Panama and Costa Rica with a Ponant cruise

You'll be met in the morning by your naturalist guide and will travel along the scenic road to Gamboa, where the Chagres River meets the Panama Canal. Here you'll board a boat and head off on an adventure to Gatun Lake to observe diverse ecosystems, traveling along part of the Panama Canal. Your captain will steer you near the rainforest-covered islands, which form the habitats for a number of tropical species. Keep your eyes peeled for ‘monkey island’, where you may see tamarin and capuchin monkeys greet your boat. You can also expect to see spectacled caiman, green iguana, freshwater turtles, monkeys, three-toed sloths and various waterbirds. You'll then head to the Soberania National Park for a walk along the Pipeline Road or El Charco Trail, all of which are fantastic for viewing the unique ecology of the canal watershed. The flora and fauna are rich and varied — you may see sloths, capuchin and howler monkeys, agouti, white-nosed coatis and hundreds of species of birds, including the rare great potoo.

Head out on a Panama City and canal tour, starting with the Miraflores Locks. You'll explore the visitor center which documents the history of the Panama Canal from the first attempts by the French through to the US completion of the project in 1914. From here, you will head for Panama Viejo on the eastern edge of modern Panama City, the first city founded on the isthmus by Pedro Arias de Avila in 1519 at the beginning of colonisation. Today, the only remnants are those left by pirate Henry Morgan, who ransacked and destroyed the city in 1671. You will visit the nearby Panama La Vieja Visitor Centre, which has scale models of the town before its destruction and many ancient artifacts. Finally, you will visit the second colonial city of Panama, Casco Antiguo, built in 1673. This old city center has plenty of charm and a diverse selection of museums, colonial churches and 19th-century mansions, painted in an array of colors. You will then transfer to Colon to board your ship.

Located on the Chagres River, Fort San Lorenzo is a striking example of Spanish Colonial military architecture. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the forts' canons point toward the sea as they once did under the Spanish Crown. King Phillip II of Spain ordered the construction of the fort in 1595 to protect the mouth of the Chagres River — a strategic waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Today, you'll wander through the fort's alleyways accompanied by the singing of the birds and surrounded by lush tropical rainforest.

Located on the northeast coast of Panama, the San Blas archipelago is a string of coral islands in the Guna Yala tribe region. More than 350 islands and cays cover an area of 300 square kilometers and behind the long coral reef lie multiple peaceful anchorages. Most of the islands are completely uninhabited, but on the few larger islands, you'll find the gentle people known as the Kuna. This Indian community controls the islands and still lives off hunting and fishing. The Kuna keep the islands healthy and pristine, protecting them from mass tourism. They’ll welcome you to their villages of bamboo houses by the beaches.

Today, you'll experience one of the most unique experiences in seafaring as you cross the Panama Canal. You'll enjoy the thrill of navigating a complex set of locks that raise and lower ships to navigate the isthmus, all while appreciating the surrounding rainforest. The canal crosses the Isthmus of Panama and links the Atlantic to the Pacific, enabling ships to avoid the long, hazardous route around Cape Horn. The entire transit, from one ocean to the other, takes around eight to ten hours. Construction began in 1880 under the direction of Ferdinand de Lesseps, and it formally opened in 1914.

The Pearl Islands archipelago is named after the pearl oysters in the Gulf of Panama. In colonial times, the pearls were extracted and used as ornaments. The famous pearl “La Peregrina” was discovered in this archipelago. Since its discovery, it has belonged to several royals and, more recently, Elizabeth Taylor. The archipelago has a long history of piracy and adventures and is formed of more than 220 islands. Swim in turquoise water and look out for the shoals of multi-colored fish. Isla Pacheca lies in the far north of this maze of islands. Completely uninhabited, numerous bird species have taken up residence there, including the unusual-looking blue-footed booby, which you might see wandering along the beach. The shore visit in a Zodiac dinghy holds the promise of an unforgettable moment spent in lush nature between the ocean and the rainforest.

The most remote and least developed region of Panama, the province of Darien is an unspoilt land with a rich variety of flora and fauna. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Darien National Park offers extraordinary scenery of rocky coastlines, mountain ranges, mangroves, rivers and creeks. Explore the tiny coastal village of Playa Muerto, home to the Embera Amerindian community. Watch traditional songs and dances from the local people and admire their beautiful local craft.

Coiba Island was once home to a penal colony with a sinister reputation that has since been abandoned. Today, the island in the Gulf of Chiriquí is a National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its diverse marine life and jungle animals. Head deep into the virgin rainforest, untouched by human hand, and wind your way through the creepers, under the watchful gaze of the many species of birds. This is the only place you can spot the Howler Monkey, so keep your eyes peeled. Take a dip in the ocean, among the sea turtles and tropical fish.

Today, you'll explore a dense ecosystem in the heart of the mangrove, aboard your Zodiac dinghy, as you'll meander down the Rio Esquinas. The beauty of Costa Rica and the richness of its biodiversity reveal themselves in this tropical paradise. Brush past the tangled roots of the mangrove trees as you look out for common squirrel monkeys, white ibis, Eurasian whimbrels, ospreys, toucans, snowy egrets and great blue herons. The river flows into Golfo Dulce, a fjord-like gulf known for its biodiversity.

Today, you'll discover Corcovado National Park, one of the few remaining large areas of lowland tropical rainforest in the world. Located on Costa Rica’s remote Osa Peninsula, it covers 164 square miles, making it the country’s largest national park and the largest primary forest on the American Pacific coast. The bay is believed to be a port used by Sir Francis Drake during his raids on the Spanish Main in the 16th century.

On the southern part of the Nicoya Peninsula, the Curú Wildlife Refuge is the oldest protected park in Costa Rica. It’s a research center visited by scientists from all over the world and well renowned for ecotourism. Curu has five different habitat types, from marine zones and mangrove swamps, to tropical dry and moist forest, as well as farmland. Since the 1930s, it has been at the heart of a conservation and sustainable development project. After a short Zodiac trip, you'll discover monkeys, iguanas and more than 200 bird species. The scarlet macaw and the spider monkey have thrived in this preserved environment since their reintroduction. You'll wind through the paths that criss-cross the tropical forest and lead to magnificent beaches.

Today, you'll disembark your ship in Puntarenas, known as ‘the pearl of the Pacific’, due to its unique charm. This port town on the Gulf of Nicoya is lined with long expanses of wild natural environments, including mountains, rainforest and some of the best beaches in Central America. You'll transfer to your hotel in the Monteverde Cloud Forest and enjoy a Monteverde night tour.

Today, you'll explore the cloudforest on a 1.9-mile trail with eight suspension bridges that wind through the trees. Take in the incredible views and get close to the wildlife as you make your way through the platforms that are built into the cloudforest. If you’re feeling adventurous, enjoy zip-lining through the forest at speed with a ‘Tarzan Swing’ at the end of the tour.

Following a leisurely breakfast, you'll be picked up from your hotel and driven to San José. Get some rest before you head out to discover the rich history and culture of San José on a city tour. You'll visit the city’s architectural treasures, including the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Old Train Station, the national liquor factory, the National Supreme Election Bureau, the Metallic Building, and the new building of the national Congress. San José is a city of contrasts. It offers plenty of museums, parks and areas where you can witness some of the legacy left by early 20th-century architecture.