Panama Canal & South America Expedition

Panama Canal & South America Expedition

Prices From £7,106pp
November Only | 14 nights

Panama Canal & South America Expedition

Aboard: Hanseatic Inspiration

Step aboard the wonderful Hanseatic Inspiration for a journey through the Panama Canal and on to some of South America’s coastal highlights. Beautiful scenery, flora and fauna awaits as you sail along spectacular coastlines and visit charming cities and towns and indigenous communities. As you visit 4 countries on 1 exciting expedition, this itinerary covers everything from engineering feats to mysterious rainforest, pre-Columbian discoveries and relics from the time of Spanish colonialism.

This is an international cruise conducted in both English and German.

Various departures available. Please enquire for full dates and rates.

Highlights

  • Sail through the famous Panama Canal
  • Visit four countries on one fantastic expedition
  • Take a traditional boat tour through the Darien jungle and enjoy a fascinating insight into life and culture in the Embera settlements
  • Explore Columbia’s Utria National Park in search of wildlife sightings
  • Take a Zodiac cruise around beautiful Peruvian islands
  • Excellent birdwatching opportunities
  • Multiple optional excursions including a guided Lima tour, the Nazca Lines UNESCO World Heritage site, wine tours, boat trips and adventures in Chile’s Elqui valley (costs apply)

What's Included

  • Onboard accommodation on full-board basis with all meals and snacks included, within three onboard restaurants
  • Welcome champagne, non-alcoholic minibar restocked daily, 24 hour cabin service
  • Loan of binoculars, Nordic walking poles, parkas and rubber boots
  • Access to interactive Ocean Academy and Ocean Spa
  • Harbour and airport fees

Our popularitinerary Suggestions

All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable

Colon, Panama - Embark
1Day

Colon, Panama - Embark

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.

Panama Canal
2Day

Panama Canal

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.

Gulf of San Miguel
3Day

Gulf of San Miguel

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.

Utria National Park, Colombia
4Day

Utria National Park, Colombia

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.

At Sea
5 - 6Days

At Sea

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.

Peru (Isla Lobos de Tierra)
7 - 8Days

Peru (Isla Lobos de Tierra)

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.

Calloa (Lima)
9Day

Calloa (Lima)

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.

Paracas
10Day

Paracas

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.

At Sea
11 - 12Days

At Sea

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.

Chile (Puerto Caldera, Coquimbo)
13 - 14Days

Chile (Puerto Caldera, Coquimbo)

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.

Valparaiso - Disembark
15Day

Valparaiso - Disembark

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.

A view from Above

All Aboard

Hanseatic Inspiration
First class vessel

Hanseatic Inspiration

One of three new first-class vessels in the Hanseatic fleet, the Hanseatic Inspiration is built to take you closer to nature. This state-of-the-art ship features the highest ice class for passenger ships (PC 6) and environmental technology that is ahead of its game, making it 100 % free from heavy fuel oil. The ship carries a maximum of 199 passengers for Antractica expeditions (230 for other destinations) and is incredibly comfortable throughout, with stylish cabins and beautifully contemporary public spaces.

The ship exclusively offers outside cabins and suites and most feature a balcony or French balcony. Each cabin or suite features an ensuite bathroom with a rain shower and a heated wall for drying wet expedition gear, a relaxation area or lounge, a coffee machine, mini bar, binoculars, large comfortable beds and an extensive infotainment system showing expert presentations, forward-view camera, navigation charts, films and much more. Premium suites feature dining areas, separate living spaces, steam saunas, furnished balconies and more.

The Hanseatic Inspiration offers more open deck space than any other expedition ship and the extendable glass-floored balconies are a wonderful addition that makes spotting marine wildlife in the waters below even more exciting!

Onboard you will find a multifunctional lounge with state-of-the-art technology where daily presentations are delivered during the day and which transforms into an atmospheric bar in the evenings, an Ocean Academy lounge with interactive study wall, observation decks and lounges, a main restaurant serving a variety of creative cuisine, a speciality restaurant delivering culinary treats from across the world, and an outdoor Lido restaurant where you can savour delicious meals surrounded by the breathtaking panoramas of whichever far-flung destination you find yourself in.

There is also a fantastic, covered outdoor swimming pool and whirlpool with relaxation areas, a gym and fitness room, and a wonderful spa with an ocean view Finnish sauna, steam sauna, ice fountain, relaxation room and a wide range of treatments available.

Too much to choose from? This is where we come in

Take advantage of our vast experience, passion and expertise to help you hand craft the perfect Chile, Panama adventure for you.

Simon Rowland Senior Travel Expert

With a lifetime of unforgettable nature and adventure based travel under his belt, Simon shares his passion, enthusiasm and hands-on experience to help create the perfect itinerary for every client.

Sheena Ogley Senior Travel Expert

With countless travel experiences and an enduring hunger for adventure, Sheena knows exactly what’s needed to craft a holiday of a lifetime. Her experience and generosity of spirit are legendary and she’ll help you build an itinerary that will make all your dreams come true.

Michael Gardiner Senior Travel Expert

Mike lives and breathes adventure travel and has a wealth of experience in some of the most exciting and inspirational destinations in the world. His expertise and first-hand experience afford him the skills to help build holidays to remember.

Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

Call us
0800 195 3385
Outside the uk
+ 44 1625 5811 43
Call us
+ 44 1625 5811 43
Call us
+ 44 1625 5811 43

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Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

Call us - 0800 195 3385
Outside the uk? + 44 1625 5811 43
+ 44 1625 5811 43 Call us - 0800 195 3385

Chat Now

Request a
callback

Fill in our
Enquiry form

Book Consultation

Book a
Consultation

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