Discovery: Panama Exploration Cruise – 8D/7N

photo of The Discovery, courtesy of Panama Marine AdventuresA journey in the Discovery is a feast of intense, sensory experiences: the aroma of remote places, the texture of unknown things, the multicolor tapestry of nature, the accent of unheard languages, and the exquisite flavor of what has never before been tasted; that is the incomparable feeling of penetrating the secrets of other worlds, other lives. That proximity is life, it is beginning and end.

2008 Rates: $3,950 (per person based on double occupancy)

2009 Rates: $4,350 (per person based on double occupancy)

Included: Transfers of passengers to and from the ship - Transportation, shore excursions, and the use of equipment - All meals and beverages onboard the ship - Taxes and port charges - Service charges.

Not included: International Airfare - Panama Tourist Card ($5.00) - Lodging in Panama City - Personal gear - Naturalist guide and crew gratuities.

Departures: Saturdays. 2008: Southbound: July 5, 19 ; August 2, 16, 30 ; November 8, 22 ; December 6, 20.
Northbound: July 12, 26 ; August 9, 23 ; November 1, 15, 29 ; December 13, 27.
2009 Guaranteed departures: January 17 ; February 7 ; August 1. 2009 Non-guaranteed departures: February 28 ; April 18 ; May 30 ; October 10, 31.

* For our non-guaranteed departures, we will need a minimum of 8 passengers in order to operate the cruise. We would confirm these non-guaranteed departures 45 days before the date of departure.

photo of The Discovery food, courtesy of Panama Marine AdventuresAccommodation: 8 cabins (1 queen size bed) and 4 cabins (2 twin beds) on main deck. All cabins have individual climate control, bathrooms and huge windows which extend along the length of the cabin allowing you to enjoy the scenery in complete privacy.

The Ship, the Discovery

Passenger numbers on the Discovery are limited to just 24, ensuring everyone can enjoy serenity and privacy together with the excitement and closeness of a true exploration cruise.

Discovery is a 33 meter, purpose built catamaran providing 12 cabins.

The dining area, bar and lounge are located on the upper deck which is fitted with floor to ceiling “glass walls” providing a spectacular dinning experience and plenty of space to unwind. Enjoy Panamanian haute gastronomy as we delight you with exquisite indigenous dishes prepared by our talented chef. A BBQ and sun deck are located on the topmost observation deck.

The Discovery is equipped with a unique platform that lowers kayakers gently into the water and also retrieves them in perfect safety and comfort.

Day by day Itinerary Northbound Journey:

  • Day 1 Saturday - Panama City / Flamenco Marina - Sail the tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean towards Contadora, where the Discovery will stay the first night before navigating to the Darien Jungle. Take this opportunity to meet your expedition leaders, the crew and your fellow travelers while you savor our tempting native cuisine.
  • Day 2 Sunday - Darien Jungle - Step aboard a time machine and travel back more than 600 years to a place that not many have had the privilege of experiencing. More than an excursion, this is a journey into the lives of the Embera Indians. A proud people who have been able to maintain their traditions and lifestyle as they were before the Spaniards colonized the region. These natives are also master crafters of cocobolo wood carvings and basketry. After motoring up river you will see the village emerging from the jungle, as if by magic. Keep your eyes open along the way as the region offers abundant wildlife that is particularly active along the rivers edge.
  • Day 3 Monday - Pearl Islands / San Telmo - Snorkel and swim on the waters of the Pearl Islands. The archipelago owes its name to the abundance of Pearl Oysters which supported a substantial fishery in the early 1900`s. On the outer portion of the archipelago, the islands of San Telmo and Galera are home to some pristine beaches and fertile fishing grounds. Join the divers from Esmeralda in their search for pearls and kayak along beautiful and unspoiled beaches. View the remains of the submarine Explorer built in 1865 during the Civil War and which sunk off the coast of San Telmo during the oyster fishery of the late 1800´s.

    • photo of The Discovery in the Panama Canal, courtesy of Panama Marine Adventures

  • Day 4 Tuesday - Panama Canal Transit / Gatun Lake - Wake up at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal and join the morning’s ship convoy for our northbound canal passage traversing Miraflores Locks and Pedro Miguel Locks. The Discovery will be raised 85 feet above sea level to Gatun Lake. You will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience up close the history and operation of this engineering marvel. Navigate the Gaillard Cut, the narrowest section of the Panama Canal, bisecting the Continental Divide. This section of the canal is full of history and geological value and you will be able to appreciate the continuous maintenance that this area requires, because it is very susceptible to landslides. Spend the night in Gatun Lake on Panama Canal waters.
  • Day 5 Wednesday - Panama Canal / Barro Colorado - Prior to the construction of the Panama Canal, the vast jungle area that is now the Gatun Lake was teeming with an overwhelming abundance of wildlife. As the region was flooded to create the lake, animals took refuge in the mountain peaks, which are now the many islands that dot the renowned lake. Explore Barro Colorado Island where the Smithsonian´s Tropical Research Center is located. Your expedition leader will take you on board small crafts past lush rainforests to secluded areas of the lake to witness first-hand the splendor and excitement of the jungle. Exotic birds, monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and crocodiles are just a few of the animals that you could see in their native surroundings. The sights, sounds and scents that make up this beautiful, tropical jungle will engulf you. Cameras are a must as this is considered the world’s premier location for viewing monkeys and other animals in the wild. The Discovery will exit the Panama Canal in the afternoon on its way to the mouth of the Chagres River.
  • Day 6 Thursday - Chagres River / Fort San Lorenzo - Experience the magnificent Chagres River which was used by the conquistadors to move their gold across the Isthmus of Panama en-route from Peru to Spain and by the gold prospectors who attempted a “short cut” from the US East coast to the gold fields of California. The river was the center piece of the colonial inter-oceanic route and is now the lifeline of the Panama Canal full of wildlife and tropical jungle. Explore Fort San Lorenzo which is located on a cliff at the mouth of the Chagres on the Atlantic side where your leader will offer details of the immense amount of history found on this area. The fort was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century to defend their well known gold trail.
  • Day 7 Friday - Portobelo / Caribbean - Enjoy the town of Portobelo on Caribbean waters which was founded by Christopher Columbus on his fourth voyage to the new continent in 1597. This quaint town is rich in history as it was the site of many sea and land battles between the Spanish colonials and the pirates and corsairs raiding the Spanish Main. Explore the fortifications built by the Spaniards to protect their treasures and visit the Church of San Felipe, the sanctuary of the Black Christ. Spend the night in the bay of Portobelo, the most important refuge for the Spanish galleons in the Caribbean.
  • Day 8 Saturday - Portobelo / Caribbean - Wake up to a farewell breakfast before you disembark the Discovery. Travel by motor coach to Panama City and back to reality. This two hour trip will allow you to traverse the trans-isthmian highway from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

Note: The Southbound Journey follows the same exploration route in reverse.

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Also tagged with: Cruise Expeditions, Escorted Journeys, Central America, Travel With the Experts, Panama, Trekking, Kayaking, Active Travel, Educational, Cultural, Nature / Ecology, Bird Watching, Join-In Tour, Hosted Tours, Snorkeling


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