Aboard the Sea Cloud Spirit
Costa Rica and Panama Expedition Cruise
Overview
The tiny countries of Panama and Costa Rica are home to more species of plants and animals than can be found in all of Northern America and Europe combined, with more than a quarter of their total area under protection of more than 200 national parks, forest reserves, and game sanctuaries. From rainforests and tropical flower paradises to mystical mangrove woods and beautiful beaches, there is no end to the natural highlights that await your discovery on this exciting voyage. The sea surrounding Costa Rica is the perfect place for sailing—and the Sea Cloud Spirit is the perfect yacht to sail in. The ship will cruise between far-flung national parks, ensuring that you arrive completely refreshed and ready to begin each new adventure on land. Highlights include the fascinating Panama Canal, a phenomenal masterpiece of engineering—passing through the mighty locks during the day is a special experience!
Arrive: San Jose, Costa Rica (or reverse)
Depart: Panama City, Panama (or reverse)
Highlights
- Explore small island idylls and enchanting national parks along Costa Rica's Pacific coast
- Sail the fascinating Panama Canal
- Perfect balance: entire days of sailing to relax and unwind plus plenty of time for inspiring shore excursions
Itinerary
Note: This trip is not exclusive to, nor operated by, Wilderness Travel, who acts solely as an agent in booking your reservation with the operator. Please download the Rate Sheet in the Dates & Pricing section to see the full pricing details and contact our Cruise Collection Specialists to check availability.
After arriving in San Jose, transfer to Puntarenas and embark on the Sea Cloud Spirit, departing at 10:00 pm.
From Punta Leona, you can reach the Carara National Park, spanning over 5,000 hectares and three distinct vegetation zones. Jungle giants covered in vines, a dense canopy of leaves, and orchids showcase nature in its most pristine form. Three massive suspension bridges traverse the treetops of the jungle, providing unique insights into the wildlife and plant life.
Quepos was a lively little port at the time of booming banana exports. Today it is a gateway to the Manuel Antonio National Park, which lies to the south. The park covers an area of just 2.5 square miles and is one of the most diverse rainforests in Costa Rica. Paths lead you from the beautiful sandy beach straight to the heart of this untamed green kingdom. More than 1,000 varieties of plant and prolific wildlife, including whole herds of inquisitive apes, sloths, coatis, raccoons, iguanas, birds, and unique colorful butterflies have made this place their home.
Marina Flamingo emerged as an ambitious $50 million project on the west coast of Costa Rica. This luxury yacht marina offers more than just elegant hotel villas, restaurants, and shopping options — it provides a plethora of recreational activities ranging from deep-sea fishing and diving to golf and mountain biking. While Flamingo Beach may not be home to pink flamingos, the dreamy beach in the Guanacaste province beckons with soft sand, crystal-clear waters, and lush tropical vegetation.
As still as a lake, the sea lies under the tropical sun: thanks to its sheltered location in a tree-lined bay, Playa Panama is considered the most relaxing and tranquil beach on the Guanacaste coast — the perfect place to unwind. The Palo Verde National Park stretches along one bank of the Rio Tempisque. It features the densest population of water fowl in the whole of Costa Rica and is one of the best areas for bird watching in Central America — almost 300 species of bird have been identified here. The best vantage point to see them is on a boat trip through the mangroves.
Climbing the rigging, untying ropes, setting sails — today is all about sailing. Time to lean back and relax in the deck chair and watch the passionate crew hoisting the sails by hand.
Deep in the Pacific South of Costa Rica lies the small town of Puerto Jiménez on the diverse Osa Peninsula. As the area is almost entirely covered by pristine rainforest, it's a dream destination for nature enthusiasts, and you won't find hordes of tourists here. Life in this 1,700-resident town is tranquil: in the mid-20th century, loggers and gold prospectors briefly brought a boom to Puerto Jiménez, but calm returned thereafter. Today, visitors can fully immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the surroundings. In the Piedras Blancas Rainforest Park, the high humidity creates lush greenery, providing a home for coatis, jaguars, and vibrant tropical birds.
Enjoy another relaxing day at sea, perhaps to take in a soothing massage or just sit in a deck chair and watch the passing scenery with a good book in hand.
The name of this Pacific Archipelago in the Gulf of Panama pre-dates the Spanish conquest to a time when its inhabitants were pearl fisherman and traded in oyster pearls. Where in previous centuries pirates and buccaneers hid out and buried their loot, other treasures can now be found. Over 200 islands, of which even the smallest are inhabited, from an almost undisturbed paradise with a diverse range of lakes and rivers, enchanting white coral beaches, golden sandy beaches and black volcanic beaches, rounded off with lush green tropical vegetation.
The island of Contadora has special significance as the place where U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed the Panama Canal Treaty in 1977, ceding sovereign rights over the Panama Canal to the Republic of Panama.
Spend a full day sailing through the astounding Panama Canal. This masterpiece of engineering art has been connecting the Pacific with the Atlantic for more than 100 years. In 2016, its extension was opened: Within nine years, 40,000 workers had used 192,000 tons of steel in order to enable the passage of giant freighters carrying up to 14,000 containers. Passing through the mighty locks during the day is a rather special experience!
Arrive in Panama City and disembark at 8:00 am.
Day 1: Panama City (Colón), Panama
Day 2: Sailing through the Panama Canal
Day 3: Pearl islands, Panama
Day 4: At Sea
Day 5: At Sea
Day 6: Puerto Jiménez, Costa Rica
Day 7: At Sea
Day 8: Playa Panamá, Costa Rica
Day 9: Punto Leona, Costa Rica
Day 10: Quepos, Costa Rica
Day 11: San Jose, Costa Rica
Day 3: Pearl islands, Panama
Day 4: At Sea
Day 5: At Sea
Day 6: Puerto Jiménez, Costa Rica
Day 7: At Sea
Day 8: Playa Panamá, Costa Rica
Day 9: Punto Leona, Costa Rica
Day 10: Quepos, Costa Rica
Day 11: San Jose, Costa Rica
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
The trip is rated Level 1, Easiest, and is appropriate for anyone in good health who is physically active. Zodiac landing crafts are used to transport passengers ashore for walks to wildlife sanctuaries, scenic nature areas, and local towns and villages. There are also opportunities for swimming and snorkeling. Some agility is required for getting in and out of landing crafts.
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.