Voyage puts Central America’s natural wonders on full display
PANAMA CITY Nature is everywhere. That’s what I learned this past week as I sea-tested UnCruise Adventures’ (uncruise.com) newest itinerary: a week-long expedition through the hidden wonders of Costa Rica and Panama.
This seven-day Uncharted Isthmus! Sloths, Monkeys & Mangroves itinerary departs from San Jose (Puerto Caldera), Costa Rica and sails all the way to Panama City (Colon), Panama or reverse.
And even if you’ve been to Costa Rica and Panama before, as I have, you’ve probably never experienced these two countries like this.
Each day, the Safari Voyager’s expedition team outlined a list of adventures that guests could participate in ashore.
These ranged from mild strolls focused on wildlife-spotting to full-blown “charger” hikes through the jungle.
Intermediate walks, with challenging inclines and uneven surfaces, were also offered.
In some spots, guests could enjoy scenic skiff rides that would explore the shoreline or delve into dense mangroves.
Morning adventures were frequently tempered with playful beach breaks in the afternoons, where guests could make use of the kayak, snorkel and standup paddleboard equipment, or simply relax on the beach. And with only 62 guests on board the Safari Voyager, you’re never rushed or pressured for anything.
Wildlife lovers will find nature surrounds them here. Birds of increasing vibrancy flutter through the sky, while whitefaced capuchin monkeys swing from branch to branch in the trees. Snakes, frogs and lizards inhabit the world below your gaze, requiring you to watch your step carefully. Sounds come at you from every conceivable angle. On every expedition hike I took, I began to look all around me in a way that I seldom would back in civilization.
It’s not just nature that impresses. Guests on this itinerary were also treated to a full transit of the legendary Panama Canal. Seeing the canal from a big ship is one thing, but viewing the awesome mechanics of this engineering marvel from the 53-metre long Safari Voyager provided us with an incredibly intimate perspective, particularly when large cargo ships towered over us.
We started our transit from the Pacific Ocean in the late afternoon, passing under the Bridge of the Americas at sunset. UnCruise serves dinner up on deck during the transit, ensuring guests don’t miss a minute of this fascinating process. By the time we’d reached the Miraflores Locks, the ship’s friendly crew were strolling the open decks, offering cold drinks to celebrate the occasion.
Drinks — like all the adventures ashore — are complimentary, from local beers to custom cocktails, spirits and wines.
So too are transfers to and from the airport, all water sports equipment on board, and even a complimentary massage.
Enough good cannot be said about the crew of the Safari Voyager. Hailing from the United States and Costa Rica, these friendly, superb individuals will impress you with their enthusiasm and wow you with their knowledge. They’ll also make you feel like family before the week is done. Another star of this voyage is the Safari Voyager itself, which UnCruise just spent the last year refitting. Stripped down to the steel, she’s a far better vessel now than she was when I first sailed aboard her back in 2014.
Everything has been completely redone, from the staterooms to the public areas, which have been given smart new artwork, carpeting, walls, doors, lighting — you name it.
This voyage — which will be renamed Unrivaled Wonders: Costa Rica & Panama Canal in the fall — is just one of three itineraries UnCruise is offering for its inaugural season in Central America; all of which will include complimentary precruise hotel stays beginning this spring.
From May to September, Safari Voyager will sail a unique Pure Panama: Cultures, Coasts & Canal voyage that will focus exclusively on Panama and include a full transit of the Panama Canal. In the winter, UnCruise will begin offering a similar voyage in Costa Rica, with week-long sailings departing on Fridays from San Jose. This will travel as far south as Golfo Dulce, and also explores the unique isolated coves of Isla Murcielago — the Bat Islands — to the north.
UnCruise may have made a name for itself in Alaska, but its new small-ship explorations in Central America are every bit as rewarding.
Happy cruising.