Panama Canal & South America Expedition

Your South America and Panama Canal cruise commences in the city of Colon where, having arrived independently, you will make your way to the port to board your fantastic expedition ship. Enjoy a welcome glass of champagne as you settle into your beautiful cabin and familiarise yourself with the luxury amenities onboard before enjoying your first delicious meal onboard. Tonight will be spent onboard the ship docked in port ready for an early departure tomorrow morning.

For arriving in Colon, multiple pre-cruise flight and hotel packages are available so please enquire if this is something which may be of interest to you.

Your adventures begin with a daytime passage through the famous Panama Canal, one of the world's greatest and most expensive engineering feats. The engineering marvel of the canal is matched only by the surprising natural world that surrounds it. As you sail, your onboard team of experts will tell you all about the nature and history of the canal. Learn fascinating information about the canal’s construction, significance and expansion and find out how the ship manoeuvres in the Miraflores locks.

Today offers you the chance to discover Panama from a different perspective as you get up-close to nature in the Gulf of San Miguel on a traditional boat tour through the Darien jungle, Central America’s largest continuous rainforest. Expect wildlife encounters and a fascinating insight into life and culture in the Embera settlements.

Moving into the 2nd country of your expedition, we now arrive in Columbia and take a visit to the beautiful Utria National Park where a diverse array of flora and fauna awaits. Local rangers will guide you through the untouched Colombian rainforest in search of sightings of birds, reptiles and amphibians.

Enjoy the many facilities onboard including 3 first-class restaurants, the Ocean Spa, swimming pool and the excellent interactive Ocean Academy centre. Make sure to spend some time on deck or in the wonderful observation spaces looking for sightings of unique seabirds and marine mammals.

We now arrive off the coast of Peru and the rocky and beautiful Isla Lobos de Tierra. If the authorities grant permission, the Zodiacs will take you ashore, where you may be able to see large numbers of sea lions and birds such as pelicans and blue-footed boobies. As we approach the Islas Guanape, we will hope for sightings of whales and sea lions, along with birds including Peruvian boobies, Inca terns and chains of Guanay cormorants swooping low over the water.

We now arrive at Callao, South America’s most important trading port, where an optional excursion will see you take a guided tour through the Peruvian capital of Lima to discover its lively atmosphere, striking architecture and historical sites. You can also take an optional excursion to the sacred burial temple of Huaca Huallamarca from the sixth century. These excursions are not included in the price of your trip and should be booked in advance. Alternatively you can explore the area at your own leisure.

A day of exciting natural wonders lies ahead as we sail along the Paracas Peninsula, South America’s largest marine reserve. A number of optional excursions are available here including a boat trip to the lively Islas Ballestas which is teeming with seabirds and seals, a flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines to see this unique UNESCO World Heritage from a stunning perspective, and a “Peru’s national drinks: pisco sour and wine” tour. These tours incur an additional fee and should be booked in advance.

Enjoy the many facilities onboard including 3 first-class restaurants, the Ocean Spa, swimming pool and the excellent interactive Ocean Academy centre. Make sure to spend some time on deck or in the wonderful observation spaces looking for sightings of unique seabirds and marine mammals.

Our final days will take us into Chile, where we will arrive at Puerto Caldera where you may wish to visit the excellent palaeontological museum or the market in Coquimbo. Optional excursions here include a trip to colonial La Serena, Chile’s second-oldest city, or an adventure into the desert-like landscape of the Elqui valley. These excursions are not included in the price of your trip and should be booked in advance.

Your expedition concludes this morning in the Chilean city of Valparaiso, where it will be time to disembark and bid a fond farewell to your crew. Multiple post-cruise flight and hotel packages are available so please enquire if this is something which may be of interest to you.