The Panama Canal & Costa Rica - Westbound

Tour begins: Panama City. A transfer from Tocumen International Airport is included to Hilton Panama or JW Marriott Panama is included. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel.

Begin today's exploration of Panama City in its key historic district, Casco Viejo; a walking tour will show you this walled cobblestoned city, built in the 1670s at the foot of Ancon Hill, to provide safety from attack. The area is a gem of Spanish colonial architecture in various stages of redevelopment, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch at a local restaurant, tour the former Canal Zone, driving through Ancon Hill, a lush residential enclave that was home to US military facilities until a 1977 treaty granted Panamanian sovereignty over the "Zone;" Albrook, a former US Air Force Base; and Clayton, once a US Army base. Then enjoy a fascinating visit to the exhibits and gardens of the Biomuseo, the Panama City biodiversity museum designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry. The rest of the day is yours to explore as you wish.

Your journey today brings you to the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, where you'll choose between an aerial tram ride with a naturalist through the rainforest at eye-level with exotic birds and animals (aboard the only gondola of its kind in Panama), or a boat cruise along waterways leading to hidden islands, where you might spot monkeys at play. After lunch at a local restaurant, learn about the Panama Canal on a visit to the Agua Clara locks before boarding your ship en route to San Blas Islands.

Your yacht arrives in the beautiful San Blas Islands, where you'll transfer by Zodiac for a wet landing on Isla Aroma. Here, you'll have the opportunity to meet the local Guna people and learn about their rich culture, traditions, and way of life. Discover their beautiful handmade molas, colourful reverse-appliquéd textiles featuring intricate designs inspired by nature and everyday life. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon on this tropical island, with a beach barbecue, time to swim in the warm waters, or simply unwind on the sandy shores. Later, return by Zodiac to your ship, where preparations begin for tomorrow's passage through the Panama Canal.

Opened in 1914 and considered one of the great engineering marvels of the 20th century, the Panama Canal transformed global trade by creating a passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Thanks to the canal, ships traveling from New York to San Francisco can save more than 7,000 miles by avoiding the journey around South America. Today, your ship will approach the Panama Canal for a full transit from the Atlantic to the Pacific. A local canal pilot will come aboard to guide your ship through this remarkable waterway, navigating a series of impressive locks, Lake Gatun and the narrow Gaillard Cut before continuing toward the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, your Tauck Director, Tauck Naturalist and an official of the Panama Canal Authority will share technical and historical insights into this engineering wonder. The full transit may take approximately eight to ten hours, offering a fascinating opportunity to witness the canal's intricate lock systems in action as your ship is raised and lowered through the waterway.

Today you'll stop in the beautiful but remote Darien region of Panama, calling on Playa del Muerto for a wet landing by Zodiac craft to visit an indigenous community of the Emberá people, whose lifestyle remains largely unaffected by modern times. You'll meet the locals, watch them perform traditional dances, see how they live, and perhaps purchase some of their "Cocobolo" wood or "Tagua" vegetable ivory carvings. Return to the ship for lunch; enjoy a naturalist lecture this afternoon.

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea today, taking advantage of your Explorer Class ship's many amenities as you make your way across the Pacific Ocean waters off Panama's coast. Throughout the day, your Tauck Directors and naturalist guides will circulate about the ship answering questions – sharing their experiences and scanning the horizon for marine mammals and pelagic birds – and will also offer compelling lectures.

Call on the city of Quepos this morning, a perfect jumping off point for a day of activities in Costa Rica's eco-wonderland. Your day today is rich with excursions, as you'll have a choice of activities in both the morning and the afternoon! You may choose two excursions today: a scenic drive through Quepos and a stop at Espadilla Beach; a horseback ride through a mountain forest; a cruise through the Central American mangroves (keep your eyes peeled for wildlife!); a nature walk through Rainmaker Conservation Park; a walking tour of Manuel Antonio National Park and an exciting river trip* on the Savegre River (which will include lunch). Back aboard the ship, enjoy dinner at your leisure tonight, as your ship sets out from Quepos, bound for the Pacific Ocean.

Four exciting shore excursion choices offer different ways to experience Costa Rica's lush rainforest and abundant wildlife. One features a scenic boat cruise along the Tarcoles River, known for its crocodiles and diverse birdlife, with a visit to a crocodile viewing center, followed by lunch and a nature walk at a rainforest hacienda. A second, more adventurous choice takes you soaring through the rainforest on a zip-line canopy tour, followed by a visit to a local cacao farm. A third offers a horseback ride through the beautiful Costa Rican countryside, also followed by a cacao farm visit. The fourth combines a guided hike across suspended bridges high above the rainforest canopy, offering opportunities to spot monkeys, birds and other wildlife, with a boat cruise through the coastal landscapes of the Tarcoles River.

After breakfast aboard ship, disembark in Puntarenas and travel inland to Sarchí, a town renowned for its generations of skilled artisans and traditional painted carretas (ox carts). Once essential for transporting coffee from the mountains to the coast, these brightly decorated carts have become a national symbol of Costa Rican craftsmanship. Visit a local workshop to see the colorful geometric patterns and intricate hand-painted designs that distinguish this beloved tradition, with time to browse locally made crafts. Costa Rica is known the world over for its coffee, and this afternoon you'll discover the traditions behind one of the country's most celebrated exports. Continue to Doka Coffee Plantation, where a guided tour introduces you to the process of growing, harvesting, and preparing coffee, from the plants in the fields to the finished cup. Learn about the important role coffee has played in Costa Rica's history and economy, with time to explore the estate before enjoying lunch. Following lunch, continue to your hotel in San José, where the remainder of the afternoon and evening are yours to spend as you wish. Dinner is on your own tonight.

Your day begins with a scenic drive from San José into Costa Rica's lush mountain countryside, where you'll explore La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a private rainforest reserve known for its cascading waterfalls, tropical vegetation, and remarkable wildlife. Follow winding pathways through the gardens, discovering colorful butterflies, toucans, monkeys, sloths, and frogs along the way. The reserve offers a fascinating look at Costa Rica's extraordinary biodiversity, with opportunities to observe many of its native species up close. For those who wish, a more active walk leads through the rainforest to a series of spectacular waterfalls, where rushing water tumbles through the green landscape. A shorter, more leisurely route through the wildlife exhibits is also available. Enjoy lunch at the gardens before returning to your hotel in San José, with some free time this afternoon. This evening, gather with your fellow travelers for a farewell reception and dinner, sharing memories of your journey through Costa Rica and along its Pacific coast.

Tour ends: San José, Costa Rica. Transfers from the Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San José or InterContinental Costa Rica at Multiplaza Mall to Juan Santamaría International Airport are included. Allow 3 hours for check-in formalities.