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PANAMA CANAL NEXT SAN BLAS ISLANDS COSTA RICA PANAMA PANAMA CITY LAS PERLAS COLUMBIA San Blas Islands to Las Perlas
NEXT CHICHIME CAYOS HOLLANDES NOGUARGANDUP KUANIDUP RIO SIDRA CORAZON DE JESUS San Blas Islands
San Blas Islands NEXT A chain of 365 islands 56 NM from Colon, and keys extending over 160 km along the Caribbean Coast from the Gulf of San Blas to the Colombian border. 80% of the islands are uninhabited. Although only a 20-minute plane ride away from Panama City, a trip to the San Blas islands will transport you 20 centuries into the past. The Kuna Indians, who are fiercely independent from the Panamanian government, run all the islands as an autonomous province with minimal interference from the national government. They have maintained their own economic system, language, customs and culture, with distinctive dress, legends, music and dance and thus have avoided traditional tourism development. Each island is run by a chief. Today's Kuna Indians inhabit the islands in the same way their ancestors did: trading coconuts and fishing for crabs, lobsters and snappers aboard their graceful hand carved wooden canoes complete with patchwork sails, called "Cayucos'. Most of the communities speak only the ancient Indian language and the women still wear the traditional colorful dresses in orange and yellow, highlighted with the world famous "mola" rainbow colored patterns emblazoned with fishes, birds, jungle animals or geometric designs. Their calves and arms are tightly bound with lengths of beads known as "Uinni" and they wear a golden ring through the tip of their nose.
April el Porvenir NEXT We land at "Corazon de Jesus" airport after a 30min. flight from Panama City, Panama. Fly over the entire San Blas archipelago's incredible scenery and reefs. Late Morning Take a leisurely cruise in a "Kuna Dugout Canoe" up the Rio Diablo in a "kayuko" - a large wooden canoe used by Indians. The river provides all the fresh water for Corazon de Jesus. The trip upstream is filled with birds, fish and the sounds of the jungle over the steady roar of the outboard motor. Our Kuna guide takes us to a point in the river where a Kuna Cemetery is nearby and we walk over for a visit. The cemetery is very peaceful, filled with the scent of jungle flowers and well kept up. Each grave is decorated with the inhabitant's cup and plates, to signify that his or her place would not be taken. For the trip down the river we use the Kayaks, which have been towed behind the dugout canoe. We are going down with the current, so often we just drift and watch the jungle pass by, right in the middle of an assortment of monkeys, iguanas, and lots of exotic birds. Afternoon - Onto Isla Verde (Green Island), 4NM from the base, in an incredible anchorage with turquoise waters you would not believe! Isla Verde is a beautiful small deserted island with one of the nicest reefs in Panama. While you may not see many fish, the diversity and the colors of the corals are some of the best in the world. The slopes up to the island are covered with star fish and one Sea Cucumber. Spend a very relaxing afternoon snorkeling, (scuba diving is not allowed in the San Blas), kayaking and playing in the clear, blue water of the Caribbean.
Cayos Hollandes NEXT Cayos Hollandes is one of the most beautiful and interesting anchorages of the islands. A stunning variety of reefs including a large coral reef: snorkelers drift in a strong current, holding the dinghy, among Manta Rays, and Barracudas! This is a good place to buy some provisions from Indians. "Mr. Robinson", and old Indian man, will tell you the old Kuna legends. A two-hour sail and anchoring west of the large reef. We visit the island inhabited by about 10 families of Indian fishermen. We take the opportunity to have custom Kuna bracelets made for us. And again, snorkeling and spear fishing, and a kayak ride around the reefs. We also take the opportunity to discover more of the Indian population. We sail to Naguargandup, and cross the Hollandes Channel, an excellent fishing spot (yellow tunas and Sierras). There is a little opening through the coral reef. This is another magnificent anchorage. Kuna Indian Village Sail to Rio Sidra, where we will visit a "village-island" inhabited by about 500 Indians who are still living the old traditional life. A unique characteristic in the Caribbean: the bamboo huts are very close to each other. The island is filled with smiling kids eager to make contact. This is the pure, authentic Indian life. Kuanidup After breakfast, we take a leisurely cruise to Kuanidup, 6 NM, on a beam reach. Kuanidup is a little island where Indians have built "cabañas", which are some sort of little hotel made out of palm huts. During the day, we will
NEXT enjoy their beach and hammocks. We spend a very relaxed afternoon taking the kayak out to visit the hotel and deserted island and snorkeling among the coral reefs. The highlight is swimming in the midst of a thick cloud of hundreds of thousands of neon fish, a truly humbling experience. The reefs are very nice and the water surrounding the reefs is always shallow enough to stand up in. The village is very nice, a great place to buy Molas, bracelets, and fresh Kuna Coco Bread. If you re interested in local cuisine, this may be a good time to have dinner at the village and sample a local meal. Cayo Chichime We sail to Cayo Chichime. Three or four Kuna families live on Cayo Chichime and they come to the boat to sell molas and an octopus. This is a good opportunity for a very interesting intercultural experience. The Kunas greatly appreciate good sewing needles and thread (for the women), and a selection of good quality hooks for the men. Children will appreciate pencils. Extra material for sewing is also a big hit. In turn, it s very likely they will o er to walk you around the island and look at their homes. This is also great place for swimming to the island as you can float to shore, walk upstream and float back to the boat. SAN BLAS TO PANAMA (BEGIN PANAMA CANAL TRANSIT) Early morning departure from San Blas to arrive to Colon, Panama; the entrance to the Panama Canal. After a brief visit by the Canal Admeasurement team, SENSES will be in queue for transit.
The Panama Canal NEXT Our trip departs from Colón. You will enjoy a trip through the Gatun Locks, which are the only set of locks in the Atlantic sector. In Gatun Locks, the vessel will be raised a total of 26 meters in three distinct chambers. After coming through these locks, you ll arrive to Gatun Lake where you will be anchored for the night. The lake was formed by erecting the Gatun Dam across the Chagres River. THE SMITHSONIAN RESEARCH STATION AT BARRO COLORADO The following morning, the vessel will reposition to the Barro Colorado area, where you can take a tour of the Smithsonian Research Station. Here you ll discover the splendor of the tropical rain forest! Barro Colorado, the largest forested island in the Panama Canal waterway, is part of the Barro Colorado Nature Monument (BCNM) and the site of an internationally recognized biological research station. You will learn about research in progress and the rich natural history of the BCNM. We hope to pique your interest in tropical forests, because you are essential to the protection of this natural environment. The Barro Colorado Nature Monument includes Barro Colorado Island and the five surrounding mainland peninsulas: Gigante, Peña Blanca, Bohío, Buena Vista and Frijoles. The area of the Island is 1,500 ha, whereas the area of the entire Monument is 5,600 ha. The annual precipitation on the Island is 2,600mm of rain. Leaf cutter ants cut more than 15% of all the leaves produced in the forest to fertilize the fungus that they eat in subterranean nests, while fig wasps may travel up to 9 miles to pollinate the fruit. The majority of fruit in the forest is produced in July and in September (more during El Niño years). A big Espavé tree (Anacardium excelsum) pumps 54kg of water from the soil up into leaves, every day.
NEXT There are five species of monkeys that live on Barro Colorado, all native to Panama: Spider Monkey, White-Faced Capuchin, Geo rey's Tamarin, Howler Monkey and Night Monkey. Once you re back from your excursion, a special Canal pilot will guide the boat back into the main Gatun Lake and you will continue on through the Gaillard Cut, where the Chagres River flows into the canal. The Gaillard Cut (also known as Culebra Cut because its curves resemble a snake) is one of the main points of interest for visitors because it was carved through the Continental Divide and this section of the Canal is full of history and geological value. As you transit the Cut you will be able to appreciate the continuous maintenance that this area requires, because it is very susceptible to landslides. In this area you will also be able to observe the work in process for the Panama Canal expansion project. Once you exit the cut, you ll transit the Pedro Miguel locks (second set) where you will descent 9 meters in one step. Next, you will enter Miraflores Lake, which is a small artificial body of fresh water that separates Pedro Miguel Locks from Miraflores Locks, the last set of locks before entering the Pacific Ocean. Whilst in these locks your vessel will descend 18 meters in two distinct steps. Once in the Pacific Ocean, you will be able to admire the Bay of Panama and Panama City s splendorous skyline before passing under the Bridge of the Americas.
Panama City NEXT Panama City is actually the site of three cities: modern Panama City, Colonial Panama City, and the ruins of Old Panama. Visit some of the most important sites of Panama City starting with the ruins of Old Panama - 'Panama La Vieja,' founded in 1519, the first city and first settlement on the Pacific Ocean. Visit the capital, 'Castilla de Oro,' and center of operations for the conquest of South America. This city was built during the 16th century and was later partially destroyed by the attack of the pirate Sir Henry Morgan in 1671. The best introduction to Panama City is to take a city. City tours usually include the "three Panama Cities" and a visit to Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal where you will see ships passing through the locks of Panama Canal. Miraflores Locks has a visitor's center with interpretive exhibits and a restaurant with stunning Canal-side views. HISTORICAL TOURS History bu s enjoy Panama as the crossroads of the Spanish empire, the target of history's most famous pirates and the site of one of man's greatest accomplishments, The Panama Canal. Your guide may take you on a walking tour of Panama City's main historical sites - Panama Vieja (the original Panama City) and colonial Casco Viejo (Old City) sector and the Panama Canal. Panama Vieja was the gateway city for the Spanish conquest of Latin America, once a thriving city of 10,000. Today's extensive ruins are the result of battles with the English pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. Casco Viejo is the Spanish colonial city established in 1671 after the downfall of Panama Vieja and until the 20th century was Panama City. Perched on a piece of land that juts out into Panama Bay, the numerous fascinating sites reflect Panama's history as it intertwined with Spain,
NEXT France and the United States. Highlights include the 17th century churches including the Church of the Golden Altar, the ruins of 17th century convents and residences, original dungeons, a French monument to the 22,000 who died building the Panama Canal and the Panama Canal Museum located in an elegant, restored building that once housed the headquarters of the French company that attempted to build a sea level canal. AMADOR CAUSEWAY With its spectacular views of Panama City's skyline and of the Panama Canal, the Amador Causeway is a great place to walk, bike and dine. The one mile causeway was created by the Americans by connecting four small islands with rocks excavated from the Panama Canal and served as a breakwater to the Pacific Coast entrance to the Panama Canal. Today, these small islands, swept by pleasant sea breezes host fine restaurants, scenic bicycle and walking paths, and the Smithsonian Institute of Tropical Research aquarium. Panama - Atlantic Side THE WILD SIDE OF PANAMA DAY TOUR This day tour combines the thrill of encountering wildlife in their natural habitats while passing in the shadows of the mammoth cargo ships transiting the Panama Canal. Gatun Lake, with a surface area of 423 square-kilometers, was created in 1914 as the main waterway for the canal and contains many small islands (former hilltops) that provide protected natural habitats for many of the animals that live in the region. With all the rivers in the surrounding watershed area flowing into this reservoir, which provides the 52 million gallons required per lockage, this is a highly protected region.
NEXT Without the healthy rainforest of the watershed land, over 500,000 hectares, the canal could not function. Healthy rainforest provides good habitats, and therefore these forests are teaming with wildlife. From the comfort of our expedition boat which allows shoreline access to the rainforest covered islands we will search for white-faced capuchin, mantled howler monkey, Central American spider monkey, and Geo rey s tamarin. We are likely to spot green iguana and three-toed sloth resting on tree branches, crocodile napping on beaches, osprey hunting for peacock bass, snail kite, and keel-billed toucan. At mid-day, we will enjoy a picnic lunch on a small island with extraordinary views of the Panama Canal and the natural surroundings. Chagres River & Embera Indians This is a perfect opportunity to visit an indigenous village in the midst of a wonderful natural setting that supports the harmony of their lifestyle and traditions. Early in the morning guests are picked up at their hotel and transferred to Port El Corotú on the shores of Madden Lake, the main reservoir of drinking water for the cities of Panama and Colon. Madden Lake also supplies 40% of the water required for the operation of the Panama Canal. Here, we board a motorized piragua (dugout canoe) and travel up the Chagres River to the Emberá indigenous village of Emberá Drua. The boat journey takes us through the rainforest of the 320,000-acre Chagres National Park, which is the largest of the National Parks protecting the Panama Canal Watershed. At the Emberá village we will be greeted with dancing and music. We will learn about Emberá customs and their relationship with nature. There will be handcrafts available for sale and we will have a chance to be painted with the traditional jagua, a natural dye the Emberá use to adorn their
NEXT bodies. After a lunch of fish, plantain, and fresh fruit served in traditional style by the Emberá, we visit the nearby waterfall where we can take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the Chagres River before heading back to Panama City. Gamboa Park AerialKungle Tram The aerial tram ride traverses a mile long tract of Humid Forest that lies within the resort boundaries. We observe the forest canopy in some areas and are likely to encounter birds and hear howler monkeys. The tram ascends 280 feet over half a mile and ends atop a hill. From here we walk two minutes to the observation tower (which is optional) and for those with some extra stamina, you can enjoy a climb of a 100 feet up a mildly inclined ramp. From the observation tower you'll get great views of the Canal, the Chagres River as well as the surrounding forested areas of Soberania National Park and the town of Gamboa. The Tower is slightly less than 500 feet above sea level with most of this elevation attained by tram. On the return portion of the tram we descend the final half-mile back to our starting point.
The Pearl Islands NEXT The Archipelago de la Perlas or Pearl Islands is a chain of islands composed of over 100 volcanic islands located in between 64km and 113km southeast of Panama City. There are about 130 unnamed islets in the Pearl Islands and beautiful scenes that you have probably seen on the travel magazines; turquoise waters, tan-sand beaches, swaying palms, colorful fish, whales and sea turtles. The Pearl Islands have an abundance of oysters of which some of the most famous fine Pearls have ever come from. This includes the 31-carat Peregrina Pearl that has been worn by a Spanish King, an English queen and a French emperor. Today this Pearl belongs to famous actress Elizabeth Taylor. The Pearl Islands got their name after Spanish conquer Vasco Nuñes de Balboa meets with a local Indian guide who spoke to him about nearby islands rich with Pearls. The story says that this occurred within days after the discovery of the Pacific Ocean. Balboa was anxious to visit these islands and was told that there was a hostile chief who ruled the islands. After he got informed, Balboa postponed his visit to these Islands, names the archipelago Isla de Las Perlas and declares it as Spanish Property. Now days if you have luck, there are still chances to get some Pearls from the locals at good prices. If your interest is a few days of Panama cruising, depending on the amount of days, we tend to cruise our clients to or near the following o shore islands
NEXT ISLA PACHECA (PACHECA ISLAND) This is the northern-most island in the Pearl Islands along with a smaller island named Pachequilla. The island is inhabited by people but you can still find large colonies of pelicans, frigates, cormorants and sometimes even whales on the northern side. There is also a nice sandy beach in case anyone is interested on bathing. ISLA BARTOLOME (BARTOLOME ISLAND) This Island is located very close to the famous Contadora and South East from Pacheca and Pachequilla. It has a nice little beach that uncovers on low tide. ISLA CONTADORA ( CONTADORA ISLAND ) This Island is the most visited and famous of all Panama islands in the Pearl Islands by far. The CBS Survivor series for Fall 2003 and Winter 2004 took place in Panama s Pearl Islands. In fact the exotic, nature-rich islands of Panama have been home to three seasons of survivor. In Contadora you will find some development including mansions, an air strip, hotels, bars, desalination plant, power plant and marina, a small network of paved roads and great snorkeling spots. This island is home for Panama s o cial nude beach (Playa de las Suecas). In some cases we tend to accommodate our clients in one of Contadora s lodging options. Snorkeling in Contadora can be quite fascinating. There are five coral fields surrounding the island and within a snorkeling session you can expect to find some damselfish, moray eels, pu er fish, angelfish, parrotfish, white-tip reef sharks and if you are lucky enough even a mermaid. ISLA CHAPERA EN MOGO MOGO This Island has a sand beach but in some areas is quite rocky on low tide. This is the main island where the survivor show by CBS was held on or where people had to survive.
NEXT ISLA VIVEROS Viveros Island is one of the nicest Islands out there. This island has been bought by an international realty company who is now making a private development with airport, marina and roads similar to Contadora Island. ISLA PEDRO GONZALES This Island does not have a flat topography or basically it s a hilly island. On Isla Pedro Gonzales there are about 500 inhabitants and a small village. This place is famous for its herb plantations. ISLA SAN JOSE San Jose Island is the second largest after Isla Del Rey in the Pearl Islands and it s privately owned. It extends to 45.3 sq km and you will have the opportunity to explore natural reefs under crystal clear waters, and 14,400 acres of unspoiled virgin rainforest. Besides from this there are accommodations where we suggest our clients to stay on while cruising near this Island. This is a perfect 1st class getaway resort where you will have access to comfortable accommodations, a restaurant, bar, pool table, swimming infinity pool, game room, massage room, cable TV, sauna, diving equipment, four wheel squads, kayaks, jet skis, water skis, mountain bikes, banana boat, bird watching tours and even golf carts. ISLA DEL REY The King s Island is the biggest island on the Pearl Islands and is currently under strong development plans. However, over 70% of the land is property of the State. Moreover, the west coast of is very exposed to swells creating mist that block the views of a great amount of virgin beaches. This is a great opportunity for surfers who might want to explore this area on one of our surf charters. In the southern part of Isla del Rey we will take you to Punta Cocos where there is an old II world war airfield and a couple of abandoned houses with a beautiful beach.
Going deeper in the Island there is Esmeralda Village. Here you can find inexpensive seafood and a few basic shops. Besides from the beauty of its beaches, this area is also great for bird watching as there are partially submerged mangroves and plenty of wild life by the Cacique River. ISLA SAN TELMO San Telmo island is famous for its II world war Japanese submarine that is stranded on the north coast. This is currently a private reserve protected by Ancon. Once you are cruising with panamacruise.com.pa you will have the opportunity to swim or even snorkel around this submarine made from thick Suomitomo steel.