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Itinerary: Panama Canal to the Costa Rican Highlands: A Central American Odyssey
Arenal volcano.
Panama Canal to the Costa Rican Highlands: A Central American Odyssey
15 DAYS | FROM $11,620 Scan QR code for itinerary details and current rates or visit expeditions.com/arenal Aboard National Geographic Quest + Land Excursion
Experience all the wildness and beauty of Costa Rica and Panama on a sweeping adventure through the Panama Canal, along the coasts, and inland to a mist-shrouded Cloud Forest, volcano, lake, and a jungle village. Plus, discover the Caribbean coast in remote Tortuguero National Park. with a rustic lodge at the water’s edge as your base.
EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS
▶ Transit the Panama Canal, with an exclusive visit to the Smithsonian Tropical Research
Institute. ▶ Hike through the mist-shrouded cloud forest reserve in Monteverde and enjoy great bird watching. ▶ Walk suspension bridges in the dense forest surrounding Arenal Volcano and relax in nearby hot springs. ▶ Visit the remote, car-less town of Tortuguero and venture through rainforest-shrouded canals in small boats. ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
DAY 1: Panama City, Panama/Colon/Embark DAY 2: Gatún Lake/Panama Canal Transit DAY 3: Gulf of Panama Islets/Panama Canal Transit DAY 4: Coiba National Park DAY 5: Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica DAY 6: Osa Peninsula DAY 7: Corcovado National Park DAY 8: Puerto Caldera/Monteverde DAYS 9 & 10: Monteverde/Arenal DAYS 11 & 12: Arenal/Tortuguero DAYS 13 & 14: Tortuguero/San José DAY 15: San José
EXPEDITION DATES
2022 Dec. 20 2023 Jan. 3, 22; Feb. 5, 19; Mar. 5
SPECIAL OFFER: Book by October 31, 2022 to receive a $450 air credit on select departures. See page 32 for details.
Rare Wonders of the Tropical Dry Forest
Costa Rica is known for its wildlife-rich rainforests, but it’s also home to one of Central America’s largest tropical dry forests, which flourishes across the coastal Guanacaste region. This rare ecosystem of flowering trees and delicate scrublands is undergoing a vibrant renewal following the region’s cattleranching era, and we’ll witness the fruits of conservation firsthand as we delve into untamed parks and refuges that grow wilder with each passing day.
Embrace Guanacaste’s cowboy spirit while riding on horseback beneath towering volcanoes capped by clouds—and the occasional wisp of smoke. Spy species that have adapted to the dry conditions, including some of Costa Rica’s most charismatic tropical creatures: armadillos, white-nosed coatis, and a variety of monkeys. Along the coast, crescents of golden sand and mazelike mangroves meet the sparkling waters of the Pacific, where dolphins, sea turtles, and tropical fish of every color await oceanic explorers.
