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Panama, Costa Rica, and Peru: Natural Wonders and Ancient Civilizations
Just a short plane ride from the United States there exists a remarkable world virtually untouched by human hands—a pristine land of misty mountain rain forests, fragile orchids, abundant wildlife, and dazzling tropical beaches. Further south are the remains of brilliant civilizations and mysterious designs. This remarkable voyage begins with the transit of the Panama Canal then setting forth along Panama’s Pacific Coast with a call at tiny Coiba Island. Next we’ll spend three days in Costa Rica visiting its stunning national parks and nature reserves. Discover unique wildlife as we walk around the shaded beach of Manuel Antonio National Park and on the Osa Peninsula learn about the area’s complex ecosystem. The voyage continues as we cruise toward Peru but we’ll first call in Ecuador to visit the bustling city of Manta and the colonial town of Montecristi. In Peru we will learn about pre-Columbian Chimú culture and visit the largest adobe city in the world, Chan Chan. There will be an opportunity to visit Cuzco, the center of the Inca Empire, and Machu Picchu. And we’ll board small aircraft for an excursion over the celebrated Nazca Lines. Our celebration concludes in the colonial town of Arequipa, first occupied by Aymaras and Incas. Join us aboard
Clelia II on this once-in-a-lifetime voyage that celebrates Central and South America’s ancient civilizations and natural wonders.
Itinerary
.jpg "Panama, Costa Rica, and Peru Voyage Map")
Monday, November 1, 2010 • FLY FROM USA | PANAMA CITY | COLÓN, Panama | EMBARK
Tuesday, November 2 • TRANSIT the PANAMA CANAL
Wednesday, November 3 • COIBA ISLAND
Thursday, November 4 • MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK, Costa Rica
Friday, November 5 • CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK, Osa Peninsula
Saturday, November 6 • MARENCO BIOLOGICAL RESERVE
Sunday, November 7 & Monday, November 8 • AT SEA
Tuesday, November 9 • MANTA | MONTECRISTI or MACHALILLA NATIONAL PARK | MANTA, Ecuador
Wednesday, November 10 • AT SEA
Thursday, November 11 • SALAVERRY | HUACA de la LUNA & HUACA del SOL | CHAN CHAN | SALAVERRY, Peru
Friday, November 12 • SALAVERRY | EL BRUJO or TRUJILLO| SALAVERRY
Saturday, November 13 – Monday, November 15 • CALLAO | LIMA, PACHACAMAC and PURUCHUCO or CUZCO and MACHU PICCHU | CALLAO
Tuesday, November 16 •SAN MARTIN | PARACAS | BALLESTAS ISLANDS | SAN MARTIN
Wednesday, November 17 • SAN JUAN | NAZCA | SAN JUAN
Thursday, November 18 • MATARANI | | DISEMBARK | AREQUIPA
Friday, November 19 • AREQUIPA
Saturday, November 20 • AREQUIPA | USA
View Detailed Itinerary
On this program as on all Travel Dynamics International voyages, a guest lecturer will present lectures and lead discussions that will enhance your educational experience. At this time, the guest lecturer who will accompany the program has not yet been confirmed. All Travel Dynamics International lecturers share a love for both teaching and travel. Their presence ensures that our journeys are not only pleasant travel experiences but also intellectually rewarding.
Monday, November 1, 2010
FLY FROM USA | PANAMA CITY | COLÓN, Panama | EMBARK
Upon arrival in Panama City, transfer to Colón, on the Caribbean coast, to embark Clelia II.
Tuesday, November 2
TRANSIT the PANAMA CANAL
Clelia II transits the historic Panama Canal, passing from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The scenery and mechanics of the transit are fascinating, with the ship being raised and lowered a total of 85 feet.
Wednesday, November 3
COIBA ISLAND
Call at Coiba, one of several islands located off Peninsula Azuero. The island is one of the best protected marine national parks in Panama. In the company of resident naturalists, take a hike in search of scarlet macaws, brown pelicans, brown boobies, and frigate birds.
Thursday, November 4
MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK, Costa Rica
Scenic Manuel Antonio National Park is a perfect combination of warm Pacific waters and rain forest that grows right down to the three white sand beaches. Nature trails take you along the beach and over a forested, rocky promontory. This park, in the humid tropical zone, protects several habitats, including primary and secondary forest, mangroves, beach vegetation, and marine resources. Because of its relatively small size and isolation by surrounding ocean and plantations, it is probably one of the easiest places in Costa Rica to see wildlife, particularly sloths, coatimundi, agoutis, White-faced Monkeys, and the tiny Squirrel Monkey.
Friday, November 5
CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK, Osa Peninsula
Today explore Corcovado National Park, set on the Osa Peninsula. It is widely considered the crown jewel in the extensive system of national parks and biological reserves spread across Costa Rica. National Geographic has called it “the most biologically intense place on Earth.” We will see an abundance of wildlife such as scarlet macaws (the largest population in the country) flying overhead, hermit crabs on the beach, pelicans fishing in the sea, and in some areas, spider monkeys, tamandua anteaters, pumas, white faced capuchin monkeys, lineated woodpeckers, and coatis.
Saturday, November 6
MARENCO BIOLOGICAL RESERVE
Set on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, this spectacular 15,000-acre biological reserve is a protected virgin rain forest, and home to hundreds of different types of trees. Resident naturalists aid in your understanding of the area’s intricate ecosystem and familiarize you with conservation efforts. Look for prehistoric iguanas, spot enigmatic sloths as they cling to tree limbs motionlessly, and watch out for playful primates as they dance along the dense jungle ceiling of intertwined branches and vines.
Sunday, November 7 & Monday, November 8
AT SEA
Tuesday, November 9
MANTA | MONTECRISTI or MACHALILLA NATIONAL PARK | MANTA, Ecuador
Arrive in Ecuador’s port city of Manta, founded by the conquistadors in 1535. Even before the Spanish foundation, the city was an important center of the Manta culture, which thrived in this area from about A.D. 500. Explore the town and visit the Banco Central Museum, with its small but excellent collection of artifacts from archaeological sites in the area. Also, drive to the interesting colonial town of Montecristi, an important center for wicker-work and the Panama hat industry. Alternatively, spend the day at Machalilla National Park, created to protect one of the few remaining coastal habitats of Ecuador. Over 200 species of birds and a variety of other wildlife are found in the park.
Wednesday, November 10
AT SEA
Thursday, November 11
SALAVERRY | HUACA de la LUNA & HUACA del SOL | CHAN CHAN | SALAVERRY, Peru
Visit Huaca de la Luna and see Huaca del Sol, pyramids from the Moche culture, a remarkable pre-Inca civilization. Continue to Chan Chan, imperial capital of the Chimú (A.D. 1000-1470) and the world’s largest adobe city.
Friday, November 12
SALAVERRY | EL BRUJO or TRUJILLO| SALAVERRY
Visit El Brujo Archaeological Complex and the newly opened Museo de Cao or tour Trujillo, founded by the Spanish in 1534 and known for its colonial architecture.
Saturday, November 13 – Monday, November 15
CALLAO | LIMA, PACHACAMAC and PURUCHUCO or CUZCO and MACHU PICCHU | CALLAO
Clelia II will remain in Callao, Lima’s lively port, for three days, giving us the opportunity to comprehensively explore the area’s ancient sites and Lima’s splendid museums. Before the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century, the area around Lima contained vibrant cities, two of which we will explore: Pachacamac, the largest pre-Columbian Peruvian coastal city and ceremonial center; and Puruchuco, the site of a pre-Inca palace of a noble. In Lima, visit the city’s historical center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the superb National Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology, and the renowned Gold Museum. Alternatively, fly to Cuzco for two nights/three days to explore the center of the Inca Empire and Machu Picchu, the Inca site dramatically situated atop towering mountains.
(The Cuzco/Machu Picchu excursion is available at an additional cost of $1,375 per person double occupancy, $1,795 per person single occupancy.)
Tuesday, November 16
SAN MARTIN | PARACAS | BALLESTAS ISLANDS | SAN MARTIN
Explore the Paracas peninsula, a reserve protecting an important marine ecosystem. Paracas was also a pre-Nazca necropolis, with over 400 mummies excavated. Also discover the Ballestas Islands, home to thousands of seabirds.
Wednesday, November 17
SAN JUAN | NAZCA | SAN JUAN
Travel to Nazca, named for the culture that lived here from a.d. 200-800. Via small aircraft, fly over the Nazca Lines, giant, mysterious designs (a condor, etc.) drawn in the desert by the Nazca or another early culture.
Thursday, November 18
MATARANI | | DISEMBARK | AREQUIPA
Disembark at the port of Matarani on the south coast of Peru and drive through impressive scenery to Arequipa, set in a beautiful valley surrounded by lofty mountains. Overnight accommodations are at Hotel Sonesta Posada del Inca.
Friday, November 19
AREQUIPA
Occupied originally by Aymaras and Incas, Arequipa was founded by the Spaniards in 1540 and is today one of Peru’s loveliest cities, notable for its magnificent colonial architecture. Spend the day exploring the city, including the elegant Plaza de Armas, the Santa Catalina Convent, a miniature walled colonial town in the middle of the city, the church of La Compañia, dating to the 17th century, the Archaeological Museum, and the Museo Sanctuarios de Altura, which contains the celebrated frozen mummies found on the icy summits of the Ampata volcano.
Saturday, November 20
AREQUIPA | USA
Transfer to the airport for the return flight to Lima to connect with flights to the U.S.
