THE ITINERARY
NORTHBOUND ITINERARY

Day 1

Arrival Day

Arrive in Panama City and transfer to a Panama City hotel for overnight stay.

Day 2

Panama City - Flamenco Marina.

Sail the tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean towards Contadora, where Discovery will anchor the first night of your voyage prior to sailing the next day to the Panama Coast Line and the Darien Jungle.  At this time you will meet your fellow travelers, expedition staff, as well as the crew that will be at your service during the cruise.  This first evening we will introduce you to the fine dining and cuisine using native products.

Day 3

Darien Jungle.

Travel back in time, more than 600 years, to a place that many have not had the opportunity or privilege of experiencing.  More than a routine expedition, this is a visit to the daily lives of the Embera Indian culture, a proud people who have been able to maintain their traditional lifestyle as it was when the Spanish Colonist colonized the region.  The Embera Indians are master carvers using the native cocobolo wood to carve animals, birds, and snakes which are extremely life like.  Basket weaving is another art form that has been passed down from generation to generation.  Motoring up the river you may be able to spot some of the wildlife which abounds in this area.  As you move up the river, magically emerging from the surrounding jungle will be the Indian village which will be your host.

Day 4

Perlas Islands-San Telmo

Sailing back to the Perlas Islands, Discovery will once again anchor for the night allowing for the swimming and snorkeling in the pristine waters of the Perlas Island Archipelago. The name Perlas came about from the many years of harvesting pearl oysters up into the early 1900’s. On the outer rim of Perlas Islands one finds the islands of San Telmo and Galera, which are not only famous for their pristine beaches but for hosting fertile fishing grounds as well.  Join the native divers from Esmeralda searching for oysters and their pearls.  Kayak along the coast enjoying the beautiful and unspoiled beaches.  View the remains of the submarine explorer built in 1865 during the US Civil War which sunk off the Island of San Telmo while fishing for pearls in late 1800.

Day 5

Panama Canal Transit-Gatun Lake

Wake up at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal joining other ships in their northbound transit, entering Miraflores Locks, the first set of locks to the Panama Canal, lifting Discovery up to Miraflores Lake. Then onto Pedro Miguel Locks where the ship is once again lifted, this time to the entrance to Gaillard Cut. You are now 85 feet above sea level. Traveling through Gaillard Cut to Gatun Lake you will be able to see the various strata of the Cut through the Continental Divide.  This is the narrowest part of the Panama Canal. The continuous maintenance of the Panama Canal becomes obvious during this phase of our transit from ocean to ocean.  Discovery will anchor in Gatun Lake for the night.

Day 6

Panama Canal-Barro Colorado

Prior to the construction of the Panama Canal the Gatun Lake area was teaming with wild life as well as massive jungle growth. When the creation of the lake began, the wild life fled to the high areas of the lake which are now the many islands that make up part of the Panama Canal. One of the larger islands is Barro Colorado Islands, which today is the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

Discovery will anchor in Barro Colorado waters.  Your expedition leaders will be with you as you board small craft that take you along the shoreline of Barro Colorado Islands.  Cruising along the shore line of the island, you may see, crocodiles, sloths, monkeys, and iguanas which are some of the animals found in this area.  The sights, sounds, and scents surround you as you meander in and about the islands.

Day 7

Chagres River-Fort San Lorenzo

You will be at the sea entrance of the Chagres River which furnished all of the water that formed Gatun Lake. Guarding the entrance of the Chagres is Fort San Lorenzo, built in the 1600’s on a cliff that dominates the entrance to the river. The Fort was built to prevent pirates and freebooters from reaching the cities on the Pacific Coast. The Chagres became the main route for the Gold Prospectors traveling to California during the Gold Rush in the 1800
   
Day 8

Portobelo-Caribbean

Portobelo was built by the Spaniards on the Caribbean Coast of Panama; Christopher Columbus founded Portobelo while on his fourth voyage to the Americas in 1497.  Columbus found a well protected fjord like anchorage which allowed the treasure galleons to anchor in safety from the sea while waiting to load the riches found in the Americas.   Portobelo was the site of many land and sea battles between the colonist and the pirates from the Caribbean; the most famous is Sir Francis Drake. You will explore the ruins of fortifications built by the Spaniards as well as the Church of San Felipe, the home of the famous “Black Christ Statue”.  Portobelo was the site of the storage trans-shipments of gold being brought across the Isthmus which had been brought to Panama City from Peru.

Day 9

Portobelo-Caribbean

Wake up to a farewell breakfast prior to your disembarkation from Discovery, your home for the past eight days. When you disembark you will board motor coaches for the trip back to the Pacific side, traveling coast to coast via the Trans-Isthmian highway.

Day 10

Departure Day

Transfer out to Tocumen Airport for your trip home.

*THE SOUTHBOUND ITINERARI EXPLORES THE SAME PLACES BUT IN REVERSE ORDER.

THE SHIP, the discovery.

Passenger numbers on the Discovery are limited to just 24 people, ensuring everyone can enjoy serenity and privacy together with the excitement and closeness of a true exploration cruise.

Discovery is a 33 meters, 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.

The dinning 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.
 

THE LEADERS, the team.

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.  

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