This is an 11-day Latin America Sojourn in Costa Rica, Panama, and Cartagena, which will let you explore the diverse places of Panama, Costa Rica, and Columbia by kayak, skiff, and guided hike. This journey will also take you to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cartagena, Panamá Canal, Isla Iguana, the wild Osa Conservation Area, and the islands of Coiba National Park. This trip will be concluded in Costa Rica.
Highlights
Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Coiba National Park
Explore flora and fauna of the mangroves by kayak and skiff
Enjoy an amazing Tropical rainforest hikes
Discover howler monkeys, scarlet macaws, white-faced capuchins, a
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Welcome to Cartagena! Your transfer is waiting, and after a warm airport greeting, you’re off to our hospitality area in the city. Later, it’s all smiles and champagne as you board the Safari Voyager, meet your crew, and settle in for the week ahead.
A historical tour of the colonial walled city and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cartagena shows off its highlights. Wander narrow streets lined with colorful houses. Visit the Palace of Inquisition, San Felipe de Barajas Castle, or the oldest church in the city. Afterward, set sail for the archipelago of San Bernardino. With its clear water and vibrant corals, kayaking, skiff tours, snorkeling, and paddle boarding are all options.
Cruise the Caribbean coast of the Darién Gap to the tiny, almost-forgotten coastal towns of Capurganá and Sapzurro. Hike between the towns through the dewy Darién jungle, home to toucans, parrots, howlers, and squirrel monkeys. Or, take to the white sand beaches and turquoise waters for snorkeling and beachcombing.
The Captain will find the best spots for today's adventure based on our traditional wildlife, weather, and whim! Slather on the sunscreen and be sure to hydrate for a full day of adventures. Kayak, snorkel, swim, or hike - choose your own adventure.
You’re in the Guna Yala (formerly the San Blas Islands)—360 islands dotted with palm trees, thatched roofs, coconut groves, and white sand beaches—and they’re perfect for snorkeling. Look around for a rainbow of reef fish, corals, rays, and sea turtles. Anything’s possible in paradise. On land, meet the Guna people, one of the best-preserved cultures in the Americas. Learn about their culture and don’t miss the chance to buy their detailed handcrafted “molas.” In the Guna culture, an ornate mola with a detailed design is an item displayed with pride.
Islands, forts, and sea life—bring your adventurous spirit. You’re headed for the Panamá Canal and along the way, your captain has the say. Transiting the 48-mile passage is a bucket list experience. A story of engineering and human tenacity, it took over 75,000 workers to build and takes you about eight hours to transit. Joined by a Canal Authority Pilot, watch line handlers manage the ship by changing sea levels in the locks. Paired with videos and onboard narration, you’ll cross the locks with a better understanding of this engineering marvel. Celebrate your transit with a top-deck barbeque! (BLD)
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. Settle into a comfy lounge chair and take in the views.
Sail through the islands of Coiba National Park. Named one of the world’s top 10 diving sites, your day of play features snorkeling among abundant marine life and kayaking around rocky outcroppings. Hop to the park’s main island for a stretch of the legs on a trail through this tropical jungle. Mantled howler monkeys, crested eagles, and four turtle species call Isla Coiba home.
A birder’s haven, explore a botanical reserve exploding with vibrant color. From bromeliads, ginger plants, and heliconias, to toucans, hummingbirds, mischievous monkeys, and fluttering butterflies—there’s a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, and tastes in every tree and bush you pass on your walking tour. In Golfo Dulce, the “sweet gulf” which separates the Osa Peninsula from the mainland and one of only four tropical fjords on the planet, explore the rare flora and fauna of mangroves by kayak and skiff. Bottlenose spotted, and spinner dolphins also swim in the waters of this tucked-away wilderness.
Adventure lies around every bend in the isolated, wild Osa Conservation Area, home to the country’s largest national park, Corcovado. Drake Bay, named after its discoverer Sir Francis Drake and fabled to house the explorer’s hidden treasures, is also known for hundreds of distinct species of plants and trees and 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. Cap off your week with a celebratory Farewell Dinner, and then join your expedition team for a slideshow highlighting your adventures.
Day 11: San Jose, Costa Rica | Disembarkation
1 Breakfast
Enjoy an early breakfast aboard and say adios to your crew. Upon arrival at the port, you’ll be transferred to San Jose to connect with your flight home or begin your UnCruise hotel stay or land tour.
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.
Please confirm embark/disembark locations before reserving flights, as this itinerary operates in reverse on alternating departures.
Navigator Cabin
Queen or twin beds, desk & chair, view window, private bath with shower. #103-108
Trailblazer Cabin
Queen or twin beds, desk & chair, view window, private bath with shower. #205-206, 209-212, 215-222
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Cruse ship was great. Fantastic food and service. Cruise itinary got changed so not what we expected, but not an major issue. Japan portion was great. Drivers/guides arranged by 80 Days were great. Hotels were mostly ok. Did not know that most hotels outside of major cities do not allow shoes to be worn in the hotel. again a minor inconvenience. Overall a great trip. Adventure Life communications were timely and much appreciated as far as changes/requests.
Peter Goff
1 day ago
We were a group of three that initiated our research by independently searching for the best agency to help us in the somewhat complex experience of traveling to the Galapagos. We chose adventure life because they were the most responsive in the website provided the most comprehensive overview of the trip. Their reviews were also very good.
Adventure, life splits up its booking process in two parts. First Jeff, the booking agent helped us decide which experience best suited are interests. We chose a small 14 to 16 group sized yacht. Once the booking was made with Jeff, we were handed off to Coleene, who oversaw the complex process of assembling all of the necessary documents and making sure we had everything we needed to make the trip go smoothly. The adventure, life website, then becomes your personal place of reference for all things related to your trip from door to door. It’s a lot of information to assemble, especially for three travelers, but the website makes it easy and Colleen‘s gentle reminders kept us on track. In all, from the beginning, we had four months from the time we started our research till the time we departed. We felt that was, a good amount of preparation time and don’t think it would be wise to do it in less than four months. Mostly because I think you have more options with that amount of time. There were others on our trip that took six months and more from the time they started planning.
The trip itself was outstanding. We ended up on an excellent yacht (Galapagos Angel II) with a great group of guests that we were able to connect with and put together a really nice google photos album to share.
Jed
1 week ago
Mary was very helpful. Quick to reply with helpful information and closure on arrangements.
Nicola Maxwell
1 week ago
Mary Curry and Elma are always so responsive and nice to deal with.
Michael
1 week ago
I enjoyed working with Jess to put together a private N.Z. trip. Jess has been my go-to person at Adventure Life over the past several years. She listens to what my husband and I want in a trip, and is always responsive to questions. Nothing seems to be too much of a bother for Jess.
/index.webp)
