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Peregrine Travel Centre

Mystical Maya Sites & Colourful Coral Reefs

Mystical Maya Sites & Colourful Coral Reefs

From EUR €6,545

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Description

Megacity in the jungle: Panama City
As an international trade centre, gate to the Panama Canal and starting point for excursions to spectacular
national parks, Panama City has evolved into a lively trend metropolis. Away from the sparkling skyline, time still moves at a different pace in the old quarter of the Casco Viejo: Strolling along grand old boulevards lined with bougainvillea is like walking right back into colonial times.

The Bocas del Toro National Park
Bocas del Toro is the name of a town and a province in the north-west of Panama. It also encompasses six larger islands and countless smaller ones. The region’s main attraction is its national marine park – a sanctuary that allows plants and animals to flourish both above and below the waterline. That is why, on our boat and snorkelling excursion, we are able to take you to white sandy beaches and offer you the finest glimpse of the underwater world in crystal clear waters.

Several relaxing days at sea
Besides crossing worlds and discovering new lands, we let relaxation take a front seat on our yacht for five whole days. Plenty of time to enjoy life under the white sails and be spoilt in every way.

The world’s second largest coral reef
The Belize Barrier Reef is a 256-kilometre-long (159 miles) reef system which contains countless small coral islands. The Lighthouse Reef Atoll features a particularly special natural wonder: the Great Blue Hole. This circular submarine sinkhole, with a diameter of over 300 metres (0.19 miles), was formed during the last ice age and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Donning your snorkel and getting an underwater view is obviously another great way to discover the impressive beauty of the reef.

Maya cities in Mexico and Belize
The sophisticated culture of the Maya in Central America, which began roughly 5,000 years ago and
ended around the time of the Spanish conquest, is still a mystery. Their ceremonies seem to have been gory, their step pyramids imposing, and their stone carvings required a great deal of skill. On our trip you will discover three mystical Maya strongholds: Tulum, in Mexico, is the only Maya city situated on the coast; Altun Ha and Lamanai are located in Belize. Constructed on the banks of an inland lagoon, Lamanai remained populated for roughly 3,000 years. Excavations have revealed that over 20,000 people lived there around 700 AD.

Trip Name
Mystical Maya Sites & Colourful Coral Reefs
Days
15
Overview
Vessel Type: Tall Ship (Sailing) Length: 105 metres Passenger Capacity: 96 Built: 2001 Launched in 2001, Sea Cloud II is a stunning vessel, built along traditional lines, but offering deluxe accommodation. She combines timeless elegance of sailing ships of the past with the highest safety standards and the luxurious comfort of modern cruise ships. Just like her legendary sister ship Sea Cloud, the 29,600 square feet of sails is set by hand which is a truly magical sight. Built to accommodate 96 passengers in five star luxury, she offers a range of beautifully appointed suites and cabins which are furnished with great style. All accommodations have outside views and the bathrooms, in light marble, are unusually spacious and extremely comfortable. The finest, carefully chosen fabrics, combined with leather, rattan and other materials, brass and gold, precious woods and marble together create an impressive ensemble. No expense has been spared to create a sympathetic ambience in both the accommodations and public areas and this is reflected throughout the vessel. Public areas include an elegant lounge, library, fitness centre, boutique, lido bar and hospital. The single sitting dining room is airy and modern and the quality of the cuisine and service will be to the highest of standards, as one would expect on a Sea Cloud cruise. Relax on the Lido deck and experience the natural grandeur of travelling under sail, rekindling memories of a bygone age. Please note deck and suite plans are indicative only and may vary slightly.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 Panama City (Colón)/Panama
Since 1914, the Panama Canal has linked the Atlantic to the Pacific. This technological marvel of locks and canals also comprises two artificial lakes. The Gatúnsee, one of the world's largest dammed lakes, has now regained a unique range of flora and fauna. In fact, nature has reclaimed the lake for itself, with the rainforest sprawling over its banks. The former hills are now islands on which an astonishing variety of species has formed, due to its isolation. The largest island, Barro Colorado, is completely untouched and has been a nature reserve since 1923. Scientists from all over the world come here to try and discover the jungle's last secrets.
Day 2 - Day 2 Bocas del Toro/Panama
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 3 - Day 3 At sea
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Day 4 - Day 4 Corn Islands/Islas del Maíz/Nicaragua
The Corn Islands in the Caribbean consist of two islands, Big and Little Corn Island, as well as "Blowing Rock", a handful of volcanic rocks out in the open sea, from the centre of which seawater periodically shoots vertically upwards. Formerly a safe haven for pirates, Little Corn Island is still an undiscovered treasure and a delightful paradise for divers and snorkelers, with its deserted palm-covered tropical golden beaches, crystal-clear water shimmering in every shade of turquoise, and a large protective coral reef with shoals of colourful fish.
Day 5 - Days 5 - 6 At sea
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Day 6 - Day 7 Roatán/Honduras
Roatán is around seventy kilometres (43 miles) long but just three kilometres (2 miles) wide. In its centre the landscape is typically tropical and mountainous, with dense rainforest and a coastline that exhibits unusual-looking rocky bays, traditional little fishing villages and delightful sandy beaches lined with coconut palms. The island is surrounded by the second largest coral reef in the world and, as a result, many wrecks and alleged pirate treasure still lie unsalvaged on the sea bed. The island's other treasures are more obvious - West Bay, a gently curving, 300-metre-(985 foot)-long "dream beach" is one of the most beautiful strips of sand on Roatán.
Day 7 - Days 8 - 9 Belize City/Belize
Belize City is the country's largest town, main port, and its economic and cultural centre, although it has not been the capital since 1975. Belize is situated in the south-east of the Yucatán peninsula and was part of the Mayan Empire, which left behind a rich legacy here. The ruined city of Altun Ha is one of Belize's best-preserved and most accessible Mayan cities. Lamanai, which lies on the banks of an inland lagoon, has been a settlement for 3,000 years. Excavations have shown that more than 20,000 people lived here in 700 AD.
Day 8 - Day 10 Lighthouse Reef/Belize
The Belize Barrier Reef is a 256-kilometre-long series of coral reefs made up of numerous small coral islands. It is the second largest in the world after Australia's Great Barrier Reef. In Lighthouse Reef Atoll you will discover a very unusual natural wonder - the Great Blue Hole. It was formed during the last ice age and this circular recess in the ocean floor with a diameter of over 300 metres is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 9 - Day 11 At sea
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Day 10 - Day 12 Cozumel/Mexico
Almost any pirate who was anyone dropped anchor here. Nowadays it's filled with people wanting to escape the stresses of daily life under palm trees or in the rich underwater world. Cozumel, the largest island in Mexico, lies only a few knots away from the Yucatan peninsula. The advanced Mayan civilisation in Central America, which began around 5,000 years ago and reached its final stages at the time of the Spanish conquest, still poses questions today. Their ceremonies appear bloodthirsty, their stepped pyramids impressive and their stone carvings extremely skilled. As far as we know, Tulum is the only Mayan settlement which was established on the coast.
Day 11 - Day 13 At sea
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Day 12 - Days 14 & 15 Cienfuegos/Cuba
Cienfuegos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, whose name literally translates as "Hundred fires" is also known as the Pearl of the South. The city owes its grand, romantic architecture to the French colonists who first settled there. The beautiful old town of Trinidad de Cuba is a true gem, with lovingly restored colonial facades, sleepy lanes and a turquoise sea. This friendly town, with its important past at the centre of sugar cane cultivation, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for many years, along with the cultivated landscape of the Valle de Los Ingenios, or "Valley of the Sugarmills".
Day 13 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
14-01-201928-01-2019EUR €0GTY Double Cabin
14-01-201928-01-2019EUR €0Category F Upper/Lower Beds
14-01-201928-01-2019EUR €0Category E
14-01-201928-01-2019EUR €0GTY Single Cabin
14-01-201928-01-2019EUR €0Category D
14-01-201928-01-2019EUR €0Category C
14-01-201928-01-2019EUR €0Category B
14-01-201928-01-2019EUR €0Category A

Inclusions

    • Megacity in the jungle: Panama City
    • The Bocas del Toro National Park
    • Several relaxing days at sea
    • The world’s second largest coral reef
    • Maya cities in Mexico and Belize

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