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Peregrine Travel Centre

National Parks & the Panama Canal

National Parks & the Panama Canal

From €5,855 EUR

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Description

Granada – a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Situated picturesquely at the foot of a volcano and on the shore of a lake, the Nicaraguan town of Granada
never ceases to conjure up stunning views of the natural and the man-made. Founded by the Spanish in 1524, for around 200 years it was one of the most influential towns in Central America. It is still considered an insider tip among the region’s colonial pearls. The significance of its historical legacy has earned it a very special seal of approval: a place on the UNESCO World Heritage Site List.

Panama City and the Panama Canal
It took 30 eventful years until the Panama Canal was finally completed. In 2016, the new, three-tier lock system was brought into service. Travelling through the canal during the day is a truly special experience. Panama City is another absolute must-see: In the new trend destination of Central America, the historical quarter and the ultra-modern centre form an intriguing contrast.

The Coiba National Park
The Coiba National Park is one of the largest marine national parks in the world and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Made up of 38 smaller islands and the larger Coiba Island, the park is home to many indigenous plant and animal species. As this is also the ideal habitat for marine wildlife, you are more than likely to encounter one of the park’s 23 whale and dolphin species.

A lecturer accompanies the trip
Exciting topics, background information and fascinating facts – our expert offers talks on a whole range of subjects from his specialist field.

Trip Name
National Parks & the Panama Canal
Days
12
Overview
Vessel Type: Tall Ship (Sailing) Length: 109 metres Passenger Capacity: 64 Built / refurbished: 1931 / 2011 Sea Cloud is a ship with a soul, imbued by the original owners, Marjorie Merriweather Post and her husband E.F. Hutton in the 1930’s. The ship has played host to royalty, known service in wartime, and sailed the world over. She is a vessel of incomparable grace that harks back to the golden age of ship travel. Once you’ve been on Sea Cloud under full sail, you’ll begin your own love affair. Welcome aboard a legend Sea Cloud accommodates 58 guests in 28 outside cabins including two original owner’s suites that still feature original marble baths and fireplaces. At 360 feet she is an expansive ship with extensive public spaces on the top deck, where we luxuriate in deck chairs and watch the crew of 18 go aloft in the web of riggings to hand-set her 30 sails. Her dining room is hung with marine oil paintings of the period and accommodates all guests at once for a single seating. We’ll gather in the lounge each evening for Recap. Life aboard is a uniquely pleasing mix of elegance and informality—a return to the golden age of sailing in shorts and deck shoes. You’ll find all shipboard services impeccable.  Discover the romance of tall ship sailingExperience something many people don’t know exists in the 21st century—the romance of life under square sails. Discover the thrill of standing on deck as Sea Cloud gently glides through the water, her crew aloft in the riggings, running out and reefing sails. Settle in to your favorite areas on the top deck and bask in the incomparable experience of traveling aboard the finest tall ship to ever sail the seas. Lose yourself in an adventure that, in this day and age, is almost unimaginable. Please note deck and suite plans are indicative only and may vary slightly.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 - Puerto Caldera
In gaining its independence, San Jose very quickly transformed from a mountain village into the busy modern capital city of a young, optimistic country. In the Central Valley, Costa Rica's fertile central plateau surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, the natural riches have a particularly aromatic name - coffee. This barren volcanic landscape with deep crater lakes, steaming witches' cauldrons and blue lagoons presents quite a different picture from the rest of the country's tropical colours. Around 100 kilometres (62 miles) to the west of San Jose lies the Pacific port of Puerto Caldera.
Day 2 - Day 2 - At Sea
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Day 3 - Day 3 - San Juan del Sur
The beautiful colonial city of Granada lies at the foot of the Mombacho volcano and on the western bank of Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America with its own archipelago of around 300 islands. The country's oldest town, it was founded by the Spanish in 1524. It was often attacked by pirates in colonial times due to its growing wealth as one of the most important trading places. This important historic legacy has received special protection, and the place is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old city around the Parque Centrale is a magnificently restored treasure with its splendid Spanish facades, Cathedral and monasteries.
Day 4 - Day 4 - Playas del Coco
At the weekends, the beaches of Playas del Coco are likely to be populated with young Ticos hoping to swim and catch some sun. Take a river trip through the jungle areas, rice fields and sugar cane plantations and discover animals that are native to the shores of the Rio Corobici. The Palo Verde National Park stretches along one bank of the Rio Tempisque. It features the densest population of water fowl in the whole of Costa Rica and is one of the best areas for bird watching in Central America - almost 300 species of bird have been identified here. The best vantage point to see them is on a boat trip through the mangroves.
Day 5 - Day 5 - At Sea
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Day 6 - Day 6 - Anchorage Casa Orqideas & Golfito
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Day 7 - Day 7 - Isla Coiba/Coiba National Park
The Coiba National Park covers the island of Coiba, the largest in the country, and 38 other smaller tiny islets. It is one of the world's largest marine national parks and is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Because the island broke off from the mainland around 15,000 years ago, a unique range of flora and fauna and an extraordinary variety of species are preserved here. Beautiful deserted beaches nestle up to the delightful turquoise sea.
Day 8 - Day 8 - At Sea
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Day 9 - Day 9 - Balboa/Panama City
A monument on the sea front commemorates the man who gave the city its name. In 1513 Spanish conquistador Vasco Núñez de Balboa arrived here, becoming the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean over land. Nowadays, the Puente de las Américas, an enormous arched bridge carrying the Panamericana road, spans the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal in Balboa, connecting North and South America. East of the canal, the breathtaking skyscrapers tower above Panama City, whose glitzy boom town ambiance contrasts starkly with the lovingly restored Casco Viejo which dates back to the colonial era and the ruins of the old town of Panama Viejo which is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Day 10 - Day 10 - Balboa/Panama City & Transit Panama Canal
The idea of connecting the Atlantic and Pacific at the narrowest part of Central America has been around for many hundreds of years, but from a technical perspective this tremendous achievement only became possible much later. The French took on the project in 1881, after the successful opening of the Suez Canal in Egypt in 1869. But it would be more than 30 years before the canal was finally completed in 1914. This masterpiece of technology is just under 82 kilometres (50 miles) long, has 12 lock basins and negotiates a difference in altitude of 26 metres (85 foot). The Panama Canal is one of the world's most important waterways and most spectacular ship canal.
Day 11 - Day 11 - Bocas del Toro
The Bocas del Toro Archipelago in north-western Panama comprises six large and numerous tiny islands. The Bastimentos Island National Marine Park is the first marine reserve in Panama and was created in 1988. Whether you visit Isla Bastimentos or Cayos Zapatillas - between mangroves and snow white palm beaches - you will find a rich variety of species swimming around in the water. It is a paradise for marine turtles and even dolphins pay a visit from time to time in the crystal-clear waters. In the unspoiled coral reef you can see a unique underwater world with colourful shoals of fish, sponges and starfish.
Day 12 - Day 12 - Puerto Limon
Disembarkation.
Day 13 - Please Note:
Itinerary subject to change!

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
04-01-201815-01-2018€9,295Category 2
04-01-201815-01-2018€8,355GTY Single Cabin
04-01-201815-01-2018€12,755Category A
04-01-201815-01-2018€11,995Category B
04-01-201815-01-2018€11,195Category C
04-01-201815-01-2018€9,795Category 1
04-01-201815-01-2018€8,695Category 3
04-01-201815-01-2018€7,595Category 4
04-01-201815-01-2018€5,855GTY Double Cabin
04-01-201815-01-2018€6,655Category 5

Inclusions

    • Granada – a UNESCO World Heritage Site
    • Panama City and the Panama Canal
    • The Coiba National Park
    • A lecturer accompanies the trip

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