Costa Rica, Panama from the Pacific to the Atlantic via the Panama Canal: 13 days San Jose to San Jose

Welcome to San Josè, Costa Rica where you’ll enjoy an overnight stay. This vibrant city located in Costa Rica’s Central Valley is renowned for its rich history, cultural heritage and architecture, which reflects a fascinating blend of colonial, neo-classical, and modern styles.

Today, you'll be transferred to Puerto Limón, and your Emerald Cruises luxury yacht to embark on your exciting discovery of Costa Rica and Panama.

Located on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, Puerto Limón is the country's primary port and a vibrant city with a rich cultural heritage. Known for its lush tropical surroundings and beautiful beaches, Puerto Limón serves as a crucial hub for Costa Rican trade and tourism.

This stunning archipelago, located off the northwestern coast of Panama amid the Caribbean Sea is known for its natural beauty, vibrant culture, and diverse ecosystems: the region is rich in biodiversity, featuring tropical rainforests, coral reefs and mangroves. The archipelago is a melting pot of cultures, influenced by indigenous communities, Afro-Caribbean heritage, and expat communities, which is reflected in the local cuisine, music, traditions, and festivals.

Today, you’ll pass through the Panama Canal, the most famous attraction in Panama. Considered one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Modern World’, this man-made canal was built to significantly decrease the travel time for ships between the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Since its completion in 1914, the Panama Canal has seen in excess of 900,000 vessels and is regarded by many as a feat of engineering, which was originally considered impossible to build. On board your luxury yacht, you’ll experience this historic waterway for yourself before arriving in Panama in the evening.

Panama City, the capital of Panama presents a vibrant and modern metropolis with a unique blend of historical and modern contemporary influences. Located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, the city serves as a key maritime hub and is a focal point for international trade. Here, you’ll discover a fascinating mix of architectural styles. The skyline is dominated by modern skyscrapers, luxury hotels and residential towers, reflecting the city’s rapid urban development. In contrast, the Casco Viejo (Old Quarter) offers a glimpse into its storied history, with its colonial buildings, cobblestone streets, and charming plazas.

Today, you’ll discover the Pearl Islands, located on the Pacific Coast of Panama, in the Gulf of Panama. Cruise to one of the 200 or so islands and islets, many of them, tiny and uninhabited and enjoy the superb beaches and beautiful coral reefs. Nowadays, you won’t be able to find any pearls as the name alludes to; however, you’ll have the opportunity to spot numerous varieties of multi-coloured tropical fish and marine life.

Welcome to the Darién National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site covering around 5,750-square-kilometres (2,220-square-miles). This vast park is among the largest and most precious protected areas in all of Central America, extending across almost the entire Panama-Colombia border, as well as a stretch to the Pacific Ocean. Darién National Park offers an exceptional variety of habitats – sandy beaches, rocky coasts, swamps, mangroves, and tropical forests – which makes it the perfect home for diverse wildlife. There are two indigenous tribes known to both Panama and Costa Rica, which today reside along the park’s riverbanks.

Cebaco Island lies within the province of Veraguas and is part of the buffer zone of Coiba Island National Park. Cebaco  is Panama’s third-largest island after Coiba Island and Isla del Rey. Nowadays, there are estimated around 500 inhabitants living on the island, mainly distributed in communities in the northern parts. Isla Cebaco is also known for its gorgeous beaches.

Golfito Bay is a ‘gulf within a gulf, ’well-known for its unspoiled landscapes framed by the lush mangroves of Corcovado and Piedras Blancas national parks. This is home to some of the richest biodiversity on the planet and lies within one of the most vibrant destinations in Costa Rica. Here, eco-adventurers, boaters, surfers, and outdoor lovers come to explore and connect with nature, experiencing an array of fun and exciting activities on offer. A hidden gem where the Costa Rican jungle meets the sea, Marina Golfito invites you to experience Costa Rica from a stunning new perspective.

Today, you’ll arrive in Quepos, a small, booming harbour town, popular as one of the prime spots for sport fishing, as well as the gateway to the renowned Manuel Antonio National Park. As a tropical inlet backed by lush rainforest, the park offers a variety of outdoor adventures. After the decline of the banana plantations that laid the foundations for the port, Quepos replaced its former industry with ecotourism – resulting in many other attractions, including kayaking and canopy tours. Quepos is also frequented by numerous scientists and naturalists, who come to study this region's fantastic biodiversity.

The Curú National Wildlife Refuge and Farm are situated in Nicoya Peninsula in north-west Costa Rica. Some of the country’s most beautiful beaches and protected bays can be discovered here. Costa Rica’s first private national wildlife refuge is a prime example of a successful sustainable development program. You can still see cattle grazing, as well as luscious tropical fruits, such as mangoes, cultivated here.  

You’ll also get to experience Isla Tortuga, one of the top-ranked destinations in Costa Rica, about an hour away from the shores of Nicoya Peninsula. Isla Tortuga boasts a pristine sandy beach edged with palm trees.  Today, relax at the beach, enjoy a hike, or go snorkelling in the crystal-clear, turquoise waters. During the night, you’ll arrive in Puerto Caldera, ready to explore the following day.

Today, your Central America adventure and time on board your Emerald Cruises luxury yacht comes to an end in the port city of Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica. After bidding farewell to the crew and your fellow guests, from the yacht, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your return flight home, or to continue your holiday.

Please book your flight to depart out of San Jose after 01:00 PM.

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such, Emerald Cruises cannot guarantee the cruise will be operated unaltered from the itinerary stated above.