The Panama Canal & Costa Rica

• Exclusive journey that combines the incredible biodiversity of Costa Rica with the treasures of culture-rich, historic Panama.
• Created in our tradition of innovative programming and educational travel.
• Access to ports unavailable to larger vessels and included excursions throughout your program.
• Specially arranged daytime transit through the fascinating Panama Canal, an incredible feat of engineering.
• UNESCO World Heritage site — Archaeological Site of Panamá Viejo and Historic District of Panamá, Panama.
• Arenal and San José Pre-Tour Extension and Panama City Post-Tour Extension.

Anchor at Quepos and experience an unparalleled diversity of wildlife on a visit to the lush Manuel Antonio National Park—a captivating combination of rainforest, beach and coral reef.

The impressive array of wildlife Manuel Antonio National Park has to offer—despite it being Costa Rica’s smallest national park—will leave explorers in awe. Hundreds of mammal and bird species, along with countless amphibians and reptiles, call this park home. Naturalist guides will lead an exploration of this protected biodiverse paradise, where you may spot vibrant toucans, camouflaged iguanas, howler monkeys, tree-dwelling squirrel monkeys, two- and three-toed sloths and Capuchin monkeys. Travelers may also relax on the gorgeous beaches lined with lush foliage and take advantage of this premium snorkeling locale.

Join your fellow passengers for the Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner on the ship tonight.

Today you will have a choice of three different included excursions—choose one for the morning and one for the afternoon. Between morning and afternoon, return to the ship and tuck into a delicious lunch, then head back out for more excitement. The three excursions are as follows:

• Rain Forest Excursion. Explore a network of hiking trails of various lengths, where naturalist tour guides will search for wildlife and point out fascinating facts about the endemic flora and fauna.
• Sloth Visiting Center. Meet sloths in their natural habitat, in a preserve established and maintained by a local family. On the Osa Peninsula, there is incredible biodiversity, including two native species of sloths: the two-toed and the three-toed. Keep your eyes peeled for a variety of birds and other wildlife as well!
• Cocoa Farm and Chocolate Making. Calling all chocolate lovers! Today you can savor the ultimate chocolate experience, from learning the history of its production (by the ancient Mayans!) to seeing the steps of modern chocolate making, to tasting the delicious results. Try farm-grown fruit dipped in farm-made chocolate fondue for the ultimate fresh food experience!

For today’s excursions, the trip from the ship to the shore will involve a wet landing. Windstar utilizes Zodiacs, rugged inflatable boats designed to take guests safely to remote ports with no docks. A wet landing involves boarding a Zodiac from a floating dock on the yacht and riding it from the ship to the shore. Once you reach the beach, you will disembark directly into the water, which will be ankle or knee level.

To prepare for the wet landing, make sure you bring water shoes to help you walk in the water and sand. Some landing sites may have rocky bottoms. You will most likely get wet, so be conscientious of your attire. You may also want to bring a Ziploc or watertight plastic bag for your phone and camera to keep them dry. After disembarking, your adventures await on shore!

At the end of the afternoon, return to the ship for a relaxing evening and savor a delicious dinner on board.

Free time: Morning at leisure on the ship.

Please note: Today’s port of call has changed from Isla Coiba to Isla Parida.

For today’s excursions, the trip from the ship to the shore will involve a wet landing. Windstar utilizes Zodiacs, rugged inflatable boats designed to take guests safely to remote ports with no docks. A wet landing involves boarding a Zodiac from a floating dock on the yacht and riding it from the ship to the shore. Once you reach the beach, you will disembark directly into the water, which will be ankle or knee level.

To prepare for the wet landing, make sure you bring water shoes to help you walk in the water and sand. Some landing sites may have rocky bottoms. You will most likely get wet, so be conscientious of your attire. You may also want to bring a Ziploc or watertight plastic bag for your phone and camera to keep them dry. After disembarking, your adventures await on shore!

Isla Parida. Today we will go ashore in Isla Parida, which is part of an archipelago. Parida is Spanish for “calving,” so named because humpback whales come here to give birth and nurse their young in the protected waters. Be on the lookout for the whales, dolphins, and a variety of colorful fish. The islands themselves boast beautiful butterflies and birds and several species of monkeys.

Upon landing, we will enjoy a BBQ beach party and lunch. Kayaks and snorkeling gear will be available to use and you may choose to spend the day on the beach. Or you can choose from one of the following excursions (please note that these are new excursions).

Traveler’s Choice | Choose one of the following included excursions. (Please make your selection on the Reservation Form.)

·      Hiking on Parida Island (Strenuous).

Head off the beaten path to explore the wondrous ecology of the island, from beautiful flowers and lush rainforest vegetation to iguanas and rare birds. Along the way you’ll enjoy a viewpoint stop to see neighboring islands.

Duration:  2.5 hours total 

Details: The hike itself will take approximately 1.5 hours in significant to extreme heat and humidity, and the level of difficulty is active to strenuous.

 To wear/bring: Wear comfortable walking shoes, shorts or long pants, a T-shirt or light shirt and a hat. Bring your swimsuit, a towel, insect repellent, sunscreen, sunglasses and your camera. You will be provided with water. You may also want to bring additional clothes to change into after the hike. Please do not bring valuable items to this tour.

·      Island-Hopping Snorkeling.

Isla Parida is surrounded by the Chiriqui National Marine Park — with its dozens of untouched islands. Set sail into open waters on an island-hopping adventure. There are soaring palm trees, white-sand beaches, coral reefs and gentle waters perfect for snorkeling.

Duration:  3 hours  

Details: Snorkeling equipment will be provided. The boats used are modest panga boats, and guests will need to be able to climb hanging ladders to get in and out of the vessel. The ladders are short and can be challenging to climb. At times, visibility and snorkeling conditions may not be ideal. If conditions are too poor, your captain may decide to search for wildlife such as turtles, dolphins and whales instead. Your panga captain will speak Spanish, but you will have an English-speaking guide. A waiver must be signed prior to the tour.

To wear/bring:  Wear light clothing and comfortable shoes, and wear your bathing suit under your clothes. Bring a towel, insect repellent, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and a camera.

After your afternoon on Isla Parida, return to the ship and enjoy a relaxing dinner on board.

Spend the day relaxing and gazing at the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy the amenities—and three delicious meals—on board today.

After breakfast, begin your day with a tour of the fascinating Miraflores Locks Visitor Center. Visit this unique interactive museum to learn about the Panama Canal and the engineering behind it. Exhibits analyze the canal's history, design, operations and effects on the environment. Watch an instructive 15-minute film and head to the fourth floor for panoramic views of the canal transits. Next, stop at the new BioMuseo (Biodiversity Museum) in the Bridge of Life building, the first Latin American building designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry. The museum's mission is to educate the public about the biodiversity of the isthmus of Panama and the need to protect its environment.

Return to the ship for lunch. Then, choose an included excursion for the afternoon.

Traveler’s Choice | Choose one of the following included excursions. (Please make your selection on the Reservation Form.)

• Panama Historic District.

 Panama City is considered the oldest continuously occupied European settlement along the Americas’ Pacific coast, which was founded in 1519. The city’s rich and fascinating history includes Spanish colonization, slave rebellion and a 1671 pirate attack destroying the town—which resulted in the city being moved to the area today called Casco Antiguo. Delight in Casco Antiguo’s eclectic collection of architecture, including exquisite examples of buildings from the 17th-20th centuries.

• Culinary Excursion.

Take a culinary tour of Panama, stopping for cooking demonstrations and tastings. Possible visits include the seafood market and Panamanian coffee roasters. This afternoon is sure to be a delight for the senses!

Return to the ship and enjoy dinner onboard.

Spend the morning enjoying the once-in-a-lifetime experience of traveling from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea through the Panama Canal. A total of 40 miles long, this waterway connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans was first constructed in the early 1900s. The Panama Canal was first built and solely controlled by the United States in 1914, with joint agency between the U.S. and the Republic of Panama going into effect in 1979 and complete control being passed to Panama in late 1999. As we voyage through the canal from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, watch as the mighty locks open and close, ultimately raising and lowering the ship 85 feet in this unique and memorable experience.

 Tonight, join your fellow passengers for a Captain’s Farewell Reception on the ship, along with dinner onboard. Raise a glass to your fabulous adventure!