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Panama and Costa Rica by Sea: The Natural Wonders of Central America
8 days from $7,970
Aboard a 184-guest small ship
Voyage by Smithsonian Journeys and PONANT EXPLORATIONS
Discover the rare tropical ecosystems of Panama and Costa Rica on a voyage that features a full daylight transit of the Panama Canal. Venture to Panama’s pristine Caribbean islands, and spend time with the Indigenous people of Darién National Park. Meet scientists on a specially arranged visit to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s Punta Culebra Nature Center, then cruise to Costa Rica to explore Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park.
Highlights
The Smithsonian Journeys / PONANT Experience: Each cruise will be accompanied by two Smithsonian Journeys Experts. An excursion or activity is included in each port of call. You may have a choice of excursions in many ports, so that you can delve more deeply into subjects that interest you.
- San Blas Islands: Go swimming and snorkeling in Panama's remote San Blas islands, and meet the indigenous Guna people in this remote archipelago.
- Panama Canal and Panama City: Make a full daylight transit of the Panama Canal, one of the greatest wonders of engineering in history. Then take a guided tour of the Biomuseo, designed by architect Frank Gehry. The museum’s interactive biodiversity exhibitions were created by scientists from the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Panama. Enjoy lunch and a walking tour in the charming colonial center of Casco Antiguo or Visit Panama Viejo, the archaeological site of the original permanent European settlement.
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI): On a specially arranged tour of the Smithsonian’s Punta Culebra Nature Center guided by STRI staff, hear about the latest studies, observe marine species up close, and explore the unique flora and fauna of the tropical dry forest. Also visit the new Biomuseo, designed by Frank Gehry and dedicated to the ecological importance of Panama’s wilderness areas.
- Costa Rica: Dock in Quepos and choose from a guided nature walk in Manuel Antonio National Park, a wildlife cruise through the thick mangroves, or a rafting adventure on the Savegre River.
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.
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Itinerary
To see itinerary, please click on an option below.
Feb 19-26, 2027
Day 1 — Puntarenas
Following your transfer from San José, embark in Puerto Caldera, at the mouth of the Gulf of Nicoya. (D)
Day 2 — Quepos, Costa Rica
Your first port of call is Quepos, gateway to the spectacular Manuel Antonio National Park, where thick rain forests are edged by stunning beaches. Venture into the park with a naturalist to encounter tropical flora and fauna, including sloths; several species of monkey; and both terrestrial and sea birds, such as toucans, pelicans, hummingbirds, terns, and more. Alternatively, choose a riverboat cruise on the Damas Island estuary among coastal mangroves that teem with waterfowl, caimans, and monkeys; or go for a rafting adventure on the pristine Savegre River. (B,L,D)
Day 3 — At Sea
As the ship makes its way along the length of southern Panama, enjoy a day to relax at sea, taking advantage of the ship’s superb amenities. Opt for a treatment in the spa or get a work out at the fitness center. Go for a swim in the pool or read a book on the sundeck. Your Smithsonian Journeys Experts will present lectures on the region. Visit the ship’s upper deck to take in views of the open sea and perhaps spot seabirds or marine species. (B,L,D)
Day 4 — Playa Muerto and Darién National Park
The most remote and least developed region of Panama, the province of Darién is home to extremely rich biodiversity. A World Heritage site since the 1980s, Darién National Park offers extraordinary landscapes of rocky coastlines, mountains, mangroves, rivers, and creeks. Darién also serves as home to about 30,000 indigenous peoples, mostly from the Emberá tribe. Ride Zodiacs to Playa Muerto, a small coastal village where we’ll meet with men and women who have maintained their lifestyle much as it was before Spain colonized the region. The chief will welcome us with traditional Emberá hospitality, introduce us to their customs, and invite us to witness traditional dances. Before returning to the ship, you may wish to take a short hike to a nearby waterfall. (B,L,D)
Day 5 — Panama City
One of Central America's most attractive capitals, Panama City was founded in 1519 by Spanish explorers and rebuilt in the late 17th century by the French. On a full-day excursion from Fuerte Amador, part of a causeway at the Pacific entrance to the canal, tour the Biomuseo, designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. Explore the museum’s interactive exhibition—executed by scientists from the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Panama—which showcases the ecological significance of Panama’s exotic flora and fauna. Also visit the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s Punta Culebra Nature Center, an open-air museum dedicated to marine science and conservation. On a specially-arranged tour guided by Smithsonian staff, hear about the latest research in tropical ecology, observe marine species up close and explore the unique flora and fauna of the tropical dry forest. Choose to discover to the charming colonial district of Casco Antiguo for a guided walking tour and lunch, or tour the archaeological site of Panama Viejo, an important site where numerous excavations have been conducted by Smithsonian researchers. (B,L,D)
Day 6 — Panama Canal
Today, set off on a journey that inspired the imagination of many 20th-century adventurers: a daytime transit of the Panama Canal. This critical passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific allowed ships to avoid rounding South America’s Cape Horn. The canal’s construction started in 1881 under the direction of French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps, who had previously built the Suez Canal. Abandoned then resumed, this marvel of engineering was completed by the United States between 1904 and 1914. Delve into the dramatic history of its construction—and its intricate engineering—as you pass through three levels of locks. (B,L,D)
Day 7 — San Blas Islands
Just off the Caribbean shores of Panama, the San Blas Islands are a string of more than 300 islands and cays. Anchor at Holandes Cayes, sheltered behind a long coral reef, and enjoy a day to explore the treasures of the archipelago. Long white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters invite you to swim and snorkel. We may be welcomed by the indigenous people of the San Blas, the Guna, who govern the islands as an autonomous province with minimal interference from Panama’s national government. Learn about the Guna’s traditions, from their distinctive dress to handicrafts. (B,L,D)
Day 8 — Colón, Panama
After breakfast, disembark in Colón, Panama’s second largest city, located at the Caribbean entrance of the Panama Canal. From here, transfer for your flight home. (B)
Included meals are denoted as follows: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Reception (R), Dinner (D)
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Optional Extensions
Pre-Cruise Ext.: Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Monteverde & Arenal — 5 days, 4 nights
The itinerary below applies to the current year and serves as a sample for future voyages. Extension details for future departures will be posted as soon as they are available, and all booked travelers will be notified via email.
Extend your experience of Central America from the coastline to the mountains on this specially designed program.
Day 1 — San José, Costa Rica | Arenal Volcano Area
Arrive at Juan Santamaria International Airport in San José, where you will be met and transferred on a two-and-a-half-hour drive to the Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa in La Fortuna, site of Arenal Volcano National Park, and your home for the next three nights. Enjoy dinner at the hotel and an evening at leisure.
Day 2 — Arenal Volcano Area
Spend a relaxing day at Tabacon enjoying the resort’s thermal mineral springs and waterfalls or perhaps book one of their spa treatments (additional cost). Or join us on a hike in the Arenal Volcano area to explore the 1968 lava flows and take in extraordinary views of the smoking volcano and the surrounding landscape. The trail is filled with a diverse array of flora and fauna, including colorful birds, monkeys, and exotic plants. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome cocktail, followed by dinner at the hotel.
Day 3 — Arenal Volcano Area
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.
Day 4 – Arenal Volcano Area | Monteverde Cloud Forest
Check out of the hotel and meet your guide for a scenic drive up the mountains 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: the first is a mile and a half 'Sky Walk' through the treetops on a trail including six hanging bridges. 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. The second tour visits a family-run farm where you will see sugar cane, coffee, and banana plants and view the stages involved in producing high-quality coffee. Ride an ox cart to the sugar mill (trapiche) where sugar cane is processed into brown sugar. End the visit by sampling the farm’s coffee and sugar cane products.
After your adventure in the clouds or on the farm, 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 5 — Monteverde Cloud Forest | Puntarenas Embarkation
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 relaxing drive to Puntarenas for embarkation.
Your hotels:
The world-class 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.
The rustic 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.
Your program includes:
- Transfers and luggage handling from the San José airport, through the program as described, and on to the pier on Day 5
- 3 nights at Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa, including 3 dinners and 3 breakfasts
- 1 night at the Hotel El Establo, including dinner and breakfast
- Lunches on Days 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 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 airport to the hotel 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 60 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 to the hotel; we recommend flights arriving by 2:00pm.
- This pre-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.
Post-Cruise Ext.: Isthmus of Panama
The Isthmus of Panama: Gamboa and the Canal — 3 days, 2 nights
The itinerary below applies to the current year and serves as a sample for future voyages. Extension details for future departures will be posted as soon as they are available, and all booked travelers will be notified via email.
This program offers two different perspectives on the Isthmus of Panama, as you spend two nights at a resort surrounded by a lush jungle of tropical rainforest, after a day tracing the history of the importance of the region as a crucial link in international trade. See how these two aspects of Panama co-exist and enjoy some of the best eco-tourism available in Panama.
Day 1 — Colon | Disembarkation | San Lorenzo | Gamboa
After breakfast, disembark your ship and travel a short distance to the northern end of the Panama Canal to the Agua Claras Observation Center, where you will see the recent efforts to keep this important trade route open as you observe the results of the Panama Canal Expansion. This project doubled the waterway's capacity by creating a new lane of traffic and a new set of locks. The Observation Center offers stunning views over the Canal and Lake Gatun, as well as accessible and informative exhibits on the Canal's past, present, and future.
After this, step into the past with a visit to the 400-year-old ruins of Fort San Lorenzo. Built by the Spanish as one of a number of fortifications to protect the northern end of the trade route across the isthmus, it was an important leg in Spain's transatlantic trade. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as an extraordinary example of 17th and 18th century military architecture, San Lorenzo commands marvelous views of the Caribbean and the mouth of the Chagres River.
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant before you transfer to your hotel, the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve, located at the confluence of the southern leg of the Panama Canal and the Chagres River. Relax and enjoy the many amenities of this resort property before dinner at the hotel.
Day 2 — Gamboa
After breakfast at the hotel, begin your day of exploration with a cruise on Gatun Lake. Before the construction of the Panama Canal, the area that is now a lake was jungle teeming with wildlife. But as the region was flooded to create the canal, animals took refuge in mountain peaks that are now the many islands that dot the lake. Leisurely cruise the channels, islands and bays of this unique ecosystem, gliding past lush rainforests to a secluded region of the lake, where you can experience nature up close. Exotic birds, monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and crocodiles are just some of the animals you might encounter in this beautiful tropical jungle.
Return to the hotel for an independent lunch followed by a leisurely walk to visit the Reserve's Sloth Sanctuary, where at-risk animals are monitored and treated so that they can be re-introduced to the wild; a Butterfly Garden, showcasing about 20 different species; an Orchidarium; and a protected Frog Pond, where the entire life cycle of these fascinating amphibians is on display. Later choose between a birding walk on the Pipeline Road to observe some of its 350 species or an aerial tram ride through the canopy of the rainforest aboard a gondola that traverses about half a mile of jungle at a height of 400 feet for views of nesting birds, sloths, and a variety of monkeys. The balance of the afternoon is at leisure, followed by an included dinner at the hotel.
Day 3 — Gamboa| Panama City
Arrive breakfast, you will be transferred to the Tocumen International Airport in Panama City for your flight home.
Your hotel:
Located in the midst of Soberanía National Park on 340 acres overlooking the Panama Canal, Gamboa Rainforest Reserve Resort is a spectacular property that immerses you in the tropical jungle while providing comfortable rooms with views of the Chagres River and the Lake Gatun. Amenities include a swimming pool, fitness center, and two restaurants.
Your program includes:
- 2 nights at the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve Resort
- Transfer and luggage handling from the ship to the hotel on disembarkation day
- Transfer and luggage handling from the hotel to the airport on the scheduled program departure day
- Lunch on Day 1
- Dinner on Days 1 and 2
- Breakfast on Days 2 and 3
- Sightseeing and programming as noted in the itinerary
- Local English-speaking guide
- Gratuities for the drivers and local guides
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 arrival details are communicated at least 60 days prior to the beginning of your cruise in order to secure your transfer from the the hotel to the airport.
- Early check-in and/or late check-out are available depending on availability and at a supplement. An additional night is possible, upon request and depending on hotel availability. Please, contact reservations or your travel agent for further details.
- The official currency is the Panamanian Balboa, which is on par with the US dollar. US dollars and credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops, and restaurants.
- 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.
Dates & Prices
Click on the departure date to see pricing. Click the for more information.
Dates
Availability
Price
Feb 19 - 26, 2027
Available
from $9,210 $7,860
Special Offer
Early booking savings available for a limited time!
Deluxe Stateroom
Deluxe stateroom (204 sq. ft.), picture window with door onto private partial wall balcony (43 sq. ft.). Deck 3.
| Occupancy | Double | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9,210 $7,860 | $17,600 $11,420 |
| Pre Ext. | $3,460 | $4,810 |
| Post Ext. | $1,350 | $1,580 |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
Prestige stateroom (204 sq. ft.), sliding glass door opens to private balcony (43 sq. ft.).
| Occupancy | Double | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10,180 $8,680 | $19,540 $12,650 |
| Pre Ext. | $3,460 | $4,810 |
| Post Ext. | $1,350 | $1,580 |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
Prestige stateroom (204 sq. ft.), sliding glass door opens to private balcony (43 sq. ft.).
| Occupancy | Double | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10,670 $9,100 | $20,520 $13,280 |
| Pre Ext. | $3,460 | $4,810 |
| Post Ext. | $1,350 | $1,580 |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
Prestige stateroom (204 sq. ft.), sliding glass door opens to private balcony (43 sq. ft.).
| Occupancy | Double | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $11,260 $9,600 | $21,700 $14,030 |
| Pre Ext. | $3,460 | $4,810 |
| Post Ext. | $1,350 | $1,580 |
Deluxe Suite
Deluxe suite (291 sq. ft.), sliding glass door to private balcony (65 sq. ft.), sitting area with sofa. Decks 3, 4, 5, and 6.
| Occupancy | Double | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $15,570 $13,260 | $30,320 $19,520 |
| Pre Ext. | $3,460 | $4,810 |
| Post Ext. | $1,350 | $1,580 |
Prestige Suite - Deck 5
Prestige suite, two room suite (409 sq. ft.), sliding glass door to larger private balcony (86 sq. ft.), two bathrooms, sitting area and sofa convertible to fixed queen
| Occupancy | Double | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $20,940 $17,830 | $41,060 $26,380 |
| Pre Ext. | $3,460 | $4,810 |
| Post Ext. | $1,350 | $1,580 |
Prestige Suite - Deck 6
Prestige suite, two room suite (409 sq. ft.), sliding glass door to larger private balcony (86 sq. ft.), two bathrooms, sitting area and sofa convertible to fixed queen
| Occupancy | Double | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $22,020 $18,750 | $43,220 $27,760 |
| Pre Ext. | $3,460 | $4,810 |
| Post Ext. | $1,350 | $1,580 |
Privilege Suite
Privilege suite, (344 sq. ft.), sliding glass door to larger private balcony (86 sq. ft.), sitting area with sofa convertible to single twin. Decks 5 and 6.
| Occupancy | Double | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $23,100 $19,660 | $45,380 $29,120 |
| Pre Ext. | $3,460 | $4,810 |
| Post Ext. | $1,350 | $1,580 |
Grand Deluxe Suite
Grand Deluxe suite, extra large two room suite (484 sq. ft.), sliding glass door to spacious private terrace (323 sq. ft.), a large sitting area with half bath, master bedroom has a separate shower, tub, and double sinks. Deck 6.
| Occupancy | Double | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $25,350 $21,580 | $49,880 $32,000 |
| Pre Ext. | $3,460 | $4,810 |
| Post Ext. | $1,350 | $1,580 |
Owner's Suite
Owner's suite, extra large two room suite (484 sq. ft), sliding glass door to spacious private terrace (323 sq. ft.) with outdoor hot tub. Large sitting area with half bath, master bathroom has a separate shower, tub, and double sinks. Deck 5.
| Occupancy | Double | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $26,620 | $52,420 |
| Pre Ext. | $3,460 | $4,810 |
| Post Ext. | $1,350 | $1,580 |
A deposit of 25% of the cruise price is required to reserve space on a cruise. Deposits are applied toward final payment of the cruise price.
Rates include port taxes and fees. Most shore excursions are included in the rates.
Pre- and post-program options and optional excursions, where applicable, are available at an additional cost.
Prices are based on rates of exchange, airfare & fuel (where applicable), tariffs, taxes, and other costs as of the tour publication date. We reserve the right to correct errors and to increase program prices to cover increased costs, tariffs, and taxes received after prices are published and to reflect currency fluctuations.
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Experts
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Ralph DeFalco
Historian & Author
Dr. Ralph L. DeFalco III is a historian, a writer, a lecturer, and a retired national security intelligence professional whose career spanned five decades. He …
Dr. Ralph L. DeFalco III is a historian, a writer, a lecturer, and a retired national security intelligence professional whose career spanned five decades. He achieved the rank of captain during 25 years in the United States Navy and later served as a civilian intelligence professional on the Pentagon staff of the director of naval intelligence. Ralph is a graduate and former faculty member of the National Intelligence University and the College of Naval Command and Staff of the U.S. Naval War College, where he served as Fleet Professor. He earned his doctoral degree at Georgetown University.
Ralph has studied and published widely on topics ranging from military history and geopolitics to foreign affairs and applied ethics. He is a contributing author to the two-volume work, The Central Intelligence Agency: An Encyclopedia of Covert Ops, Intelligence Gathering, and Spies and his numerous essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in various websites and publications, including Naval History Magazine, International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, National Strategy Forum Review, and H-net.
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Dennis Wille Sáenz
Naturalist
Dennis Wille’s love for wildlife was born in the vibrant landscapes of Costa Rica, where the rainforest canopy echoed with birdcalls and the mangroves whispered …
Dennis Wille’s love for wildlife was born in the vibrant landscapes of Costa Rica, where the rainforest canopy echoed with birdcalls and the mangroves whispered ancient rhythms. Growing up surrounded by the biodiversity of Central America, biology quickly became his favorite science—not just for its facts, but for its stories. His fascination with bird vocalizations led to a creative fusion of art and ecology: a DVD that blended piano compositions with the songs of native birds, celebrating the harmony between nature and music.
Today, Dennis continues to deepen his expertise in ornithology through studies with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, refining his field skills and expanding his understanding of avian ecology and conservation. But his journey has never been confined to one place. His fieldwork and educational leadership have taken him across continents and cultures, always with a focus on connecting people—especially youth—with the ecosystems they inhabit. For Dennis, every expedition is more than research, it’s a story waiting to be told, a lesson waiting to be shared, and a legacy waiting to be passed on.
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Adriana Méndez Rodenas
Writer & Literary Scholar
Adriana Méndez Rodenas is an expert in Caribbean and Latin American literature and culture. A PhD in Romance Studies from Cornell University, she is Professor …
Adriana Méndez Rodenas is an expert in Caribbean and Latin American literature and culture. A PhD in Romance Studies from Cornell University, she is Professor Emerita of Spanish and Comparative Literature at the University of Iowa. She directed the Afro-Romance Institute at the University of Missouri, where she is now Professor Emerita.
Her research and writing on the nineteenth-century Caribbean explores Spanish colonialism, the rise of anti-slavery narrative, and the emergence of national identities. Born in Havana, she has published amply on women writers who cross linguistic and national borders, as in her signature book, Gender and Nationalism in Colonial Cuba—The Travels of Santa Cruz y Montalvo, Condesa de Merlin (1988), and her essay on Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda, a major figure of Spanish Romanticism, published in The Cambridge History of Cuban Literature (2024).
Adriana’s love of travel sparked her interest in the genre of travel writing. Her book, Transatlantic Travels to Nineteenth-Century Latin America: European Women Pilgrims (2014) resurrects the stories of women adventurers who crossed the Atlantic during the turbulent period leading to Spanish American Independence. Adriana’s research has been supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, a Fulbright Distinguished Professorship at Uppsala University, Notre Dame’s Institute for Advanced Study, and the Huntington Library.
Now she turns her love of travel to lecturing for a wider audience. Her topics include the legacy left behind by the colonial histories of Spain and Portugal. She has lectured on Panamá’s early colonial history as well as on the men and women who made the Panamá Canal. Bridging archival research with visual and literary culture, her lectures aim to bring the places visited come alive for her fellow travelers.
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Ship
Le Bougainville
Le Lapérouse
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Tour Details
Activity Description
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.
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— Rosalyn J.Smithsonian Journeys packed more fascinating elements into a week-long trip to Panama and Costa Rica than I would have thought possible. Fabulous!
Travel Insurance
For the convenience of our travelers, Smithsonian Journeys includes a basic medical expense and evacuation plan through Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand, at no additional charge. This plan provides post-departure Medical and Dental coverage of $250,000 per person and Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage of $1,000,000 per person (U.S. Residents Only). Note: For full details regarding these coverages please review the following Plan Documents here.
In addition, we recommend that travelers purchase a travel protection plan to help protect their travel investment from unforeseen events such as cancellation due to illness, flight delays due to adverse weather, baggage loss, and more. For your convenience, Smithsonian Journeys offers an optional Travel Protection Plan administered by Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand. For those interested, optional "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage is available for an additional charge. Note: Certain eligibility requirements apply and Cancel for Any Reason coverage is not available to New York residents. For full details regarding this coverage please review the following Plan Documents here.
To learn more about the Travel Protection Plan, you may visit https://www.generalipartner.com/smithsonianjourneys or call the administrator, Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand at (866) 501-3252.
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