Central America Discovery

Arrive in Pichilingue, La Paz. Relax, and spend the overnight here preparing for your adventure.

*specific hotel and location to be announced

Pichilingue (La Paz) is a port and a beach resort on the eastern coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. It is located 18 km from La Paz, the capital of the state, and it offers a variety of attractions and activities for travelers. You can sunbathe, swim, and sport fish on the sandy shore or enjoy a meal and a drink at one of the restaurants along the waterfront. Pichilingue is where you can enjoy the sun, the sea, and the culture of Baja California Sur.

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

Nicknamed the Sailfish Capital of the World, Manzanillo is one of Mexico’s most significant port cities. As you might expect from such a moniker, most of the activities in town are centered around the water, and seafood dominates the local culinary scene. Although the city is largely a modern development, ancient history is never far away in this part of the world. Visit the archaeological site, Zona Arqueologica la Campana today, which is about a two-hour drive away from Manzanillo port.

One of Mexico’s most visited cities, Zihuatanejo is a modern beach resort with a fascinating and ancient past. Surrounded by significant archaeological sites, this morning visit Xihuacan. Opened in 2013, the area has yet to be fully excavated. The site and museum are located a little under an hour from Zihuatanejo. Here you can explore the ruins as well as visit the eight hundred-plus pre-Hispanic artifacts on display.

Acapulco, nicknamed ‘Pearl of the Pacific’, is Mexico’s most glamorous Pacific resort that rose to fame in the jet-set era of the 1950s. Located on a deep, semi-circular bay, Acapulco is located southwest of Mexico City. With an average of 360 days of sunshine per year, the weather here is famously amicable. The city originated as a port city for Spanish galleons sailing between Spain and the Far East. Learn more about the city’s past at the Acapulco Historical Museum. Or perhaps head out on a bird-watching trip at Coyuca Lagoon with a local ornithology expert. 

Days at sea are the perfect chance to relax, unwind and do whatever takes your fancy. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, trying to spot a whale from the deck, reading a chapter or two, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to the green days spent exploring on land.

The modern port city of Puerto Quetzal is situated on the Pacific coastline just south of Guatemala City. From here you can explore the World Heritage Site of La Antigua Guatemala or head out to the stunning Lake Atitlan and explore its surrounding villages. The former capital of Guatemala, Antigua, is a short distance away and definitely worth a visit. Now a World Heritage site, this beautiful colonial town has buildings that date back to the 16th century. The museums and architecture will transport you back in time through the city’s fascinating past

Originally a Mayan village, Acajutla is now El Salvador’s main export town for coffee, sugar and balsam. You can still see evidence of the area’s Mayan past in the ruins near the port. The town itself is a pleasant place to spend some time exploring the boutique shops and strolling the dark sand beaches. Further afield, you will be visiting the UNESCO-protected site of Joya de Cerén, a pre-Columbian 600 AD Maya village preserved in ash, known as the ‘Pompeii of Central America.’ also visit the fascinating archaeological site of Tazumal.

Today you arrive in the small port town of La Unión in El Salvador. As you disembark, you will be greeted with a local dance performance before setting off to explore this striking part of the world. La Uníon is the gateway to the beautiful Gulf of Fonseca, overlooked by the Conchagua volcano. This remote region isn’t often visited by cruise ships and visitors are few. Whilst here you will visit El Salvador’s largest protected area, the Jiquilisco Bay Biosphere Reserve. Cruise through the mangrove canals, past deserted beaches and remote islands.

One of Costa Rica’s prettiest beaches, Playa Flamingo is just about as picture-postcard-perfect as it gets. The white sand, shell beach and serene blue sea make for a popular but laid-back holiday resort. Visit the nearby Palo Verde National Park, located on the banks of the Tempisque River. A birdwatcher’s paradise, Palo Verde is the meeting place of the largest concentration of aquatic birds and migratory birds on the Central American Pacific Coast. You can spot toucans, scarlet macaws, the roseate spoonbill, wood storks, tanagers and much more

Puntarenas is a place to experience the authentic and diverse culture of Costa Rica, located on a narrow peninsula that stretches into the Pacific Ocean. Puntarenas is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, who come to enjoy its beaches, seafood, and carnival atmosphere. Puntarenas is also a gateway to explore the region's natural wonders, such as the Tortuga, Chira, Coco islands, the Nicoya Peninsula, and the Monteverde Cloud Forest.