Panama Canal Cruises: Excursions

Board your Zodiac, skippered by an experienced eco-guide. After a brief safety lecture and orientation, take an exhilarating ride to Land’s End, past Lover’s Beach, the sea lion colony and the famous arch. Your first snorkel site will be at Chileno Cove, approximately 20 minutes along the coast. After re-boarding your Zodiac, you’ll head over to Santa Maria Cove for your second snorkeling. The transparent waters at both coves team with colorful fish, including Moorish idols, puffers and Cortez angelfish. You’ll spend approximately 45 minutes at each site. After your snorkel experience, your Zodiac transports you back to the tender pier. Enjoy the incredible view heading back into the harbor with a view of your ship, Land's End and the coastline of Cabo. Note: Participants must be at least 8 years of age and weigh no more than 250 lbs. The snorkeling sites may be altered due to weather and water conditions. This tour is not for pregnant women or guests with knee, neck, back or heart problems, as the ride can be rough. A signed waiver is required. Snorkeling is from the boat and guests must climb small aluminum ladder to get back into boat. Wear your swim suit and bring a towel. Sunglasses and sun protection are suggested. All snorkel equipment, safety vest, instruction, supervision and bottled water/soft drinks are included. Wetsuits are not included. less

If you would like to get the best view of all Mazatlan, you’ll find it at this magnificent lighthouse, 515-feet (157 m) above sea level. This is the highest natural working lighthouse in the world and at night, light can be seen more than 30 miles out at sea. Your invigorating day starts when you board your transport for a five-minute ride to the foot of El Creston hill, where the lighthouse is located. Soon after, your challenging hike will take you up the winding path to the world’s highest natural lighthouse. If you are a nature’s lover, don’t miss this opportunity to see iguanas, tropical birds, butterflies and some exotic varieties of cactus and flowers along the way. Arriving at the top, your reward is the stunning view, which includes the Pacific Ocean, your ship by the harbor below and miles of Mexican coastline to the south and north. You’ll have 25 minutes to relax, have a drink and take photos. Pass by the Historical Center before on the way back to your ship. Note: Participants must be at least 10 years of age. Hike is on uneven terrain for approximately 1-1/2 miles, approximately one hour in duration. less

Board your guided air-conditioned transportation and pass through Puntarenas and its surrounding mangroves. Then, proceed southward along the coast past the port of Caldera and small fishing villages, such as Mata de Limon. Next, head inland into the coastal range of mountains passing by small farming communities such as Tivies and Ceiba. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to see typical Costa Rican rural life. Along the way, you may encounter different species of birds as well as sugar cane, bananas, coffee, mangos and other crops that are often exported to North America and Europe. Continue traveling south until you reach Tarcoles River, where sightings of very large crocodiles can frequently be seen. This is where your Canopy Tour adventure will begin. Upon arrival to the canopy tour reception, you’ll get geared up with the necessary equipment and briefed on safety instructions. You’ll be guided on a 15 to 20 minute walk through the tropical transition forest to the beginning of the tour. Once here, you’ll proceed to the first horizontal traverse cable. The Original Canopy tour consists of nine observation platforms, and eight horizontal traverse cables connected between the immense trees of this tropical paradise. Your journey through the trees will take approximately one hour. Here, you may see deer, monkeys and a variety of birds including the endangered scarlet macaw, orchids, bromeliads and mahogany trees. At the end of the tour you'll receive a complimentary bottle of water. Other beverages and souvenirs will be available for purchase once back at the reception area. After a few minutes of relaxation, you’ll board your bus for the return journey to the pier. Note: Participants must be at least 5 years of age and weigh no more than 275 lbs. Although wildlife sightseeing are common, they are not guaranteed. This tour is not recommended for pregnant women or for guests with seizure disorders, heart, back, neck or balance problems. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring insect repellent. A change of clothing is recommended. less

A winding nature trail - through lush jungle in the heart of the spectacular Cranbrook Flower Forest - leads to the start of this unforgettable Canopy Tour adventure. After instruction from extensively trained guides, you’ll take a short nature walk to the first platform nestled on the hillside overlooking the treetops and jungle ‘canopy’. You begin your tour by soaring through the trees using an intricate system of harnesses, pulleys and carabineers on horizontal traverses, while gazing at the surrounding jungle until you arrive at the next cliffside platform, 45 feet above the ground. A series of traverses ranging from 105 feet to 660 feet in length will have you swinging through the Laughlands River Gorge, a giant valley carved from the surrounding mountain by ancient waters (a sparkling river still flows through it). From your bird’s eye view, you’ll survey the flora and fauna of this magnificent landscape, all while listening to the gentle sounds of nature. At different points in the tour, you’ll even get a glimpse of the miles-away Caribbean Sea and learn interesting facts about the surrounding tree and plant life from our well-informed guides. After leaving the valley, you really fly, embarking on a series of long throws - with the last traverse being 600 feet long. Here, after removing your equipment, you unwind from your exhilarating adventure with a walk through the flowering trees of Cranbrook before being transferred back to the cruise ship pier via Chukka Cove Farm. Note: Participants must be at least 8 years of age and no older than 70, and weigh no more than 264 lbs. Anything you take must be carried by you throughout the entire tour, at all times leaving both hands free. This tour is not recommended for guests with heart, neck/ back problems, mobility/balance problems or pregnant women. Tour participation is limited. less

Board a high speed vessel for a Gastineau Channel crossing passing Mayflower Island and Suicide Falls, with a beach landing at the remote Treadwell mine site on Douglas Island, with direct access to the forest outfitting base camp. Your professionally trained guides will outfit you with state of the art safety equipment and provide a detailed safety briefing, before transporting in a 4 x 4 Unimog all-terrain vehicle up the densely forested hillside to the first zip line tree platform. This is your introduction to nearly a mile of high tension cables linking a network of platforms mounted high in carefully selected old growth spruce trees. Your guides will progressively ease you into the forest canopy. Cross aerial suspension bridges, with breathtaking views of spectacular Bullion Creek, and enjoy towering views of Juneau from the tree tops. Discover hidden ruins of the historic Treadwell Mine (1881-1917), once one of the world’s largest gold mines and zip over a 150 foot deep “glory hole”. You'll have an opportunity to explore the ruins of the original mine refinery, where millions of dollars of molten gold was poured into ingot molds. The last zip line transports you to the base camp, where each participant receives a light snack and is presented with a custom cast Alaska Canopy Adventures medal, in recognition of their achievement. An informative narration is provided on the channel crossing. Throughout this nature based adventure you will be surrounded by the sights and sounds of Alaska’s rainforest. Note: Participants must be at least 5 feet tall and weigh at least 80 lbs and no more than 250 lbs. Guests must be in good overall physical condition with full use of limbs and be able to follow instructions in English. All guests must wear closed-toe shoes. No video cameras allowed while zipping. less