Central America Jewels & Panama Canal
Colón - Puntarenas
Dates:
02/01/2026
to
09/01/2026
Other available dates
days
nights on board
Let yourself fall under the spell of an itinerary whose every port of call unveils its finest assets, between the lushness of the Costa Rican jungles and the magic of Panama’s crystal-clear waters. During an unforgettable 8-day journey between Colón andPuntarenas aboard Le Dumont-d’Urville, you will set off to discover these wild regions where nature reigns supreme, but also to encounter the ancestral people who are guardians of age-old traditions and this unique biodiversity. Sail between two worlds, where the ocean whispers ancient secrets and the tropical forests shelter an infinity of wonders.
At each port of call on your trip, each guest will be able to choose one included activity from the selection offered by PONANT. During this cruise, set off to encounter an Emberá community in the heart of the Darien Park jungle, from Playa Muerto; explore Panama’s cultural and botanic diversity by visiting its capital, Panama City; or discover the beauty of the San Blas archipelago, between idyllic beaches and an encounter with the Kuna community, from Holandes Cayes. The diversity of options on offer promises intense and varied experiences. (Find the full list of excursions under the Itinerary tab.)
Your journey in Central America will start with the discovery of Holandes Cayes’s white sands and paradisiacal waters, right in the heart of the coral islets of the San Blas archipelago.
You will then sail towards the Panama Canal, the legendary maritime route crossing the Isthmus of Panama and linking the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. You will navigate the Miraflores locks , which make up the canal’s final section before the Pacific Ocean, and arrive in Fuerte Amador. On this artificial peninsula on Flamenco Island, you will be captivated by the dense, pristine vegetation and its unique biodiversity.
Then, Le Dumont-d’Urville sails to the beautiful Darién National Park in Panama. This little corner of paradise is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to remarkable plants and wildlife. Sandy beaches, rocky coastlines, mangroves, swamps and tropical rainforests vie with each other for beauty. This will also be an exceptional opportunity to journey back in time as you discover the Embera tribe. These proud people have successfully preserved their traditions and their ancestral way of life.
Sailing northwest! You will leave the Panamanian shores to head for the Costa Rican coast. In Golfito, admire unique tropical vegetation. As the gateway to explore one of Central America’s largest primary tropical forests, Golfito represents a veritable enchanted interlude.
As a grand finale, you will arrive in Puntarenas, which is the end of your journey between the Panamanian shores and the Costa Rican coastline.
The encounters with the wildlife described above illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.
Ref : EU020126
Your itinerary
A unique cruise discovering some of the natural treasures and ancestral indigenous communities of Costa Rica and Panama. Make the most of an excursion included* per person per port of call during your cruise...
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Your trip in detail
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LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
06/03/2025 to the 21/03/2025
LE LYRIAL
03/03/2025 to the 21/03/2025
LE PAUL GAUGUIN
LE BORÉAL
L'AUSTRAL
*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
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Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
- Simple dress
- Skirt or trousers
- Blouse
- Polo
For men:
- Pleated trousers or chinos
- Sports jacket
- Shirt
- Polo
Officer’s evening:
For all cruises longer than 8 nights, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
- Cocktail attire
- Evening dress (if you wish to)
For men:
- Dark suit
- Tie recommended, possibly bow tie (if you wish to)
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
ACCESSORIES:
- Polarized sunglasses
- Swimsuit (for the Spa on board)
- Gym wear (fitness)
- Battery charger and memory cards for your camera
- Mobile phone charger
- Hat/cap
HEALTH CARE:
- Sunscreen and after-sun lotion
- Medications and prescriptions
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
- Casual outfits for the day
- Smarter outfits for dinners
- Elegant outfits for Gala evenings
- White or black and white outfit
PRECAUTIONS:
In your hand luggage, remember to bring any medicines that you need, and possibly a small spare bag of toiletries (in case of delay in the delivery of your baggage by the airline). Remember to always have your travel documents with you in case you need them: hotel vouchers, cruise vouchers, return flight tickets... Never leave them in your hold luggage.
All our cabins have a safe. We recommend not to go ashore with valuable jewellery.
PONANT activities
Highlights
- A unique cruise discovering some of the natural treasures and ancestral indigenous communities of Costa Rica and Panama.
- Make the most of an excursion included* per person per port of call during your cruise thanks to the selection made by our destination experts.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site : Darien National Park
- Sailing through the Panama Canal, truly a masterpiece of civil engineering.
- Encounter with the indigenous Emberas tribe in the Darien National Park.
*Pre-bookings open around two months before the start of the cruise; requests are processed on a first-come first-served basis, subject to availability.
Ports of Call & Excursions
2 January 2026 - Colón
Embarkation 02/01/2026 from 18:00 to 19:00
Departure 02/01/2026 at 20:00
Colón is the second largest city in Panama, at the Caribbean entrance of the Panama Canal. Colón is today an important port, and the free trade zone created in 1953 contributed greatly to the development of the city. Colón was founded in 1850 by Americans working on the Panama railroad connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts through the isthmus of Panama; the city rapidly overshadowed the older Caribbean ports of Panama when the canal opened.
3 January 2026 - San Blas Islands
Arrival 03/01/2026 midday
Departure 03/01/2026 late afternoon
Located on the north-east coast of Panama, the San Blas archipelago is a string of coral islands in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. More than 300 islands and cays cover an area of 300 square kilometres offering travellers a multitude of treasures. Sheltered behind a long coral reef, the San Blas Islands are full of enchanting anchorages. The long sandy white beaches bound by crystal-clear waters will allow you to relax and enjoy incredible marine fauna before engaging with the Kunas Indian community. Still subsisting on hunting and fishing, they will welcome you in their villages of bamboo houses gathered near the beaches.
4 January 2026 - Crossing the Panama Canal
Arrival 04/01/2026 early morning
Departure 04/01/2026 early morning
Aboard your ship, experience something unique, that has inspired the imagination of numerous adventurers in the 20th century: sailing the Panama Canal. Its construction started in 1880 under the direction of Ferdinand de Lesseps. Abandoned then resumed, this marvel of engineering was completed by the United States and opened in 1914. The canal crosses the Isthmus of Panama and links the Atlantic to the Pacific. Including three levels of locks and by raising ships to the level of Lake Gatun, almost as if the water was a lift, it allows them to avoid having to round Cape Horn.
5 January 2026 - Fuerte Amador, Flamenco Island
Arrival 05/01/2026 early morning
Departure 05/01/2026 early evening
An artificial peninsula situated at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, Fuerte Amador is the gateway to several noteworthy sites. Right near there, the impressive Miraflores Locks are a shining example of the engineering feats deployed during the construction of the Panama Canal. Further north, in villages nestling amid dense vegetation, lives the Embera tribe, guardian of the forest and of the Chagres River. This proud people have successfully preserved their traditions and their ancestral way of life, which predate the colonisation of the region by the Spanish.
6 January 2026 - Playa Muerto, Darien National Park
Arrival 06/01/2026 early morning
Departure 06/01/2026 midday
The most remote and least developed region of Panama, the province of Darien is an unspoilt land with an extremely rich variety of flora and fauna. Listed by UNESCO as World Heritage, Darien National Park offers its extraordinary scenery of rocky coastlines, mountain ranges, mangroves, rivers and creeks. Discover Playa Muerto, a tiny coastal village home to the Emberas Amerindian community. You will visit the village, attend traditional songs and dances of the locals, and admire beautiful local craft.
7 January 2026 - At sea
Arrival 07/01/2026
Departure 07/01/2026
During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
8 January 2026 - Golfito
Arrival 08/01/2026 early morning
Departure 08/01/2026 mid afternoon
The town of Golfito lies on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, in the province of Puntarenas, one of the most humid regions in the world. It was occupied by the indigenous Bruncas tribe during the Pre-Columbian era. Once specialised in the export of bananas, Golfito has today become the starting point for visitors who want to reach one of the largest primary tropical rainforests in Central America. Meanwhile, the beaches of Golfo Dulce are some of the most beautiful in Costa Rica, with the lush forest, home to many tropical birds and monkeys as well as a variety of rare species of plants, as their backdrop.
9 January 2026 - Puntarenas
Arrival 09/01/2026 early morning
Disembarkation 09/01/2026 at 08:00
The capital of the eponymous province, Puntarenas is sometimes called “the pearl of the Pacific”, for its unique charm. It sits on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, along the Gulf of Nicoya, lined with long expanses of wild natural environments. Further inland, among the countless natural wonders to be found in the generous rainforest of the Costa Rica’s national parks, Poas and Arena volcanoes towers up in all their majestic glory. In this luxuriant natural setting, Costa Rica protects one of the planet’s richest biodiversity: monkeys, sloths, tropical birds, iguanas, crocodiles, waterfalls, canyons, and more than ten thousand species of tropical plants.
Guest Speaker
Aboard your ship, an English-speaking lecturer will enlighten you about the culture and history of your destination to deepen your knowledge of the origins of local traditions, the history of emblematic sites, and stories involving famous personalities and those of major historical significance. During on-board lectures or on your shore visits, this expert will be there to share their precious knowledge with you throughout your PONANT cruise.