Costa Rica and the Panama Canal

Arrive in San Jose and transfer to Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica’s main port. Board the National Geographic Quest and begin sailing south along the Pacific coast. You can also start earlier with a pre-voyage extension to Caño Negro’s rainforests and reserves for five days of wildlife exploration and glamping.

Anchor near the Osa Peninsula to explore lowland rainforest along the Pacific coast. If conditions allow, enter Corcovado National Park to swim in waterfall pools or hike the trails while spotting howler, spider, squirrel, and capuchin monkeys.

Alternatively, navigate the jungle rivers by Zodiac, observing iguanas, monkeys, diverse birds, and blue morpho butterflies beneath the dense forest canopy.

Enter the mangrove-fringed Golfo Dulce, along the southwestern edge of Costa Rica, as your nimble expedition ship takes you into the remote upper reaches of this placid bay. Head inland to meet and share with inspiring local families living in remote communities and working with cocoa, hearts of palm, and sugar cane. Hike in mature rainforest, kayak in peaceful waters, and explore by Zodiac, scanning the jungle tree line for a dazzling array of avifauna, including golden-hooded and Cherrie’s tanagers, yellow-throated toucans, fiery-billed aracaris, and crimson-fronted and orange-chinned parakeets. Take in a kaleidoscope of tropical color with bromeliads, heliconias, and orchids set against the verdant green.

Go ashore on the western side of the bay in the pristine waters of Playa Blanca on the Osa Peninsula. By special arrangement, visit with the Latin American Sea Turtles (LAST) Association and hear presentations by the staff at LAST, including a talk by the dedicated researchers working so hard to positively impact sea turtle conservation.

The first stop in Panama this morning is at the remote Isla Coiba, one of the many islands of Coiba National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Once a penal colony, the island has long been protected and accessible by special permit only. Among its many endemic species are the Coiba Island agouti and the mantled howler monkey, as well as four varieties of sea turtle. Discover rich marine life while snorkeling or simply spend the afternoon exploring or relaxing on the beach.

Today, explore the tiny islets of the Gulf of Panama by Zodiac. Here you might spot frigatebirds, brown pelicans, neotropical cormorants, and brown boobies. Set sail for the Panama Canal this afternoon. Stretching more than 50 miles, the canal was a colossal engineering feat completed in 1914. It is still traversed by some 14,000 ships every year. As cargo ships tend to pass through the canal during the day, the ship will most likely begin crossing at night, when the canal is dramatically lit.

Today, choose hikes and Zodiac cruises at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute facility on Barro Colorado Island or take a boat ride to the mouth of the Chagres River and hike on the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center trails. This evening, continue through the complex lock system of the canal. By special arrangement, National Geographic Quest will anchor in Gatun Lake near the Barro Colorado Nature Monument overnight.

Disembark in ColOn and transfer to the airport in Panama City for flights home.

Ask your expedition specialist about enjoying a culturally-immersive post-voyage extension in Panama City and San Lorenzo, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site.

Departure Time: Depart after 2:30 p.m. local time.