Panama and Colombia: Exploring the Caribbean Coast

8 Days

Overview

Transit the legendary Panama Canal to encounter dazzling natural and cultural treasures as you navigate this Caribbean coast aboard the aptly designed National Geographic Quest. Hike lush rainforests teeming with diverse wildlife, maneuver secluded inlets by Zodiac and kayak. Get immersed in the local culture of indigenous communities from the archipelago of Guna Yala to the celebrated people of Tuchín.

This itinerary also operates in reverse for select voyages.

Arrive in Panama City, the capital of Panama, this afternoon. Transfer to Port Balboa to embark the National Geographic Quest this evening.

Special permission allows the ship to anchor overnight in the Panama Canal’s vast Gatún Lake. Disembark in the morning at Barro Colorado, an island formed by the damming of the Chagres River to build the Panama Canal. A visit to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute unveils initiatives to protect and study the extraordinary biodiversity of one of the planet’s most studied tropical forests and site of National Geographic studies.

Alternatively, engage in the wildness of the region by taking a hike into the jungle, a Zodiac across the vast lake or a boat ride to the mouth of the Chagres to explore the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center. The luminosity of the evening heightens the drama of your transit through the complex lock system of the legendary Panama Canal, 50 miles long and passage for some 14,000 ships yearly.

In the morning, arrive at the historic town of Portobelo, or “beautiful port,” so named in 1502 by Christopher Columbus and a critical Spanish trading center in the New World. Explore 17th- and 18th-century Spanish fortifications, designated a UNESCO site. Later, hike the surrounding jungle in search of native parrots and unruly howler monkeys.

Wake up and find yourself amidst the Guna Yala archipelago (known also as the San Blas Islands), a scattering of 368 tiny, white-sand isles off the northeast coast of Panama. Spend the day exploring paradise where the Guna people still live as their ancestors did–in thatched huts making ancient handicrafts such as molas, colorful panels of stitched fabric. Deeply committed to their culture, the Guna are admired as a politically autonomous community where women make the rules and gender fluidity is celebrated.

In the afternoon, go offshore and explore the vibrant marine world of this breathtaking utopia by snorkel, kayak and stand-up paddleboard.

National Geographic Quest calls at the wonderfully isolated villages of Sapzurro and Capurgana positioned only 3 miles apart on the stunning coast of Caribbean Colombia. Set out on a nature walk on the Capurgana-Sapzurro trail. In this area, the ranges of two species of howler monkeys overlap as both the mantled and the Colombian red howler monkeys are here. Watch for toucans, parrots, trogons, occasionally scarlet macaws and possibly three-toed sloths as you traverse the tropical forest trails between the villages. Or choose a shorter hike which takes you across an international, transcontinental frontier to Panama.

Walk through the border crossing, perched high on a bluff, before descending to the beach at the Panamanian village of La Miel. The sheltered waters of the bay at Sapzurro back in Colombia beckon for a pleasant kayak or paddleboard around this tropical inlet. Finish the day at sunset in the village of Capurgana.

Visit Santa Cruz de Lorica on the banks of the Sinú River, a melting pot of cultures from throughout Europe and the Middle East. Stroll the central square and notice how the city’s distinct influences live harmoniously, spotlighted in the architecture of the stunning Spanish-colonial cathedral and historic buildings in colorful Arabic styles. A folkloric show will be performed on the riverfront malecón during your walking tour.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before traveling to the nearby indigenous village of Tuchín. Watch craftsmen as they make hats that are considered Colombia’s national symbol, the sombrero vueltiao, and meet the local Zenú, celebrated for their ingenious irrigation systems.

National Geographic Quest will remain anchored in San Antero overnight. Pending conditions, guests may visit Tuchín in the morning, and Santa Cruz de Lorica in the afternoon.

The day begins by exploring Cispatá Bay, where you’ll spend the morning among the most extensive area of mangroves on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Local community guides accompany you to share their insight and knowledge of the prolific wildlife. Join naturalists from local conservation group Asocaiman as they release rehabilitated young caimans back into the wild.

After lunch on board, venture over to the Sanguare Natural Reserve. This former cattle ranch, now part of the national system of protected areas, offers great opportunities to explore on foot or by water. Learn of the conservation work being done and explore the tropical dry forests, coastal lagoons and sea grass beds. Enjoy kayaking or paddleboarding, or dig your toes in the sand and sip a chilled refreshment.

Disembark in Cartagena and transfer to the airport for flights home.