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Days
8
Price from
$4,040NZD

Travel along the Costa Rican coast and down to the Panama Canal on a memorable small ship adventure cruise

Central America is truly a place to fall in love with nature – be it dense, wildlife-filled forests, white beaches with irresistible waters, or vast jungle-ringed lakes – and you’ll get to experience it all on this memorable small ship adventure cruise. Aboard the M/Y Callisto, surrounded by rich fabrics, woodwork, antiques and fine works of art, cruise down the Pacific Coast and choose to explore lush nature reserves, snorkel among the marine life of idyllic islands, and indulge in beach barbecues. You can travel upriver in dugout canoes to a hidden village and spend time with the indigenous locals, swim in crystal clear waters, and enter the locks of the famous Panama Canal. With stops at the likes of Puerto Jimenez, Restingue Island, Punta Patino Darrien and Gatun Lake, this trip is a unique way to experience this diverse corner of Central America.

Start
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Finish
Panama City, Panama
Countries
Costa Rica, Panama
Style
Peregrine
Code
PMSR
Physical rating
Ages
Min 7
Group size
Min 1, Max 50

Why we love this trip

  • This trip includes an optional adventure in dugout canoes, paddling up the Mogue River to spend time with Embera Indians. It is not something you find on a traditional itinerary

  • While bigger cruise liners have to moor out at sea and commute into shore via tender, we’ll drop anchor in the middle of port towns like Quepos, Puerto Jiminez and Punta Patino. You can hop on or off the boat as you please

  • This is the adventure cruise for nature lovers. Crocodiles, turtles, Coiba Aguit, howler monkeys, scarlet macaws, kingfishers – you’ll have the chance to see them all in their natural habitat. There’s also an on-board naturalist with you for the entire journey

  • The Pacific waters off the coast of Panama are some of the most beautiful you’ll see anywhere. We’ll be swimming off the back of the boat and exploring the shore via zodiac boats

Is this trip right for you?

  • This is a small ship adventure cruise, which means you’ll be sailing on a yacht with 30–50 other people. The boat is spacious and comfortable, but it focuses more on the destination than on-board activities. Instead of a pool, we have the sea itself. Instead of a casino, we’ve got board games and a good book. There’s also no formal dress code to worry about. Wi-Fi is available for a small charge.

  • Our ship moves under engine power, rather than sailing, so all cabins will experience light engine noise when the ship is moving (and occasionally when we drop anchor). It’s probably worth packing earplugs if you’re a light sleeper.

  • Onshore activities and excursions will involve a bit of walking. You’ll be visiting ancient sites and historical places, and at times you may have to cross cobbled streets and uneven ground, sometimes in hot conditions. If you have any concerns, please speak to your group leader before taking part.

  • If you’re concerned about seasickness, there are seasickness tablets on-board. The ship will experience some roll and pitch in choppy conditions, however all of our ships come equipped with stabilisers to minimise movement. Most of our departures run in peak season, when the seas are calmer. Your crew will do all they can to minimise any discomfort.

  • There are no lifts (elevators) on-board our ships, so you’ll have to navigate a few steep flights of stairs. Handrails are always available.

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Boats

Panorama

On this itinerary, you'll be travelling aboard the Panorama.

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Itinerary
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This itinerary is valid for departures from 06 January 2018 to 01 March 2019. View the itinerary for departures between 30 December 2017 - 21 April 2018

Embark on your journey between 3 and 4 pm. Once all passengers are on board, set sail for Quepos.
Meals Included
  • Dinner

Arrive in the morning in Quepos where there is an optional excursion to Manuel Antonio Reserve, the jewel among Costa Rica's many national parks. This is sure to be a highlight of the cruise. The fragile rainforest ecosystem shelters an abundant wildlife including the easy-to-spot monkeys and a great variety of tropical birds. You are taken to the park entrance for your 1.5 hour a guided walk in the dense rainforest. Local guides and a naturalist lead you through small trails and you encounter an extraordinary animal life and a thousand different species of flora. The trail is very well maintained and is easy walking with no uphill climbs. The hike ends with a swim at a park's beach before returning to the Callisto. In the afternoon, take an optional Forest Canopy tour, or sail on with the Callisto to Playa Biesanz. In the evening, enjoy a tropical themed dinner and party on board the Callisto. Then sail overnight towards Golfo Dulce, departing late evening.
Optional Activities
  • Quepos - Titi Forest Canopy Tour - EUR80
  • Quepos - Manuel Antonio National Park - EUR60
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Reach Puerto Jimenez early morning for an optional Osa Peninsula excursion. This takes a short and easy walk through a lovely patch of secondary forest where you will have the chance to see four different kinds of monkey and many species of bird, including scarlet macaw. Return to the ship for a late lunch while crossing Golfo Dulce en route to the afternoon stop. Casa Orquideas is a beautiful privately owned botanical oasis containing many species of tropical plants and plants brought from all over the world. There will be time for a swim before returning to the Callisto by tender. Sail on to Golfito for midnight immigration and ship clearance procedures, and spend the night at sea en route to Cebaco Island, Panama.
Optional Activities
  • Osa Exploration Walk - EUR57
  • Casas Orquideas Garden Tour - EUR40
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Arrive in the morning at Restingue Island for an amazing swimming and snorkeling experience in this petite paradise island. Around noon, set sail to nearby Cebaco Island for a beach BBQ and time to swim and enjoy this beautiful beach. In the afternoon, sail on to Punta Patino, spending the night at sea.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Today there is an optional excursion to Punta Patino in the Darrien National Park. and to the Mogue Embera Reserve. We sail upstream in dugout canoes and reach the Village of Mogue after passing through the mangrove ecosystem that lines the river. We are welcomed by Embera Indians, one of the seven indigenous groups living in Panama. They are known for their beautiful handicrafts and well preserved traditions. Overnight at anchor.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
PLEASE NOTE: The Coiba Island excursion involves a medium to strenuous uphill hike.

After an early morning departure, set off sailing towards the Pearl Islands for a day of swimming, snorkeling and a beach BBQ. In the afternoon, sail onto Panama City. On arrival, after immigration procedures, there is an optional excursion to Old Panama with dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in port.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Embark on an optional morning excursion to the Gatun Lake and San Lorenzo Spanish forts. Visit the Panama Canal Expansion Observation Centre in Gatun and dine there for lunch. On the way back to Panama City, stop at the Canal Museum and have time to watch the movement of ships in the locks. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner on board the Callisto. Overnight in port.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Disembark after breakfast.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Meals

7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners

Transport

Small Cruise Ship

Accommodation

Small Cruise Ship 7 nights

Dates & availability

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Important notes

Your voyage is operated by our partner company, Variety Cruises.
SHORE EXCURSIONS
On this itinerary, shore excursions are optional and are paid on board the ship in Euro’s. The price and a description of these excursions are listed in the day to day itinerary.
2018 departures - Please note that the excursions and excursion prices for 2018 departures are yet to be confirmed and may change.
BOOKING CONDITIONS
Adventure Cruising trips have a deposit of A$600 per person (different amounts apply in other currencies) and the balance is due 90 days before departure.
If a booking is cancelled 90 days or more before departure - the cancellation fee is the full loss of the deposit paid.
If a booking is cancelled between 89 and 31 days before departure - the cancellation fee is 50% of the total booking cost, or the deposit, whichever is greater.
If a booking is cancelled 30 days or less prior to departure - the cancellation fee is 100% of the total price of the voyage.
Other fees may apply for air tickets and other arrangements booked in conjunction with a voyage.
SINGLE TRAVELLERS
It is not possible to share with a stranger on a Variety Cruises voyage and single travellers must pay the Single Occupancy rate.
MINIMUM AGE
Children from the age of 7 can be accommodated on these voyages. Each boat has one cabin category that will accommodate a 3rd person allowing for triple sharing. Any child under the age of 18 must share with an adult.

Essential trip information

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