Embark on an 8-day cruise aboard Le Champlain to explore the natural splendors and cultural richness of Panama and Costa Rica. Start your journey in Holandes Cayes, part of Panama's San Blas Islands, known for their white sands and clear waters, perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Sail through the iconic Panama Canal to Fuerte Amador, where you can explore Panama City's Old Quarter. Visit the Punta Culebra Nature Center at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute for a marine science and conservation tour led by Smithsonian staff. In Darién National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, discover a diverse range of plants and wildlife and meet members of the Emberá community. Quepos, Costa Rica, the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park, is home to various tropical flora and fauna, including sloths, monkeys, and numerous bird species.
Highlights
Discover the San Blas archipelago's coral islands and crystal-clear waters
Experience sailing through the Panama Canal, a marvel of engineering
Explore Fuerte Amador, gateway to the Miraflores Locks and Embera tribe
Visit the unspoilt Darien National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
Colón is the second largest city in Panama, at the Caribbean entrance of the Panama Canal. Colón is an important port today, and the free trade zone created in 1953 contributed greatly to the city's development. 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.
Located on the northeast coast of Panama, the San Blas archipelago is a string of coral islands in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. More than 300 islands and cays cover an area of 300 square kilometers, offering travelers a multitude of treasures. The San Blas Islands are sheltered behind a long coral reef full of enchanting anchorages. The long, sandy white beaches bound by crystal-clear waters will allow you to relax and enjoy incredible marine fauna before engaging with the Kunas Indian community. Still subsisting on hunting and fishing, they will welcome you in their villages of bamboo houses gathered near the beaches.
Aboard your ship and experience something unique that has inspired the imagination of numerous adventurers in the 20th century: sailing the Panama Canal. Its construction started in 1880 under the direction of Ferdinand de Lesseps. Abandoned then resumed, the United States completed this engineering marvel and opened in 1914. The canal crosses the Isthmus of Panama and links the Atlantic to the Pacific. Including three levels of locks and raising ships to Lake Gatun, almost as if the water was a lift, allows them to avoid having to round Cape Horn.
An artificial peninsula at the Panama Canal's Pacific entrance, Fuerte Amador is the gateway to several noteworthy sites. Right near there, the impressive Miraflores Locks are a shining example of the engineering feats deployed during the construction of the Panama Canal. Further north, in villages nestling amid dense vegetation, lives the Embera tribe, guardian of the forest and the Chagres River. These proud people have successfully preserved their traditions and ancestral way of life, predating the Spanish colonization of the region.
The province of Darien, the most remote and least developed region of Panama, is an unspoiled land with an extremely wide variety of flora and fauna. Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage, Darien National Park offers its extraordinary scenery of rocky coastlines, mountain ranges, mangroves, rivers, and creeks. Discover Playa Muerto, a tiny coastal village home to the Emberas Amerindian community. You can visit the village, attend the traditional songs and dances of the locals, and admire beautiful local crafts.
During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to relaxation in the spa or stay in shape at the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, shop in the boutique, or meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. It is a truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest, and entertainment.
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 crisscrossed with tree-lined streets in bloom, admire the houses and their incredible sculpted balconies. Enjoy 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.
Day 8: Puntarenas | Disembark
1 Breakfast
The capital of the eponymous province, Puntarenas, is sometimes called “the pearl of the Pacific” for its unique charm. It sits on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, along the Gulf of Nicoya, lined with long expanses of wild natural environments. Further inland, among the countless natural wonders to be found in the generous rainforest of Costa Rica’s national parks, Poas and Arena volcanoes tower up in all their majestic glory. In this luxuriant natural setting, Costa Rica protects one of the planet’s richest biodiversity: monkeys, sloths, tropical birds, iguanas, crocodiles, waterfalls, canyons, and more than ten thousand species of tropical plants.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$6,4202-3 travelers
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
Deluxe Stateroom
Area: 19 m². 4m² private balcony with French window. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower.
Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
Area: 19 m². 4m² private balcony with sliding bay window. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower.
Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
Area: 19 m². 4m² private balcony with sliding bay window. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower.
Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
Area: 19 m². 4m² private balcony with sliding bay window. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower.
Deluxe Suite
Area: 27 m². 6m² private balcony with sliding bay window. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower. Up to 3 passengers per cabin.
Prestige Suite Deck 5
Area: 38 m². 8m² private balcony with sliding bay window. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower.
Prestige Suite Deck 6
Area: 38 m². 8m² private balcony with sliding bay window. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower.
Privilege Suite
Area: 32 m². 8m² private balcony with sliding bay window. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower. Up to 4 passengers per cabin.
Grand Deluxe Suite
Area: 45 m². 30m² private balcony with sliding bay windows. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower + bathtub.
Owner's Suite
Area: 45 m². 30m² private balcony with hot tub and sliding bay windows. King-size or twin beds and shower + bathtub.
Notes
Please Note:
Fares are based on double occupancy and are capacity controlled. Rates may increase at any time as the ship sells out and subject to change without notice.
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners
6 Nights Accommodations
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Port Fees
Unlimited Wifi
Onboard Entertainment
Captain’s Welcome Cocktail and Gala Dinner
Gratuities to Onboard Crew
“Open Bar” (pouring wines, house champagne, alcohol except premium brands...list available upon request)
24h Room Service (special selection)
English-Speaking Lecturer
Highly experienced and bilingual (French-English) expedition staff
Park Entry Fees into Protected Areas
Water sports activities (except scuba diving) using the ship’s equipment, when permitted by local authorities and confirmed by ship Master according to safety and sea conditions onsite.
A program of onboard enrichment provided by two Smithsonian Journeys Experts
Transfers and luggage handling from the airport in Panama City to the ship on the day of embarkation
One included shore excursion or activity in each port of call
A specially arranged visit to the Punta Culebra Nature Center at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), guided by Smithsonian staff
Transfer from the ship to the airport in San José at the end of the cruise on the morning of disembarkation
Excluded
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
Visa Fees
Optional Excursions - Ponant allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately six to two months prior to the cruise* departure. Please note that this is subject to change. Please contact us for more details.
Any ground services before and/or after the cruise other than the ones mentioned
Luggage Handling
Laundry Services, Hair Salon, and à La Carte Spa Treatments
Pre or post cruise programs, overland programs or shore excursions
Beverages other than the ones mentioned in inclusions
CDP recommends that every Traveler has full and adequate travel insurance covering the risks of cancellation, assistance being required, repatriation, damages to and loss of baggage, and medical expenses
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
TrustScore 4.9 | 306 reviews
TrustScore 4.9 of 5
Based on 306 reviews on
19 hours ago
Tony and Shannon were always quick to answer my questions and requests. They booked my Upper Mississippi cruise perfectly. They made sure that my dietary needs were met which is a big deal for me. I have the utmost confidence with their assistance.
Code
1 day ago
Third trip we have book with Adventure Life. Like the last two, we have had a quick response to all inquires
Carol Borland
1 day ago
Angela was fantastic! She was thoughtful, helpful, and prompt in her responses without being intrusive. She accommodated our large group and was genuinely excited for us when it all worked out. Can't say enough good things! This is our second trip booking through Adventure Life and we will definitely do it again.
Emily
2 days ago
Jessica was extremely helpful and generous with her time. She was very responsive to our questions and comments and in a very timely fashion. She worked with us in partnership to plan a trip specifically for us and our wants and needs.
Linda Coleman
2 days ago
Mary Curry found right trip for my budget and the best date that I liked. She made
that reservation when other company's agent could not do it.
Thank you so much!