Secret World of Two Oceans - A Voyage between Costa Rica & Guatemala

Fly by scheduled flight to San Jose. On arrival we transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. The remainder of the day and evening are at leisure.

After breakfast in the hotel enjoy some free time before we transfer to Puerto Limon, enjoying a local lunch on the way. On arrival we will embark the MS Hebridean Sky and moor overnight.

After breakfast we head to the Cahuita National Park. The area is filled with wildlife that includes howler monkeys, white-faced capuchin monkeys, raccoons, sloths, otters, coatis, agoutis, armadillos and porcupines. Several avian species also live in the swamp forest including the green ibis, the green kingfisher, the yellow crowned night-heron, the frigate bird and the boat-billed heron among others. Our naturalist guides will lead us through the trails of the rainforest, sharing their vast knowledge of this fragile ecosystem. Alternatively, take a boat ride through the scenic Tortuguero Canals, known as the Costa Rican Amazon, as the surrounding rainforest supports a wide range of flora and fauna. Here we can hopefully sight waterfowl, monkeys, lizards, sloths and toucans. We will return to the ship via a banana plantation where we learn about this staple of the local economy.

Today we discover the Bocas del Toro archipelago, pristine islands which are now part of a national marine park. We will spend the day surrounded by astounding beauty with the opportunity to visit the small town of Bocas del Toro where there will be some time to wander amongst the fine old Spanish buildings or maybe visit one of the local beaches for a swim in the clear waters.

From our berth in Colon, we will visit the new locks of the Panama Canal expansion. The expansion was the largest project at the canal since its original construction and created a new set of locks, doubling the waterway’s capacity. At the Agua Clara Visitor Centre we will learn about the history of the canal, the expansion efforts and watch the ships passing through. Return to the MS Hebridean Sky for lunch and the remainder of the day and evening will be spent transiting the Panama Canal. The first attempt to build the canal was made by a French company but ended in failure in 1889. The American government eventually bought out the French for 40 million dollars, and their attempt to build the Canal started in 1904. Through the efforts of over 80,000 workers and the loss of more than 30,000 lives, the greatest single construction project ever undertaken was completed. The project ended in triumph, with the Canal opening in 1914, and it is now a vital artery of international trade, with nearly 14,000 ships travelling through it every year. The canal is around 50 miles long and takes between eight to ten hours to cross.

Awake on the Pacific coast of Panama and enjoy a lesiurely morning at sea as we cruise to the Islas de Las Perlas. We will spend the afternoon exploring this archipelago of islands named after the large pearls found in the waters. Native Indians inhabited these islands until the 16th century when the Spanish discovered the pearls and Isla Contadora became a centre for their transit to Spain. With over 200 islands, the majority of which are uninhabited, we will find a spot to relax on the beach or swim in the clear waters with the schools of tropical fish.

Over breakfast we arrive at the wild, rugged and remote Darien Province. The Darien Jungle is recognised as one of the world’s top ten birding sites and we hope to see many bird species such as the colourful crimson-collared tanager, green and chestnut-fronted macaws, rufous-tailed and snowy-bellied hummingbirds. Landing on the beach of Playa Muerto we will visit the Embera Indian village. The Embera Indian Tribe are a proud people who have been able to maintain their traditions and lifestyles. During our time in the village we will learn about the history of the tribe, meet its people and learn about their life. Returning to the MS Hebridean Sky for lunch, we will enjoy a leisurely afternoon at sea.

Our final call in Panama will be the Chiriqui Gulf Marine Park which spreads over 36,000 acres and comprises of 25 islands and numerous coral reefs. Created in 1994 the marine park’s aim is to aid the preservation of the region’s ecosystems, diverse flora and fauna, scientific conservation projects and to protect the islands’ endangered inhabitants. We will land on one of the islands where you may choose to take a nature walk to mangroves learning about the local flora and fauna or find a spot under a palm tree on the beach and take a swim.

Arrive into Golfito and after clearing immigration formalities we spend the morning at one of Costa Rica’s most famous National Parks, the Golfito National Wildlife Refuge. Spread out over 2810 hectares it is home to many species of birds including macaws, parrots and brown pelicans whilst common mammal sightings include white-faced capuchins, spider monkeys, howler monkeys and many species of snakes and butterflies. Over lunch we will sail across Golfo Dulce to Puerto Jimenez from where we will visit one of the nearby fincas that specialises in cacao production. The crop has been grown in this region since the Mayans and we will learn about the cultivation of the crops and after walking through the plantation, see how it is transformed into chocolate. Alternatively join a walk in La Perica Sloth Garden where there will be the opportunity to spot the animals in their natural environment as well as other wildlife including hummingbirds and iguanas.

We spend the morning exploring the Curu National Wildlife Refuge which boasts a rich and diverse wildlife in five different habitats ranging from marine zones, including a wide beach area, mangrove swamps and tropical forests. Here on a range of walks we will find a number of species of birds, howler and capuchin monkeys and turtles. Over lunch we sail the short distance to Tortuga Island where we have the chance to spend the afternoon relaxing on the white sand beaches or taking a swim in the clear waters.

Our final stop in Costa Rica is Playa del Cocos in the Papagayo Gulf. Once a small fishing village it has grown into a popular destination for local Costa Rican tourism. We will use our Zodiacs to land before heading inland to the Palo Verde National Park where we will board local boats to travel along the Tempisque River seeing the mangroves and dry forest vegetation which is home to countless birds and multiple mammals. As we will be visiting in the dry season we hope to see peccaries, armadillos, jaguarondis, coatis, agoutis, deer and monkeys which are attracted to the river. We will enjoy lunch at the 19th century Hacienda House with views of the savannahs and sugar cane fields.

Spend a relaxing day at sea as we continue our journey towards El Salvador.

We will spend the day exploring the southern region of El Salvador and there will be a choice of excursions. You may wish to follow the ‘peace route’ set up to remember the events of the 1980s when El Salvador experienced a bitter civil war. It is estimated that over 100,000 were killed in the fighting whilst half a million people fled into exile. We will visit Perquin, once a stronghold of the guerrillas and home to the Museum of the Revolution where former members of the rebel army are willing to share their experiences. We continue to the village of El Mozote where in December 1981 one of the worst atrocities occurred and more than 1000 people were killed in a single day. Our local guides will explain about living in the country during this time and we will see the monument erected for the victims and the memorial garden decorated with brightly coloured murals. Alternatively a full day tour will visit the Jiquilisco Bay Biosphere Reserve which is El Salvador’s most important marine ecosystem with the coastal area being made up of remote islands, mangrove canals and desolate beaches whilst inland we will find beautiful forests and cacao plantations. It is an important base for migratory birds as well as a nesting site for four sea turtle species including one of only two sites in the Pacific for the endangered Hawksbill Turtle. We will explore the different areas of the reserve spending time with the environmentalists and scientists who will teach us about the conservation of the turtles, and we will walk through the forest on the lookout for spider monkeys. We will also visit a cacao plantation where we learn about the cultivation of cacao which creates some of the finest chocolate.

After a leisurely morning at sea we arrive in the port of Acajutla where we spend the next day and a half. An afternoon tour will explore some of the colonial towns and communities on the ‘Flower Route’ named after the abundance of flowers found along the roadsides and in the villages. We will drive through the beautiful mountains to the town of Nahuizalco, home to one of the most longstanding native communities and arts and crafts production sites in the country. We continue to Ataco, the final stop on the Ruta de las Flores. Ataco is a quaint, colonial village that is known for its natural beauty, as well as its brightly painted homes, cobblestone streets, colourful murals and unique arts and crafts. Meanwhile a full day excursion will discover the Mayan route starting at the archaeological site of Joya de Ceren, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Pompeii of America. The site was covered by the Loma Caldera volcano explosion which kept the remains of pre-Hispanic civilisation covered for hundreds of years and the site provides a unique insight into everyday life in a Mesoamerican farming community of the 6th century AD. We continue to the ruins of San Andres, once an important political and religious centre and testimony of the Indigo industry during the colonial period, better known as the ‘Blue Gold’. After lunch in a local restaurant we will continue to Santa Ana and see the beautiful Gothic Cathedral and National Palace before our tour ends at the ruins of Tazumal, the largest pyramid in El Salvador which dates from 1500 BC and is an important Mayan settlement.

We will disembark after breakfast in Puerto Quetzal and drive to Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built between three magnificent volcanoes in 1542, it is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the Americas. Antigua remained an economic and political heart of Central America until a devastating earthquake in 1773 destroyed much of the city. We will explore the city with its wealth of colonial buildings, beautiful squares, cobblestone streets and Baroque churches. This afternoon we will transfer to our hotel for a two night stay and the remainder of the day will be at leisure for independent exploration before we meet for dinner tonight.

After breakfast, we embark on full day tour to Lake Atitlan, described by Aldous Huxley as the most beautiful lake in the world. Surrounded by 12 post-Mayan villages, all bearing the names of Catholic saints, and surrounded by three majestic volcanoes, the experience is unique. We visit the main town of Panajachel where there will be some time at leisure to take some photographs and explore the local shops. After lunch in a local restaurant we will head back to our hotel in Antigua and there will be some free time before we meet for dinner this evening.

Check out from the hotel after breakfast and transfer to Guatemala City Airport for our scheduled indirect flight to London.

Arrive this afternoon.

Itineraries are subject to change.