The port of Puerto Caldera lies on the Pacific coast in the Gulf of Nicoya. Further inland, step into the midst of a luscious tropical forest. Among the countless natural wonders to be found here, the Poas Volcano towers up in all its majestic glory. Venture deeper into the luxuriant canopy and enjoy a unique experience as you slide from one tree to the next in total safety. Back on firm ground, an untouched cove offers up glimpses of osprey, tireless fishing birds that circle the surf to catch their next meal.

Herradura takes its name in Spanish from the horseshoe form of its bay, covered in lush tropical vegetation, its beauty enhanced by the hills that loom over it. This small town is surrounded by national parks that are remarkable for the rich variety of fauna and flora they protect. When your ship calls here, take a journey in small covered boats along the Tarcoles River, whose banks are home to crocodiles and iguanas. This mangrove also hosts the loyal and flamboyant scarlet macaw, with its red, blue, and yellow plumage, known for mating with the same partner for life.

Optional Excursions:

Pura Vida Gardens - length: 3h. A 30-minute drive brings you to Pura Vida Gardens and Waterfalls. This garden has been named the No. 1 garden in Central America by the Tropical Sierra Foundation. The trail begins with the country’s natural beauty of spectacular flora, fauna, waterfalls, and views of the Pacific. See the hundreds of flowers planted there, as well as several varieties of orchids from Costa Rica and from all over the world. The manicured walkways meander along a river or at the crest of a mountain and most are easily accessible. Enjoy a guided 1 ½-hour nature walk to cascades and look-out points. A fruit buffet and beverages are served at Pura Vida's main hall.

Carara National Park - length: 3h15. From Herradura, embark your coach for the 20-minute drive to Carara National Park, a low mountainous area of 11,600 acres (4,700 ha) going from the dry North to the very humid coast of the South Pacific. Your experience begins at the universal footpath, specially designed to make an easier and interesting walk into the forest. Follow your guide for a 1 ½-hour leisurely walk through the park. Endangered species like scarlet macaws, yellow-billed cotingas, laughing falcons, and others can be easily seen here, as well as several species of monkeys and other mammals and impressive reptilians and amphibians.
On the way back to the ship a stop is made for fruit and juice tasting.

Quepos makes for a charming stop-off on the Pacific coast, just next door to the famous Manuel Antonio National Park, an untouched tropical natural reserve lined with white sandy beaches. The town's seafront is an opportunity to stroll through market stalls touting pineapples and bananas in the shade of the manchineel trees. In this coastal town criss-crossed with tree-lined streets in bloom, admire the houses and their incredible sculpted balconies. Enjoy a spot of shopping in the many traditional boutiques: pick up some handmade cotton clothing, ceramics embellished with Costa Rican designs, and home décor pieces in hand-painted wood.

Optional Excursions: 

Savegre River Floating - length: 5h. Depart Quepos on a 1 ¼-hour transfer by air-conditioned motor-coach, passing by palm, teak and Melina plantations to the rural town of El Silencio. After a short comfort stop where you can often spot toucans and macaws, continue toward the town of Santo Domingo, where a group of qualified guides with professional equipment are awaiting you to start this 2-hour amazing river floating. Your guide gives you an orientation about the river and its natural environment, which is considered one of the most beautiful rivers of Central America. The scenery and wildlife along the Rio Savegre are legendary, your opportunity to enjoy beautiful landscapes, including some native African oil palm plantations, white ibis, cormorants, egrets, crocodiles and herons, experiencing both action and periods of relaxation. A snack of fresh fruits are served at the river banks before returning to the pier.

River Boating through the Mangrove Lagoons - length: 3h30m. A ride through the mangroves is like visiting a place of another world. The species of trees that grow in the mixed waters of the ocean and the river make a unique and very fragile ecosystem. Most of these trees grow along the estuary, developing an aerial root system. As the tide goes down, the roots become suspended in the air creating a perfect place for crabs and crocodiles. In the upper part of the forest see monkeys and a great variety of birds including herons, egrets, and spoonbills among others. From the pier, embark your coach for the 25-minute ride to a launch from where a boat takes you to a private property for refreshments. Then your naturalist tour guide acquaints you with all the knowledge of the mangroves, an ecosystem extremely important and of which not too many people know. Your covered boat then takes you deeply into the mangrove, as you try to spot all the incredible wildlife that makes their home there. After a two-hour boat ride, arrive to the village where your coach is waiting to drive you back to your ship.
 
Manuel Antonio National Park - length: 4h. Manuel Antonio National Park is the jewel of the many Costa Rica’s national parks. Its fragile rainforest ecosystem shelters abundant wildlife, including the easy-to-see monkeys and a great variety of tropical birds. The dense rainforest opens into small trails where your naturalist tour guide acquaints you with all the information regarding the forest. Another great attraction are the white-sand beaches that meet the jungle. Your 1 ½-hour guided hike leads you to the beach where you can have time for sunbathing. Manuel Antonio protects 1,688 acres (683 ha) of tropical rainforest and over a thousand different species of flora. This walk is by far one of the best in Costa Rica, and a great opportunity to get closer to the forest that kisses the beach. The trail followed is very well maintained and is easy walking with no uphill climbs. Another hour of leisurely walking brings you back to the exit of the park with another opportunity of spotting wildlife.

The most remote and least developed region of Panama, the province of Darien is an unspoiled land with an extremely rich variety of flora and fauna. It has an extraordinary scenery of rocky coastlines, mountain ranges, mangroves, rivers, and creeks. If you head for the Afro-Darienite village of Punta Alegre, you can gain a deeper insight into this unexplored area. This tiny coastal village is home to the Emberas Amerindian community. From Punta Alegre, you can head to Darien National Park, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site and considered to be one of the most diversified parks in Central America.

Optional Excursion: 

Embera Indian Village - length: 4h. The banks of the Darien are spectacular, from the mangroves in the magnificent San Miguel Bay, discovered in 1513 by Vasco Nunez de Balboa during the first crossing of the Isthmus of Panama, to the rocky shores between Garachiné and Jaque, where the forest tumbles into the sea from sheer cliff faces. From your ship, board local canoes (or Zodiac) to go and meet the Mogue community. Ventue into the heart of the mangroves, following the course of the river as it winds through the forest. To reach the village there is a short 15-minute walk on a good path. One of the community leaders introduces you to their many customs, while others explain the methods used to make their local crafts which include wooden sculptures, vegetable ivory objects for the men, and colorful baskets for the women. Finally, proudly sporting their body paint, they honor you with a dance demonstration to traditional music.

Holandes Cayes is among the islands of the San Blas Archipelago, a string of coral islands that graces the heart of the Caribbean Sea. Some 378 islands and cays covering an area of 260 square kilometers offer travelers a multitude of natural and cultural treasures. Holandes Cayes, which is nicknamed the swimming pool, is popular with the cruise-yachting community for its white-sand beaches and diving and snorkeling opportunities.

Colón is the second largest city in Panama, at the Caribbean entrance of the Panama Canal. Colón is today an important port, and the free trade zone created in 1953 contributed greatly to the development of the city. Colón was founded in 1850 by Americans working on the Panama railroad connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts through the isthmus of Panama; the city rapidly overshadowed the older Caribbean ports of Panama when the canal opened. Say farewell to your fellow passengers and the crew and start your independent journey back home.