Costa Rica, Panama from the Atlantic to the Pacific via the Panama Canal

Your exciting Central America adventure begins in Costa Rica and the port city of Puerto Caldera. From here, you’ll be transferred to your Emerald Cruises luxury yacht and embark on your discovery of Panama and Costa Rica’s stunning west coast.

Please book your flight to arrive into San Jose prior to 12:00 PM.

Named after its turtle-shaped volcanic rock formations, Isla Tortuga is a small island set just off the tip of Nicoya Peninsula’s southern coast. The island offers a unique combination of white pristine beaches, palm trees, red volcanic rocks, verdant jungles and sparkling crystals that line the shores. Sunlight reaches right through the crystal clear waters at Isla Tortuga, making it a sought-after destination for snorkelers and scuba divers. Just east of the island is the Curu Wildlife Refuge offers some of the region’s best wildlife watching, including sightings of capuchin and howler monkeys, river otters, and deer on the ground, and a diverse ecology of underwater wildlife that can be accessed via snorkeling. Most commonly seen species are mantarays, reef sharks, octupus, stingrays, angle fish and spinner dolphins.

The Curú National Wildlife Refuge and Farm are situated in Nicoya Peninsula in north-west Costa Rica. Some of the country’s most beautiful beaches and protected bays can be discovered here. Costa Rica’s first private national wildlife refuge is a prime example of a successful sustainable development program. You can still see cattle grazing, as well as tropical fruits such as mangoes, cultivated here.   

You’ll also get to experience Isla Tortuga, one of the top-ranked destinations in Costa Rica, about an hour away from the shores of Nicoya Peninsula. Isla Tortuga boasts a pristine sandy beach edged with palm trees. Today, relax at the beach, enjoy a hike, or go snorkelling in the crystalline turquoise waters.

Quepos allows tourists to experience a once in a lifetime nature experience in Manuel Antonio National Park without leaving any of the familiar amenities behind. The close proximity of the park, located just 4.3 miles (7 km) to the south, and a wide array of services makes Quepos the perfect place to visit for those who wish to explore this enchanting area. The amenities available include everything from banks, restaurants, hotels, gift shops, bakeries, bars, a hospital, supermarket and even a post office. The area was once dependent on banana plantations which used to line the surrounding area. After disease infiltrated the harvest, interest transferred to African Palms as the prominent crop. Now, tourism has deemed itself the major economic factor, contributing to just about everything in the area. Quepos lures in many tourists for its fantastic sport fishing. In fact, some have come solely to participate in this world class experience and have never left, but besides sport fishing, many other activities are available. Exploring this maze of wetlands by boat is amazing but not the only way to see crocodiles, monkeys, herons, raccoons and more. This small paradise has the perfect balance between nature and the comfort and facilities someone might need.

Today, you’ll arrive in Quepos, a small, booming harbour town, popular as one of the prime spots for sport fishing as well as the gateway to the well-known Manuel Antonio National Park. As a tropical inlet backed by lush rainforest, the park offers a variety of outdoor adventures. After the decline of the banana plantations that laid the foundations for the port, Quepos replaced its former industry with ecotourism – resulting in many new attractions, including kayaking and canopy tours. Quepos is also frequented by numerous scientists and naturalists, who come to study this region's fantastic biodiversity.

Golfito, is situated along a small inlet of Golfo Dulce. This small port city is a narrow strip along Golfito Bay backed against steep green hills covered with pristine rainforest, with the Golfo Dulce seaward outside Golfito Bay. Surrounded by tropical rainforest, Golfito provides an ideal location to escape from your hectic schedule and enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica with a stunning backdrop of verdant hills and lush rainforest. Follow a trail through the densely forested Golfito National Wildlife Refuge to observe rare flora and fauna, and emerge at a scenic outlook with views of the ocean, also the city has a variety of hotels and restaurants, many of which now provide free wireless Internet service for customers. Golfito was the main port on the South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica in the days when there was little except for the huge banana plantations. To help remedy the resulting economy decrease of the region, the government established a duty-free zone, support and impulse the touristic development.

Golfito Bay is a ‘gulf within a gulf,’ well-known for its unspoiled landscape framed by the lush mangroves of Corcovado and Piedras Blancas national parks. This is home to some of the richest biodiversity on the planet and lies within one of the most vibrant destinations in Costa Rica. Here, eco-adventurers, boaters, surfers, and outdoor lovers come to explore and connect with nature, enjoying an array of fun and exciting activities on offer. A hidden gem where the Costa Rican jungle meets the sea, Marina Golfito invites you to experience Costa Rica from a stunning new perspective.

Welcome to Cebaco Island, which lies within the province of Veraguas and is part of the buffer zone of Coiba Island National Park. Cebaco is Panama’s third-largest island after Coiba Island and Isla del Rey. Nowadays, it’s estimated there are around 500 inhabitants living on the island, mainly distributed in communities in the northern parts. Isla Cebaco is also known for its gorgeous beaches.

The Darién National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site covering approximately 5,750 square-kilometres (2,220-square-miles). This vast park is among the largest and most precious protected areas in all of Central America, extending across almost the entire Panama-Colombia border, as well as a stretch to the Pacific Ocean. Darién National Park offers an exceptional variety of habitats – sandy beaches, rocky coasts, swamps, mangroves, and tropical forests – which makes it the perfect home for diverse wildlife. There are two indigenous tribes known to both Panama and Costa Rica, which today, reside along the park’s riverbanks.

"The remote Darien Jungle has one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world. It is also one of the world’s top ten birding sites, with the colourful Crimson-collared Tanager, Chestnut-fronted Macaws, and Snow-bellied Hummingbirds found here. Mammals include tapirs and Black-headed Spider Monkeys. In this roadless stretch of forest, rivers provide the best access. Visitors to the Darien Jungle are rare with fewer than 1,000 tourists visiting each year. The Embera are one of several indigenous groups that live here in relative isolation offering ornate handcrafted baskets and carvings for sale in their traditional villages."

Today, discover the Pearl Islands, located on the Pacific Coast of Panama, in the Gulf of Panama. Cruise to one of the 200 or so islands and islets, many of them, tiny and uninhabited and enjoy the superb beaches and beautiful coral reefs. Nowadays, you won’t be able to find any pearls; as the name alludes to; however, you’ll have the opportunity to spot numerous varieties of multi-coloured tropical fish and marine life.

Expect incredible morning views as you arrive into the port for Panama City. Tinged with a silver pre-dawn light, the city will metamorphosise into a golden glow as the sun rises above it. And from then on expect one stunning view after another. Very interesting in its own right, Fuerte Amador is obviously overshadowed by its proximity to Panama City. So should the Miraflores museum of the Canal, which offers a comprehensive and immersive tour of the Canal including a 3-D experience, four exhibition halls, an observation deck, and a surprisingly good restaurant not interest you then there is always the option of lovely Casco Viejo – literally the old quartier of Panama. The grand old colonial houses, cobbled streets, independent boutiques and buzzing street scene make this a must stop on your itinerary. And if you like seafood, you will not want miss the many restaurants and market stalls serving different variations of so-fresh-it’s-still-practically-swimming ceviche. Best eaten like the Panamanians do, with salty crackers and a cold beer on the beach. And if money is no object, a cup of geisha coffee – supposedly the world’s best and definitely the world’s most expensive at $7 a shot is definitely a pick me up! Cool cosmopolitan capital aside, Panama has a skyscraper filled skyline that is worthy of some of its North American counterparts. But if urban utopia is not your scene then fear not, the sandy beaches and lush rainforests are never more than a short cab ride away.

Famous for its striking skyline, populated by high-rise buildings and skyscrapers that reflect contemporary architectural styles, Panama City, the capital of Panama, presents a vibrant and dynamic metropolis, characterised by its unique blend of modernity and history. Located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, the city is a significant hub for international trade and finance, which contributes to its economic growth and development. In contrast, the Casco Viejo (Old Quarter) offers a glimpse into Panama city’s fascinating history, with its colonial-era buildings, cobblestone streets, and charming plazas.

Translated as Mouths of the Bull, Bocas del Toro is both a province and an archipelago in the northwest Caribbean Sea in Panama. The archipelago contains 10 larger islands (including the main Isla Colon, where the town of Bocas del Toro is situated), 50 cays and 200 tiny islets. The region contains Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park, Panama’s first national marine park that covers over 32,000 acres and protects forests, mangroves, monkeys, sloths, caiman, crocodile and 28 species of amphibians and reptiles. The park also contains Playa Larga, an important nesting site for sea turtles. With all there is to see in this region, visitors should also pause to enjoy the pristine white beaches lined with palm trees that lie all along the surrounding clear waters of the Chiriqui Lagoon

This stunning archipelago, located off the northwestern coast of Panama, in the Caribbean Sea, is known for its stunning natural beauty, vibrant culture, and diverse ecosystems: the region is rich in biodiversity, featuring tropical rainforests, coral reefs, and mangroves. The area is a melting pot of cultures, influenced by indigenous communities, Afro-Caribbean heritage and expat communities, a diversity of which is reflected in the local cuisine, music, traditions, and festivals.

Christopher Columbus became Costa Rica's first tourist when he landed on this stretch of coast in 1502 during his fourth and final voyage to the New World. Expecting to find vast mineral wealth, he named the region Costa Rica ("rich coast"). Imagine the Spaniards' surprise eventually to find there was none. Save for a brief skirmish some six decades ago, the country did prove itself rich in a long tradition of peace and democracy. No other country in Latin America can make that claim. Costa Rica is also abundantly rich in natural beauty, managing to pack beaches, volcanoes, rain forests, and diverse animal life into an area the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined. It has successfully parlayed those qualities into its role as one the world's great ecotourism destinations. A day visit is short, but time enough for a quick sample.

Welcome back to Costa Rica. Located on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, Puerto Limón is the country's primary port and a vibrant city with a rich cultural heritage. Known for its lush tropical surroundings and beautiful beaches, Puerto Limón serves as a crucial hub for Costa Rican trade and tourism.

Christopher Columbus became Costa Rica's first tourist when he landed on this stretch of coast in 1502 during his fourth and final voyage to the New World. Expecting to find vast mineral wealth, he named the region Costa Rica ("rich coast"). Imagine the Spaniards' surprise eventually to find there was none. Save for a brief skirmish some six decades ago, the country did prove itself rich in a long tradition of peace and democracy. No other country in Latin America can make that claim. Costa Rica is also abundantly rich in natural beauty, managing to pack beaches, volcanoes, rain forests, and diverse animal life into an area the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined. It has successfully parlayed those qualities into its role as one the world's great ecotourism destinations. A day visit is short, but time enough for a quick sample.

Your time on board your Emerald Cruises luxury yacht comes to an end in Puerto Limón. After bidding farewell to the crew, from the yacht, you’ll be transferred to San Josè,where you’ll stay overnight.

Today, your Central American adventure concludes in San Josè, the vibrant capital of Costa Rica. From here, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your return flight home. or to continue your holiday.   

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such, Emerald Cruises cannot guarantee the cruise will be operated unaltered from the itinerary stated above.