NEW! Panama Canal & the Americas

See the Panama City of both yesterday and today during this panoramic city tour. Take a scenic drive through Panama City, a contemporary metropolis of skyscrapers and wide boulevards, then walk along the narrow streets of colonial-era El Casco Antiguo (Old Town) and the French Quarter, founded in 1673. Along the way, listen to tales of gallantry and the pirates who once threatened the city. Visit the promenade of Las Bóvedas, or “The Vaults.” The Spanish built this defensive system to protect the esplanade during the 18th century. It once housed barracks and a prison; today, it is home to an art gallery and restaurant. This site was declared a national monument in 1920, and a 60-foot obelisk topped with a French rooster was erected in French Plaza. After your guided walk, you will have free time to explore more on your own before returning to your ship.

Enjoy a panoramic excursion to discover the captivating history of Panama City, Panama Viejo and Amador. Meet your guide and journey by motor coach to Panama’s capital to explore its rich history. Appreciate the city’s beauty while delving into its heritage as you glimpse the remnants of churches, colonial palaces, bridges and military structures in Panama Viejo. Enjoy intriguing stories shared by your guide, who will recount local legends and Panama’s maritime heritage. Relax in comfort as you enjoy a scenic tour of Panama City, navigating the Cinta Costera 3 and the waterfront boulevard. Along the way, you will enjoy panoramic views of the Bay of Panama and the historic Casco Viejo, Panama’s colonial district. Finally, take a moment to capture the scenery in Amador, an area formed by the four small islands, marking the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal.

Explore the vast rainforest jungle of the Panama Canal during an exhilarating boat ride. Speed through the heart of the Panama Canal, one of history’s most difficult engineering projects and considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Your destination is Gatun Lake—a large, manmade freshwater lake created when the Gatun Dam was built during the early 20th century. Its jungle-covered islands and the surrounding waters are home to a multitude of flora and fauna. Your naturalist guide will talk about this delicate ecosystem and point out wildlife. Sail past the stumps of old mahogany trees sticking out above the water, and watch for capuchin and howler monkeys jumping through the trees. The jungle is also home to three-toed sloths, butterflies and many species of birds, such as toucans, whle the waters teem with fish, caimans, crocodiles and turtles.

Journey through Panama’s past and present while touring a once-mighty fortress and a feat of modern engineering. You will visit the ruins of Fort San Lorenzo, a 16th-century Spanish citadel that sits at the mouth of the Chagres River, overlooking the Caribbean Sea and surrounded by 30,000 acres of protected rainforest. Learn about the fortress’s turbulent history from your guide as you explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site and admire striking views of your surroundings. After lunch, you will head to the Aqua Clara Visitors Center to learn more about this engineering marvel and the massive Panama Canal Expansion Project, which doubled the waterway’s capacity and was completed in June 2016. Here, you might have the opportunity to observe massive cargo ships transiting the canal from mere feet away as they pass through the 1.7 miles of lock structures along this stretch of water.

Meet the keepers of the Panamanian rainforest, the Emberá tribe, who share their vivid culture warmly and openly. Travel by motor coach to the Chagres National Park, and then onward by traditional dugout canoes to the Emberá Village, where you will be welcomed by the Chief and treated to some ceremonial dancing. The Emberá are one of seven indigenous Panamanian groups, living much as they did in pre-Columbian times. Most Emberá live in round huts on stilts with extended family; peek inside and share a typical lunch of fish and plantains. The Emberá wear little clothing, but paint elaborate patterns on their bodies using the black dye of the jagua plant. You might even be invited to have one of these temporary tattoos painted on your skin. You will also have the chance to see Emberá craftspeople at work and buy perfectly coiled baskets, bright uhua sarongs, instruments, or jewelry.

Discover the impressive Panama Canal, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. The canal has been called the most difficult construction project ever undertaken. Started by the French and completed by the US, construction of this artificial waterway took 33 years and cost the lives of 25,000 workers. Today, more than 13,000 ships pass through it annually. Start your tour at Miraflores, a lock on the Pacific Ocean side of the canal. At the Miraflores Visitor Center, watch an IMAX movie about the canal and see the Miraflores locks from a unique perspective while visiting the operational area with a private guide from the Panama Canal Authority. You will also visit the Agua Clara Visitor Center for a panoramic view of the canal’s ongoing expansion projects, which will allow longer and wider ships to transit. Afterward, you will return to your ship.

Immerse yourself in the highlights of Panama on this wide-ranging excursion. Start with an eco-minded boat ride to Gatun Lake—a large, manmade freshwater lake created when the Gatun Dam was built during the early 20th century. Its jungle-covered islands and the surrounding waters are home to numerous flora and fauna. Your trained naturalist guide will talk about this delicate ecosystem and point out wildlife. Sail past the stumps of old mahogany trees that stick out above the water, and keep watch for capuchin and howler monkeys jumping through the trees. After, meet the Emberá people—a local tribe that still lives in harmony with their rainforest surroundings. Enjoy a traditional tribal performance, then head to the Agua Clara Visitor Center for panoramic views of the Panama Canal’s ongoing expansion projects. After lunch, return to your ship.

Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the lush Gamboa rainforest on board an open air aerial tram. Panama’s vast tropical rainforest is one of the world’s richest, most complex ecosystems. Experience nature up close as your tram climbs from the shadowy forest floor, through the dense undergrowth and up to the sun-drenched canopy, approximately 280 feet above the ground. Your guide will describe the tropical plants and local wildlife as you travel through the treetops. Keep watch for the colorful birds and butterflies, white-faced capuchin monkeys and sloths that call the jungle home. Climb the stairs to the top of the Gamboa Observation Tower to enjoy phenomenal aerial views of the Chagres River, Gatun Lake and the Panama Canal. Back on the ground, you may even hear the call of howler monkeys in the distance as you enjoy a light refreshment prior to returning to port.

Discover Panama’s ancient past and its vibrant present during this wide-ranging excursion. Visit the Biomuseo, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry. Set at the entrance of the Panama Canal, the museum’s colorful exterior reflects Panama’s rich flora and fauna, while its interior showcases its ancient history and biodiversity. See fascinating displays such as 6-million-year-old fossils and recreations of extinct species like the Texas glyptodont, a giant armadillo. Your journey will also take you on a panoramic drive through the city and to the Smithsonian Institute’s Punta Culebra Nature Center. Located at the canal’s Pacific entrance, the center is dedicated to the exploration and discovery of the natural world through science. View marine and amphibian exhibits, partake in hands-on science activities and more before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant.

Immerse yourself in the rich history of Panama Viejo and discover the famed gold orchids of Panama. Embark on a scenic drive to explore Panama Viejo and learn more about its founding; it was the country’s first major settlement in 1519 and an important destination for treasure-filled Spanish ships. At the Old Panama Museum, learn more about its history through exhibits of artwork and artifacts that tell the story of the city’s evolution from the pre-colonial era to the present day. Afterward, you will continue to Reprosa, a boutique showroom that is dedicated to preserving ancient crafts that showcase Panama’s culture and traditions. During a workshop, you will witness the “lost wax” process—a time-honored technique used by ancient goldsmiths—and see the famed gold orchids of Panama. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant before returning to your ship.