Amazon Adventures

Panama

Expedition / Golden Pathway / Indigenous Trail / Journey / Walking
San Blas Kayaking / Romance / Family / Canopy Tower / Canopy Lodge / Expedition Cruise

Panama Expedition Cruise

The Discovery is a 33 meter, purpose built catamaran providing 8 queen and 4 twin cabins. 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. Passenger numbers on the Discovery are limited to just 24, ensuring everyone can enjoy serenity and privacy together with the excitement and closeness of a true exploration cruise.

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.

A journey in the Discovery is a feast of intense, sensory experiences: the aroma of remote places, the texture of unknown things, the multicolor tapestry of nature, the accent of unheard languages, and the exquisite flavor of what has never before been tasted; that is the incomparable feeling of penetrating the secrets of other worlds, other lives. That proximity is life, it is beginning and end. The yearning for that closeness is the virtue and spirit of the true traveler and it is the reason for the Journey Between the Seas. That communion of body and spirit is only possible within the intimate realm of a compact craft, designed to cover the narrowest marine routes that take us to pristine lands.

A crew of ten has been carefully selected and trained to ensure a perfect journey for the 24 exclusive passengers of the Discovery. Onboard the Discovery you will find enthusiastic expedition leaders that will provide insight and profound understanding of the adventure you will undertake. They are experienced and well trained naturalists ready to share their vast knowledge and understanding. Our expedition leaders share a love for history and a passion for nature. They will introduce you to native human groups that still preserve their customs and traditions, and to a world of stunning natural beauty and rich history unknown by most. They are experts on their fields and they will make your journey onboard the Discovery an unforgettable experience.

Inside the cozy, spacious cabins and lounges, the magic of night melts imperceptibly with the fabulous sunrises at amazing places that offer their purest charms at dawn ready for a day of excursion. From its decks, everything looks close, vivid, amazing, moving and…unforgettable.

NORTHBOUND JOURNEY

Day 1 Saturday Panama City - Flamenco Marina - Sail the tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean towards Contadora, where the Discovery will stay the first night before navigating to the Darien Jungle. Take this opportunity to meet your expedition leaders, the crew and your fellow travelers while you savor our tempting native cuisine.

Day 2 Sunday Darien Jungle - Step aboard a time machine and travel back more than 600 years to a place that not many have had the privilege of experiencing. More than an excursion, this is a journey into the lives of the Embera Indians. A proud people who have been able to maintain their traditions and lifestyle as they were before the Spaniards colonized the region. These natives are also master crafters of cocobolo wood carvings and basketry. After motoring up river you will see the village emerging from the jungle, as if by magic. Keep your eyes open along the way as the region offers abundant wildlife that is particularly active along the rivers edge.

Day 3 Monday Pearl Islands – San Telmo - Snorkel and swim on the waters of the Pearl Islands. The archipelago owes its name to the abundance of Pearl Oysters which supported a substantial fishery in the early 1900`s. On the outer portion of the archipelago, the islands of San Telmo and Galera are home to some pristine beaches and fertile fishing grounds. Join the divers from Esmeralda in their search for pearls and kayak along beautiful and unspoiled beaches. View the remains of the submarine Explorer built in 1865 during the Civil War and which sunk off the coast of San Telmo during the oyster fishery of the late 1800´s.

Day 4 Tuesday 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. You will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience up close the history and operation of this engineering marvel. Navigate the Gaillard Cut, the narrowest section of the Panama Canal, bisecting the Continental Divide. This section of the canal is full of history and geological value and you will be able to appreciate the continuous maintenance that this area requires, because it is very susceptible to landslides. Spend the night in Gatun Lake on Panama Canal waters.

Day 5 Wednesday Panama Canal – Barro Colorado - Prior to the construction of the Panama Canal, the vast jungle area that is now the Gatun Lake was teeming with an overwhelming abundance of wildlife. As the region was flooded to create the lake, animals took refuge in the mountain peaks, which are now the many islands that dot the renowned lake. Explore Barro Colorado Island where the Smithsonian´s Tropical Research Center is located. Your expedition leader will take you on board small crafts past lush rainforests to secluded areas of the lake to witness first-hand the splendor and excitement of the jungle. 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. The Discovery will exit the Panama Canal in the afternoon on its way to the mouth of the Chagres River.

Day 6 Thursday Chagres River - Fort San Lorenzo - Experience the magnificent Chagres River which was used by the conquistadors to move their gold across the Isthmus of Panama en-route from Peru to Spain and by the gold prospectors who attempted a "short cut" from the US East coast to the gold fields of California. The river 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. The fort was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century to defend their well known gold trail.

Day 7 Friday Portobelo – Caribbean - Enjoy the town of Portobelo on Caribbean waters which was founded by Christopher Columbus on his fourth voyage to the new continent in 1597. This quaint town is rich in history as it was the site of many sea and land battles between the Spanish colonials and the pirates and corsairs raiding the Spanish Main. Explore the fortifications built by the Spaniards to protect their treasures and visit the Church of San Felipe, the sanctuary of the Black Christ. Spend the night in the bay of Portobelo, the most important refuge for the Spanish galleons in the Caribbean.

Day 8 Saturday Portobelo – Caribbean - Wake up to a farewell breakfast before you disembark the Discovery. Travel by motor coach to Panama City and back to reality. This two hour trip will allow you to traverse the trans-isthmian highway from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

The meeting point will be Flamenco Marina for a northbound journey. That marina is located about 25 to 30 minutes away from Panama City. We will provide transportation for clients from their hotel to the marina. Embarkation time is at 3:00pm in Flamenco.

The tour ends in Portobelo City. Passengers will disembark at 8:30am from Portobelo and we will provide transportation back to their hotels in Panama City. Portobelo is about 2 hours away from Panama City.

See Map of itinerary

See Brochure (current available departure dates are below)

THE SOUTHBOUND JOURNEY FOLLOWS THE SAME EXPLORATION ROUTE IN REVERSE

2009 Departure Dates:
Northbound - February 7,28, April 18, May 30, October 10,31
Southbound - January 17, August 1

Guaranteed departures - 2009 - January 17, February 7, August 1

Non-guaranteed departures - 2009 - February 28, April 18, May 30, October 10, 31

* For our non-guaranteed departures, we will need a minimum of 8 passengers in order to operate the cruise. We would confirm these non-guaranteed departures 45 days before the date of departure.

PRICE $4350 per person double. Single rate is $6525. There will be a $250 per person early booking discount if full payment is received 180 days before departure.

* Charter rates are available upon request.

Price includes:
Transfers of passengers to and from the ship.
Transportation, shore excursions, and the use of equipment.
All meals and beverages onboard the ship.
Taxes and port charges.
Service charges.

Price does not include:
International Airfare.
Panama Tourist Card ($5.00).
Lodging in Panama City.
Personal gear.
Naturalist guide and crew gratuities.

RESERVATIONS - A deposit of $500 per person is required to confirm any reservation. The deposit must be received within 3 business days of the date of booking. Final payment must be received by PMA 95 days before departure or in full if the reservation is made within 90 days of departure. If full payment is not received in time the reservation will be cancelled and the deposit will be returned in accordance with our cancellation policy.

TIPPING
Tipping is not required on your Discovery expedition. However, if you wish to offer a gratuity as a gesture of thanks for services rendered, we thank you. Tipping is a personal matter and passengers are encouraged to tip an amount they find appropriate. For those passengers who inquire, we suggest you follow international guidelines of US $100 - $150 per person on our 7-night cruise. Gratuities are divided among all crew members including naturalist guides. Please deposit the gratuities inside the box provided for this purpose at the end of the cruise.

CRUISE OPERATIONS
Cruise itineraries are subject to wind, tide and weather conditions and are operated at the sole discretion of operator in the interests of the safety and welfare of the passengers, vessel and crew. Operator reserves the absolute right to decline to accept or retain any person(s) on any cruise, shore excursion or other cruise activity, to cancel, amend or alter any cruise schedule or cruise itinerary, shore excursion or any other service for any reason which operator in its absolute and sole discretion considers desirable or necessary in the interests of the vessels and or passengers safety and/or well being. Arrival and departure times various places of call are provided as a guide only and in this regard no warranty, condition or guarantee, express or implied, is given or intended. The minimum number of passengers to operate the cruise is 8 people. Operator reserves the right to cancel any cruise 30 days before the departure date in which case the full payment will be reimbursed.

PASSENGER BAGGAGE AND VALUABLES
A baggage allowance of two (2) items per passenger is permitted. It is recommended that baggage be kept to a minimum. All baggage must be clearly and durably marked and identified with passenger(s) name and address. Passengers should ensure that all baggage, valuables and other personal items are comprehensively insured. No intoxicating liquors, firearms, weapons, nor toxic, flammable, illegal or dangerous goods or substances shall be carried without the prior written consent.

Operator. shall not be liable for any loss or damage, of whatsoever nature arising of passenger(s) baggage, valuables and/or person articles and valuables, the liability for which shall at all times remain solely with the passenger(s) and in this regard the passenger(s) shall release and indemnify operator from any claim or liability.

PASSENGER CARRIAGE
Operator will exercise due diligence to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers throughout the cruise. Passenger(s) are required to keep clear of all ships ropes, machinery and other equipment at all times. Passenger(s) are required to exercise caution and seek assistance when boarding or alighting from ships and/or tenders. Operator shall not be liable for and the passenger(s) shall release and indemnify operator. from and against all liabilities, claims, causes of action, suits and/or demands either contractual or tortious at both law and in equity of whatsoever nature whosoever arising in relation to the provision of transportation and/or other cruise services including but not restricted to shore activities and transfers between ship and shore by operator, together with any other matter direct or indirect to the passenger(s) booking and or subsequent cruise participation.

CANCELLATION POLICY
Number of Days to Departure Cancellation Fee (per person)
91 days or more No penalty. Deposit is returned.
90 - 61 days 25% of total fare.
60 - 31 days 50% of total fare.
30 days or less 100% of total fare. No Refunds.