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Amazingly diverse flora & fauna—and an engineering marvel
Within the lush and vibrant green of this region lie many discoveries. The flash of scarlet macaw wings amid treetops. The scintillating iridescence on the hummingbirds sipping nectar as they hover. And so many moments that will stay with you long after you leave—the atavistic thrill of hearing howler monkeys call to each other in the trees or the peace of sinking into a pool at the base of a waterfall deep in the jungle. Add to that the privilege of seeing one of the world’s great feats of engineering from the deck of an expedition ship as you cross the Panama Canal—an absolute peak travel experience.
(0) Central America Itineraries
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Expedition Highlights
Actively discover the legendary wildness of Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia. Hike, paddleboard, kayak, snorkel, and zip line. Go by ship to venture to places far from tourist infrastructure, landing at remote, empty beaches by Zodiac to find exotic birds and flowers. If you venture to Colombia, explore some of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, where endemic species thrive amidst intriguing, modern cultures. If you choose to cross the Panama Canal, do so in a way worthy of the peak experience. Go aboard an expedition ship with open decks to experience it up close. Cross over two days to see the workings of the locks by day and in the coolness of night.
Escape winter, or go to relish one of the world’s most exciting natural environments. The onboard atmosphere is comfortable and casual, akin to that of a large private yacht. And our wellness philosophy is designed to relax and revitalize mind, body, and spirit.
In this episode of What to Expect, National Geographic Quest Captain Tim Lyon describes the unique way we cross over from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean through the Panama Canal while taking in the lush biodiversity of the area.
Expedition Spotlight: Brilliant Biodiversity on the Osa Peninsula
In this episode of Expedition Spotlight, naturalist Zoey Greenberg highlights the brilliant biodiversity of the Osa Peninsula and the species that inhabit its lush greenery and pristine shores.
Explore with National Geographic Experts: Volcanologist Arianna Soldati
In this episode of Explore with National Geographic Experts, learn more about Arianna Soldati’s passion for volcanoes and the insights she'll share on two upcoming voyages to Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
Striking Portraits of Panama and Colombia
Recently returned from our Panama and Colombia:Exploring the Caribbean Coast voyage, staff photographer David Vargas captured soul-stirring images of the people and places at the heart of this vibrant region.
Costa Rica by Ship: A Unique Look at Tropical Wildness
With jaguars and toucans in the cool mist of cloud forests, blue morpho butterflies and sloths in tropical rainforests, and a kaleidoscope of marine life swirling around coral reefs, Costa Rica’s varied habitats burst with biodiversity. The wildest of these wild places are also the least accessible—unless you approach by expedition ship.
Take a breather and enjoy the peaceful landscapes, sounds, and wildlife of Costa Rica.
The Wonders of Corcovado National Park
Corcovado National Park's remote location has enabled this nature preserve to maintain its reputation as one of the most interesting and abundant ecological destinations around.
See, do and learn more by going with engaging experts who have been exploring this region for decades.
Expedition Leader
Veteran expedition leaders are the orchestrators of your experience. Many have advanced degrees and have conducted research or taught for years. They have achieved expedition leader status because they possess the skills, the experience, and the depth of knowledge necessary to continually craft the best expedition possible for our guests.
Our naturalists, passionate about the geographies they explore (and return to regularly), illuminate each facet through their enthusiasm and knowledge. Our guests consistently cite the expertise and engaging company of our staff as key reasons to repeatedly travel with us.
Undersea specialists are your eyes on the world that lies beneath the waves. Using an array of tools, including a high-definition camera, our Cousteau-like undersea specialists show you strikingly clear images of the seldom-seen world beneath the ship.
Every expedition aboard a ship in our National Geographic-flagged fleet offers an exclusive service—a Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified photo instructor. This naturalist is specially trained to offer assistance with camera settings and the basics of composition and to help you become a better, more confident photographer.
Our wellness program embodies the belief that nature is vitalizing and that wildness, as Thoreau famously said, supplies a tonic. Wellness specialists are fully accredited and experienced licensed massage therapists and are aboard every ship in the National Geographic-flagged fleet. They lead morning stretch class, aerobic walks ashore, kayak outings, and more.
Making a Difference
Lindblad Expeditions supports stewardship efforts through the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic (LEX-NG) Fund. One hundred percent of traveler contributions to the LEX-NG Fund in Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia support the National Geographic Society’s Early Career Grants, which promote future leaders with novel and exploratory projects that span the fields of conservation, education, research, storytelling, and technology. In awarding each $5,000 to $10,000 grant, preference is given to projects that directly impact Costa Rica, Panama, or Colombia coastlines and communities.
FAQs
FAQs and Key Information
From climate conditions to water temperature to packing the right footwear, find answers to the questions Expedition Specialists get most often.
Today guests had the pleasure of being led by our local guides and shipboard naturalists on a plethora of hike and walk options in Caletas. This beach is located just south of Drake’s Bay. Guests were delighted at the chance to see mantled howler monkeys, spider monkeys, several species of birds, and even a tiger rat snake. In the afternoon we cruised into Agujitas River for a cool Zodiac ride to find more wildlife. All in all, it was a wonderful way to spend our last day of the expedition and to cap off an amazing Central American season aboard National Geographic Quest .
Today is the day we get to share with the Costa Rican locals! We disembarked onto lovely Playa Blanca, one of the large beaches on the western side of the Golfo Dulce. We could choose to do two out of four activities and a local family or person runs each one of these projects. Our choices were to visit a gold panning and sugar cane facility, visit Doña Eida’s hearts of palm project, hike the trails in Finca Danta, or visit Alex’s garden and cacao farm. Whichever activities we picked, we were sure to enjoy amazing stories and delicious food. Most importantly, we had the chance to learn a lot about the activities themselves and how these projects have changed the person’s life, their family’s lifestyle, and their need to continue with environmentally friendly activities. We went back on board happy for the experience and happier to make a change in peoples’ lives.
Today National Geographic Quest arrived to Golfo Dulce, and we craned down the kayak first thing in the morning to paddle along the beautiful coastline of the gulf. The mountains in this area offered a beautiful forest backdrop and our guests enjoyed the morning activities. We enjoyed our interactions with the white-throated capuchin monkeys that came right by the shoreline and were feasting on the fruitful trees that were readily available for them to eat. Having the gulf to explore the entire morning was a delight, and the bird life was plentiful, many of them migrants of the northern shore. We also had a great kayaking trip alongside the mangroves. Later in the afternoon, we repositioned our beautiful ship to the mouth of Rio Seco. This destination has a wonderful rainforest reserve that shelters a second growth forest in which we saw incredible tall canopy species of trees. We also saw many different nectar plants in the garden, scarlet macaws, yellow-throated toucans, blue ground doves, and scarlet-rumped tanagers among others. We also had many different drinks and pastries to enjoy, which made for a great ending to our day exploring the beautiful gulf.
What a way to begin the day! The sunrise upon our arrival at Coiba Island was incredible. Our visit to this beautiful region of Panama was divided into two destinations: the very little islet of Coco and the main island at the ranger station. Coco Islet was where we snorkeled around a big rock over a rocky reef. The number of fish was outstanding and there were so many different species. The star of the day was the hawksbill turtle that many of our guests were lucky enough to see. At the ranger station we directed walks and offered kayaking and standup paddle boarding. On the walk we spotted many different species of birds, but as spectacular as they were, a group of white-throated capuchin monkeys overshadowed them.
Today, Isla Iguana did not fail to impress. A wildlife refuge located just three miles off the Azuero Peninsula, it enchanted us with its magnificent frigatebird colony, its army of hermit crabs, and of course there was no shortage of black spiny-tailed iguanas. Due to an extremely low tide, we were only able to spend an afternoon on this delightful speck of an island, of which we took full advantage. After lunch, we walked across the island looking for some more elusive creatures, like the mangrove warbler, and we learned more about the island’s history as a bomb range for the US army during WWII. Later we tested our snorkeling gear by exploring the island's recovering reef. It was amazing to see how a place that was bombarded 8 decades ago, now shows great signs of recovery, boosting over 17 species of corals and more than 300 species of fish. Now, we say goodbye to the Gulf of Panama and head to our next destination, Coiba Island.
The Panama Canal, which effectively connects more than 144 shipping routes, 1,700 ports, and 160 countries, is much more than its transit locks. It is miles of wild landscape, rich with intrigue and an astonishing biodiversity of wildlife.
