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Peregrine Travel Centre

Central America Discovery

Central America Discovery

From €6,295 EUR

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Description

Costa Rica’s national parks – a green paradise
As more than a quarter of Costa Rica’s surface area is protected in the form of nature reserves, it provides a safe home for a truly unbelievable variety of flora and fauna. There seems to be no end to the natural highlights that await you in this peaceful little country, which has had no armed forces since 1948. The numerous national parks boast majestic volcanic craters and mysterious cloud forests alongside picturesque beaches and evergreen rainforests. The Tortuguero National Park can only be reached by sea or air because its landscape of canals and lagoons is so impenetrable.

Several relaxing days at sea
Besides crossing worlds and discovering new lands, we let relaxation take a front seat on our yacht for four 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.

Havana: a lively myth among rum, rhythm and revolution
Fat cigars, American vintage cars, baroque churches and facades of faded magnificence – Havana truly is a myth in itself. With the rapprochement of Cuba and the U.S., the heart of this diverse capital is now beating even faster. Whether on the Malecón seafront promenade, or in the little streets of the old town – an optimistic vibrancy permeates the warm summer air.

A lecturer accompanies the trip
Knowledge, entertainment and facts – our expert is on hand to give talks on a wide variety of specialist subjects. He will also be on board to answer any questions that you may have.

Trip Name
Central America Discovery
Days
14
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 - Days 1 & 2 - Puerto Limon
In gaining its independence, San Jose very quickly transformed from a mountain village into the busy modern capital city of a young, optimistic country. The Central Valley lies at a height of between 1,000 and 1,700 metres in a picturesque setting surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. The mild, unchanging climate and the fertile volcanic soil have brought wealth and prosperity, primarily through the cultivation of coffee. Around 165 kilometres (102 miles) to the east, on the Caribbean coast, lies the harbour town of Puerto Limón which was founded in 1870.
Day 2 - Day 3 - Corn Islands/Islas del Maíz
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 3 - Days 4 & 5 - At Sea
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Day 4 - Day 6 - Coxen Hole/Roatán
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 5 - Days 7 & 8 - Belize City
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 6 - Day 9 - Lighthouse Reef/ Half Moon Caye
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 7 - Day 10 - At Sea
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Day 8 - Day 11 - Cozumel
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 9 - Day 12 - At Sea
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Day 10 - Days 13 & 14 - Cienfuegos
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 11 - Please Note:
Itinerary subject to change!

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
15-01-201828-01-2018€9,295GTY Single Cabin
15-01-201828-01-2018€10,395Category 2
15-01-201828-01-2018€14,495Category A
15-01-201828-01-2018€13,555Category B
15-01-201828-01-2018€12,595Category C
15-01-201828-01-2018€10,955Category 1
15-01-201828-01-2018€9,655Category 3
15-01-201828-01-2018€8,355Category 4
15-01-201828-01-2018€6,295GTY Double Cabin
15-01-201828-01-2018€7,255Category 5

Inclusions

    • Costa Rica’s national parks – a green paradise
    • Several relaxing days at sea
    • The world’s second largest coral reef
    • Maya cities in Mexico and Belize
    • Havana: a lively myth among rum, rhythm and revolution
    • A lecturer accompanies the trip

Map

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