Exploring Costa Rica and Panama is a singular experience that combines biodiverse jungle wildlife with an in-depth crossing of the Panama Canal, a marvel of engineering. It is the perfect winter escape. Dense, lush rainforest. Pristine deserted beaches. Monkeys galore. Hike deep into the rainforest; kayak and paddleboard along the shore; take a cool swim in a waterfall pool; snorkel over a coral reef. Opportunities abound to see creatures in their natural environs—both on land and in the sea. Expert local naturalists and photo instructors are with you every step of the way, always giving you choices and expanding your knowledge. Aboard, you can always savor panoramic views from the 100-guest National Geographic Quest. Plus, you’ll get an exclusive chance to visit to Latin American Sea Turtles (LAST) Association at Playa Blanca on the Osa Peninsula, where you can assist in data collection and the release of rehabilitated, healthy turtles into the sea.
Venture into remote wilderness: hike among monkeys, sloths, and tropical birds, and explore far from any inhabited places
Transit the Panama Canal over two days to see it by day and in the coolness of night—plus an exclusive stop at the Smithsonian Research Institute
Discover the wild rainforests of Corcovado National Park, which National Geographic dubbed “the most biologically intense place on Earth”
Explore idyllic islands, snorkel over a vibrant coral reef, and take a Zodiac cruise up a wild river
Meet the Emberá people of Panama, who welcome us into their village, and meet others working to protect this eco paradise
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highlights
Duration
8 Days
Price
From $6,620 per person
Dates
Jan
Feb
Mar
Dec
Next departure
12/19/2021
Special offers
BRINGING THE KIDS
COMBINING OFFERS
BACK-TO-BACK SAVINGS
TRAVELING AS A GROUP
FREE ROUND-TRIP AIRFARE OR 50% OFF PANAMA CITY EXTENSION - ON SELECT DATES
Share Costa Rica & Panama Canal Adventure Cruise | Lindblad Expeditions
Costa Rica, Panama & Colombia
Day By Day
Explore coral reefs, tropical rainforests, and idyllic islands. Learn about the abundant wildlife residing here. More avenues for exploration give you the most interesting options. Combine all this wildness with a transit of the legendary Panama Canal—aboard National Geographic Quest. While our route is planned, we will always remain flexible in our approach to take advantage of sightings and opportunities for discovery.
Explore coral reefs, tropical rainforests, and idyllic islands. Learn about the abundant wildlife residing here. More avenues for exploration give you the most interesting options. Combine all this wildness with a transit of the legendary Panama Canal—aboard National Geographic Quest. While our route is planned, we will always remain flexible in our approach to take advantage of sightings and opportunities for discovery.
We believe sharing an expedition with your kids or grandkids is a life-enhancing experience. So take $500 off for each child under the age of 18.
COMBINING OFFERS
Special Offers
Certain offers may be combinable, up to two savings opportunities, except where noted otherwise. For example, travel with a group of 8 or more on back-to-back expeditions, and take advantage of both savings.
BACK-TO-BACK SAVINGS
Special Offers
Save 10% on any consecutive journeys taken on board one of our expedition ships. This savings is applicable on voyage fares only, and are not valid on extensions or airfare.
TRAVELING AS A GROUP
Special Offers
Save 5% when traveling as a group of 8 or more people. Take advantage of these great savings, while enjoying traveling with your friends and family. This savings is applicable to voyage fares only, and is not valid on extensions or airfare. Deposit, final payments, and cancellation policies for group travel vary from our regular policies.
FREE ROUND-TRIP AIRFARE OR 50% OFF PANAMA CITY EXTENSION - ON SELECT DATES
Special Offers
Book Costa Rica & the Panama Canal and receive FREE round-trip economy group airfare between Miami and San Jose/Panama City. Or, receive 50% off a 3-day Panama City Extension in 2022, combinable with the expedition. Offer not available on holiday departures. Complimentary air is based on economy group flights, must be ticketed by Lindblad Expeditions, and is not available with land extensions. Baggage fees may be additional. In the case that Lindblad’s group flight is not available at time of booking, you will receive a $450 credit. New bookings only and not combinable with other offers. Call for details.
Dates, Rates & Cabins
Travel on this itinerary from $6,620 per person
Browse our team directory to discover the full cast of expedition staff
Extend your stay in Panama City and have a private tour at the Panama Canal Museum at the Miraflores Locks, as well as a former U.S. Army base, Frank Gehry’s BioMuseo, and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites—the historic Casco Viejo Old Town and the natural beauty and wildlife of the San Lorenzo Protected Area.
Choose to join us in 2022 and enjoy 50% off this extension or fly free from Miami to Panama City/San Jose—or vice versa—your choice. Visit our Special Offers page or call for details.
I love my country. I love its people and food and more than anything else, its natural resources. After 29 years as a guide for Central America, especially Costa Rica and Panama, traveling widely around the world with the work I do (I am also a tropical biologist), the Osa Peninsula is my uncontested favorite. Not a single time in my life have I come here and not be wowed by its lush forest, green waters, blue mountains and unmatched biodiversity.
Our itinerary was split between two destinations: This morning we disembarked onto Caletas Bay, owned by our friend Banbam (Enrique), and in the afternoon we went to one of the Estacion San Pedrillo ranger station.
Choices this morning: A wonderful horseback ride to Rio Claro, a two-mile hike to Agujitas River, a longer paced hike through the forested trails of Caletas Wildlife Refuge, or a casual tour of the wildlife refuge’s gardens. We loved all, coming back with unforgettable wildlife sightings, including a mother three-toed sloth with her baby, a bird eating snake straight from the trail, and a lot of bird sightings such as riverside wrens and black-hooded antshrikes.
With the afternoon came the icing on the cake: Corcovado National Park. Again, more opportunities: walking the longer, more strenuous trail to the San Pedrillo Waterfall, and a waterhole to come with it or the Pargo River trail to explore the lowland forests. What a way to finish our trip! From army ants, to basilisks, to pale-billed woodpeckers, howler-, spider- and white-throated capuchin monkeys, to the very scarcely seen Central American Tapir. We could not have asked for a better last day in our trip, and an amazing way to say farewell to Central America, for the time being.
Today was the day to acquaint ourselves with Costa Rican families partnered with Lindblad, to witness their way of living within the rainforests of this region. We anchored in front of Playa Blanca, where we spent much of the day visiting several Costa Rican families, learning how they produce sustainably in harmony with nature. This peninsula has set aside 80 percent of its land for conservation, so it is crucial that locals combine their daily activities with the industry of eco-tourism.
We toured four different operations. At Rancho Quemado, the two families showcase the historic methods of panning for gold and sugar cane for local consumption. The heart of palm operation shows the production of this delicious crop while Ms. Eida herself prepares delicious empanadas made with freshly harvested heart of palm. The cacao plantation has a wealth of fruit trees, and of course we opt to taste the pure, unprocessed chocolate. And then finally the rainforest trek for those who wanted to look for wildlife!
Today we entered the second country of our journey, Costa Rica. We came into the Southernmost Gulf called Golfo Dulce – the Sweet Gulf – and into amazingly green and lush tropical rainforest covered mountains. Even deep into the dry season, this area offers green dense vegetation to meditate. Early this morning we had Golfito Port authorities check us into the country, and we began with our activities. First, in hand the kayaking or Zodiac ride amongst the Golfito estuary and in the afternoon onto the beautiful Casa Orquidea Botanical Garden.
Off we went early in the morning to enjoy the scenery of the mountains surrounding Golfito and we hoped to spot some wildlife in our kayaks or Zodiacs. We were not disappointed; both outings had the chance to see many animals, from birds to mammals to reptiles: howler and white-faced capuchin monkeys, little blue-green and tricolored herons, great and snowy egrets, American crocodile, yellow-headed caracara, common black hawk, and many more. Back on board for a presentation in Costa Rican history, lunch and a quick rest to get ready to disembark onto Casa Orquideas.
Ron and Trudy McAllister have been living in this area for the past forty years. They left their homeland to go south and this is as far as they reached. They fell in love with the lush forests and the nice people and decided to stay, live and raise a family. Into the garden we went, and were not disappointed: heliconias, orchids, bromeliads, aroids, giant palms, toucans, macaws, flowers and fig trees welcomed us into their realm. What a great way to start our trip in Costa Rica.
Today we awoke halfway through the Panama Canal, in front of an island, a man-made one created when the United States flooded this area to create the waterway for the canal. The island is better known as “BCI” which stands for Barro Colorado Island. In Spanish that translates to Red Mud Island for its type of clay colored soil.
BCI is not only the largest island on the Panama Canal but it is home to one of the most studied tropical rainforests in the world. Research goes back even before the construction of the canal and it’s been managed by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute since 1923.
VIEW COSTA RICA & PANAMA CANAL ITINERARIES >
National Geographic Quest
is one of the few ships allowed to stop here during her transit through the canal. And guests aboard have the rare opportunity to visit BCI to learn about the research, explore by forest trail, and enjoy a shoreside excursion by Zodiac.
After our morning on BCI, a local canal pilot boarded
National Geographic Quest
to finish our cruising of the Panama Canal, one of the engineering marvels of the world. We look forward to the adventures we'll find tomorrow.
Click View Gallery above to see some of the natural wonders inside the rainforest.
Right at sun rise we got ready today and headed to explore the Island of Bona, a recently declared a wildlife refuge, in which we observe a great number of nesting sea birds. We can see brown and blue-footed boobies, magnificent frigatebirds, brown pelicans and many more. After a short navigation toward the Panama Canal we stopped at the cute island of flowers, Taboga Island, there we enjoyed a colorful walk getting acquainted with the Panamanian culture.
