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Three million years ago a thin strip of land emerged from the sea, uniting the Americas. The recently formed bridge turned into the path of an ongoing natural pilgrimage.

Time immemorial testifies the passage of the strangest animals and the recently appeared humans through this narrow bridge of land. At that moment, Panama defined its vocation to be a place of transit and travel. Thousands of years later, other men arrived by sea and crossed the narrow strip from one ocean to the other.

Centuries later, the same path was covered by the natives, the Conquistadors, the Inca gold followers, pirates, slaves, the railway builders, the California gold hunters and the incoming ships from coasts and seas all over the world.

Today, the Panama Canal stands as a living monument to this land of transit, this crossroads, stretching over a historic path trodden by those who opened the way and by the footsteps of those who remained. After that first meeting the people came, creating a culture and this culture became a country, in the most spectacular way.

Day 1 - Arrive to Panama
Arrive to Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. After clearing Immigration and Customs, be met by a representative and transfer to your hotel. If you arrive early today you will have time to explore downtown Panama City.

Accommodations: Marriott-Panama Hotel
Included Meals: n/a

Day 2 - The Chagres River and the Embera People
Breakfast and introduction briefing will take place at the hotel this morning. Meet your expedition leader and other trip participants. Soon after, head to El Corotu on the shores of Madden Lake. The main reservoir of drinking water for the cities of Panama and Colon, Madden Lake also supplies 40% of the water required for the operation of the Panama Canal. Here, board a motorized piragua (dugout canoe) and journey up the Chagres River. The dugout canoe ride will take you through the rainforest of the 320,000-acre Chagres National Park, which is the largest of the national parks protecting the Panama Canal Watershed. Along the Chagres River, you may be able to spot Little Blue and Green Heron, Great Egret, Anhingas, Neotropical Cormorant, Amazon, Ringed, and Green Kingfishers, along with Keel-billed Toucans and Ospreys flying above. Howler monkeys and American crocodiles are among the mammals that may be spotted.

Arrive at an Embera indigenous village where you will be greeted with lively music by the elder and children. Learn about their customs and their intrinsic relationship with nature. The Embera have always lived in communion with nature and the surrounding environment attest to this remark. Head to the main tambo (their communal house) to have lunch prepared with fresh fish, plantains and fruit. Learn about the Embera customs, their social structure and enjoy their traditional music and dance. The Embera produce a variety of spectacular handicrafts. You will learn their secret on how they dye the vegetable fibers used for making baskets and about the hardwoods and nuts they use for carving animal figures representative of the wildlife they cohabit with in the surrounding rainforest.

Accommodations: Marriott-Panama Hotel
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 3 - The Highlights of Soberania National Park
Early this morning take a short drive to Soberania National Park, in the Panama Canal Watershed, where world famous Pipeline Road is located. Your first stop will be at the Rainforest Discovery Center where you enjoy spectacular views of Soberania's vastness and canopy bird species from the 100 feet observation tower. Standing above the canopy, witness the morning flight of Keel-billed Toucans, Red-lored Amazons, the silent and stealthy movement of Mantled Howler Monkeys and the vivacious Red-naped Tamarins. Continue to explore the network of trails surrounding the Discovery Center and enjoy the hummingbird feeders that provide up close and personal views of 10 species of hummingbirds!

After a rainforest picnic lunch there will be more opportunities to further explore the healthy and productive habitats of the Panama Canal Watershed. Early in the afternoon drive to the nearby Panama Canal visitors’ center at Miraflores Locks for an introduction to the engineering, the history and the current expansion works taking place along the waterway. Tonight dinner will be embellished by a live Panamanian folkloric presentation.

Accommodations: Marriott-Panama Hotel
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 4 - Historic Panama City & Taboga Island
This morning explore the ruins of Old Panama City and learn about the land routes used to cross from Portobelo on the Caribbean Sea to Panama City on the Pacific Ocean before the railroad and the canal were built. Continue to Casco Viejo where the city was re-located in 1671 after Sir Henry Morgan’s final raid to the old city which rendered useless. Casco Viejo is a walled city designed to be protected against the pirates and looters of the time and it contains landmarks such as the National Cathedral, the National Museum and the Presidential Palace. Casco Viejo’s architecture reflects Spanish, French and American (US) influence representing their presence in the city.

After lunch, board the MV Discovery and sail the warm tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean towards Taboga Island where the vessel will stay overnight. Located just 12 nautical miles from Panama City, Taboga is a small beautiful island with a rich and colorful history, also known as the Island of Flowers. After arrival, disembark using Discovery´s tenders and hike along a trail heads to the highest point on the island called Cerro la Cruz. This hill is located at the south end of the island and there is a huge cross on top. From that point appreciate beautiful views of the entire island, the Bay of Panama and the entrance to the Panama Canal. There will be time before dinner to do some kayaking around El Morro Island which is joined by a sand bar to Taboga at low tide. Enjoy cocktails with the sunset at one of Discovery´s open decks.

Accommodations: M/V Discovery
Included Meals: breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 5 - Panama Canal Transit, Gatun lake
Wake up at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal and join the morning’s ship convoy for our northbound canal passage traversing Miraflores Locks and Pedro Miguel Locks. The Discovery will be raised 85 feet above sea level to Gatun Lake. Have a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience up close the history and operation of this engineering marvel as we transit right next to big container ships and tug boats. Navigate the Gaillard Cut (Culebra Cut), the narrowest section of the Panama Canal, bisecting the Continental Divide.

Drop anchor at Gatun Lake which is a man-made lake built during the canal construction by damming the Chagres River to provide fresh water for its operations, and overnight inside Panama Canal waters. Exotic birds, monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and crocodiles are just a few of the animals that you could see in their native surroundings. The sights, sounds and scents that make up this beautiful, tropical jungle will engulf you. Cameras are a must as this is considered the world’s premier location for viewing monkeys and other animals in the wild. There will be time again to do some kayaking around the area before dinner or for delicious and relaxing cocktails with the sunset.

Accommodations: M/V Discovery
Included Meals: breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 6 - The Panama Canal Expansion Project
Disembark the Discovery after breakfast to take a one and a half hour special tour of the Panama Canal Expansion Project. The expansion project is a huge financial undertaking for the Republic of Panama and it is the largest infrastructure initiative in Latin America. The expansion project will build a new traffic lane along the Panama Canal doubling its capacity and allowing longer and wider vessels to transit. Stop at the Gatun Locks visitor´s center to observe from a distance the transiting vessels going through the largest set of locks. We will return to Discovery for lunch and to prepare to return to sea level as we continue our two and a half hour daylight transit through Gatun Locks on our way to the Caribbean.

Once exited from the canal, sail to Shelter Bay Marina located at the Caribbean entrance to the canal. This small marina is surrounded by coastal rainforest and is the perfect place for a guided walk before sunset. Wild life abounds on this area including various species of monkeys, sloths, iguanas and a variety of birds. Be on the lookout for wildlife and interesting tropical flora along the way.

Accommodations: M/V Discovery
Included Meals: breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 7 - The Spanish Main: Fort San Lorenzo & Portobelo
Wake up to breakfast before disembarking the Discovery. Travel by motor coach to experience the magnificent Chagres River which was the center piece of the colonial inter-oceanic route and is now the lifeline of the Panama Canal full of wildlife and tropical jungle. Explore Fort San Lorenzo which is located on a cliff at the mouth of the Chagres on the Atlantic side where your leader will offer details of the immense amount of history found on this area. After this visit, travel again by motor coach to Portobelo and enjoy this town located on Caribbean waters. Explore the fortifications built by the Spaniards to protect their treasures and visit the Church of San Felipe, the sanctuary of the Black Christ.

Later in the afternoon, board the Panama Canal Railway train back to Panama City. This one hour railroad trip will allow you to traverse the picturesque trans-isthmian route from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. The line flanks the Panama Canal passing through lush rainforests, cruising alongside the Canal’s locks, through the historic Gaillard Cut and gliding over slender causeways in Gatun Lake. On arrival to Panama City you will be transferred to the hotel and enjoy a farewell dinner.

Accommodations: Marriott Panama Hotel
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 8 - Departure
Today you will be transferred to Tocumen International Airport 2 ½ hours prior to your scheduled flight departure time.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast

South Bound Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive Panama City
Day 2 - The Chagres River and the Embera People
Day 3 - The Highlights of Soberania National Park
Day 4 - Fort San Lorenzo & Portobelo
Day 5 - Gatun Lake and the Panama Canal Expansion Project
Day 6 - Panama Canal Transit and Taboga Island
Day 7 - Historic Panama City
Day 8 - Depart Panama City

Notes on Itinerary: This Panama small ship cruise operates year-round. We may occasionally alter itineraries slightly for safety, or to take advantage of weather, wildlife, and unplanned discoveries. Our ability to be flexible makes our style of cruising unique.

Single Travelers: The M/V Discovery offer single occupancy at an 50% supplement.

Cruise Cost Includes: Transfers airport – hotel – airport; Transfers from hotel – ship – hotel; 4 nights at the Marriott Hotel (deluxe room); Meals as stated above; All meals and alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages onboard the vessel; Tours; All taxes and port charges.

Not Included: International Airfare; excess baggage charges; Panama Tourist card(5$); Lodging in Panama City, personal gear, gratuities, laundry fees and insurance of any kind.

Arrival and Departure: If boarding in Panama City boarding is at 3:00pm on day 1. If boarding in Portobelo boarding is at 5:00pm. We recommend that passengers arrive in Panama City the day before the cruise departs to avoid any flight delays. If you arrive on the day of the cruise please schedule your flights to arrive no later than noon. On day 8 passengers disembark at 8:30am. If disembarking in Panama City it will take them about 30-35 minutes to get to the airport. If disembarking in Portobelo it will take them about 2 hours to get back to Panama City and another 30-35 minutes to get to the airport.

Payment and Cancellation Policy: Terms and Conditions.

Travel Insurance: We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with Travel Insurance. Please note that you must purchase your Travel Insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions.


Accommodations Aboard: The M/V Discovery is a 110-foot purpose-built catamaran. It accommodates 24 guests in 8 queen and 4 twin cabins, ensuring everyone can enjoy serenity and privacy together with the excitement and closeness of a true exploration cruise. All cabins have individual climate control, bathrooms and huge windows which extend along the length of the cabin allowing you to enjoy the scenery in complete privacy. The dining area, bar and lounge are located on the upper deck which is fitted with floor to ceiling “glass walls” providing a spectacular dinning experience and plenty of space to unwind. Enjoy Panamanian haute gastronomy as we delight you with exquisite indigenous dishes prepared by our talented chef. A BBQ and sun deck are located on the topmost observation deck. The Discovery is equipped with a unique platform that lowers kayakers gently into the water and also retrieves them in perfect safety and comfort.

Qualifications: This trip will be enjoyed by anyone who is in good health and leads an active life. Daily excursions from the boat will be made in a smaller skiff. Trip members will hike from the landing point to specific areas for wildlife observation. Hiking time for most landings will be a couple of hours round trip with lots of time to stop to study, photograph and enjoy the flora and fauna. Most landings are dry but some may be "wet", requiring cautious footing on slippery rocks. The boat staff will be on hand to assist.

Extending Your Trip: Call AdventureSmith Explorations about the possibilities of combining this trip with our Panama trips.

General Information: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list, extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation. We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance through AdventureSmith Explorations. If purchased within 14 days of sign-up, the pre-existing condition exclusion is waived.

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Call today.

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