At a glance
- Duration:
- 8 Days
- Start/End:
- Panama City, Panama to Cartagena, Columbia, or reverse
- From:
- $6,810
- Time of Year:
- October - November
On this 8-day Panama and Colombia: Exploring the Caribbean Coast cruise itinerary aboard the 100-guest National Geographic Quest, transit the legendary Panama Canal to encounter dazzling natural and cultural treasures as you navigate this Caribbean coast.
Hike lush rainforests teeming with diverse wildlife, maneuver secluded inlets by Zodiac and kayak. Get immersed in the local culture of indigenous communities from the archipelago of Guna Yala to the celebrated people of Tuchín.
Panama and Colombia: Exploring the Caribbean Coast Highlights
- Transit the Panama Canal over two days to see it by day and in the coolness of night.
- Visit the palm-shaded Panamanian archipelago of Guna Yala (formerly San Blas Islands), an autonomous province that is home to the Guna people, and get immersed in local culture.
- Discover the coastal treasures and remote wilderness of Colombia, exploring vibrant villages, pristine beaches, and wildlife-rich jungles.
- Explore Colombia’s rainforests, brimming with roughly 1,900 bird species, like the Emerald Toucanet and Passerines, and more than 450 fascinating mammals, like the Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth and Northern Tamandua.
- Participate in critical scientific studies during our exclusive visit to the Smithsonian Research Institute on Barro Colorado Island.
Expedition Team
Over 50+ years of exploring, Lindblad Expeditions’ veteran staff and the quality companionship they provide has established the company’s reputation. From expedition leaders to naturalists, most hold advanced degrees and are established authorities in their fields. Some join a few expeditions each year to explore the same sites, some of them spending some time in the field away from rigorous academic work. And others lead expeditions all around the world—with many guests saying, “Where you’re going, we’re going,” and returning time after time to travel with them. Browse our team directory to discover the full cast of expedition staff.
Panama and Colombia: Exploring the Caribbean Coast Details
Day 1: Panama City, Panama / Balboa / Embark Ship
Arrive in Panama City, the capital of Panama, this afternoon. Transfer to Port Balboa to embark the National Geographic Quest this evening. Meals included: Dinner.
Day 2: Gatún Lake / Barro Colorado / Panama Canal Crossing
Special permission allows the ship to anchor overnight in the Panama Canal’s vast Gatún Lake. Disembark in the morning at Barro Colorado, an island formed by the damming of the Chagres River to build the Panama Canal. A visit to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute unveils initiatives to protect and study the extraordinary biodiversity of one of the planet’s most studied tropical forests and site of National Geographic studies.
Alternatively, engage in the wildness of the region by taking a hike into the jungle, a Zodiac across the vast lake or a boat ride to the mouth of the Chagres to explore the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center. The luminosity of the evening heightens the drama of your transit through the complex lock system of the legendary Panama Canal, 50 miles long and passage for some 14,000 ships yearly.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Portobelo
In the morning, arrive at the historic town of Portobelo, or “beautiful port,” so named in 1502 by Christopher Columbus and a critical Spanish trading center in the New World. Explore 17th- and 18th-century Spanish fortifications, designated a UNESCO site. Later, hike the surrounding jungle in search of native parrots and unruly howler monkeys.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Guna Yala Archipelago
Wake up and find yourself amidst the Guna Yala archipelago (known also as the San Blas Islands), a scattering of 368 tiny, white-sand isles off the northeast coast of Panama. Spend the day exploring paradise where the Guna people still live as their ancestors did–in thatched huts making ancient handicrafts such as molas, colorful panels of stitched fabric. Deeply committed to their culture, the Guna are admired as a politically autonomous community where women make the rules and gender fluidity is celebrated.
In the afternoon, go offshore and explore the vibrant marine world of this breathtaking utopia by snorkel, kayak and stand-up paddleboard.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Capurgana and Sapzurro, Colombia
National Geographic Quest calls at the wonderfully isolated villages of Sapzurro and Capurgana positioned only 3 miles apart on the stunning coast of Caribbean Colombia. Set out on a nature walk on the Capurgana-Sapzurro trail. In this area, the ranges of two species of howler monkeys overlap as both the mantled and the Colombian red howler monkeys are here. Watch for toucans, parrots, trogons, occasionally scarlet macaws and possibly three-toed sloths as you traverse the tropical forest trails between the villages. Or choose a shorter hike which takes you across an international, transcontinental frontier to Panama.
Walk through the border crossing, perched high on a bluff, before descending to the beach at the Panamanian village of La Miel. The sheltered waters of the bay at Sapzurro back in Colombia beckon for a pleasant kayak or paddleboard around this tropical inlet. Finish the day at sunset in the village of Capurgana.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Santa Cruz de Lorica / San Antero / Tuchín
Visit Santa Cruz de Lorica on the banks of the Sinú River, a melting pot of cultures from throughout Europe and the Middle East. Stroll the central square and notice how the city’s distinct influences live harmoniously, spotlighted in the architecture of the stunning Spanish-colonial cathedral and historic buildings in colorful Arabic styles. A folkloric show will be performed on the riverfront malecón during your walking tour.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before traveling to the nearby indigenous village of Tuchín. Watch craftsmen as they make hats that are considered Colombia’s national symbol, the sombrero vueltiao, and meet the local Zenú, celebrated for their ingenious irrigation systems.
National Geographic Quest will remain anchored in San Antero overnight. Pending conditions, guests may visit Tuchín in the morning, and Santa Cruz de Lorica in the afternoon.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Cispatá Bay / Sanguare Natural Reserve
The day begins by exploring Cispatá Bay, where you’ll spend the morning among the most extensive area of mangroves on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Local community guides accompany you to share their insight and knowledge of the prolific wildlife. Join naturalists from local conservation group Asocaiman as they release rehabilitated young caimans back into the wild.
After lunch on board, venture over to the Sanguare Natural Reserve. This former cattle ranch, now part of the national system of protected areas, offers great opportunities to explore on foot or by water. Learn of the conservation work being done and explore the tropical dry forests, coastal lagoons and sea grass beds. Enjoy kayaking or paddleboarding, or dig your toes in the sand and sip a chilled refreshment.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Cartagena / Disembark Ship
Disembark in Cartagena and transfer to the airport for flights home.
Meals Included: Breakfast
| Dates | Direction | Cat. 1 | Cat. 2 | Cat. 3 | Cat. 4 | Cat. 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, October 19, 2025 | Panama City to Cartagena | $6,810 | $8,096 | $8,747 | $9,928 | $11,045 |
| Sunday, October 26, 2025 | Cartagena to Panama City | $6,810 | $8,096 | $8,747 | $9,928 | $11,045 |
| Sunday, November 2, 2025 | Panama City to Cartagena | $6,810 | $8,096 | $8,747 | $9,928 | $11,045 |
| Sunday, November 9, 2025 | Cartagena to Panama City | $6,810 | $8,096 | $8,747 | $9,928 | $11,045 |
| Saturday, October 17, 2026 | Panama City to Cartagena | $6,875 | $8,175 | $8,832 | $10,024 | $11,152 |
| Saturday, October 24, 2026 | Cartagena to Panama City | $6,875 | $8,175 | $8,832 | $10,024 | $11,152 |
| Saturday, October 31, 2026 | Panama City to Cartagena | $6,875 | $8,175 | $8,832 | $10,024 | $11,152 |
| Saturday, November 7, 2026 | Cartagena to Panama City | $6,875 | $8,175 | $8,832 | $10,024 | $11,152 |
Dates and rates are effective the date the information was updated on this site. Dates and rates may have changed by the cruise line prior to an update here. Contact Sunstone Tours & Cruises for the latest dates & rates.
Prices subject to change.
Included
- Excursions, hotels, and airport transfers, as indicated in the itinerary
- Selection of exploration tools curated to your destination, such as Zodiacs and glass-bottom boats, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, snorkeling equipment (including wetsuits, masks, and fins), and other state-of-the-art gear
- Guidance and company of our leading expedition staff
- All meals as indicated in the itinerary, both aboard and onshore. Meals are inspired by regional cuisine and locally sourced where possible.
- Hors d’oeuvres inspired by regional cuisine and locally sourced where possible
- 24-hour access to snacks, premium coffees and teas, non-alcoholic beverages, and filtered water
- Beer, wine, cocktails, and spirits aboard all ships, with the exception of Sun Goddess and Oberoi Philae. We are also pleased to offer a selection of super premium wines and liquors available for purchase.
- Beer and wine with meals aboard Oberoi Philae and Sun Goddess. Additional alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.
- Crew gratuities aboard National Geographic Endurance, National Geographic Resolution, National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Orion, Sea Cloud, Sea Cloud II, Lord of the Glens, Oberoi Philae, Sun Goddess, and The Jahan.
- Laundry services aboard Oberoi Philae and Sun Goddess.
- Complimentary Starlink-enabled Wi-Fi internet is available to all guests aboard our National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet, enabling email, messaging, and social media. Enhanced and Premium internet packages are available for purchase, which may enable video chat, web browsing, and streaming (connectivity permitting).
- Complimentary Wi-Fi internet is available to all guests aboard Sea Cloud, Sea Cloud II, Lord of the Glens, Oberoi Philae, Sun Goddess, Delfin II, and The Jahan (connectivity permitting).
- Presentations on your destination by expedition staff and expert guest speakers
- Complimentary reusable water bottle to fill at onboard water refill stations
- The services of a physician, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, or paramedic where available
- Morning stretch classes and 24-hour access to exercise equipment where available
- 24-hour access to lounges, observation decks, library stocked with regionally relevant literature, and other shared spaces
- Complimentary National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions parka or jacket on select Arctic and Antarctic voyages
- Assistance by the onboard National Geographic Photography Expert (National Geographic Endurance, National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Orion, National Geographic Resolution) and National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions certified photo instructor (all ships)
- Access to the OM System Photo Gear Locker with the latest gear to try out on loan (aboard our National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet)
- Park and site entrance fees, special access permits, and port taxes
Not Included
- Airfare (except flights when indicated as included), pre- and post-expedition extensions, additional hotel nights, and private transfers (except when indicated as included)
- Travel protection plans and passport, visa, and immigration fees
- Laundry, spa treatments, scuba diving, and phone services (except when indicated as included)
- Enhanced and premium Wi-Fi plans, which may enable video chat, web browsing, and streaming (connectivity permitting)
- Crew gratuities aboard National Geographic Endeavour II, National Geographic Islander II, National Geographic Venture, National Geographic Quest, National Geographic Sea Bird, National Geographic Sea Lion, National Geographic Gemini, National Geographic Delfina, and Delfin II
National Geographic Quest
The 100-passenger National Geographic Quest is the perfect ship to explore the same remote locations Lindblad Expeditions has sought out for decades while setting a new standard in comfort and style.
