From Puerto Caldera to Panama City · South America & Antarctica · 7 nights
Emerald Azzurra and Sakara are the first ships in the Emerald yacht fleet, carrying just 100 lucky travellers in sleek and stylish surroundings.
Enjoy small ship cruising in style, with comfortable staterooms
and suites (most with private balcony), an à la carte restaurant,
infinity-style pool, al fresco Sky Bar, wellness area and a marina
at the back of the yacht, allowing you to hop straight into the
water and have fun with a host of water toys.
Puerto Caldera is a major port on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, about an hour and a half from the capital, San José. Caldera itself is an industrial port with little to detain you, but the nearby city of Puntarenas is a popular beach destination, with a nice seafront promenade where you can relax with a drink or enjoy a seafood lunch. Other local attractions include the fantastic flora and fauna of the Carara Biological Reserve and beautiful Tortuga Island, a great spot for snorkelling.
Tortuga Island is actually made up of two separate islands just off the coast of the Nicoya Peninsula, both uninhabited and both absolutely stunning. Enjoy swimming and snorkelling in the clear, coral-rich waters, or relax on pristine white sand beaches.
The little town of Quepos is the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park, a nature-lover’s paradise that’s home to monkeys, iguanas and the reclusive three-toed sloth. The area around Quepos also boasts some of the best beaches in Costa Rica, and the town itself has some nice restaurants.
The Darién Gap is the only break in the Pan-American Highway that runs from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, a wild and untamed region of thick jungle. Although the region has a reputation for lawlessness, tourism is making inroads thanks to the jungle’s staggering biodiversity and the fascinating culture of the indigenous Emberá people.
The Pearl Islands archipelago is made up of more than 200 islands and islets off Panama’s Pacific coast, most of which are uninhabited and rich in bird and marine life. It’s a great place to go snorkelling or scuba diving, and whale watching tours operate between July and October.
The port of Fuerte Amador sits at the southern edge of Panama City, near the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. The shining skyscrapers of the Panamanian capital are a testament to the city’s status as a key financial centre, while the tiny Casco Viejo is home to pretty colonial streets, hip hotels and happening bars.
