EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

Experience the wonders of the Panama Canal on this spectacular partial canal transit. Arriving in Panama City, you will disembark the ship and take a short transfer by coach to the La Playita dock where you will board a spacious ferry and begin your unforgettable tour of the Panama Canal. The first lock you will pass through is the Miraflores Locks, where your ship will be raised the first 56 feet and enter Miraflores Lake. From here, you will transit through the Pedro Miguel Locks, where you will be raised the second 28 feet and enter Gatun Lake, once the largest man-made lake in the world. Crossing the Continental Divide at this point, you will continue to Gaillard Cut. The Gaillard (or Culebra) Cut, was the most challenging section of the canal to build. As you pass through the Cut, you'll see the continuing excavation that keeps this passage open to marine traffic. Enjoy a buffet lunch aboard the ferry before your fascinating tour of the Canal ends in the small village of Gamboa. While not large, Gamboa is home to the headquarters of the Panama Canal dredging division and some of the largest floating cranes in the world. After leaving your ferry, board a waiting motorcoach for the just over 1-hour drive back to the ship at Amador. Each tour participant will receive a certificate that commemorates their crossing of the Canal.

Boarding your mini-coach at the pier, you'll commence a 40-minute drive to fascinating Panama City. Panama City is located at the entrance of the Panama Canal and is an exciting city with a colorful history. The city today combines a rich collection of both modern and colonial architecture, historical monuments, and tree-shaded boulevards.

Your tour of the city begins by viewing highlights of the part of the city that is referred to as Old Panama, and which was founded in 1519 by Pedro Arias Davila and later destroyed by Captain Henry Morgan. Old Panama City was the first city of the Pacific Coast of the Americas and played a major role in the conquering of South America. In later years, it was the place where gold was sent to Portobelo and then on to Spain.

Following your tour of Old Panama, you will make your way to what is known as Casco Antiguo or Colonial Panama. This area of the city was founded in 1673 after the original capital was left in ruins following Captain Henry Morgan's attack two years earlier and features some lovely French and Spanish architecture. Several points of interest in the city are the Cathedral, the National Theater, and Las Bovedas.

Following your tour of Panama City's most notable sights, you will make the return transfer back to Amador and your waiting ship.

This completely unique tour could easily be the highlight of your trip. Just imagine traveling down the tracks of the first transcontinental railroad in a beautifully restored and richly adorned railcar, while viewing what is widely considered to be the 8th wonder of the world; the Panama Canal, as well as spectacular Gatun Lake and the extraordinarily beautiful flora and fauna of the surrounding countryside. Adding to all of that, the unrivaled experience of traveling from one ocean to another, crossing the amazing continent of the Americas in just over one hour!

The Panama Railroad was the brainchild of a group of New York Financiers who wanted to create an easy passage for the increasing gold rush traffic. The railroad took five years and eight million dollars to build and was completed in 1855. During its first 12 years of operation, the train carried over 750 million dollars’ worth of gold and silver and collected one-quarter of one percent of each shipment as duty. The railroad was rebuilt in 1909 during the construction of the Panama Canal, and without it, the canal could not have been built. Your journey will begin with a short coach transfer from the pier in Amador to the Pacific side railroad station where you will board the train for your approximately 75-minute rail journey. As you travel through the lush tropical rainforest, there is a good chance you'll sight some Howler monkeys, colorful toucans or other exotic wildlife. Crossing the Continental Divide, you'll find yourself on the Atlantic side, where you will disembark the train.

Following your time at locks, you will re-board your coach and transfer back to the pier in Amador.

Explore the delightful sites, culture and people of Manta during this visit to picturesque Montecristi. Depart the pier for an introductory tour of Manta. Begin with a 10-minute visit to the Cancebi Museum, which highlights the local culture and ethnic origins of the area. Next, you'll drive along the scenic seaside promenade and through the suburbs to Montecristi's central square where you will find many artisan stalls selling straw baskets, jewelry, colorful handicrafts and Panama hats. This beautiful little town is one of the highlights of the tour, it still retains the atmosphere and faded elegance of its Spanish heritage. Here we will have a demonstration of how the toquilla hats are made and then have some free time for shopping.

We proceed to a Cabuya plant weaving factory. This is truly a once in a lifetime experience as this traditional art is, unfortunately, quickly dying out. In the past, a vibrant industry existed where approximately 4,000 Cabuya plant bags were produced per day in the Manta area. Today there remains only this last remaining factory, producing 200 bags per week. After a short demonstration of the process, we are presented with our small natural bag – a unique reminder of beautiful Ecuador, and a perfect eco-friendly bag for carrying our items of our choice. Before returning to the ship, you'll visit a Tagua workshop. Tagua phytephas equatorialis is the nut of a 15-18 foot tall palm tree found in the tropical rain forests on the coast and Amazon lowlands of Ecuador. Tagua nuts were originally used as buttons because they have a color and consistency very similar to ivory, and could be dyed. Although button manufacturing is still the main source of income for the workshop, this unusual natural material is now fashioned by skilled craftsmen into a variety of small, reasonably-priced sculptures that provide a distinctive and unusual souvenir of your day.

This completely unique tour could easily be the highlight of your trip. Just imagine traveling down the tracks of the first transcontinental railroad in a comfortable domed railcar, while viewing what is widely considered to be the 8th wonder of the world; the Panama Canal, as well as spectacular Gatun Lake and the extraordinarily beautiful flora and fauna of the surrounding countryside. Adding to all of that, the unrivaled experience of traveling from one ocean to another, crossing the amazing continent of the Americas in just over one hour!

The Panama Railroad was the brainchild of a group of New York Financiers who wanted to create an easy passage for the increasing gold rush traffic. The railroad took five years and eight million dollars to build and was completed in 1855. During its first 12 years of operation, the train carried over 750 million dollars’ worth of gold and silver and collected one-quarter of one percent of each shipment as duty. The railroad was rebuilt in 1909 during the construction of the Panama Canal, and without it, the canal could not have been built.

Your journey will begin with a short coach transfer from the pier in Amador to the Pacific side railroad station where you will board the train for your approximately 75-minute rail journey. As you travel through the lush tropical rainforest, your location from high atop your glass-domed car will give you an outstanding panoramic view of the passing scenery and there is a good chance you'll sight some Howler monkeys, colorful toucans or other exotic wildlife. Crossing the Continental Divide, you'll find yourself on the Atlantic side, where you will disembark the train.

From here, it's a short coach transfer to Aqua Clara or the Expansion Locks. It will truly seem as if the mammoth ships passing through the locks are a mere arm's length away. Following your time at the Locks, you will re-board your coach and transfer back to the pier in Amador.

Coastal Ecuador is largely covered in dry forest, which makes the lush green Pacoche Forest all the more unique and ecologically complex. Forests such as Pacoche once covered vast areas of the coastal region and were home to an enormous wealth and diversity of species. Now they have been reduced to a dispersed chain of forest remnants under constant threat and facing an uncertain future.

We depart the quayside and travel via the coastal route to the Pacoche trailhead. Along the way, we take note of the predominant dry forest and the stark contrast between the dry and wet forest areas delineated by what looks like an invisible boundary, the change is so radical.

The Pacoche Lodge, located next to the Pacoche Wildlife Refuge, offers a private glimpse into this fascinating ecosystem. During our guided hike through the forest around the lodge, we’ll keep our eyes out for howler monkeys and dozens of bird species.

We will also see a “trapiche”, the machine used to extract juice from sugar cane, enjoy a quick demonstration of Panama Hat weaving techniques and see how the Ivory nut is used to produce a number of different eco-friendly end products – from traditional handcrafts, jewellery to shirt buttons.

After this visit we return to the ship.

Sightseeing drive through rolling hills, high mountains, plains, valleys, and riverbeds is just part of the gorgeous landscape. Costa Rica’s topography is one of the worlds most diverse. You’ll start by heading east to Esparza, a town that has become one of the most picturesque in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific region. The central park and its church are emblematic of Costa Rica’s hardworking rural towns. Local kids dancers in colorful dresses will greet you at the park and you’ll enjoy masquerades and handmade souvenir exhibitions while you learn about their traditions. Your scenic drive includes some stretches along the Pacific Ocean passing by mango and cashew plantations, farming areas and most certainly seeing some birds along the way, all examples of sustainable living. Take the opportunity to capture unique pictures, while traveling down to sea level, admiring the most breathtaking views. Your last stop will be at a Local souvenir and will have plenty opportunity to browse around the shop, sample their delicious fruits or taste a Costa Rican cup of coffee.

Enjoy a visit to the colonial city of Antigua, founded by Spanish conquistadors in the early 16th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll the charming cobblestone streets to visit the Central Plaza, the cathedral, Colonial Museum at the Jade Museum. Lunch is included at a typical Guatemalan restaurant. On the return drive to your ship, enjoy the scenery and great views of the Agua and Fuego (Water and Fire) volcanoes.

Travel along the coastline while you learn about the history and culture of Acapulco. Stop at El Mirador, above La Quebrada to enjoy a drink while admiring the world-famous cliff divers. From a vantage point near Las Brisas Hotel, marvel at the incredible beauty of the panoramic landscape and the bays of Acapulco and Puerto Marques. Continue to the outskirts of town and pass by one of the most impressive hotels in the Acapulco Diamante hotel zone, the Acapulco Princess Hotel, constructed to resemble an Aztec Pyramid.

Explore the landmarks of Colombia’s oldest city, delving into its storied history and alluring culture, which have helped fuel the rebirth of Santa Marta. Depart from the pier and begin a leisurely drive through Santa Marta, a colonial city that the Spanish established as a base of conquest. Founded in 1525 at the foot of the world’s highest coastal mountain range, Santa Marta is considered the oldest, still-inhabited city in Colombia. When the Spanish arrived, the indigenous people were skilled goldsmiths, and you will see the kinds of objects they made in the Gold Museum. An impressive model of the main city of their empire, Ciudad Perdida, is also on display, along with pre-Columbian pottery. Continuing on, you will explore Santa Marta’s magnificent whitewashed cathedral, which is thought to be the oldest church in Colombia, although construction wasn’t finished until late in the 18th century. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Roman cross. Simon Bolivar was buried in the cathedral until 1839 when his remains were moved to Caracas, his birthplace. You will discover more about the Great Liberator at Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino Villa, where Bolivar died. Now a museum, the butterscotch-yellow hacienda beautifully displays many of his personal objects and a large statue of the revered Bolivar lords over the grounds. To delve deeper into Santa Marta’s cultural history, you will watch a folkloric performance and enjoy a beverage at the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino before returning to the pier.

This fabulous tour begins with a scenic 45-minute drive to the luxurious Gamboa Rainforest Resort. The resort is located in the 55,000-acre Soberania National Park which is adjacent to the Panama Canal and near the historic Chagres River. On the grounds of the resort, an aerial tram has been constructed, unlocking the secrets of the heavily populated rainforest canopy.

Boarding your tram, you'll begin your ascent from the shadowy rainforest floor through the understory of vegetation and into the sun-drenched canopy. Here, you will have a bird's eye view of a thousand hues of green, interspersed with the fluorescent exclamation points of flowering trees. As you glide through the canopy, you'll sight the many animals that live high above the forest floor, such as Howler monkeys, sloths, coatimundi, and capybara. Beautiful birds like the toucan, parrot, and momot are also plentiful here, as are iguanas, frogs, butterflies, and dragonflies. After your tram ride, you may choose to climb the observation tower to enjoy a 360-degree, panoramic view of the Panama Canal, the Chagres River, and the surrounding tropical rainforest. Before returning to the pier, you will have some free time at the resort to explore the many exhibits, which include a butterfly farm, aquarium, orchid garden. There is also the opportunity to do some shopping while you are here.

After departing from the pier, you will settle in for a leisurely one and three-quarters hour drive north through a gorgeous tropical landscape. This verdant region exemplifies Nicaragua’s nickname, the “Land of Lakes and Volcanoes,” and Masaya beautifully captures those natural attractions, as it sits on the edge of Lake Masaya in the shadow of Masaya Volcano National Park.

Most of your time in the city will be devoted to exploring Masaya Market, one of the country’s foremost artisan markets. Colorful hammocks, hand-woven baskets, creative folk art, and delicately embroidered clothing are typically on display. Continuing on, you will drive toward Masaya Volcano National Park, located just outside the city it showcases two smoking volcanoes and several large craters formed by past volcanic activity. The landscape is absolutely mesmerizing and from the comfort of your coach, you’ll get an up-close look at steaming fumaroles.

Then, following a traditional Nicaraguan lunch at a nearby restaurant, you will set out on a walking tour of nearby Granada, a magnificent city overlooking massive Lake Nicaragua. Founded as a trade center in 1524 by Spanish conquistadors, Granada boasts some of the country’s most well preserved colonial architecture. The San Francisco Convent is its crown jewel, and the historical building now houses a cultural center with fine pre-Columbian statues. Your guided visit showcases some of the most important displays and exhibits housed here.

You will also have the opportunity to stroll Granada’s serene central plaza, a delightful shopping area famed for its arts and crafts, before it’s time to re-board your coach and transfer back to the pier.