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7 Night Panama and Colombia Exploring the Caribbean Coast

From Balboa to Cartagena

National Geographic Quest

Lindblad Expeditions
4 Stars
  • Cruise #: 2095368
  • Departs: Sun, Nov 3, 2024
  • Returns: Sun, Nov 10, 2024
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    *Prices are per person based on double occupancy
    Oceanview $6,290
    Balcony
    Call to Book1-877-872-8154
    Suite $10,100
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    Itinerary Summary

    Day by Day Details

    Cruise Segment of Itinerary

    Sunday - Nov 3, 2024
    Day
    1
    Balboa, Panama
    • Balboa, Panama
    Upon arrival in Panama City, transfer to the port in Balboa and embark our ship. (D)
    Monday - Nov 4, 2024
    Day
    2
    Cruising Gatun Lake, Panama
    • Cruising Gatun Lake, Panama
    • Cruising the Panama Canal, Panama
    By special permission, our ship anchors overnight in Gatun Lake, a vast artificial lake that forms a major part of the Panama Canal. In the morning, disembark on Barro Colorado, a hilltop transformed into an island by the damming of the Chagres River to build the Panama Canal. Visit the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and learn about initiatives to protect the incredible biodiversity of the surrounding Barro Colorado Nature Monument, one of the most studied areas of tropical forest on the planet and the site of various National Geographic-supported studies. Later, choose to hike into the jungle, navigate the lake by Zodiac, or take a boat ride to the mouth of the Chagres River to explore the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center. Tonight, cruise onward through the complex lock system of the Panama Canal, taking advantage of the nighttime lull in cargo activity. Completed in 1914, the canal is about 50 miles long and sees some 14,000 ships pass through every year. Witness this astonishing feat of engineering under the dramatic golden glow of floodlights. (B,L,D) ...
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    Tuesday - Nov 5, 2024
    Day
    3
    Portobelo, Panama
    • Portobelo, Panama
    This morning, we arrive along Panama's Caribbean coast and step ashore at the historic town of Portobelo. Named by Cristopher Columbus in 1502, Portobelo, or "beautiful port", was one of the most important Spanish trading centers in the New World. Explore the town's 17th- and 18th-century Spanish colonial fortifications, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later, hike into Portobelo's lush jungles in search of mantled howler monkeys, toucans, and a variety of parrots. In the afternoon, our ship sails further down the Panamanian coast, where we'll set out with snorkel and fins to explore the vibrant undersea world of the Caribbean. (B,L,D) ...
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    Wednesday - Nov 6, 2024
    Day
    4
    Guna Yala, Panama
    • Guna Yala, Panama
    Wake up amid the archipelago of Guna Yala (also known as the San Blas Islands), a constellation of 368 tiny white-sand isles scattered off the northeast coast of Panama. Get to know the indigenous Guna people, one of the first native groups to achieve political autonomy in Latin America. Spend the morning among the thatched huts of an island village, learning about Guna culture and handicrafts. Marvel at the intricate designs of handmade textiles called molas, which harken back to a female tradition of body painting. In the afternoon, explore the vibrant marine world around the islands by snorkel, kayak, and stand-up paddleboard. (B,L,D) ...
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    Thursday - Nov 7, 2024
    Day
    5
    Sapzurro, Colombia
    • Sapzurro, Colombia
    • Capurgana, Colombia
    National Geographic Quest calls at the wonderfully isolated villages of Sapzurro and Capurgana positioned only 3 miles apart on the stunning coast of Caribbean Colombia. Set out on a nature walk on the Capurgana-Sapzurro trail. In this area, the ranges of two species of howler monkeys overlap as both the mantled and the Colombian red howler monkeys are here. Watch for toucans, parrots, trogons, occasionally scarlet macaws, and possibly three-toed sloths as we traverse the tropical forest trails between the villages. Or choose a shorter hike which takes us across an international, transcontinental frontier to Panama. Pass through the quick, walk-through border crossing perched high on a bluff before descending to the beach at the Panamanian village of La Miel. The sheltered waters of the bay at Sapzurro back in Colombia beckon us for a pleasant kayak or paddleboard around this tropical inlet. We finish our day at sunset in the village of Capurgana. (B,L,D) ...
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    Friday - Nov 8, 2024
    Day
    6
    Santa Cruz del Islote, San Bernardo Islands, Colombia, Colombia
    • Santa Cruz del Islote, San Bernardo Islands, Colombia, Colombia
    • San Antero, Colombia, Colombia
    • Bus Travel
    • Tuchin, Colombia
    • Bus Travel
    • San Antero, Colombia, Colombia
    Santa Cruz del Islote is one of the most densely populated islands on Earth, where some 600 inhabitants live squeezed together in an area the size of two soccer fields, surrounded by turquoise seas and coral reefs. Stroll the island's motor-free streets, past brightly painted houses and bustling docks; and experience daily life on this unusual island as you chat with local residents. Later, as we enjoy lunch onboard, we cruise through the San Bernardo archipelago calling at San Antero. Our afternoon excursion takes us to Tuchin, an indigenous village celebrated as the birthplace of the sombrero vueltiao, a type of hat considered a national symbol of Colombia. Observe vueltiao makers at work, and then meet with members of the local Zenu community, known for their ingenious irrigation systems. Return to National Geographic Quest, which will stay at anchor tonight in San Antero. (B,L,D) ...
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    Saturday - Nov 9, 2024
    Day
    7
    Covenas, Colombia
    • Covenas, Colombia
    • Bus Travel
    • Santa Cruz de Lorica, Colombia, Colombia
    • Bus Travel
    • Covenas, Colombia
    • Cispata Bay, Colombia
    Disembark this morning for our short drive to Santa Cruz de Lorica, a charming riverside town influenced by several waves of immigration from France, Belgium, England, Syria, and Lebanon. Stroll through the central square, overlooked by a stunning Spanish-colonial cathedral and historic buildings in colorful Arabic styles. Return to the ship for lunch and time to relax before embarking on a late afternoon cruise in the rarely explored Cispata Bay, timed for optimum wildlife spotting as native creatures emerge from their mid-day rest. (B,L,D) ...
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    Sunday - Nov 10, 2024
    Day
    8
    Cartagena, Colombia
    • Cartagena, Colombia
    After breakfast onboard, disembark in Cartagena and transfer to the airport to connect with your flight home. (B)


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