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National Parks and Panama Canal

National Parks and Panama Canal

From AUD $4,240

Description

Discover Costa Rica and Panama with an 8-day expedition cruise. A truly beautiful journey aboard Le Champlain, between nature reserves, encounters with local communities and sailing through the Panama Canal.

Your journey in Central America will start with a visit to two superb Costa Rican national parks: the Carara National Park and the Manuel Antonio National Park. Deep inside the tropical rainforest or under the rainforest canopy, you may be lucky enough to see multicoloured birds, monkeys, crocodiles and iguana.

Le Champlain will then sail on to the magnificent Darien National Park in Panama. This little corner of paradise is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to remarkable plants and wildlife. Sandy beaches, rocky coastlines, mangroves, swamps and tropical rainforests vie with each other for beauty and offer a feast for photographers. This will also be the occasion for meeting the astonishing semi-nomadic Emberas community.

After sailing through the world-famous Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic to the Pacific, you will be able to enjoy the golden sand and translucent water of Holandes Cayes, one of the coral islets of the San Blas islands.

Trip Name
National Parks and Panama Canal
Days
8
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Length: 127 metres Passenger Capacity: 92 cabins Built: 2017/2018 Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed cabins, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 cabins and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience. As the first ship in a new series, Le Champlain will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort. Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service. Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel. RESTAURANTS As it is an essential part of French culture, gastronomy will naturally have pride of place aboard this new ship. Through its two restaurants, Le Champlain will invite you on a journey to elegance and epicureanism. In a relaxed atmosphere, a first dining area located on Deck 3 and able to seat 70 will serve grilled meats daily, along with a variety of salads and desserts. To the back of Deck 4, you will find a 260 m² panoramic restaurant which can accommodate all of our passengers in a single sitting. Designed differently to that on our other ships, this dining area, which opens onto the outside, will have a buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses at your disposal. Our discreet and attentive crew will provide table service for hot meals. PUBLIC AREAS Like Le Boréal and its sisterships, Le Champlain has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger. A 140 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An excursions desk, The ship’s administrative services, The sales office, manned by our Guest Relations Officer, Our 50 m² boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, Toilets accessible to passengers with reduced mobility. A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides: Easier boarding than on any other cruise ship, Easier Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation for expeditions, Easier access to the sea for swimming and practising various water sports such as kayaking or paddle-boarding. A pool deck offering: A pool with a panoramic view, equipped with a counter-current swimming system, A pleasant solarium, An outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas. A 200 m² main lounge which can accommodate all of our passengers to share convivial moments and to host activities organised during the day or evening. Lastly, a theatre that seats 188, equipped with: The latest sound and lighting technology, A LED wall as the stage backdrop, for the projection of high-resolution images and videos.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 - PUERTO CALDERA
The port of Puerto Caldera lies on the Pacific coast in the Gulf of Nicoya. Further inland, step into the midst of a luscious tropical forest. Among the countless natural wonders to be found here, the Poas volcano towers up in all its majestic glory. Venture deeper into the luxuriant canopy and enjoy a unique experience as you slide from one tree to the next in total safety. Back on firm ground, an untouched cove offers up glimpses of osprey, tireless fishing birds that circle the surf to catch their next meal.
Day 2 - Day 2 - HERRADURA
Herradura takes its name in Spanish from the horseshoe form of its bay, covered in lush tropical vegetation, its beauty enhanced by the hills that loom over it. This small town is surrounded by national parks that are remarkable for the rich variety of fauna and flora they protect. When your ship calls here, it will be the moment to take a journey in small covered boats along the Tarcoles River, whose banks are home to crocodiles and iguanas. This mangrove also hosts the loyal and flamboyant Scarlet Macaw, with its red, blue and yellow plumage, known for mating with the same partner for life.
Day 3 - Day 3 - QUEPOS
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 criss-crossed with tree-lined streets in bloom, admire the houses and their incredible sculpted balconies. Enjoy a spot of 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 4 - Day 4 - AT SEA
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Day 5 - Day 5 - PUNTA ALEGRE, DARIEN
The most remote and least developed region of Panama, the province of Darien is an unspoilt land with an extremely rich variety of flora and fauna. You will love its extraordinary scenery of rocky coastlines, mountain ranges, mangroves, rivers and creeks. If you head for the Afro-Darienite village of Punta Alegre, you will gain a deeper insight into this unexplored area. This tiny coastal village is home to the Emberas Amerindian community. From Punta Alegre, you can head to Darien National Park, listed by UNESCO as World Heritage and considered one of the most diversified parks in the whole of Central America.
Day 6 - Day 6 - CROSSING THE PANAMA CANAL
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Day 7 - Day 7 - HOLANDES CAYES
Holandes Cayes is among the islands of the San Blas archipelago, a string of coral islands that graces the heart of the Caribbean Sea. Some 378 islands and cays covering an area of 260 square kilometres offer travellers a multitude of natural and cultural treasures. Holandes Cayes, which is nicknamed モthe swimming poolヤ, is popular with the cruise-yachting community for its white sand beaches and diving and snorkelling opportunities.
Day 8 - Day 8 - COLÓN
Colón is the second largest city in Panama, at the Caribbean entrance of the Panama Canal. Colón is today an important port, and the free trade zone created in 1953 contributed greatly to the development of the city. 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.
Day 9 - Please Note:
All itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
17-02-201924-02-2019AUD $0Deluxe Stateroom
17-02-201924-02-2019AUD $0Deluxe Suite Deck 5
17-02-201924-02-2019AUD $0Prestige Suite Deck 5
17-02-201924-02-2019AUD $0Prestige Suite Deck 6
17-02-201924-02-2019AUD $0Privilege Suite Deck 5
17-02-201924-02-2019AUD $0Privilege Suite Deck 6
17-02-201924-02-2019AUD $0Grand Deluxe Suite Deck 6
17-02-201924-02-2019AUD $0Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
17-02-201924-02-2019AUD $0Grand Deluxe Suite Deck 5
17-02-201924-02-2019AUD $0Owner's Suite
17-02-201924-02-2019AUD $0Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
17-02-201924-02-2019AUD $0Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
17-02-201924-02-2019AUD $0Deluxe Suite Deck 3
17-02-201924-02-2019AUD $0Deluxe Suite Deck 6

Inclusions

    • Outings and shore visits in Zodiac®inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides.
    • UNESCO site: the Darien National Park from Punta Alegre, and its magnificent jungle.
    • Optional additional cost excursions in the national parks of Costa Rica, sanctuaries of unspoiled nature: the Carara National Park from Herradura, the Manuel Antonio National Park from Quepos.
    • Discover the magnificent islets of the San Blas Islands and the picture-postcard beaches of Quepos.
    • Sailing through the Panama Canal, truly a masterpiece of civil engineering.
    • Encounter with the indigenous Emberas tribe in the Darien National Park.

Map