such as snorkeling equipment (weather permitting)
Cruise Rates Exclude:
Shore excursions. Contact us for pricing.
Airfare
Tips
Excess luggage (allowance is up to 40 kg per passenger)
Additional meals and beverages (so far as not expressly included)
Initial deposit is 30%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure by Visa, Mastercard, Discover or AmEx. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Kate was great to work with in the planning stage. She was prompt, helpful, and efficient. Our tour guide, Edwin, was knowledgeable and passionate. We were very happy to have traveled with Adventure Life, it made the trip easy and a true pleasure. We could concentrate on enjoying the experience rather than the details of travel.
