Central America Adventure ~ Costa Rica & Panama

We will start our journey with a visit to Doka Estates, one of the largest coffee and sugarcane plantations in Costa Rica. This family-owned business will offer a taste of history as we learn more about the various stages of coffee processing and how the oldest Wet Mill found in Costa Rica plays a part.

Following our tour, we will transfer two hours west to Puerto Caldera. Here we will meet our vessel, RCGS Resolute, head aboard and settle into our rooms. Tonight, we will enjoy dinner and then migrate to the deck, reveling in the first of many tropical sunsets. RCGS Resolute will make a short sail across the Gulf of Nicoya to anchor off the Nicoya Peninsula, ready for the next day’s adventures.

Today we will explore the Curu National Wildlife Refuge which is nestled at the southeast tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. From a gentle walk along the well established trails in the heart of the park, to a more challenging hike - there are several ways to explore this national treasure and its diverse wildlife. The refuge hosts one of the most beautiful beaches on the peninsula and has spearheaded many successful sustainable development programs from reintroducing the near extinct spider monkey, to the coral reef restoration project and migratory bird monitoring. A stop at Isla Tortuga, or Turtle Island is sure to delight with its white sand beaches and inviting water. You will see how its rock formations resemble the marine creatures that provide the Island with its name. We may be in luck and catch a glimpse of the turtles while enjoying snorkelling, kayaking or paddle boarding in the ocean.

Our adventure continues in the Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the smallest yet most visited national parks in Costa Rica. Boasting over 100 species of mammals, 184 species of birds and a plethora of diverse flora, this park is a wildlife lover’s dream. Keep your eyes peeled for two and three toed sloths, white-faced monkeys and toucans as you explore the entanglement of trails weaving through the park. The network of hiking trails crisscross the parkland, providing access to its rainforest, white sand beaches, waterfalls and coral reefs.

You may also catch a glimpse of the dramatic volcanic rock formations, Punta Cathedral and Punta Serrucho, from several of the beaches that line the Manuel Antonio National Park.

Extending into the sea at the southern end of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, the Osa Peninsula is rich with both wildlife and history. This is the first of two days in one of the country’s most remote destinations and we once again take advantage of our coastal access to explore the ‘Parque Nacional Corcovado’. Almost half of the peninsula is devoted to the park which protects an incredible variety of wildlife, including Costa Rica’s largest population of jaguars and tapirs. The park is also home to the only remaining old growth wet forests on the Pacific coast of Central America, all four of the country’s monkey species: howler, spider, white-faced capuchin and squirrel, 20 species of hummingbird, the endemic yellow-billed cotinga and blackcheeked ant tanager, crimson fronted parakeets, and more.

Should the conditions be favourable, kayak or paddle board through the expansive tangled mangroves as the wildlife thrives around you.

On the second day on the Osa Peninsula we will cross into Golfito Bay, a small gulf surrounded by steep, forested hills. We will venture into the town of Golfito, originally famed for its position as the principle banana port for the United Fruit Company in Costa Rica. Decline in the industry due to labour
disputes and rising production costs moved the company’s holdings out of town - now Golfito is best known for its ecological efforts and is Costa Rica’s only city situated in a declared protected area. Mere steps out of town, the Golfito Wildlife Refuge offers an opportunity to hike through tropical
forests with trees reaching nearly 45 metres tall. While hiking along one of the many trails, be on the lookout for one of the thousands of species of mammals, birds and reptiles that call the refuge home.

As we bid farewell to Costa Rica, our first stop in Panama is Coiba Island, a place with an unusual history. Having separated from the mainland an estimated 15,000 years ago, Coiba is now home to many endemic subspecies, such as the Coiba Island howler monkey and the Coiba spinetail. In 2005, Coiba National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is home to numerous native flora that have since become extinct on the mainland of Panama due to deforestation. This is one of the last places in Central America where the scarlet macaw can still be found in sizeable numbers. If time permits, we may have the opportunity to sail to near-by Granito De Oro, which is a top snorkelling location due to the diversity and volume of marine life. In the afternoon we explore the famous wetlands of the Golfo de Montijo, whose 50,000 acres of mangroves are home
to a staggering abundance of wildlife. We cruise the shoreline of the gulf with our cameras and binoculars poised, ready to view the wetlands that are teaming with waterfowl and wading birds.

We have now entered the Gulf of Panama, but before we head for the Panamanian mainland, we make one more island-hopping stop at the Pearl Islands, or as locals refer to it, Islas de las Perlas. This archipelago of more than 250 islands received its name from Spanish Conquistadors who found countless pearls when they visited the islands in 1503. Most famous for their deserted white sand beaches, fragile ecosystems and marine life, the islands also made a splash when they were featured as the location for the `Survivor' television series.

After a week of exploring the remote tropical coastline and far-flung islands, we trade our flip-flops for walking shoes today as we venture into the cityscape of Panama City. Steeped in rich Spanish history, its cobblestoned historic centre, Casco Viejo, is framed by colonial era landmarks such as the
Presidential Palace and Metropolitan Cathedral. Be sure to enjoy an espresso or mojito in one of the many cafés shaded by bougainvillea in Panama’s old quarter. For those in search of a cultural experience, the numerous museums, including the Museum of Biodiversity, designed by Frank Gehry, is an experience every architectural fan should check off their bucket list. If you are looking for a quintessential Panamanian Hat or a mola made by the Guna Indians in the San Blas Islands, then the markets are a must see. Head to the fish market for a tasty snack or the National Handicraft Market if pottery, molas and jewelry handcrafted by the indigenous people of Panama is more your style.

With our cups full of the cultural experiences of Panama City, today we sit back and let the history come to us. Spending the better part of the day (8+ hours) moving though the 77km Panama Canal from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, we will pass under the Bridge of the Americas before entering the Miraflores Locks. The locks will then take us up to Miraflores Lake, then up again to Gatun Lake, before being lowered back down to the sea level of the Caribbean Sea. You will not simply watch this incredible feat of engineering, you will have the opportunity to experience it first-hand. With the crossing completed, we will then anchor near the city of Colon to enjoy our final dinner together attended by the Captain of the ship and toast our adventures.

After breakfast, it is time to bid farewell to your crew and fellow travellers as we disembark RCGS Resolute. A transfer back to Panama City is provided for all guests and while some of us will travel to the airport, many may wish to add a few extra days to explore more of the masterpiece that is Panama City.