12-Day package cruise holiday to explore the Pacific Coast and rain forests of Costa Rica and Panama, including transit through the Panama canal
If you’re going to go half-way around the world, a whole ocean away, we reckon you’ll want to make the most of your visit. That’s why we’ve wrapped-up this wonderful 7-night cruise with a 3-night hotel stay in the tropical rainforests of Costa Rica and 1 night in vibrant and cosmopolitan Panama City.
To make the most of the natural beauty, flora and fauna of the coastline, we’ve designed the holiday around a cruise that sails South to North one week, then turns around and sails North to South. You can board in either Puerto Colon in Panama or Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica and whichever direction you choose to travel you’re ensured a transit of the Panama Canal, a legendary feat of engineering, opened in 1914, which takes between 8-10 hours.
Our standard package includes 4 nights ashore, but we can tailor-make a longer package to your requirements. If travelling independently, you can opt just to do the 7-night cruise. All prices and details are at the bottom of the page.
The Panama Canal and the Very Best In Pacific Coastal Cruising
The cruise is very much the centrepiece of the holiday and if the words ‘Pacific Coastal Cruising’ don’t make the heart of any cruise fan beat a little faster then we’re not sure what will. This is a little-known area for British visitors and still relatively undeveloped. That means we can use the term ‘exotic’ with little fear of contradiction. It’s a cruise with a spirit of true exploration, close to nature, under the guidance of our resident on board naturalist.
Don’t miss…
Rainforest high canopy walk
Historical colonial Spanish forts
The Pearl Islands
Dug-out canoe ride through mangrove swamps
Corcovado National Park
Wonderful tropical flora and fauna
Panama City
The Panama Canal – one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World
Day-by-Day Itinerary from Costa Rica
Thursday – Chayotte Lodge
At leisure at Chayotte Lodge. Your hotel sits amidst typical Costa Rican ‘paradise’ country, rich with coffee plantations, sugar cane, vegetables and flower fields. A range of optional tours run from the hotel including birdwatching tours, two national parks, a waterfall hike, a market visit, a visit to see coffee being produced or, for the more adventurous, Zip Lining. Pick the personal experiences that most suit you.
Meals included: Breakfast
Friday – Chayote Lodge
A range of optional tours run from the hotel including birdwatching tours, two national parks, a waterfall hike, a market visit, a visit to see coffee being produced or, for the more adventurous, Zip Lining. Pick the personal experiences that most suit you.
Meals included : Breakfast
Saturday – Puerto Caldera
Transfer to Puerto Caldera to board your cruise vessel, M/S Panorama, to settle in and enjoy our welcome dinner whilst we cruise south.
Embarkation Time: 15:00
Meals included : Breakfast & Dinner
Sunday – Quepos – Playa Biesanz, Costa Rica
Optional Morning Excursion to Manuel Antonio Nature Reserve, one of the highlights of the cruise. After lunch on board, you can take the optional Forest Canopy excursion. Cruise via a Playa Biesanz to Drake Bay.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Monday – Drake Bay, Costa Rica
Optional excursion in Corcovado National Park/Osa Peninsula, a nature preserve and tropical rain-forest that occupies almost a third of the Osa Peninsula. Visitors are almost guaranteed to see some of the most incredible wildlife living in the jungles of the reserve, including red-eyed tree frogs, quetzals, tapirs, harpy eagles, white-lipped peccaries, monkeys, and scarlet macaws. Swimmers can have the amazing opportunity to share the warm waters with marlins, dolphins, and pilot whales.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Tuesday – Granito de Oro, Costa Rica – Coiba, Panama
Granito de Oro Island is a little bit of paradise and offers an amazing swimming and snorkelling experience. Nearby is Coiba Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest island in Central America. Afternoon walking tour with our Ship Naturalist who will take you for a short walk to discover the local forest and animal life.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Wednesday – Iguana Island, Panama
This island was declared a wildlife sanctuary over 40 years ago and is a bird watching paradise.
Overnight at sea to Playa Muerto.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Thursday – Playa Muerto and Darien National Park, Panama
We reach Playa Muerto by tenders (wet landing) and reach an Embera Village where we are welcomed by Embera Indians, one of the 7 indigenous groups living in Panama. They are proud and very friendly and known for their beautiful handicrafts and well-preserved traditions. We will be invited to share their lunch and dance with them. We also have an optional excursion in the Darien National park.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Friday – Flamenco Marina, Panama City
Arrive in Panama City with an optional tour to visit Casco Viejo – the old town, with its lovely architecture, cathedrals and historical buildings.
Back on board we will enjoy lunch together before entering the Panama Canal. One of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, the Panama Canal is one of the world’s greatest feats of engineering. Originally started by Ferdinand de Lesseps, who built Suez, but finished by the USA.
We cross through the Pedro Miguel, Miraflores and Gatun Locks before heading towards Colon.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Saturday – Puerto Colon, Panama
Disembarkation after breakfast and transfer to Panama City for one night’s stay in the wonderful 150-year-old Hotel Central in the heart of the old city.
Meals included : Breakfast
Sunday – Panama City Airport
Transfer to Panama airport for an onward flight which will land the following day.
Meals included : Breakfast
Day-by-Day Itinerary from Panama
Saturday – Colon 2000 – Panama Canal crossing
Transfer from your hotel to Colon 2000 port for embarkation at midday. One of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, the Panama Canal is one of the world’s greatest feats of engineering. Originally started by Ferdinand de Lesseps, who built Suez, but finished by the USA. We start crossing Gatun locks at approx 17:00 to reach the Pacific side and Panama City by next morning.
Embarkation Time: 12:00
Meals included: Breakfast
Sunday – Flamenco marina, Panama
Arrive in Panama City with an optional tour to visit Casco Viejo – the old town, with its lovely architecture, cathedrals and historical buildings.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Monday – Playa Muerto, Darien National Park, Panama
We reach Playa Muerto by tenders (wet landing) and reach an Embera Village where we are welcomed by Embera Indians, one of the 7 indigenous groups living in Panama. They are proud and very friendly and known for their beautiful handicrafts and well-preserved traditions. We will be invited to share their lunch and dance with them. We also have an optional excursion in the Darien National park.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Tuesday – Granito De Oro – Coiba Island, Panama
Granito de Oro Island is a little bit of paradise and offers an amazing swimming and snorkelling experience. Nearby is Coiba Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest island in Central America. Afternoon walking tour with our Ship Naturalist who will take you for a short walk to discover the local forest and animal life. Overnight at sea.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Wednesday – Golfito, Costa Rica
We reach Golfito early morning. Optional excursion to Casa Orchideas Botanical Garden. Later afternoon departure towards Drake Bay
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Thursday – Drake Bay, Costa Rica
Optional excursion in Corcovado National Park/Osa Peninsula, a nature preserve and tropical rain-forest that occupies almost a third of the Osa Peninsula. Visitors are almost guaranteed to see some of the most incredible wildlife living in the jungles of the reserve, including red-eyed tree frogs, quetzals, tapirs, harpy eagles, white-lipped peccaries, monkeys, and scarlet macaws. Swimmers can have the amazing opportunity to share the warm waters with marlins, dolphins, and pilot whales.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Friday – Quepos- Playa Biesanz, Costa Rica
Optional Morning Excursion to Manuel Antonio Nature Reserve, one of the highlights of the cruise. After lunch on board, you can take the optional Forest Canopy excursion. Late night sailing to Puerto Caldera.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Saturday – Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica
Disembarkation after breakfast and transfer to Chayote Lodge, your home in the tropical jungle for the next three nights.
Meals included : Breakfast
Monday – Chayote Lodge, Costa Rica
A range of optional tours run from the hotel including birdwatching tours, two national parks, a waterfall hike, a market visit, a visit to see coffee being produced or, for the more adventurous, Zip Lining. Pick the personal experiences that most suit you.
Meals included : Breakfast
Tuesday – Chayote Lodge, Costa Rica
Transfer to San Jose airport for an onward flight which will land the following day.
Meals included : Breakfast
Flights from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester or Bristol
All local transfers
3 nights at Chayote Lodge (Costa Rica) on a bed and breakfast basis
1 night at Central hotel (Panama) on a bed and breakfast basis
On Board M/S Panorama
Accommodation on board M/S Panorama for 7 nights in your chosen grade of cabin with private SH/WC & air conditioning, mini fridge and flat screen TV with complimentary movies.
Full-board: Buffet breakfast and two meals daily, including a Welcome Cocktail, a local themed party evening , fun BBQ on the beach or on deck (weather permitting) and Captain’s Dinner.
Regular (filter) coffee, tea and drinking water free all day, plus abundant fresh fruit.
Use of fishing and snorkelling equipment, sea kayak and stand up paddle boards (subject to availability).
Professional English speaking Cruise Director Naturalist Guide
Port charges
Direct flights to San Jose in Costa Rica from London Gatwick or from Heathrow via Madrid. Total duration approximately 9 (direct) to 14 hours.
Flights to Panama City from London Heathrow via Madrid, Amsterdam and CDG Paris. Total duration from 15 hours.
All local transfers are included in your package.
- San Jose Airport to Chayote lodge – approx 1h
- Chayote Lodge to Puerto Caldera (cruise embarkation) – approx 1h 40 min
- Colon 2000 cruise terminal to Panama Central hotel – approx 1h 15 min
- Panama Central hotel to Panama Airport – approx 30 min
- Beverages except regular (filter) coffee, tea and drinking water.
- Shore excursions on the islands or other land arrangements.
- Crew gratuities (optional – recommend Eur10-14 per passenger per day).
- Passenger personal expenses
- Wi-Fi (available at charge)
- Flights & transfers (unless booked as a flight inclusive package).
Ports of Call: Panama City - Gatun Lake - Granita De Oro Island - Coiba Island - Golfo Dulce - Puerto Jimenez - Playa Biesanz - Curu - Tortuga Island - Puntarenas Port (Costa Rica)
The Weather
Costa Rica and this part of the Pacific coast in general have an average temprature of 20C to 28C. Due to the proximity to the equator, there is no real summer or winter. It does however have a rainy season from May to November.
Your Vessel - M/S Panorama
Discover a 3 masted Motorsailer which can accommodate up to 49 passengers in 24 cabins. The “Panorama” was launched in 1993 and has been rebuilt in 2001, followed by a latest renovation in 2014, when the Upper Deck cabins and Lounge, as well as the Main Deck cabin en suite bathrooms and Lounge have been refitted.
This state of the art Motorsailer has performed several Atlantic Ocean crossings and has sailed from the Seychelles to Monte Carlo and from the Black Sea to Tunis and offers the highest standard of accommodation and comfort safety.
Category C:
Lower Deck
1 Double Bed or 2 Twin Beds
(11-11.5 sq.m. / 119-124 sq.ft.)
The Category C cabins are located on the Lower Deck and have portholes. The cabins are air-conditioned and fitted with TV, telephone, hairdryers, mini-fridge, central music, and public address system and safe boxes. The fully equiped bathrooms are finished with marble.
Category B:
Lower Deck
2 Lower Beds
(11.5-12 sq.m. / 124-130 sq.ft.)
The Category B cabins are located on the Lower Deck and have portholes. The cabins are air-conditioned and fitted with TV, telephone, hairdryers, mini-fridge, central music, and public address system and safe boxes. The fully equiped bathrooms are finished with marble or corian.
Category A:
Upper Deck or Main Deck
2 Lower Beds or 1 Double Bed Cabin
(11.5-12.5 sq.m. / 124-135 sq.ft.)
The Category A cabins are located on the Upper Deck or on the Main Deck and have large windows enabling a breathtaking view or the areas you are cruising in. The cabins are air-conditioned and fitted with TV, telephone, hairdryers, mini-fridge, central music, and public address system and safe boxes. The fully equiped bathrooms are finished with marble or corian.
Lounge Area
Sundeck
Upper Deck Outdoor Bar & Lounge area
Dining Room
Home at Sea
- Single seating dining Indoor & Outdoor Lounge – Bar
- Indoor & Outdoor Restaurant
- Audiovisual in Lounge
- Mini library
- Beach Towels
- Snorkeling equipment
- Kayak
- Board Games
- Swimming Platform
- Wi-Fi
Comfort Zone
- Windows: upper & main deck cabins
- Triple Occupancy cabins: Category A
- Flat-Screen TV
- Mini Safe
- Mini Fridge
- CD & DVD player
- En suite bathroom with shower
- Individually controlled A/C
- Hairdryers
- Telephone for internal use
- Central music
Your Hotel: Chayote Lodge - Costa Rica
Chayote Lodge is a new lodging concept where the unique combination of culture and nature meet to share with its guests’ one of the most valuable treasures of Costa Rica: our authentic lifestyle and culture.
Chayote Lodge lays in the outskirts of the mountainous central valley, located only 50 minutes away from San Jose Airport in Llano Bonito de Naranjo, and 1500 meters above sea level in the cloud forest. It boasts 12 spacious bungalows – first six accommodation opened by January 2015. They feature a private terrace with a breathtaking view of Poas, Barva, and Irazu Volcanos, as well as the Central Valley and the Nicoya Gulf in the Pacific Ocean seen on clear days.
Facilities
- Air conditioning
- Wake-up service
- Hardwood or parquet floors
- Private entrance
- Car hire
- Laptop safe
- Family rooms
- Facilities for disabled guests
- Airport shuttle Additional charge
- Non-smoking rooms
- Wake up service/Alarm clock
Luxury Double Room (Included in your Holiday)
The following room types are available with a supplement
- Deluxe Suite
- Deluxe King Suite
- Recibidor Suite
- Forest Suite
Whilst most cruises tend to be ‘round-trips’ this is more of a road trip by the sea! You get two very different countries, seeing a variety of cultures, architecture and history. At the same time, you’ll get great natural beauty and some stunning beaches. It’s a trip with a sense of purpose, with the added value of not just one, but two wonderful and extremely contrasting places in which to choose to spend a few extra days – one a bustling modern city, the other at the charming Chayotte Lodge amidst the high rain forest. Our cruise & stay package offers both, one pre-cruise and one post-cruise, and it makes for the most wonderful 11 night holiday. But if you would like to stay longer and do more, we would be happy to create a tailor-made package for you.
Prices
december, 2022
Costa Rica & Panama 2023 flight inclusive package
Prices (£) per person from:| Departure Dates | Departure from | Category C | Category B | Category A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20/01/2023 | Colon 2000 | £3,693 | £4,084 | £4,823 |
| 25/01/2023 | Puerto Caldera | £3,693 | £4,084 | £4,823 |
| 12/03/2023 | Puerto Caldera | £3,693 | £4,084 | £4,823 |
Costa Rica & Panama - Single & Triple occupancy
| Category C | Category B | Category A | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single use | 5,016 | £5,603 | £7,472 |
| 3rd Person | N/A | £3,237 | N/A |
Costa Rica & Panama 2023
Prices (£) per person:| Departure Dates | Departure from | Category C | Category B | Category A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21/1/2023 | Colon 2000 | £1,913 | £2,304 | £3,043 |
| 28/1/2023 | Puerto Caldera | £1,913 | £2,304 | £3,043 |
| 15/3/2023 * Wednesday | Puerto Caldera | £1,913 | £2,304 | £3,043 |
Costa Rica & Panama - 2023 - Single & Triple occupancy & port charges
| Category C | Category B | Category A | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single use | £2,870 | £3,457 | £5,326 |
| 3rd Person | n/a | £1,613 | n/a |
| Port Charges | £609 | £609 | £609 |
Costa Rica & Panama 2023 - 2024 flight inclusive package
Prices (£) per person from:| Departure Dates | Departure from | Category C | Category B | Category A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22/12/2023 | Colon 2000 | £4,072 | £4,472 | £5,290 |
| 27/12/2023 | Puerto Caldera | £4,072 | £4,472 | £5,290 |
| 05/01/2024 | Colon 2000 | £4,072 | £4,472 | £5,290 |
| 10/01/2024 | Puerto Caldera | £4,072 | £4,472 | £5,290 |
| 19/01/2024 | Colon 2000 | £4,072 | £4,472 | £5,290 |
| 24/01/2024 | Puerto Caldera | £4,072 | £4,472 | £5,290 |
| 02/02/2024 | Colon 2000 | £4,072 | £4,472 | £5,290 |
| 10/02/2024 | Puerto Caldera | £4,072 | £4,472 | £5,290 |
| 16/02/2024 | Colon 2000 | £4,072 | £4,472 | £5,290 |
| 21/02/2024 | Puerto Caldera | £4,072 | £4,472 | £5,290 |
| 01/03/2024 | Colon 2000 | £4,072 | £4,472 | £5,290 |
| 06/03/2024 | Puerto Caldera | £4,072 | £4,472 | £5,290 |
Costa Rica & Panama - Single & Triple occupancy
| Category C | Early Booking Discount* Category C | Category B | Early Booking Discount* Category B | Category A | Early Booking Discount* Category A |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single use | 5,521 | £5,196 | £6,121 | £5,736 | £8,193 | £7,601 |
| 3rd Person | n/a | £3,463 | £3,284 | n/a |
Costa Rica & Panama 2024
Prices (£) per person:| Departure Dates | Departure from | Category C | Category B | Category A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23/12/2023 | Colon 2000 | £2,165 | £2,565 | £3,383 |
| 30/12/2023 | Puerto Caldera | £2,165 | £2,565 | £3,383 |
| 6/1/2024 | Colon 2000 | £2,165 | £2,565 | £3,383 |
| 13/1/2024 | Puerto Caldera | £2,165 | £2,565 | £3,383 |
| 20/1/2024 | Colon 2000 | £2,165 | £2,565 | £3,383 |
| 27/1/2024 | Puerto Caldera | £2,165 | £2,565 | £3,383 |
| 3/2/2024 | Colon 2000 | £2,165 | £2,565 | £3,383 |
| 10/2/2024 | Puerto Caldera | £2,165 | £2,565 | £3,383 |
| 17/2/2024 | Colon 2000 | £2,165 | £2,565 | £3,383 |
| 24/2/2024 | Puerto Caldera | £2,165 | £2,565 | £3,383 |
| 2/3/2024 | Colon 2000 | £2,165 | £2,565 | £3,383 |
| 9/3/2024 | Puerto Caldera | £2,165 | £2,565 | £3,383 |
Costa Rica & Panama - Single & Triple occupancy & port charges
| Category C | Category B | Category A | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single use | £3,248 | £3,848 | £5,920 |
| 3rd Person | n/a | £1,796 | n/a |
| Port Charges | £652 | £650 | £650 |
Book your flights with us to ensure full financial protection for your holiday.
 |
Your flight inclusive holiday with us is financially secure as we are ATOL licensed and the full package is ATOL protected. We have been trading since 1995 so you can book with total confidence. |
