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Within the lush and vibrant green of this region lie many discoveries. The flash of scarlet macaw wings amid treetops. The scintillating iridescence on the hummingbirds sipping nectar as they hover. And so many moments that will stay with you long after you leave—the atavistic thrill of hearing howler monkeys call to each other in the trees or the peace of sinking into a pool at the base of a waterfall deep in the jungle. Add to that the privilege of seeing one of the world’s great feats of engineering from the deck of an expedition ship as you cross the Panama Canal—an absolute peak travel experience.
Costa Rica, Panama & Colombia
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Length
8 days
From
$6,620
Prices are per person
Costa Rica, Panama & Colombia
Special Offers
Costa Rica, Panama & Colombia
New and Noteworthy
Special Offers
Length
13 days
From
$8,870
Prices are per person
Costa Rica, Panama & Colombia
New and Noteworthy
Special Offers
Costa Rica, Panama & Colombia
Special Offers
Length
11 days
From
$8,670
Prices are per person
Costa Rica, Panama & Colombia
Special Offers
Costa Rica, Panama & Colombia
New and Noteworthy
Special Offers
Length
8 days
From
$6,110
Prices are per person
Costa Rica, Panama & Colombia
New and Noteworthy
Special Offers
Actively discover the legendary wildness of Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia. Hike, paddleboard, kayak, snorkel, and zip line. Go by ship to venture to places far from tourist infrastructure, landing at remote, empty beaches by Zodiac to find exotic birds and flowers. If you venture to Colombia, explore some of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, where endemic species thrive amidst intriguing, modern cultures. If you choose to cross the Panama Canal, do so in a way worthy of the peak experience. Go aboard an expedition ship with open decks to experience it up close. Cross over two days to see the workings of the locks by day and in the coolness of night.
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Escape winter, or go to relish one of the world’s most exciting natural environments. The onboard atmosphere is comfortable and casual, akin to that of a large private yacht. And our wellness philosophy is designed to relax and revitalize mind, body, and spirit.
In Guanacaste, breathtaking natural beauty waits around every corner—from picture-perfect beaches to hidden jungle waterfalls. But with so much abundance and beauty, where do you even start?! We curated some of our favorite user-generated content from Instagram to highlight the top must-see places to explore when visiting Guanacaste.
Lindblad Expeditions supports stewardship efforts through the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic (LEX-NG) Fund. One hundred percent of traveler contributions to the LEX-NG Fund in Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia support the National Geographic Society’s Early Career Grants, which promote future leaders with novel and exploratory projects that span the fields of conservation, education, research, storytelling, and technology. In awarding each $5,000 to $10,000 grant, preference is given to projects that directly impact Costa Rica, Panama, or Colombia coastlines and communities.
From climate conditions to water temperature to packing the right footwear, find answers to the questions Expedition Specialists get most often.
Read more3/3/2022
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National Geographic Quest
Costa Rica has many very successful stories related to initiatives to protect our flora and fauna. On the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula in 1963, a Swedish couple, Karen & Olof Wessberg, encouraged the creation of the first officially protected area in Costa Rica, Cablo Blanco Absolute Reserve. Starting in the 1970s, other conservation projects associated with our federal government and private territories added buffer zones and biological corridors to the newly created national parks. Among those private sectors on the Nicoya Peninsula, the Schutt-Croix family purchased land with the main intention to farm it. After realizing the natural beauty of the mangroves and forest, they decided to set aside several hundred hectares for pure conservation. On this property, Curu Wildlife Refuge, wildlife can migrate between the mangrove vegetation at sea level to around 1,000 feet above sea level. Curu has an area of 1,416 hectares, and 70% is devoted to conservation. White-throated capuchin monkeys were the stars of the day. We observed at least three different troops during our walks. We also enjoyed incredible sightings of northern tamandua anteaters, white-nosed coatimundis, crab-eating raccoons, mantled howler monkeys, and white-tailed deer, a national symbol for Costa Rica. All of these observations were fantastic additions to our morning walk on Curu Wildlife Refuge. Later in the day, biologist Maguil Céspedes offered a great presentation that provided insight into his work with the people of the mangroves at Isla Chira inside the Gulf of Nicoya. The galley made preparations to serve a farewell dinner on the beach with a barbecue on Tortuga Island. The evening was splendid. We all gathered on the beach to enjoy our last hours onboard National Geographic Quest as our fantastic exploration of Northwest Costa Rica draws to a close.
3/2/2022
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National Geographic Quest
On a beautiful morning, we arrived at a small bay in front of Zapotal Beach. After National Geographic Quest anchored, we started our exploration activities. Some of our guests decided to go to the mainland for a walk, while the vast majority chose to spend the morning snorkeling in the Brunel Islets. Those who went for a walk found howler monkeys, green iguanas, pale woodpeckers, and many other typical birds of the dry forest. Those who went to the islets enjoyed several hours in the water in search of pufferfish, starfish, angelfish, and hawksbill turtles. After repositioning National Geographic Quest in Huevos Bay in the afternoon, we disembarked at one of the nearby beaches. Some guests decided to take a Zodiac cruise to tour a nearby mangrove, while others took to one of the trails near the beach. Other guests combined a bit of kayaking with paddleboarding, or they simply enjoyed the seashore in this charming place. Of course, those who went to the mangrove spotted various species of waterfowl, while those who went on the walk and/or stayed on the beach were able to see howler monkeys passing along the trail.
3/1/2022
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National Geographic Quest
During sunrise, National Geographic Quest sailed to drop anchor between Muneco Islet and Junquillal Wildlife Refuge. On our way, the humpback whales showed up again and put on a show. At this time of the year, individuals from the Northern Hemisphere head down to give birth to their young. After breakfast, some guests headed to Muneco Islet for our first snorkeling outing. The backside of the islet gave us a protected cove. The beautiful geological formation bears witness to the magnificent uplifting of this unique region. Guests observed sea stars, damselfish, surgeonfish, bicolor parrotfish, and cornetfish. The experience was enhanced by the wonderful calls of the whales. What a beautiful way to snorkel! As a second activity, we enjoyed downtime at the wildlife refuge. We walked on a secluded beach where we spotted birds, such as white-throated magpie-jays and crested caracaras. Orange-fronted parakeets appeared to show off their colorful plumage. In the afternoon, photo instructor Jose Calvo gave us a great lecture that included useful photography tips. We enjoyed different options to explore Junquillal Bay Refuge. Some guests worked out their upper bodies by paddling kayaks while exploring mangroves, and others observed the scenery on Zodiac cruises. We all observed species like ringed and green kingfishers, little blue herons, spotted sandpipers, whimbrels, white ibises, and more. We talked about the habits and behaviors of the different species. The impressive root system of the mangroves welcomed us, and we were transported to a place with scenery that looked like it came from a story. We learned about this unique system and the challenges it faces to adapt and survive in high salinity environments. Other guests chose hikes through the tropical dry forest and enjoyed amazing views of the spectacular Peninsula de Santa Elena. Recap and dinner were followed by a wonderful presentation by the Director of Guanacaste Conservation Area, a UNESCO World heritage site. The speaker put in perspective the high importance of this protected part of Costa Rica, including its contributions to the world.
2/28/2022
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National Geographic Quest
At the break of dawn, humpback whales escorted National Geographic Quest on our inaugural visit to Guanacaste’s pristine gulf and Santa Elena Bay. Through a special arrangement with the authorities of the national park system and the local community of Cuajiniquil, we were granted permission to anchor inside Santa Elena Bay. This location has a unique management system. The Guanacaste Conservation Area created a marine buffer zone with the local community to support sustainable management of fisheries and visitation to this well protected bay. By midmorning, guests had the opportunity to walk the one-mile long trail called Pintadero (the painted one). They saw a profusion of the most intricate elements of flora found in this tropical dry forest. We observed gumbo limbo or jinocuabe trees (Bursera simaruba), guapinol trees (Hymenaea courbaril), and guanacaste trees (Enterolobium cyclocarpum). The guanacaste tree is a national symbol of Costa Rica due to its majestic shape and beautiful wood. We also spotted many organisms that can survive the drought that usually occurs November through April. This natural setting connected us to Matapalito Beach, a delightful white sand beach where our guests and staff were the only human presence in the area. By noon, National Geographic Quest repositioned to another new destination: the village of Cuajiniquil with its deserted, light-colored sand beach. Many guests tried the always-challenging paddleboarding; all partakers were able to stand up on the board. Other guests kayaked leisurely. These experiences connected our guests with plunging brown pelicans and gently flying frigatebirds. Guests also enjoyed swimming and walking an access road covered with forest. In my case, the nature walk was extremely satisfying with rare sightings of birds, including white-necked puffbirds, thicket tinamous, and boat-billed herons. Sunset brought a fantastic coloration to the Continental Divide in our background, the majestic Orosi-Cacao volcanic complex, and the active Rincon de La Vieja Volcano. In order to understand the complexity of these geological formations, expert geographer Ronald Calvo provided a very insightful talk after dinner. Tomorrow, we open a new chapter to this story!
2/26/2022
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National Geographic Quest
Today, National Geographic Quest arrived in the gateway of Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica’s most ecologically intense rainforest. Its diversity is unparalleled. In the morning, our guests enjoyed either a long hike or a walk along the coastline. In both activities, guests spotted scarlet macaws, their colors blazing in the tree canopy. Other tropical birds also displayed extraordinary colors. Among others, we spotted scarlet-rumped tanagers, bay-headed tanagers, and red-legged honeycreepers. We also observed land mammals, including white-nosed coatimundis, on the grounds of the coastal walkway of San Josesito Beach. Later in the afternoon, we repositioned to San Pedrillo, one of the stations of the national park and a highlight of our voyage. The chance to dip into a waterfall pool made every meter of the walk worth it. Along the hike, guests spotted American crocodiles and many types of tropical birds. The importance of this area is demonstrated by the size of its trees. The park, 80% of which is protected, maintains a good balance of the species that inhabit this gorgeous rainforest. The pargo trail was another option for hiking today, and guests enjoyed great sightings of spider monkeys, black-hooded antshrikes, dot-winged antwrens, and rufous pihas. After the afternoon activities, we headed back to the ship. We enjoyed the recap sessions, a great end to this day.
Sven-Olof Lindblad
The breathtaking biodiversity of Costa Rica, Belize, and the Panama Canal
Panama Canal: A Marvel of Engineering Ensconced in Wildness
Exploring the Caribbean Coast | A Uniquely In-Depth Canal Transit | Experience Two of the Most Biodiverse Countries on Earth | Rewarding Encounters With the People of Paradise
