Sightseeing drive through rolling hills, high mountains, plains, valleys, and riverbeds is just part of the gorgeous landscape. Costa Rica’s topography is one of the worlds most diverse. You’ll start by heading east to Esparza, a town that has become one of the most picturesque in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific region. The central park and its church are emblematic of Costa Rica’s hardworking rural towns. Local kids dancers in colorful dresses will greet you at the park and you’ll enjoy masquerades and handmade souvenir exhibitions while you learn about their traditions. Your scenic drive includes some stretches along the Pacific Ocean passing by mango and cashew plantations, farming areas and most certainly seeing some birds along the way, all examples of sustainable living. Take the opportunity to capture unique pictures, while traveling down to sea level, admiring the most breathtaking views. Your last stop will be at a Local souvenir and will have plenty opportunity to browse around the shop, sample their delicious fruits or taste a Costa Rican cup of coffee.

Explore and discover the magnificent city of Cartagena. Begin with a stop at San Felipe de Barajas situated outside the walled city for a panoramic view of this monumental fort considered to be the most outstanding feat of Spanish military engineering in the New World.

Continue to Las Bovedas Artisan Center, built as dungeons and as a means of storage. Walk through narrow cobblestone streets and squares inside the walled city. Wander through Plaza de Bolivar which features a statue of its namesake. Visit the Inquisition Palace, established in the year 1610 to punish any crimes against the Catholic faith. You’ll see samples of jails and torture chambers.

Next, visit the San Pedro Claver cloister and monastery built in homage to the protector of slaves. Continue to the Navy Museum which includes a folk show and beverage. Before returning to your ship you will have a free time to explore by your own into the walled city and enjoy panoramic sightseeing through Bocagrande, the modern part of the city.

Enjoy a visit to the colonial city of Antigua, founded by Spanish conquistadors in the early 16th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll the charming cobblestone streets to visit the Central Plaza, the cathedral, Colonial Museum at the Jade Museum. Lunch is included at a typical Guatemalan restaurant. On the return drive to your ship, enjoy the scenery and great views of the Agua and Fuego (Water and Fire) volcanoes.

OVERVIEW

Observe schools of brightly colored fish and other marine life while snorkeling a barrier reef and a shipwreck that serves as an artificial reef. The reefs off Grand Cayman are teeming with sea life, and you will likely see an abundance of creatures that may include stingrays and sea turtles, especially loggerhead and green turtles as their numbers have dramatically increased in the last two decades. Tropical fish are also plentiful and many of them are easy to identify because of their distinct colors. You might see brilliant blue tangs, neon-colored parrotfish and Spanish hogfish, a species whose colors change as they age. If you spot purple-and-yellow ones, they are juveniles. The shipwreck also attracts huge numbers of fish as it has provided them with a sheltered habitat for decades. Because it lies on the ocean floor just 25 feet below the surface, it offers an excellent, easy-to-reach snorkeling site.

HIGHLIGHTS
• See an abundance of neon-colored fish and other marine life while snorkeling a reef.
• Snorkel around a shipwreck that now serves as an artificial reef teeming with fish.
• Look for loggerhead and green sea turtles, whose numbers have increased recently.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Would you like to enjoy a day of authentic Mexican fun? At Hacienda Dona Engracia, there’s a real Mexican Fiesta waiting for you, with colors, displays, contests and more. Upon arrival enjoy a guided tour of the hacienda and tequila factory, with free tequila samples. During lunch you’ll be entertained with music, displays of dancing horses, a traditional Mexican folkloric ballet and of course, typical Mexican food. After the party there will be time for some contests, prizes and fun.

Then you’ll head to the downtown area for a city tour and some shopping in the heart of Puerto Vallarta. Passing through the charming downtown area you’ll see the famous waterfront Malecon, the ever popular statues and the beautiful Our Lady of Guadalupe Cathedral before you head back to your ship. See you at the Mexican Fiesta!

This Mexican Outback and Camel Safari is an unforgettable eco-adventure that combines spectacular views, delicious cuisine and an exciting beach camel ride.

Check in at the pier, sign your waivers, and make a quick bathroom stop. Continue with a short walk to board your A/C vans for the scenic 45 minute drive into the heart of the Baja outback and Rancho Tierra Sagrada.

Upon arrival at Rancho Tierra Sagrada, you will be greeted by your friendly and knowledgeable local expert who will give you a briefing of the adventure that awaits you.

Start by meeting our friendly camels, these gentle giants will then take you on a fun and unique caravan across the white sands of the beach. From your perch high atop the camel, you'll have excellent views of your surroundings and in the winter months, you'll want to keep an eye out for whales which are sometimes spotted off-shore.

After you've dismounted your camel, your good times continue as you expert guide leads you on a guided tour through desert vegetation, pointing out the indigenous flora and fauna, making this a true eco experience.

The pathway of your nature walk will lead you to the restaurant of our local ranch overlooking the Pacific Ocean, where you'll have a chance to catch your breath and savor some traditional Mexican food of hand-made tortillas, beans and salsas. Your guide will continue with a Tequilla sampling and a short class on how to make traditional tortillas.

Then it's time to head back to the pier. Re-board the A/C van and enjoy some breathtaking views of the Baja desert while you drive beside the Pacific Ocean coast line.

This fabulous tour begins with a scenic 45-minute drive to the luxurious Gamboa Rainforest Resort. The resort is located in the 55,000-acre Soberania National Park which is adjacent to the Panama Canal and near the historic Chagres River. On the grounds of the resort, an aerial tram has been constructed, unlocking the secrets of the heavily populated rainforest canopy.

Boarding your tram, you'll begin your ascent from the shadowy rainforest floor through the understory of vegetation and into the sun-drenched canopy. Here, you will have a bird's eye view of a thousand hues of green, interspersed with the fluorescent exclamation points of flowering trees. As you glide through the canopy, you'll sight the many animals that live high above the forest floor, such as Howler monkeys, sloths, coatimundi, and capybara. Beautiful birds like the toucan, parrot, and momot are also plentiful here, as are iguanas, frogs, butterflies, and dragonflies. After your tram ride, you may choose to climb the observation tower to enjoy a 360-degree, panoramic view of the Panama Canal, the Chagres River, and the surrounding tropical rainforest. Before returning to the pier, you will have some free time at the resort to explore the many exhibits, which include a butterfly farm, aquarium, orchid garden. There is also the opportunity to do some shopping while you are here.

Enjoy the most exciting adventure in the natural wonderland of Costa Rica. Board the Pacific Tropical Forest Aerial Tram and literally fly through the forest canopy and take an exhilarating jungle cruise on the Tarcoles River. The Pacific Tropical Forest Aerial Tram is the only tour that provides a unique exploration of the canopy in the Transitional Tropical dry Forest on Costa Rica’s mid-Pacific coastline. Dry upland forest meets humid coastal dry forest with unique species colonizing the treetops and the canopy in this 222-acre eco-tourism park, dedicated to conservation. Embark on a gondola designed for 9 passengers to safely glide through a living backdrop of giant trees, hanging gardens and lush green landscapes. Panoramic ocean views and sightings of exotic flora and fauna will introduce you to this unique transitional dry forest. Your experience includes a guided walk through the forest. A visit to the medicinal plant and Butterfly Garden will complement your walk. After your tram ride, enjoy a Costa Rican lunch at the park in a lush natural setting. You can also shop at Rainforest, where you can find a variety of local and handmade arts, crafts and designs as well as Costa Rican souvenirs before transferring to Tarcoles for a jungle river journey. Upon arrival at the Visitor Center you will board comfortable roof covered open boats to explore the world famous Tarcoles River. This river tour usually takes 1 hour. It will provide a great understanding of the life and death of the mangroves and swamps that constitute one of the most important ecosystems in Costa Rica. Noted for its mangrove forests, the Tarcoles River is a wonderful and crucial habitat for hundreds of species and a wide variety of sea and shore birds as well as colonies of the largest crocodiles in Central America. During the tour, our naturalist guide will help you identify a great variety of birds and wildlife. This habitat is also vital for the preservation of the endangered Scarlet Macaw. Tour sequence may vary.

Hailed as a major feat of early 20th-century civil engineering and one of the most testing building projects ever undertaken, the Panama Canal served to revolutionize global shipping when it was inaugurated after 10 solid years of construction work in 1914. Removing the need to navigate either around the notoriously hazardous Cape Horn in the south of Chile or the equally tricky Strait of Magellan, the 48-mile ship canal provided an easily navigable link between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans via the Caribbean Sea.

Your trip to this iconic structure begins with a short drive to the waterway’s Expansion Observatory Platform to learn a little about the current construction project that aims to add capacities for a larger shipping lane by building a new and bigger set of locks. This experience at the canal will give you the opportunity to see the former Canal Zone, residential and military facilities that were built by USA at the beginning of the last century. Your fascinating tour of the Panama Canal then comes to a close with your return to the ship.

Coastal Ecuador is largely covered in dry forest, which makes the lush green Pacoche Forest all the more unique and ecologically complex. Forests such as Pacoche once covered vast areas of the coastal region and were home to an enormous wealth and diversity of species. Now they have been reduced to a dispersed chain of forest remnants under constant threat and facing an uncertain future.

We depart the quayside and travel via the coastal route to the Pacoche trailhead. Along the way, we take note of the predominant dry forest and the stark contrast between the dry and wet forest areas delineated by what looks like an invisible boundary, the change is so radical.

The Pacoche Lodge, located next to the Pacoche Wildlife Refuge, offers a private glimpse into this fascinating ecosystem. During our guided hike through the forest around the lodge, we’ll keep our eyes out for howler monkeys and dozens of bird species.

We will also see a “trapiche”, the machine used to extract juice from sugar cane, enjoy a quick demonstration of Panama Hat weaving techniques and see how the Ivory nut is used to produce a number of different eco-friendly end products – from traditional handcrafts, jewellery to shirt buttons.

After this visit we return to the ship.

OVERVIEW

Discover historic Astoria! You’ll make a brief photo stop at the Astoria Column which was built in 1926. This 125-foot-tall concrete and steel structure features a cast-iron 164 step staircase that leads to an observation deck. If you decide to climb to the top, you'll see majestic views of Astoria, the Pacific Ocean and the lower Columbia River estuary. Views from the base are just as panoramic, the column stands atop Coxcomb Hill, Astoria's highest point. Continue to the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park for a tour of Fort Clatsop. You’ll also visit the Columbia River Maritime Museum located on Astoria's historic waterfront. The museum features nautical artifacts including the Lightship, which served as a floating lighthouse. Enjoy a scenic drive through Astoria nestled between the Columbia River and Young’s Bay. You’ll see picturesque Victorian and Queen Anne style homes and churches, Uniontown - home of the men who worked at the Union Fish Cannery and the Doughboy monument, dedicated to the soldiers who served in World War I.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See a replica of the fort where Lewis and Clark wintered.
• Pause for photos at the landmark Astoria Column.
• Browse the exhibits at the Columbia River Maritime Museum.
• Learn about Astoria’s early history along the way.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Depart the Port of Miami by air-conditioned coach with a knowledgeable guide and drive for approximately one hour to enter Everglades National Park. This world renowned eco-system covers about 5,000 square miles and is home to most of Florida's alligators, snakes, black bear, wild pigs, over two hundred species of birds including herons, egrets, white ibis, anhingas, roseate spoonbills, wood storks, ospreys, hawks, vultures, eagles and more, plus the endangered and nocturnal Florida Panther - less than 100 remaining in the wild.

Board your airboat for a thirty minute exhilarating ride over this “River of Grass” and hopefully come face to face with a number of these different creatures. Enjoy the Alligator Show and take home a complimentary photo next to a baby alligator. Afterwards enjoy the various crocodilian exhibits, visit the souvenir shop or perhaps try out the alligator nuggets in the snack bar. On the drive to the airport learn about the Miccosukee and the extremely wealthy Seminoles, the two Florida tribes of Native American Indians.