Panama City (Fuerte Amador), Panama
Panama City is a gleaming city of high rises on the Pacific and gracefully blends new and old. At once a rousing tribute to international finance and a rich reminder of a colonial past, it is Central America’s unparalleled cosmopolitan center. The atmospheric Old Town, the Casco Viejo, straddles a peninsula and hosts some of the nation’s most prized cultural and historic treasures, including churches, palaces and plazas. Nearby, one of the world’s greatest engineering feats, the Panama Canal, conveys ships along its 48 miles to the Caribbean Sea.
Panama City is a gleaming city of high rises on the Pacific and gracefully blends new and old. At once a rousing tribute to international finance and a rich reminder of a colonial past, it is Central America’s unparalleled cosmopolitan center. The atmospheric Old Town, the Casco Viejo, straddles a peninsula and hosts some of the nation’s most prized cultural and historic treasures, including churches, palaces and plazas. Nearby, one of the world’s greatest engineering feats, the Panama Canal, conveys ships along its 48 miles to the Caribbean Sea.
Shore Excursions
Shore excursions vary by each itinerary and are subject to change.
Panama City by Foot
See the Panama City of both yesterday and today during this panoramic city tour.
Modern and Colonial City Highlights
See the Panama City of both yesterday and today during this panoramic city tour. Take a scenic drive through Panama City, a contemporary metropolis of skyscrapers and wide boulevards, then walk along the narrow streets of colonial-era El Casco Antiguo (Old Town) and the French Quarter, founded in 1673. Along the way, listen to tales of gallantry and the pirates who once threatened the city. Visit the promenade of Las Bóvedas, or “The Vaults.” The Spanish built this defensive system to protect the esplanade during the 18th century. It once housed barracks and a prison; today, it is home to an art gallery and restaurant. This site was declared a national monument in 1920, and a 60-foot obelisk topped with a French rooster was erected in French Plaza. After your guided walk, you will have free time to explore more on your own before returning to your ship.
Snapshots of Panama City
Enjoy a panoramic excursion to discover the captivating history of Panama City, Panama Viejo and Amador.
Unwind and See Panama’s Scenic Wonders
Enjoy a panoramic excursion to discover the captivating history of Panama City, Panama Viejo and Amador. Meet your guide and journey by motor coach to Panama’s capital to explore its rich history. Appreciate the city’s beauty while delving into its heritage as you glimpse the remnants of churches, colonial palaces, bridges and military structures in Panama Viejo. Enjoy intriguing stories shared by your guide, who will recount local legends and Panama’s maritime heritage. Relax in comfort as you enjoy a scenic tour of Panama City, navigating the Cinta Costera 3 and the waterfront boulevard. Along the way, you will enjoy panoramic views of the Bay of Panama and the historic Casco Viejo, Panama’s colonial district. Finally, take a moment to capture the scenery in Amador, an area formed by the four small islands, marking the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal.
Wildlife of the Galápagos Overland
Discover the diverse wildlife of the Galápagos and come face-to-face with some of the world’s rarest species.
Observe Rare Species in Remote Rocky Territory
Discover the diverse wildlife of the Galápagos and come face-to-face with some of the world’s rarest species. These remote islands inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and are home to fascinating creatures, including the stars of the animal kingdom, Galápagos giant tortoises. Please note: sites on this program are not accessible and cannot accommodate guests who rely on a walker, wheelchair or motorized scooter/wheelchair.
Day 1 - Quito, Ecuador
Disembark your ship and transfer to the airport for your flight to Quito. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel. Quito was one of the first cities recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later, you will enjoy a panoramic excursion to see its well-preserved historic city center. See the Church and Convent of San Francisco, La Compañía and the stately Independence Square, flanked by the Presidential Palace and Quito Cathedral. This evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day 2 - Galápagos Islands
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and head to the airport for your flight to Baltra Island in the Galápagos Islands. Ferry across the Itabaca Channel to Santa Cruz Island, where you will see endangered Galápagos tortoises in their natural habitat. Afterward, check in to your hotel, where you can enjoy dinner later this evening. (B, L, D)
Day 3 - Galápagos Islands
Today, you will explore one of the nearby uninhabited Galápagos Islands. Board a boat with your naturalist guide, who will point out the islands’ geological formations and spectacular flora and fauna. This evening, return to your lodgings on Santa Cruz Island. (B, L, D)
*Note: Due to the carefully controlled environment of the Galápagos Islands and national park regulations, visits are subject to change without notice. Specific wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Day 4 - Lima, Peru
After breakfast, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, famous for its tortoise conservation and breeding programs. Then, travel to view the Twin Craters—a geologic formation caused by the collapse of surface materials into empty magma chambers. Afterward, transfer to the airport and fly to Guayaquil. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Lima. (B, L, D)
Day 5 - Lima, Peru
After breakfast, transfer to your awaiting ship to rejoin your cruise. (B)
The following meals are included for all days as listed: B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner
Please note: Specific wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. Sites on this program are not accessible and cannot accommodate guests who rely on a walker, wheelchair or motorized scooter/wheelchair. Once booked, the overland is non-refundable.
Single occupancy rates apply.
Machu Picchu Overland
Explore the world of the Incas, from Machu Picchu to the former capital of Cusco, during a 5-day overland.
Discover the Lost City of the Incas
Explore the world of the Incas, from Machu Picchu to the former capital of Cusco, during a 5-day overland. Discover the former capital of their vast and powerful Andean highland empire and admire the beauty of the Sacred Valley as you experience daily life and traditions in a local village. Please note: sites on this program are not accessible and cannot accommodate guests who rely on a walker, wheelchair or motorized scooter/wheelchair.
Day 1 - Lima, Peru
Disembark your ship and transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima, the capital of Peru and one of the most cosmopolitan cities in South America. Check in to your hotel, then enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. This evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day 2 - Cusco, Peru
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco, deep in the Andes Mountains and once the capital of the mighty Incan Empire. Enjoy lunch, followed by a panoramic tour of the city. Cusco is home to important historic sites, including Sacsayhuamán; the Plaza de Armas, the main square surrounded by colonial arcades; and the imposing cathedral, built with slabs of red granite. Later, check in to your hotel, where you can enjoy dinner this evening. (B, L, D)
Day 3 - Cusco, Peru
After breakfast, embark on a scenic drive through the Andean highlands to the Sacred Valley, once the agricultural heartland of the Incan Empire. Visit a local community, where you will have an opportunity to gain insight into the everyday life and traditions of its inhabitants. Take a guided walk through the village, accompanied by traditional music. Afterward, savor a traditional lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon, return to Cusco and spend the evening at your leisure. (B, L, D)
Day 4 - Cusco, Peru
Transfer to the station, then board your train for a panoramic journey to the famous citadel of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located 7,972 feet above sea level, this remote mountaintop city was abandoned by the Incas during the mid-16th century, reclaimed by the jungle and stayed virtually unknown until its rediscovery in 1911. Take a guided tour around its most significant sights, then board your train and return to Cusco. (B, L, D)
Day 5 - Lima, Peru
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima. Upon arrival, transfer to your awaiting ship. (B)
The following meals are included for all days as listed: B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner
Please note: Specific wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. Sites on this program are not accessible and cannot accommodate guests who rely on a walker, wheelchair or motorized scooter/wheelchair. Once booked, the overland is non-refundable.
Single occupancy rates apply.
Jungle Exploration by Boat
Explore the vast rainforest jungle of the Panama Canal during an exhilarating boat ride.
The Delicate and Varied Ecosystem of Gatun Lake
Explore the vast rainforest jungle of the Panama Canal during an exhilarating boat ride. Speed through the heart of the Panama Canal, one of history’s most difficult engineering projects and considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Your destination is Gatun Lake—a large, manmade freshwater lake created when the Gatun Dam was built during the early 20th century. Its jungle-covered islands and the surrounding waters are home to a multitude of flora and fauna. Your naturalist guide will talk about this delicate ecosystem and point out wildlife. Sail past the stumps of old mahogany trees sticking out above the water, and watch for capuchin and howler monkeys jumping through the trees. The jungle is also home to three-toed sloths, butterflies and many species of birds, such as toucans, whle the waters teem with fish, caimans, crocodiles and turtles.
Emberá Indian Village Visit
Meet the keepers of the Panamanian rainforest, the Emberá tribe, who share their vivid culture warmly and openly.
An Authentic Encounter with Panama’s Indigenous Tribal Culture
Meet the keepers of the Panamanian rainforest, the Emberá tribe, who share their vivid culture warmly and openly. Travel by motor coach to the Chagres National Park, and then onward by traditional dugout canoes to the Emberá Village, where you will be welcomed by the Chief and treated to some ceremonial dancing. The Emberá are one of seven indigenous Panamanian groups, living much as they did in pre-Columbian times. Most Emberá live in round huts on stilts with extended family; peek inside and share a typical lunch of fish and plantains. The Emberá wear little clothing, but paint elaborate patterns on their bodies using the black dye of the jagua plant. You might even be invited to have one of these temporary tattoos painted on your skin. You will also have the chance to see Emberá craftspeople at work and buy perfectly coiled baskets, bright uhua sarongs, instruments, or jewelry.
Rainforest Bird-Watching Experience
Explore the Central American rainforest in search of tropical birdlife.
Walk through One of Central America’s Premier Birding Locations
Explore the Central American rainforest in search of tropical birdlife. Embark on an early morning drive by motor coach for Soberania National Park and its renowned Pipeline Road—considered one of the best places in Central America for tropical bird-watching; in 1985, Pipeline Road set the record with the most bird species identified in a 24-hour period, with 385 found. Upon arrival, set out along the fine-gravel path with your guide for a three-hour hike through the old-growth and secondary forest. Keep your eyes peeled and your camera ready as you look for signs of the more than 500 species of birds that are known to inhabit this area. You might see broad-billed motmots, manakins, tanagers, euphonias and more. At the end of your walk, you will return to your coach and transfer back to your ship.
Gamboa Aerial Tram
Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the lush Gamboa rainforest on board an open air aerial tram.
Panoramic Views of Panama’s Lush Rainforest and Canal
Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the lush Gamboa rainforest on board an open air aerial tram. Panama’s vast tropical rainforest is one of the world’s richest, most complex ecosystems. Experience nature up close as your tram climbs from the shadowy forest floor, through the dense undergrowth and up to the sun-drenched canopy, approximately 280 feet above the ground. Your guide will describe the tropical plants and local wildlife as you travel through the treetops. Keep watch for the colorful birds and butterflies, white-faced capuchin monkeys and sloths that call the jungle home. Climb the stairs to the top of the Gamboa Observation Tower to enjoy phenomenal aerial views of the Chagres River, Gatun Lake and the Panama Canal. Back on the ground, you may even hear the call of howler monkeys in the distance as you enjoy a light refreshment prior to returning to port.
Panama Past & Present
Discover Panama’s ancient past and its vibrant present during this wide-ranging excursion.
Biomuseo and Smithsonian Institute
Discover Panama’s ancient past and its vibrant present during this wide-ranging excursion. Visit the Biomuseo, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry. Set at the entrance of the Panama Canal, the museum’s colorful exterior reflects Panama’s rich flora and fauna, while its interior showcases its ancient history and biodiversity. See fascinating displays such as 6-million-year-old fossils and recreations of extinct species like the Texas glyptodont, a giant armadillo. Your journey will also take you on a panoramic drive through the city and to the Smithsonian Institute’s Punta Culebra Nature Center. Located at the canal’s Pacific entrance, the center is dedicated to the exploration and discovery of the natural world through science. View marine and amphibian exhibits, partake in hands-on science activities and more before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant.
