A cruise offering from Smithsonian Journeys and PONANT
Delve into the tropical forests of Panama and Costa Rica and cross the legendary Panama Canal on an 8-day cruise, learning about Smithsonian’s scientific studies in the region as you explore a range of pristine ecosystems and meet the indigenous people that call them home.
Ships moving through a lock in the Panama Canal. Credit: Hemis/Alamy
The scarlet macaw. Credit: Harvey Abernathey
Squirrel Monkey
Exotic Poison Dart Frog
Coati found in Panama
Metal Mark butterfly
One of the many locks of the Panama Canal
STRI scientist at work in lab
Flora found in Panama
The delightful beaches of the San Blas Islands
Traditional mola art work of the San Blas Islands Credit: Danita Delimont/Alamy
Display of traditional molas on the San Blas Islands Credit: Hemis/Alamy
Panama and Costa Rica by Sea: The Natural Wonders of Central America
Aboard the 184-guest Le Bellot
8 days
from $6,824
A cruise offering from Smithsonian Journeys and PONANT
Delve into the tropical forests of Panama and Costa Rica and cross the legendary Panama Canal on an 8-day cruise, learning about Smithsonian’s scientific studies in the region as you explore a range of pristine ecosystems and meet the indigenous people that call them home.
To view a section, please click on an option below.
Activity Level
Expectations: Ocean-going ship requires using smaller boat conveyances to get to shore for excursions, although the ship may also pull into a pier for embarkation and disembarkation. This is an expedition-type cruise that involves excursions by small boats and wet shore landings by rubber Zodiac boats (i.e. step from the Zodiac directly into ankle-high water). Travelers must be able to negotiate a steep gangway and get in and out of the Zodiacs with minimal assistance. Excursions will be at an active pace during the mornings and afternoons. Some standing and walking for periods of time (up to one and a half hours) during outdoor activities and tours and nature walks. Walking two to three miles will be over sometimes difficult terrain, such as uneven/slippery walking trails in rain forests. Opportunities for swimming and snorkeling are offered during the cruise. Be aware that you will experience hot temperatures (over 80 degrees), high humidity, and strong sun due to the proximity to the equator. Wildlife observation requires time spent on small excursion boats that do not provide shade or protection from the strong tropical sun.
Appropriate for: Travelers who are physically fit, lead active lives, are comfortable participating in long days of activities, and expect some physical exertion.
2024 Post-Cruise Extension
Post-Cruise program - Costa Rica: Monteverde & Arenal - 4 days, 3 nights
Extend your experience of Central America from the coastline to the mountains on this specially designed program.
Day 1 – Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica | Monteverde Cloud Forest
Disembark your ship and meet your guide for a scenic drive to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, part of the world famous Monteverde Cloud Forest.
You may choose between two ways of experiencing this unique ecosystem: a 2-hour traditional hike along trails through the forest, or a mile and a half 'Sky Walk' through the treetops on a trail including six hanging bridges. In either case, you will enjoy the refreshingly cool air at this altitude while looking out for the fascinating animals that roam here: howler and white-faced monkeys, the three-wattled bellbird, keel-billed toucan, bare-necked umbrellabird, and the gorgeous quetzal.
After your adventure among the clouds, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to the El Establo Hotel, where you stay the night. Dinner at the hotel is included.
Day 2 – Monteverde Cloud Forest | Arenal Volcano Area
After breakfast at the hotel, continue your exploration of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve on a 2-hour guided walk through one of the most biodiverse regions of Costa Rica, habitat for over 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, and 1,200 species of amphibians and reptiles.
Lunch at a local restaurant is followed by a scenic drive down the mountains to the Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa in La Fortuna, site of Arenal Volcano National Park, and your home for the next two nights.
Depart after breakfast on an hour and a half drive through the Northern plains to Los Chiles, very near the Nicaraguan border, where you will board a boat for a floating safari along the Rio Frio through the rain forest of Caño Negro—a birder's paradise, home to the anhinga, the roseate spoonbill, wood storks, and the jabiru, the largest bird in Central America. Along the shore, you may catch sight of howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and white-faced monkeys, as well as the three-toed sloth and reptiles like caimans, Jesus Christ lizards, and turtles.
Return to your hotel for some time at leisure before dinner.
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the Juan Santamaria International Airport in San José for flights homeward.
Your hotels:
The Hotel El Establo is set on a private 150-acre farm adjacent to the Monteverde and Santa Elena reserves. It houses 155 rooms, two restaurants, a swimming pool, spa, and hiking trails.
Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa is a hotel dedicated to sustainable practices set on 900 acres of lush tropical reserve near Arenal Volcano National Park. The hotel features 42 rooms; natural thermal mineral river, waterfalls, and pools; a full spa; two restaurants; and four bars.
Your program includes:
Transfers and luggage handling from the ship, through the program as described, and on to the airport on Day 4
1 night at the Hotel El Establo, including dinner and breakfast
2 nights at Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa, including 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts
Lunches on Days 1, 2, and 3
Sightseeing and programming as noted in the itinerary
Local English-speaking guides
Gratuities for guides, drivers, porters, and waiters for included meals
Your program does not include:
Transfer from the hotel to the airport on any day other than the scheduled program departure day
Personal expenses and other services and meals not mentioned as included in the program
Please note:
It is imperative that your flight departure details are communicated at least 30 days prior to the beginning of your cruise in order to secure your transfer from the hotel to the airport.
The Juan Santamaria International Airport in San José is a 2 ½ hour drive from the hotel, and check in for flights is a minimum of 3 hours before departure; schedule your return flights to depart at 2pm or later.
This post-cruise program is offered as a package. There will be no refunds for unused accommodations, meals, or excursions.
Program is offered on a space available basis.
Program is subject to change without notice.
Ship
Le Bellot
Launched in 2020, Le Bellot is among a new fleet of luxury expedition ships launched by PONANT. These ships combine revolutionary design and a new standard of luxury.
Spacious, Ocean-view Suites and Staterooms
Each of the 92 elegant suites and staterooms features a private balcony, while Grand Deluxe Suites have a bay window and spacious private terrace. The deluxe, air-conditioned staterooms and suites (up to 484 square feet) have two twin beds that convert to one queen-size bed. Each cabin has a private bathroom with shower (bathtub in limited number of staterooms) and the luxurious amenities of a fine hotel, including individual climate control, satellite flat screen television, wireless Internet access, safe, minibar, full-length closet, writing desk/dressing table, and plush robes.
Chic and Casual Dining
International and regional cuisine are served in the stylish, spacious indoor-outdoor restaurant in a single, unassigned seating; at the casual pool deck grill; or from 24-hour room service. Continental and buffet breakfast, buffet lunch, afternoon tea, and a four-course dinner are served daily. Wine is served at your table during lunch and dinner and complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included throughout the cruise.
Spacious Public Areas, Intimate Atmosphere, and World-Class Service
The warm and inviting public areas accommodate all passengers comfortably. Enjoy sweeping views from the Observation Lounge and Main Lounge, both of which open to the outdoors, and lectures, cultural performances, or film screenings in the state-of-the-art theater. For your convenience, complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship.
The ship also features the first luxury underwater observatory, the Blue Eye, a multisensory underwater observation lounge that incorporates decor and technology to immerse you in the beauty of the ocean's ecosystem. Here, you can observe fascinating marine life through the large subaquatic windows while digital screens and the specially designed global listening system relay the sights and sound beneath the ocean surface.
Other amenities aboard ship are a Sun Deck, swimming pool, beauty salon, spa and sauna, fitness room, and two elevators. In addition, there is a three-level marina platform with complimentary kayaking and snorkeling equipment, as well as 10 easily accessible Zodiacs.
The highly trained, English-speaking international crew are personable and attentive, and the ship has an infirmary staffed with a doctor and nurse.
Respect for the Environment
The newest additions to a fleet that has been awarded the prestigious "Clean Ship" designation, a rarity among ocean-cruising vessels, these expedition ships are designed with energy efficient, advanced eco-friendly features that protect fragile marine ecosystems while providing a safe and comfortable voyage.
Le Bellot
Launched in 2020, Le Bellot is among a new fleet of luxury expedition ships launched by PONANT. These ships combine revolutionary design and a new standard of luxury.
Spacious, Ocean-view Suites and Staterooms
Each of the 92 elegant suites and staterooms features a private balcony, while Grand Deluxe Suites have a bay window and spacious private terrace. The deluxe, air-conditioned staterooms and suites (up to 484 square feet) have two twin beds that convert to one queen-size bed. Each cabin has a private bathroom with shower (bathtub in limited number of staterooms) and the luxurious amenities of a fine hotel, including individual climate control, satellite flat screen television, wireless Internet access, safe, minibar, full-length closet, writing desk/dressing table, and plush robes.
Chic and Casual Dining
International and regional cuisine are served in the stylish, spacious indoor-outdoor restaurant in a single, unassigned seating; at the casual pool deck grill; or from 24-hour room service. Continental and buffet breakfast, buffet lunch, afternoon tea, and a four-course dinner are served daily. Wine is served at your table during lunch and dinner and complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included throughout the cruise.
Spacious Public Areas, Intimate Atmosphere, and World-Class Service
The warm and inviting public areas accommodate all passengers comfortably. Enjoy sweeping views from the Observation Lounge and Main Lounge, both of which open to the outdoors, and lectures, cultural performances, or film screenings in the state-of-the-art theater. For your convenience, complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship.
The ship also features the first luxury underwater observatory, the Blue Eye, a multisensory underwater observation lounge that incorporates decor and technology to immerse you in the beauty of the ocean's ecosystem. Here, you can observe fascinating marine life through the large subaquatic windows while digital screens and the specially designed global listening system relay the sights and sound beneath the ocean surface.
Other amenities aboard ship are a Sun Deck, swimming pool, beauty salon, spa and sauna, fitness room, and two elevators. In addition, there is a three-level marina platform with complimentary kayaking and snorkeling equipment, as well as 10 easily accessible Zodiacs.
The highly trained, English-speaking international crew are personable and attentive, and the ship has an infirmary staffed with a doctor and nurse.
Respect for the Environment
The newest additions to a fleet that has been awarded the prestigious "Clean Ship" designation, a rarity among ocean-cruising vessels, these expedition ships are designed with energy efficient, advanced eco-friendly features that protect fragile marine ecosystems while providing a safe and comfortable voyage.
Testimonials
WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY
Smithsonian Journeys packed more fascinating elements into a week-long trip to Panama and Costa Rica than I would have thought possible. Fabulous!
- Rosalyn, J.
Reading List
Highly Recommended
The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914
By: David McCullough
The National Book Award–winning epic chronicle of the creation of the Panama Canal, a first-rate drama of the bold and brilliant engineering feat that was filled with both tragedy and triumph, told by master historian David McCullough.From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Truman, here is the national bestselling epic chronicle of the creation of the Panama Canal. In The Path Between the Seas, acclaimed historian David McCullough delivers a first-rate drama of the sweeping human undertaking that led to the creation of this grand enterprise. The Path Between the Seas tells the story of the men and women who fought against all odds to fulfill the 400-year-old dream of constructing an aquatic passageway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It is a story of astonishing engineering feats, tremendous medical accomplishments, political power plays, heroic successes, and tragic failures. Applying his remarkable gift for writing lucid, lively exposition, McCullough weaves the many strands of the momentous event into a comprehensive and captivating tale. Winner of the National Book Award for history, the Francis Parkman Prize, the Samuel Eliot Morison Award, and the Cornelius Ryan Award (for the best book of the year on international affairs), The Path Between the Seas is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, the history of technology, international intrigue, and human drama.
Nature of the Rainforest: Costa Rica and Beyond (Zona Tropical Publications)
By: Adrian Forsyth
A Zona Tropical Publication"The words 'tropical rainforest' may conjure up vistas populated by jaguars, brilliant macaws, and flowers amid the grandeur of towering buttressed trees. But the eager, expectant visitor is not regaled with the sight of charismatic vertebrates, gaudy birds, and luminous orchids. In the rainforest, close encounters with life that moves are usually rare but brilliant episodes; one is bedazzled for an instant and then left alone in the quiet greenery. Under such conditions, one must see the episode as part of a process; tracing the connections between organisms is the essence of rainforest appreciation."―Nature of the RainforestNature of the Rainforest is a breathtaking tour of an environment that is the pinnacle of biodiversity and evolutionary sophistication by an award-winning author and two photographers who love the rainforest, understand its intricacies, and have spent considerable time there documenting its wildlife and complexity. Adrian Forsyth draws on four decades of personal encounters with the animals of the rainforest―including poison-dart frogs, three-toed sloths, bushmasters, and umbrellabirds―as a starting point to communicate key ecological topics such as biodiversity, coevolution, rarity, chemical defense, nutrient cycling, and camouflage. The luminous photographs capture stunning and rare creatures in action, including the now- extinct golden toad mating, a jaguar on the prowl, and the hermit hummingbird feeding. The behaviors and characteristics of the rainforest inhabitants featured here not only illustrate the text but also advance the scientific narrative and exemplify the critical importance of conservation. Thematic chapters are interspersed with four chapters devoted to specific habitats and regions of Costa Rica and Peru, areas with some of the most diverse arrays of plant and animal species in the world. The result is an exuberant celebration of the rainforest in text and images.
The Wildlife of Costa Rica: A Field Guide (Zona Tropical Publications)
By: Fiona A. Reid, Twan Leenders, Jim Zook, Robert Dean
This full-color field guide is an indispensable companion to the most popular neotropical ecotourism destination: Costa Rica. Featuring all the mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods that one is likely to see on a trip to the rainforest (as well as those secretive creatures such as the jaguar that are difficult to glimpse), The Wildlife of Costa Rica is the guide to have when encountering trogons, tapirs, and tarantulas.In addition to providing details for identifying animals along with interesting facts about their natural history, this guide offers tips for seeing them in the wild. Costa Rica, a peaceful nation with many and diverse animal species, is one of the best places in the world for wildlife watching and nature study. It has an excellent system of national parks and reserves, a wide choice of ecolodges, and many professionally trained tourist guides. It is possible to leave the capital city of San José and, just a few hours later, visit a high-elevation cloud forest, dense rainforest, savanna-like plain, or coastal habitat, each with a unique collection of animal species.This new lightweight field guide provides nature enthusiasts visiting Costa Rica with the best introduction to the country's amazing diversity of wildlife. It is the first general field guide to Costa Rica to combine the most sought-after features:•treatment of all major phyla in the country;•coverage of the animals most likely and most desirable to be seen;•more than 600 detailed illustrations integrated with the text (the preferred method of animal identification in the wild);•full species accounts including ID points, range and habitat, size, and behaviors;•a wealth of natural history information, including more than 20 photographic natural history features; and•tips for seeing animals.
This is the first interpretive history of Central America by a Central American historian to be published in English. Anyone with an interest in current events in the region will find here an insightful and well-written guide to the history of its five national states—Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Traces of a common past invite us to make generalizations about the region, even to posit the idea of a Central American nation. But, as Hector Perez-Brignoli shows us, we can learn more from a comparative approach that establishes both the points of convergence and the separate paths taken by the five different countries of Central America.The author offers a concise overview of the region's history from the sixteenth century to the present, beginning with human and cultural geography in the first chapter and ending with the present crisis in the last. He deals with the fundamental themes and problems of the area: the characteristics of the colonial heritage, independence and the crisis of the Federal Republic, the formation of nation-states during the nineteenth century, and the development of export agriculture based on coffee and bananas. The narrative moves finally into the twentieth century to look at the growing impoverishment that multiplies inequalities and leads to the shipwreck of liberal democracy. The case of Costa Rica, exceptional in more ways than one, receives special attention.
How Wall Street Created a Nation: J.P. Morgan, Teddy Roosevelt, and the Panama Canal
By: Ovidio Diaz Espino
This book tells a previously untold story of decades of financial speculation, fraud, and international conspiracy that led to the creation of the Panama Canal. The author meticulously details the dark alliance — among a French company; Teddy Roosevelt with his gunboat diplomacy; and a secretive syndicate of Wall Street financiers — that masterminded a coup in Colombia and the secession of Panama in 1903. Panama then welcomed the canal building, and the U.S. foreign policy precedent was set for the 20th century. How Wall Street Created a Nation includes historical photographs and is a fascinating telling of this scandalous true story.
The Ticos: Culture and Social Change in Costa Rica
By: Mavis Hiltunen Biesanz, Richard Biesanz, Karen Zubris Biesanz
Written with the perspective of more than half a century of first-hand observation, this unparalleled social and cultural history describes how Costa Rica's economy, government, education and health-care systems, family structures, religion, and other institutions have evolved, and how this evolution has affectedCand reflectedCpeople's daily lives, beliefs, and their values. The authors are particularly concerned with change and continuity since the economic crisis of the early 1980s and the structural adjustment that followed. Providing a comprehensive introduction to a country they know well, the Biesanzes also contribute astutely to an understanding of the reciprocal influence of structural adjustment and national culture.
Costa Rica: A Traveler's Literary Companion (Traveler's Literary Companions)
By: Barbara Ras, Oscar Arias
Journey into the Costa Rican imagination through twenty-six remarkable stories, selected and organized regionally for the curious traveler. Here, for the first time in English, the best of Costa Rica's writers conjure the country's allure and vitality, its coffee fields and palm groves, cicadas and songbirds, shrouded mountains and blazing savannas, while telling stories unique to Costa Rican life. Contributors include Alfredo Aguilar, Fernando Durán Ayanegui, Alfonso Chase, Quince Duncan, Fabián Dobles, Louis Ducoudray, Carlos Luis Fallas, Mario Gonzáles Feo, Joaquín Gutiérrez, Carlos Salazar Herrera, Max Jiménez, Carmen Lyra, Carmen Naranjo, Yolanda Oreamuno, Abel Pacheco, Julieta Pinto, Uriel Quesada, Samuel Rovinski, José León Sánchez, and Rima de Vallbona.
Panama General Wildlife Guide (Laminated Foldout Pocket Field Guide) (English and Spanish Edition)
By: Rainforest Publications
Slip this laminated foldup pocket guide into your backpack or front pocket. Folded, it is only 3.5" (9cm) by 8.75" (22cm). When spread flat it is approx. 24" (61cm) by 8.75" (22 cm). You get twelve 9cm by 22cm "pages" of critters plus front and back cover pages. The guide contains beautifully illustrated, detailed scientific accurate illustrations of the Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians, and Birds that you will see on your travels in Panama. Slips into your pocket so its handy when you need it. Illustrations of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians are by Mark Wainwright. Robert Dean illustrated the birds. Both Robert and Mark are British naturalists who have lived in Central American since the early 90s. Rainforest Publications' Panama General Wildlife Guide is highly portable, waterproof, full color, and scientifically reviewed.... Critters are identified in English, Spanish, and Latin. Our wildlife guides are the perfect companion if you're a naturalist, critter watcher, or adventure traveler.
The Monkey's Bridge: Mysteries of Evolution in Central America
By: David Wallace
Central America is a fascinating evolutionary artifact. Three million years ago, the Panama land bridge emerged as a link between what is now North and South America, and as flora and fauna traversed this great bridge between worlds, they cross-fertilized extensively and one of the Earth's most rich and varied environments developed. The Monkey's Bridge is the story of this extraordinary environment. The culmination of ten years of research and travel, the book combines a vibrant travelogue with personal insights on the landscapes, cultures, and ecosystems of Central America. David Rains Wallace creates an astounding portrait of a captivating part of the world.
The Tapir's Morning Bath: Solving the Mysteries of the Tropical Rain Forest
By: Elizabeth Royte
An engaging portrait of a community of biologists, The Tapir's Morning Bath is a behind-the-scenes account of life at a tropical research station that "conveys the uncertainties, frustrations, and joys of [scientific] field work" (Science). On Panama's Barro Colorado Island, Elizabeth Royte works alongside the scientists -- counting seeds, sorting insects, collecting monkey dung, radiotracking fruit bats -- as they struggle to parse the intricate workings of the tropical rain forest. While showing the human side of the scientists at work, Royte explores the tensions between the slow pace of basic research and the reality of a world that may not have time to wait for answers.
Tropical Plants of Costa Rica: A Guide to Native and Exotic Flora (Zona Tropical Publications)
By: Willow Zuchowski
Ranging from miniature epiphytic orchids to towering trees, and from mangrove forests lining coastal waterways to high-elevation cloud forests, Costa Rica's rich and varied flora dazzles visitors and botanists alike. Tropical Plants of Costa Rica, the first popular treatment to include plants from all regions of the country, is an indispensable guide to native and exotic species found in the neotropics.This book is beautifully illustrated with more than 540 full-color photographs taken in the field, each depicting an entire plant or a closer view of flowers, fruits, or seeds. Instructive pen-and-ink drawings of botanical details also accompany many of the accounts. The text clearly explains each plant's identifying characteristics and reveals fascinating facts about its natural history, chemical properties, economic importance, and medicinal and other uses. Sidebar features throughout the book highlight conservation, ethnobotany, and ecology; their topics include unusual applications for plants, distinct attributes of certain plant families, and plants of particular microhabitats. Tropical Plants of Costa Rica is a wonderful resource for naturalists, students, and researchers, as well as both experienced and first-time visitors to Costa Rica and the American tropics.
Wildlife of the World takes you on a journey through some of the most scenic and rich animal habitats — from the Amazon rain forests to the Himalayas, the Sahara to the South Pole — meeting the most important animals in each ecosystem along the way.In Wildlife of the World truly spectacular portrait-style photography brings you "face-to-face" with individual animals in up-close and engrossing profiles on how the animals interact with their environments, mate, survive, and even play.From the shaggy musk ox foraging in the Canadian high arctic to the angered Scottish wildcat prowling the Highlands to the rock-climbing gelada monkey of Ethiopia, each animal featured in Wildlife of the World plays a key role in its environment. An additional eighty-page illustrated reference section on the animal kingdom explains the animal groups and profiles additional species.Produced in association with the Smithsonian Institution.
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