Discover Panama and Costa Rica with PONANT on this splendid 8-day cruise aboard Le Champlain, which explores the region’s abundant natural splendors, local indigenous communities, and the modern marvel of the Panama Canal.
Inclusions
- 7 nights cruise from Puntarenas to Colón aboard Le Champlain (PONANT)
- All onboard meals—breakfast, lunch, dinner, and complimentary 24-hour room service
- Open Bar: a wide selection of drinks (mineral water, soft drinks, wines, beer, champagne, spirits, coffee, tea) is served at your discretion and at any time of the day. Some premium alcoholic drinks presented on the menu are not included in the Open Bar
- Free Wi-Fi internet access 24 hours a day
- Included shore excursions as stated in the itinerary
- Airport transfers
- Gratuities
- Book by May 31: No Single Supplement!
February 26, 2026 | Cruise Only |
Deluxe Balcony | $6029 |
Prestige Balcony | $6689 |
Deluxe Suite | $10309 |
Taxes & Fees | $421 |
Rates in USD. Per person based on double occupancy. |
New bookings only. Space and price are limited and subject to availability when booking. Cruise Only prices do not include airfare, transfers or hotel. The cost of airfare varies from other city gateways; please call to inquire. The prices listed are for lead-in categories (oceanview or balcony cabins may be obstructed), but upgrades are available. Promotional offers may be withdrawn at any time. Depending on the promotion, the deposit for the cruise may be non-refundable; however, we also provide a refundable option at a slightly higher price, ensuring flexibility in your booking.
Ready to set sail? Call us now to inquire for more information or other sailing dates. We're here to help you plan your dream cruise.
Highlights
- A voyage specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers including discussions with experts, transfers before and after your cruise, and an included excursion or activity in each port of call.
- Engaging discussions onboard with two Smithsonian Journeys Experts.
- A specially arranged visit to the Punta Culebra Nature Center at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), guided by Smithsonian staff.
- Opportunity to swim and snorkel on beautiful Holandes Cayes, one of the magnificent islets of the San Blas Islands.
- A daytime crossing of the Panama Canal, a true masterpiece of civil engineering.
- The UNESCO World Heritage Darién National Park and its magnificent rainforest.
- An exploration of the region’s rich and myriad tropical flora and fauna in Manuel Antonio National Park.
- Encounters with the local indigenous Guna and Emberá communities.
Smithsonian Journeys
Smithsonian Journeys is the travel program of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum, education and research complex, consisting of 21 museums, the National Zoological Park, education centers, research facilities, cultural centers, and libraries. Drawing on Smithsonian’s resources dating back 175 years, these sailings will feature notable experts and experiences that embrace local cultures and dive deeper into a destination’s history, cuisine, language, environment, and wildlife. For more than 50 years, Smithsonian Journeys has been rooted in and focused on cultural immersion and discovery – with a goal of inspiring guests to become global citizens through travel.
February 26, 2026 – Puntarenas
Embarkation 2/26/2026 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Departure 2/26/2026 at 6:00 PM
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.
February 27, 2026 – Quepos
Arrival 2/27/2026 early morning
Departure 2/27/2026 late afternoon
Quepos makes for a charming stop-off on the Pacific coast, just next-door to the famous Manuel Antonio National Park, an untouched tropical natural reserve lined with white sandy beaches. The town’s seafront is an opportunity to stroll through market stalls touting pineapples and bananas in the shade of the manchineel trees. In this coastal town criss-crossed with tree-lined streets in bloom, admire the houses and their incredible sculpted balconies. Enjoy a spot of shopping in the many traditional boutiques: pick up some handmade cotton clothing, ceramics embellished with Costa Rican designs and home décor pieces in hand-painted wood.
February 28, 2026 – At sea
Arrival 2/28/2026
Departure 2/28/2026
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.
March 1, 2026 – Playa Muerto, Darien National Park
Arrival 3/1/2026 midday
Departure 3/1/2026 late afternoon
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.
March 2, 2026 – Fuerte Amador, Flamenco Island
Arrival 3/2/2026 early morning
Departure 3/2/2026
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.
March 3, 2026 – Crossing the Panama Canal
Arrival 3/3/2026 late afternoon
Departure 3/3/2026 late afternoon
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.
March 4, 2026 – San Blas Islands
Arrival 3/4/2026 early morning
Departure 3/4/2026 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.
March 5, 2026 – Colón
Arrival 3/5/2026 early morning
Disembarkation 3/5/2026 at 7:00 AM
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.
Why choose PONANT?
An attentive crew, expertise, fine dining and more. Within a fully 5 star setting, we take you to discover exceptional destinations while offering you a travel experience that is both authentic and high end.
- Travelling the French way
PONANT is an exponent for the French way of life across every sea on the globe. On board, this is translated through exceptional services, a multilingual crew and bringing French know-how to the fore. - Exceptional destinations
From secluded ports to secret seas, from forgotten beaches to remote lands, our experts choose itineraries that take you away from major tourist routes so you can enjoy unique cruises and shorelines that few have seen before. - Ships on a human scale
Thanks to our small capacity ships, we can dock in private ports and offer stopovers in preserved locations. On board, the limited number of passengers means that everybody can enjoy special moments and feel as though they are on a private yacht. - Our commitments
PONANT aims at becoming a world reference in the field of sustainable development in the cruising industry. The environment and ethics are among our main concerns, both in the regions we visit and in our relationships within the company and with our partners.