The Panama Canal and Costa Rica

Depart Home City/ Panama City, Panama/Colon/Embark

Depart for Panama City, Panama. Please check your bags from your gateway city to your arrival city. Be sure to attach the provided Gohagan & Company luggage tags for each piece of luggage, including carry-ons. Your claim checks should have the following airport code: PTY.

Arrive at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, Panama. Proceed through immigration to the baggage claim area and retrieve your luggage. After completing customs screening, meet a Gohagan & Company representative.

Transfer to the port and embark the first-class Wind Star and settle in. Attend a welcome briefing and safety drill on the ship with your fellow passengers.

Enjoy a delicious dinner (tonight and every night on board!).

Colon

Enjoy a delectable breakfast this morning (and every morning on board!). Then depart for your chosen excursion in Colón.

Agua Clara Locks. No matter which excursion you choose for today, you will visit the Agua Clara Locks of the Panama Canal. During the Panama Canal expansion project, which happened from 2007-2016, the width and depth of the canal were increased, and bends along the route were straightened. And two new sets of locks were added — one at each end of the canal — which boosted the waterway’s capacity to move cargo from one ocean to the other. These improvements doubled the capacity of the canal, and allowed larger ships, called Neopanamax, to transit. Neopanamax are almost three times the size of the largest vessels that could cross the original locks, and can carry up to 14,000 containers. A ship of this size pays somewhere between $300,000 and $1 million in toll fees to cross the Panama Canal.

Traveler’s Choice | Choose ONE of the following included excursions:

• Gatun River and Embera Village. Travel to the banks of the Gatun River, where you’ll board a motorized piragua (dugout canoe) and travel downriver through the lush forest to the indigenous village of Embera Quera. The river is a birdwatcher’s paradise — keep your eyes peeled for little blue and green herons, great egrets, anhingas, neotropical cormorants, kingfishers, toucans and ospreys. Disembarking at Embera Quera, you will be greeted by the villagers with dancing and music. Learn about their customs, lifestyle and relationship with nature. Locally crafted artifacts and hand-woven baskets will be available for purchase. You will have a chance to be painted with the traditional jagua, a natural dye the Embera use to adorn their bodies, and which serves as a natural insect repellent. Enjoy a traditional Embera lunch with locally grown fresh fruit. Bid farewell and return upriver by dugout canoe. Board the motorcoach and proceed to the Agua Clara Locks. (Activity level: Moderate)
• Castillo de San Lorenzo. Drive over the Panama Canal to San Lorenzo National Park, where the Castle of San Lorenzo sits at the mouth of the Chagres River. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this Spanish colonial stronghold was built in 1601 to fortify and protect the river entrance to the Las Cruces Trail leading to Panama City.

  The area is a great place to spot wildlife, including howler monkeys, sloths, coatis, tamandua (a genus of anteaters) and a wide range of birds. See the Shelter Bay Marina, located on the old site of Fort Sherman, a former U.S. military base. It was built in 1910 to protect the Gatun Locks and Gatun Dam of the Panama Canal. Enjoy an included group lunch. Wrap up with a visit to the Agua Clara Locks. (Activity level: Moderate)

• Gatun Lake expedition boat tour. Begin your excursion with visit to the Agua Clara Locks. Continue to the town of Gamboa, where you will board an expedition boat. Cross Gatun Lake, used by massive cargo ships preparing to transit the canal. When it was formed in 1914, Gatun Lake was the largest man-made lake in the world. The flow of all the rivers within the Panama Canal’s watershed is contained in Gatun Lake to provide water for the operation of the locks system. More than 52 million gallons of fresh water are used for every ship that transits through the Panama Canal. On average, 32 ships cross the canal every day!

  Although it is part of an engineering marvel, the lake is also part of a rich ecosystem. As you cruise, look out for green iguanas, various monkeys and three-toed sloths in the tree branches, crocodiles on the banks, and ospreys and keel-billed toucans in the air.

Lunch at the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve before returning to the ship. (Activity level: Moderate)

Welcome Reception: This evening, join your fellow passengers for a Welcome Reception and Dinner.

Isla Aroma, San Blas Islands

San Blas Islands. The San Blas Islands are part of an archipelago comprising some 378 islands and cays, of which 49 are inhabited, some by the Kuna people. After the ship anchors at Isla Aroma, take a tender to an idyllic island boasting white-sand beaches fringed by palm trees. The coral reef barriers and warm, clear water create the ideal spot for snorkeling; the water is home to a colorful kaleidoscope of marine life. Spend the morning relaxing on the beach and snorkeling in the water.

You will also have an encounter with the local Kuna people, who will welcome you with music and dance. The Kuna are known for their political autonomy, matriarchal society, distinct culture and the colorful “mola” textile art created by women. You will see some handcrafts for sale. (Activity level: varies, depending on beach activity chosen. More information available onboard.)

Return to the ship and tuck in to a tasty lunch.

Free Time: Spend the afternoon relaxing on board. Take in a lecture, spend time in the fitness center or spa, or simply lounge on deck with a book and gorgeous views!

Panama Canal Transit

Enjoy a delectable breakfast each morning on board.

Panama Canal. Spend the morning enjoying the once-in-a-lifetime experience of traveling from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean through the Panama Canal. A total of 40 miles long, this waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans was first constructed in the early 1900s. The Panama Canal was first built and solely controlled by the United States in 1914, with joint agency between the U.S. and the Republic of Panama going into effect in 1979 and complete control being passed to Panama in late 1999. As we voyage through the canal from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean, watch as the mighty locks open and close, ultimately raising and lowering the ship 85 feet in this unique and memorable experience.

Enjoy a delicious lunch onboard the ship.

Day at Sea

Spend the day relaxing and gazing at the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy the amenities—and three delicious meals—on board today.

Isla Parida, Panama

Free time: Morning at leisure on the ship.

For today’s excursions, the trip from the ship to the shore will involve a wet landing. Windstar utilizes Zodiacs, rugged inflatable boats designed to take guests safely to remote ports with no docks. A wet landing involves boarding a Zodiac from a floating dock on the yacht and riding it from the ship to the shore. Once you reach the beach, you will disembark directly into the water, which will be ankle- or knee- deep.

To prepare for the wet landing, make sure you bring water shoes to help you walk in the water and sand. Some landing sites may have rocky bottoms. You will most likely get wet, so be conscientious of your attire. You may also want to bring a Ziploc or watertight plastic bag for your phone and camera to keep them dry. After disembarking, your adventures await on shore!

Isla Parida. Today we will go ashore in Isla Parida, which is part of an archipelago. Parida is Spanish for “calving,” so named because humpback whales come here to give birth and nurse their young in the protected waters. Be on the lookout for colorful marine life. The islands themselves boast beautiful butterflies and birds and several species of monkeys. Upon landing, we will enjoy a BBQ beach party and lunch. Kayaks and snorkeling gear will be available to use and you may choose to spend the day on the beach. Or you can choose from one of the following excursions.

Traveler’s Choice | Choose one of the following included excursions. (Please make your selection on the Reservation Form on the portal.)

• • Hiking on Parida Island (Activity level: Active).

  Head off the beaten path to explore the wondrous ecology of the island, from beautiful flowers and lush rainforest vegetation to iguanas and rare birds. Along the way you’ll enjoy a viewpoint stop to see neighboring islands.

Duration:

•  2.5 hours total

Details:

•  The hike itself will take approximately 1.5 hours in significant to extreme heat and humidity, and the level of difficulty is active to strenuous.

To wear/bring:

•  Wear comfortable walking shoes, shorts or long pants, a T-shirt or light shirt and a hat. Bring your swimsuit, a towel, insect repellent, sunscreen, sunglasses and your camera. You will be provided with water. You may also want to bring additional clothes to change into after the hike. Please do not bring valuable items to this tour.
  • Open-Water Snorkeling (Activity level: Active. Not for beginner snorkelers.)

  Isla Parida is surrounded by the Chiriqui National Marine Park — with its dozens of untouched islands. Set sail into open waters on an island-hopping adventure. There are soaring palm trees, white-sand beaches, coral reefs and gentle waters perfect for snorkeling.

Duration:

•  3 hours

Details:

•  Snorkeling equipment will be provided. The boats used are modest panga boats, and guests will need to be able to climb hanging ladders to get in and out of the vessel. The ladders are short and can be challenging to climb. At times, visibility and snorkeling conditions may not be ideal. If conditions are too poor, your captain may decide to search for wildlife such as turtles, dolphins and whales instead. Your panga captain will speak Spanish, but you will have an English-speaking guide. A waiver must be signed prior to the tour.

To wear/bring:

 Wear light clothing and comfortable shoes, and wear your bathing suit under your clothes. Bring a towel, insect repellent, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and a camera.

After your afternoon on Isla Parida, return to the ship and enjoy a relaxing dinner on board.

Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica

Today you will have two included excursions—one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Between morning and afternoon, return to the ship and tuck into a delicious lunch, then head back out for more excitement. The excursions are as follows:

Sloth Visiting Center.

•  Meet sloths in their natural habitat, in a preserve established and maintained by a local family. On the Osa Peninsula, there is incredible biodiversity, including two native species of sloths: the two-toed and the three-toed. Keep your eyes peeled for a variety of birds and other wildlife as well! (Activity level: Mild)

Organic Farm with Tastings.

 Explore an organic farm filled with vanilla, pineapple, banana and cacao crops! Then learn the history of chocolate production (by the ancient Mayans!), see the steps of modern chocolate making, and taste the delicious results. Sample farm-grown fruit for the ultimate fresh food experience! (Activity level: Mild)

Please note: For both of today’s excursions, the trip from the ship to the shore will involve a wet landing. WindStar utilizes Zodiacs, rugged inflatable boats designed to take guests safely to remote ports with no docks. A wet landing involves boarding a Zodiac from a floating dock on the yacht and riding it from the ship to the shore. Once you reach the beach, you will disembark directly into the water, which will be ankle- or knee-deep.

To prepare for the wet landing, make sure you bring water shoes to help you walk in the water and sand. Some landing sites may have rocky bottoms. You will most likely get wet, so be conscientious of your attire. You may also want to bring a Ziploc or watertight plastic bag for your phone and camera to keep them dry. After disembarking, your adventures await on shore!

At the end of the afternoon, return to the ship for a relaxing evening. Savor a delicious dinner on board.

Quepos for Manuel Antonio

Anchor at Quepos and 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.

Manuel Antonio National Park. The impressive array of wildlife Manuel Antonio National Park has to offer — despite it being Costa Rica’s smallest national park — will leave explorers in awe. See hundreds of mammal and bird species that call this park home, along with countless amphibians and reptiles. Naturalist guides will lead an exploration of this protected biodiverse paradise, where you may spot vibrant toucans, camouflaged iguanas, howler monkeys, tree-dwelling squirrel monkeys, two- and three-toed sloths and Capuchin monkeys. (Activity level: Moderate)

Free Time: After today’s adventures, return to the ship for lunch and a leisurely afternoon. Take a relaxing swim in the pool or pick up a book in the ship’s library. Enjoy a cultural dance presentation.

Farewell Reception: Join your fellow passengers for the Farewell Reception and Dinner onboard the ship.

Puerto Caldera/San Jose

After breakfast, disembark the ship and head out to explore Costa Rica’s capital city of San José.

San José. Founded in 1736, San José has blossomed into a vibrant city, filled with fascinating museums, lively markets, tempting restaurants and more. The cityscape boasts both historic and modern architectural styles. Discover San Jose’s heritage on a tour that includes visits to the National Theater, a regal baroque building modeled on Milan’s La Scala, and the National Museum. (Activity level: Mild)

Transfer to Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belén.

Free Time: Enjoy your evening at leisure and dinner on your own. The Gohagan Travel Hospitality Desk stands ready with dining and itinerary suggestions.

San Jose/Return to Home City

This morning after breakfast, check out of the hotel. Transfer to the Juan Santamaría International Airport for your flight home.