DETAILS
Begin your 9-day expedition with 1 night in San José, Costa Rica, then cruise for 7 nights from the Costa Rican rainforest through the mighty locks of the Panama Canal—an experience unmatched for its engineering prowess. Explore the wonders of Costa Rica’s Curú National Wildlife Refuge and Manuel Antonio National Park and visit the seldom-visited Cébaco Island. Tour Panama City and experience a daylight passage through the awe-inspiring Panama Canal. David Brown is the study leader on the February 24- March 3, 2024 program.
- Pricing from
- $4,945
Reserve early for SAVINGS!
- Trip Type
- Group Travel Tour, International Ocean & Sea Voyages
- Departure Dates
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Feb 24, 2024 - Mar 3, 2024
Costa Rica Pre-Program Option
Explore Costa Rica’s diverse biospheres, from steamy hot springs to misty cloud forests, on this
dynamic 3-day program. Accommodations for 4 nights in ideally located, luxury hotels.
Panama Post-Program Option
Experience Panama City’s rich indigenous culture, compelling colonial history, and contemporary élan on
a 3-day tour that includes visits to Panama La Vieja, the Agua Clara Visitor Center, and a cruise along the Gatún River to meet indigenous Emberá people. Spend 2 nights in an ideally located, luxury hotel.
The Pre- and Post-Program Options are available at an additional cost. Details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.
Airport transfers and luggage handling abroad are only included if air arrangements are booked through Gohagan & Company. If travelers make their own air arrangements, transfers and luggage handling are not included; transfers can be organized through Gohagan & Company and purchased by the traveler.
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David J. Brown
Few names over the past twenty-plus years have been as synonymous with the National Trust for Historic Preservation as David J. Brown. David served as EVP and the organization’s founding Chief Preservation Officer, where he led the Trust’s advocacy, educational, field work, research, and historic sites programs. A national leader, speaker, and author with a four-decade record of achievement in saving historic places and supporting thriving communities, David is the founder of Bearden Brown LLC, which works to build nonprofit leadership and grow organizational impact. An affiliate fellow at the American Academy in Rome and a founding board member of the International National Trusts Organisation, David brings an international perspective to his discussions of preservation, history, and architecture.
A non-refundable administrative fee of $300 per person will apply for all cancellations received more than 7 days after booking and before other fees take effect at 120 days:
120 days $300 per person admin fee after 7-day grace period from booking
120 – 91 days 25% of full invoice fare
90 – 61 days 50% of full invoice fare
60 – 31 days 75% of full invoice fare
30 – 0 days 100% of full invoice fare
Separate airfare Terms & Conditions apply
TOUR MAP
ITINERARY
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day 1
Depart home city/Panama City, Panama/ Colón/Embark Ship
Depart your home city (2/24) and arrive in Panama City on the same day. Travel with to the port in Colón to embark Le Dumont d’Urville.(d)
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day 2
Colón/Panama Canal
Wake up and cruise from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean through the historic Panama Canal on a rare daylight transfer. Watch as the mighty locks open and close, ultimating raising and lowering the ship 85 feet—truly an experience to remember. (b,l,r,d)
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day 3
Panama City
Begin your day with a tour of Panama City, the nation’s capital. Later, visit its UNESCO World Heritage designated historic district of Casco Antiguo, a charming neighborhood replete with cobblestone streets and architecturally significant historical edifices, including a 16th century cathedral. (b,l,d)
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day 4
Cébaco Island
Attend a morning lecture before lunch on board the ship. In the afternoon you will arrive in the sparkling Gulf of Montijo to anchor off the coast of seldom-visited Cébaco Island. You may choose to snorkel in these emerald waters, where schools of brilliantly colored fish, giant manta rays, and four different species of turtles swim amid spectacular rock reefs. An alternative option included in your tour is a guided walk along the beach with an expert naturalist. (b,l,d)
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day 5
Rio Seco Rainforest
Enjoy an afternoon excursion to Piedras Blancas National Park, an off-the-beaten-path destination that is home to toucans, tapirs, pumas, jaguars, and four species of monkeys. Discover a secluded beach in the Rio Seco Rainforest along the waters of the gorgeous Golfo Dulce or choose to walk through a tropical fruit orchard and garden. You may also explore a network of hiking trails with a expert naturalist guide to see rare wildlife species and learn secrets of this incredible ecosystem. (b,l,d)
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day 6
Quepos for Manuel Antonio National Park
Experience an unparalleled diversity of wildlife on a visit to the lush Manuel Antonio National Park—a captivating combination of rainforest, beach, and coral reef. It is home to more than 100 species of mammals, almost 200 species of birds, and various reptiles and amphibians. Naturalist guides will lead an exploration of this protected biodiverse paradise, where you may spot colorful toucans, screeching howler monkeys, camouflaged iguanas, arboreal squirrel monkeys, two and three toed sloths, and rambunctious capuchin monkeys. You will also have the option to just relax on the beach at leisure. (b,l,d)
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day 7
Curú National Wildlife Refuge/ Playa Muertos
Begin your day with a guided walk in the Curú National Wildlife Refuge—a unique blend of sustainable agriculture, forest management, and wildlife protection that reestablished species like the scarlet macaw and spider monkey. Encompassing five distinctive habitats, it is the ideal place to see the intricacies of interdependent ecosystems. Morning is the best time of day to observe an abundance of wildlife. Enjoy lunch on board the ship before setting out for Playa Muertos beach. Nestled within remote Ballena Bay near the Pochote River, this serene and untouched beach is famous for its pristine white sands, unique rock lava structures, and tropical rainforest setting. You’ll have opportunities to swim and snorkel in the protected clear waters—home to fascinating marine life such as angelfish and spotted eagle rays. (b,l,r,d)
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day 8
Puntarenas/Disembark/ San José
Disembark the ship and journey to the heart of the fertile Valle Central, where Costa Rica’s dynamic capital city of San José possesses an eclectic mix of museums, landscaped parks, lively cafés, art galleries, and an interesting fusion of architectural styles—including Spanish Colonial, Moorish, and Modernist. Discover the city’s unique history and culture on a tour that includes visits to the National Theater, a regal Baroque edifice modeled on Milan’s La Scala, and the National Museum. After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy a night in the Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belén. (b,l)
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day 9
San José/Return to home city
Enjoy breakfast then fly back to your home city. (b)
Everything you need to know about the tour
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Be prepared with the National Trust Travel Plan
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