Today board your 24 passenger catarman and sail the tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean towards Contadora. Meet your expedition leaders, the crew and your fellow travelers while you savor the tempting cuisine. (B,D) 

Your journey today will take you into the Darien jungle and into the lives of the Embera. A proud people who have managed to retain their traditions, customs and lifestyle. They are master carvers of cocobolo woodcrafting and basketry. While the boat cruises up a river keep your eyes open for wildlife along the river’s edge. (B,L,D)

Wake up at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal and join the morning’s ship convoy for our northbound canal passage traversing Miraflores Locks and Pedro Miguel Locks. Your boat will rise 85 feet above sea level to Gatun Lake. Navigate the Gaillard Cut, the narrowest section of the Panama Canal, bisecting the Continental Divide. This section of the canal is full of history and geological value and you will be able to appreciate the continuous maintenance that this area requires, because it is very susceptible to landslides. At Pedro Miguel Locks and Miraflores Locks the Discovery will be lowered 85 feet back to sea level of the Pacific Ocean. You have a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience up close the history and operation of this engineering marvel. Spend the night in Gatun Lake on Panama Canal waters. (B,L,D)

Prior to the construction of the Panama Canal, the vast jungle area that is now the Gatun Lake was teeming with an overwhelming abundance of wildlife. As the region was flooded to create the lake, animals took refuge in the mountain peaks, which are now the many islands that dot the renowned lake. Explore Gatun Lake and kayak in Panama Canal waters. Your expedition leader will take you on board small crafts past lush rainforests to secluded areas of the lake to witness first-hand the splendor and excitement of the jungle. Exotic birds, monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and crocodiles are just a few of the animals that you could see in their native surroundings. The sights, sounds and scents that make up this beautiful, tropical jungle will engulf you. Cameras are a must as this is considered the world’s premier location for viewing monkeys and other animals in the wild. The Discovery will exit the Panama Canal in the afternoon on its way to the mouth of the Chagres River. (B,L,D)

Experience the magnificent Chagres River which was used by the conquistadors to move their gold across the Isthmus of Panama en-route from Peru to Spain and by the gold prospectors who attempted a "short cut" from the US East coast to the gold fields of California. The river was the center piece of the colonial inter-oceanic route and is now the lifeline of the Panama Canal full of wildlife and tropical jungle. Explore Fort San Lorenzo which is located on a cliff at the mouth of the Chagres on the Atlantic side where your leader will offer details of the immense amount of history found on this area. The fort was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century to defend their well-known gold trail. Later that evening, the Discovery will reposition to Colon, where it will spend the night before disembarking the next day. (B,L,D)

Wake up to a farewell breakfast before you disembark the Discovery. Travel by motor coach to Portobelo and enjoy this town located on Caribbean waters which was founded by Christopher Columbus on his fourth voyage to the new continent in 1597. This quaint town is rich in history as it was the site of many sea and land battles between the Spanish colonials and the pirates and corsairs raiding the Spanish Main. Explore the fortifications built by the Spaniards to protect their treasures and visit the Church of San Felipe, the sanctuary of the Black Christ. Later in the afternoon, board the Panama Canal Railway train back to Panama City. This one hour railroad trip allows you to traverse the picturesque trans-isthmian route from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Upon your arrival into Panama City you are transferred to your hotel.

During the half-day morning tour you visit the ruins of Old Panama, climb up the Cathedral tower, visit the Old Panama Museum and then continue to Casco Viejo, which dates back to the late 1600's. Your guide describes the events in history leading up to the eventual movement of the capital city to its present location. Casco Viejo is home of monuments of Ferdinand de Lesseps and other Frenchmen instrumental in the ill-fated attempt of the French to construct a canal through Panama. 

The full day tour continues to visit the Biodiversity Museum designed by Canadian-American Architect Frank Gehry. The Biomuseo is his only work in Latin America and the tropics. The building was designed to tell the story about how the Isthmus of Panama rose from the sea, uniting two continents, separating a vast ocean in two, and changing the planet’s biodiversity forever. The permanent exhibition is a combination of art and science that leads the visitor to experience a marvelous phenomenon. (B)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Have extra time? Add a visit to Boquete, Bocas del Toro or San Blas Islands.

You are met at the Panama City airport and transferred to your hotel. Remainder of the day at your leisure.

Your day begins with a ride in a motorized “piragua” (dugout canoe) on the Chagres River, a route used by the Embera Indians for their daily transport. The journey travels through the rainforest of the Chagres National Park. Along the Chagres River, you may be able to spot Little Blue and Green Heron, Great Egret, Anhingas, Neotropic Cormorant, Mealy and Red-lored Amazons, Ringed and Green Kingfishers, along with Keel-billed Toucans and Ospreys flying above. Hike through the rainforest with a local indigenous guide who will explain the botanical aspects of the trail. Village members will share their culture through dance, rituals such as body painting and food. You may even have the chance to be painted with the traditional jaguar. Lunch at the village. (B,L)

After breakfast explore the trails around the Baru Volcano National Park with a naturalist. This park encompasses a variety of climate zones from humid montane forest to very humid low montane forest. Volcan Baru is the highest point in Panama at 3,474 meters high. From the top you can see both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Over 250 bird species have been recorded and five cat species live here. There is a good chance that you will see the Resplendent Quetzal in its mountain habitat of wild orchids and bromeliads. This is a beautiful hike. (B,S)

This morning embark on a 4-5 hour magnificent journey over the mountains and down to the Caribbean coast. There are stops en-route to photo the beautiful scenery and stretch your legs. End your journey at a Punta Vieja lodge on the Bastimentos Island. Here you experience the Afro-Panamanian culture and the Teribe indigenous group. Between jungle and sea, the lodge has created a comfortable and private retreat, perfectly integrated into the lush tropical environment of Isla Bastimentos. (B)

Today relax in the Caribbean waters or take an optional tour such as snorkeling, kayaking, a chocolate tour, or a tour to Bastimentos Marine National Park. (B)

Today fly back to Panama City and overnight. (B)

Today you are transferred to the international airport for your onward flight. (B)