Small Ship Cruising

The Panama Canal & Costa Rica

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Direction and Year

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Days
12
From (per Person)
$9,390 USD
Journey Type
Small Ship
Time of Year
Jan
Cities & Landmarks
Panama City, Gamboa Rainforest Resort, San José, Sarchí, Panama Canal
Bridge of the Americas, Panama Canal

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Uniquely Tauck

EXPERIENCE WITH TAUCK

 

Tauck's experienced naturalist, Tauck Director and local guides join the cruise aboard ship, leading excursions ashore to enrich your experience of the jungle, water and flora & fauna

 

Visits to Carara National Park in Costa Rica, the Darien and the San Blas Islands

 

TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES

 

Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $3,147

 

7-night cruise aboard one of Ponant's Explorer Class yacht

 

Your cruise may be a shared ship experience with non-Tauck guests onboard as well; all Tauck guests will be accompanied by one Tauck Director for approximately every 40 Tauck guests, and your itinerary will always be highlighted by exclusive, private Tauck shore excursions

 

Full small-ship transit of the Panama Canal with onboard commentary by a local expert

 

SEE WHAT YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES

Activity

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Guests should be able to easily walk one to two miles, which may include climbing one or two flights of stairs and walking over uneven pavement, groomed hiking trails or cobblestones. Standing up to one hour or more may be required.

Pace

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Moderately paced, and may include some early morning hotel departures, one or two on-tour flights, and extended motor coach travel.

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Cultural journeys and expeditions

Marvel in awe of one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th century... cruise along the canal that revolutionized shipping patterns... gaze in awe as you pass the tropical forests, secluded beaches, diverse wildlife and clear waters that make up Costa Rica and Panama, and whose many treasures remain undisturbed by development.

A 7-night voyage aboard Ponant's Explorer Class yacht features a complete transit of the Panama Canal, and an opportunity for cultural exchange with locals in Panama and along Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Explore the rich interior and its abundant wildlife with our expert naturalists. Go swimming or snorkeling, land on islands via tender or Zodiac craft, visit a gold museum in San José and learn how coffee beans are harvested and brewed to perfection. Experience the pleasures of Tauck small ship cruising on a Panama Canal and Costa Rica cruise! Read Less

See for yourself what Small Ship Cruising is all about

Cruise with Wildlife Filmmaker, Tim Martin

Cruise with Wildlife Filmmaker, Tim Martin

Tim Martin is a TV executive producer, wildlife photographer and conservationist. He worked in the BBC Natural History Unit for over 20 years, producing award winning series including Lost Land of the Jaguar, Animals with Cameras, Bear Family & Me and Natural World. Tim is currently producing a series for Netflix and running Farm Wilder, a non-profit that promotes sustainable and wildlife friendly farming in the UK. Travel with Tim on our January 15 departure, enjoying expert insights about the wildlife and natural wonders of Costa Rica and Panama. Ask at booking for details.

Full transit of the Panama Canal

Join a special club by cruising through the remarkable Panama Canal

When the Panama Canal first opened in 1914, some enthusiasts called it one of the "seven wonders of the world" – it was certainly one of the world's most incredible engineering endeavors. For the first time, a ship traveling from New York to San Francisco could save over 7,000 miles by not having to sail around South America. Over a century later, you'll join the special ranks of travelers to traverse the entire length of the canal; crossing aboard a small ship makes the experience an even more memorable one. Taking approximately eight to ten hours, your vessel passes through three locks (the Miraflores, Pedro Miguel and Gatún) as it's raised up and over the isthmus' land surface for a total of 85 ft. before passing between the Atlantic and the Pacific!

Manuel Antonio National Park

Exploring the eco-treasures of Costa Rica's Manuel Antonio National Park

Although Manuel Antonio National Park encompasses the smallest land area of any national park in Costa Rica, it is home to more than a hundred species of mammals and nearly 200 species of birds, outranking virtually every other park in Costa Rica's richly biodiverse national park system. Mammalian residents include sloths (like the brown-throated three-toed sloth and Hoffmann's two-toed sloth), monkeys (mantled howler monkey, Central American squirrel monkey, and white-headed capuchin monkey), white-nosed coati and many more. Along with the rich tropical rainforests that all this wildlife calls home, the park also comprises coral reefs and miles of white sand beaches, considered among the most beautiful in Costa Rica... a virtual paradise!

Fascinating trip - Tauck finds little gems that we would never see on our own. Our TD lives near the Canal Zone, so we got a unique history from a local's POV.

Tauck Traveler Review

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Deck Plans

Welcome Aboard

Deck 7

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Deck 6

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Prestige Suite

(Two combined Prestige Staterooms)

Prestige Stateroom

Deluxe Suite

Privilege Suite

Grand Deluxe Suite

Deck 5

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Prestige Suite

(Two combined Prestige Staterooms)

Prestige Stateroom

Deluxe Suite

Privilege Suite

Owner's Suite

Deck 4

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Prestige Stateroom

Deluxe Suite

Deck 3

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Deluxe Stateroom

Deluxe Suite

Deck 2

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Your Journey

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Eastbound: San Jose → Panama City

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Westbound: Panama City → San Jose

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About Booking This Tour

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Travel Requirements For This Tour

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Travel Documents

If you are a U.S. citizen, you will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Tauck journey for entry into Panama and Costa Rica. You will not need a visa for the short duration of this tour. Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

If you are a citizen of another country traveling internationally, you should contact a consulate or embassy of Panama and Costa Rica to determine what travel documentation is required.

You will be issued a boarding card, which you must present before embarking the ship in each port.

We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Note: For activities marked with an asterisk (*) in day-by-day descriptions, participation is at your own risk; a signed liability waiver will be required.


TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN AS A GUARDIAN: If you are traveling as the guardian of a child/children, we strongly suggest that you carry a letter from both parents of the child authorizing emergency treatment in the event of illness or accident. For travel abroad, many foreign countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling internationally without BOTH parents. (These requirements are in response to the increased incidence of children being abducted and taken abroad.) PLEASE NOTE THAT TAUCK IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for children traveling without both parents.


The Tauck Experience

Why Tauck?

Leave Your Worries At Home

One Upfront Price – No Hidden Costs

Tauck Directors – Simply The Best

Never Settle For Ordinary

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Book Today... And Travel Dreams Begin

Discover The World

Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey.

Book Today... And Travel Dreams Begin

Discover The World

Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey.

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