Pure Panama: Cultures, Coasts & Canal

Be warmly greeted at the airport upon your arrival and transferred to the Bristol Hotel for your overnight stay. Unwind from your day of travel enjoying the hotel’s amenities, or stretch your legs on a walk to nearby city sites and attractions.

Enjoy a morning of leisure at your boutique hotel or explore nearby city markets and cafes. Later, rendezvous with your shipmates in our hospitality area. As you cross the peninsula overland to Colon, make a stop at the Agua Clara Visitor Center. Take in the views of Lake Gatun and the newly expanded locks. Then, complete the transfer to the Safari Voyager for a hearty welcome from your captain and crew.

Home to one of the best-preserved Native cultures in the Americas, the indigenous province of Guna Yala (formerly the San Blas Islands) encompasses over 360 islands of white sand beaches backed by palm trees and dotted with thatched roofs. Discover the remarkable heritage of the Guna (or Kuna)—don’t pass on a chance to buy their colorful handcrafted “molas.” Enjoy the natural wonders of these islands with a snorkel in the crystalline Caribbean waters.

Another beautiful day awaits you in Guna Yala. Enjoy the islands at a more relaxed pace, lounging on a stunning beach or taking an easy stroll in the sand with views of the brilliant sea. Snorkel, paddle board, or kayak among these picture-perfect islands.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the 1500s, Portobelo has a rich history including notable characters like Henry Morgan, Francis Drake, and Christopher Columbus. Stroll the passageways of this quaint colorful, village surrounded by jungle. You can sense the past of pirates and explorers before you. Imagine their approach while you take in the views of Portobelo from a kayak or skiff in the bay. Later, prepare for one of the most memorable travel experiences—transiting along the 48-mile marvel, the Panama Canal. (Time varies depending on when the lock authority gives the final go ahead for your evening transit).

Golden sand meets topaz-colored water, and beaches make way for lush vegetation and rocky volcanic outcroppings on the 90 islands and nearly 130 islets of Las Perlas—the Pearl Islands. Almost entirely uninhabited, the islands are host to a plethora of tropical flora and fauna. Mid-summer through early-fall, the archipelago is frequented by dolphins and humpbacks—so keep your eyes peeled for acrobatic spinning and telltale blow spouts. Select your modus operandi—kayak, paddle board, skiff, or snorkel—and set out in a nature lovers’ dreamscape.

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.

Explore the vast Punta Patiño Nature Reserve on foot, part of Darién Province and the largest natural protected area in Central America. Then set sail in search of wildlife, keeping watch for bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, smaller shark species, and early in the season for migrating whales. This festive evening includes a special farewell dinner and celebratory slideshow from your expedition team.

After an early breakfast, bid adios to your crew. Transfer to the airport for your flight home or to begin your Un-Cruise hotel stay.