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9 Night Panama and Costa Rica Crossing the Canal Cruise and Land Tour

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Douglas Mawson

Category SSF - Seven Seas Suite Forward
Seven Seas Suite (Forward)

Photos are examples only. Actual cabin colors and features may vary.

9 Night Panama and Costa Rica Crossing the Canal Cruise and Land Tour

From Panama City, (Panama) to San Jose, (Costa Rica)

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Douglas Mawson
Aurora Expeditions
4 Stars

Cruise #: 14187945

Sail Date: Wednesday, Oct 20, 2027

Return Date: Friday, Oct 29, 2027

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Room Types & Rates:

Oceanview		Call to Book1-800-427-8473
Balcony		$10,236
Suite		$15,036

*Prices are per person based on double occupancy

Includes taxes & fees

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1-800-427-8473

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Day by Day Summary and Map

9 Night Panama and Costa Rica Crossing the Canal Cruise and Land Tour

Land Segment of Itinerary

Wednesday - Oct 20, 2027

Day
1

Panama City, Panama

Welcome to Panama City. On arrival at Panama City airport make your way to the Arrivals Hall to meet Aurora Expeditions representative, followed by a transfer to your group hotel. At the hotel, visit the hospitality desk in the lobby to meet the team who will provide you with useful information regarding pre-embarkation procedures and about your time in Panama City. You will also receive cabin tags for your luggage. Please clearly label the tags with your name and your cabin number on the ship. This evening offers time to relax in preparation for our journey. Accommodation: Panama City hotel ...
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Land Segment of Itinerary

Thursday - Oct 21, 2027

Day
2

Panama City, Panama

This morning, we join a local guide to stroll the cobbled streets of Casco Viejo, Panama City's historic 'Old Town'. Colonial facades, vibrant plazas, and centuries-old churches tell stories of Spanish conquests and marauding pirates, as the tour winds through this UNESCO World Heritage-listed gem, where the aroma of Panamanian coffee mingles with the sweet scent of hojaldres, a sugary fried treat, from the open-air cafes. Our tour leads to the Museo del Canal Interoceanico de Panama, a beautifully restored building that chronicles the epic saga of the Panama Canal. Inside, exhibits trace its tumultuous history, from failed French ambitions to American triumph, and its profound impact on global commerce. Choose to return to the hotel, or linger longer, to explore further at your own pace. This evening, we gather at a welcome reception to meet our host and fellow travelers. Accommodation: Panama City hotel ...
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Land Segment of Itinerary

Friday - Oct 22, 2027

Day
3

View Excursions

Panama City, Panama

Bus Travel

Miraflores Locks, Panama

Bus Travel

Cruise Segment of Itinerary

Day 3 - Friday - Oct 22, 2027

Day
3

Cruise Begins

Colon, Panama

Departing Panama City, we stop en route to boarding at the Miraflores Locks - a testament to the ingenuity that transformed global shipping. Built on a site chosen for its elevation and proximity to the Pacific, the Miraflores Locks allow gravity-fed chambers to manage sea level differences, making them an indispensable facet of the canal. This extensive lock system lifts and lowers ships up to 16 meters (52.5 feet) using massive concrete chambers and sluice gates that control water flow. Constructed in the early 20th century, they were engineered with precision to handle vessels of varying sizes, using hydraulics and gravity rather than pumps. Without them, the Canal simply couldn't operate, with ships being unable to cross the hilly terrain and freshwater lakes that separate the oceans. The Miraflores Visitors Center offers a compelling insight into the strategic and mechanical core of the Panama Canal. Our visit begins with an award-winning IMAX documentary that highlights the Canal's global significance and the formidable engineering challenges overcome during its construction. Afterwards, we move to the observation terraces on the ground and first floors, where we watch vessels as they are raised and lowered through the locks in an intricate process that showcases the Canal's precision and power. With our curiosity piqued by our visit, we board the Sylvia Earle at the port of Colon ready to experience our own Panama Canal transit firsthand tomorrow. ...
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Saturday - Oct 23, 2027

Day
4

Cruising the Panama Canal, Panama

Today, we experience one of the most extraordinary engineering achievements in history, on a daytime crossing of the Panama Canal from Colon to Balboa. After an initial French attempt to build the canal, the United States completed it in 1914, transforming global shipping. Before its existence, vessels had to sail up to 15,000 kilometers (9,300 miles) around Cape Horn - a journey that could add up to 15 days of travel time. With the canal in place, ships could slip through the Isthmus of Panama in a matter of hours, dramatically improving trade logistics. But behind the brilliance, construction was grueling and dangerous. During the American phase alone, over 40,000 workers labored through treacherous terrain and battled tropical diseases. The toll was staggering with more than 25,000 people dying over the entire period of construction. Today, approximately 11,500 ships pass through the Panama Canal annually, with many designed to fit the dimensions of its original locks-a testament to its enduring influence on global shipping. Today, our own Sylvia Earle makes the iconic transit across the Isthmus, accompanied by expert commentary from a local canal specialist, offering insight into every stage of the journey and the remarkable engineering behind it. ...
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Sunday - Oct 24, 2027

Day
5

Fuerte Amador, Panama

Two distinctly different 'Your Choice' experiences are on offer this morning. Choose to immerse yourself in the culture of the Embera people, or ride in a tramway high in the tropical forest canopy, before we sail west to Costa Rica, late afternoon.

Monday - Oct 25, 2027

Day
6

At Sea

Enjoy a day at sea, as we sail into the Pacific Ocean. There's time to unwind, attend a presentation, or simply enjoy the sunset on the horizon as we sail from Panama to Costa Rica.

Tuesday - Oct 26, 2027

Day
7

Golfito, Costa Rica

Tucked between the Osa Peninsula and the southern mainland, Golfo Dulce is a deep, sheltered gulf where rainforest spills into the sea. It's one of the only tropical fjords in the world, and its calm waters are a magnet for marine life, from dolphins and sea turtles to migrating humpback whales. Scarlet macaws flash overhead, mangroves fringe the shore, and the forest hums with life. Unlike busier coastal spots, Golfo Dulce feels untouched, quiet, wild, and deeply alive. Whether you're paddling, walking nearby trails, or joining a boat cruise of the bay, it's a place that invites you to slow down and look closer. ...
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Wednesday - Oct 27, 2027

Day
8

Quepos, Costa Rica, Costa Rica

The lively coastal town of Quepos, nestled on Costa Rica's central Pacific coast, welcomes us today with three 'Your Choice' experiences on offer. Just minutes from the renowned Manuel Antonio National Park, Quepos is a gateway to unique wildlife encounters. Nearby mangrove forests play a vital role in Costa Rica's fragile ecosystem, offering shelter to countless species and helping protect the coastline. Add to this the efforts of local farmers who are putting sustainable practices to good use, and you'll discover a region rich in nature, culture, and character. ...
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Thursday - Oct 28, 2027

Day
9

View Excursions

Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Cruise Ends

Land Segment of Itinerary

Day 9 - Thursday - Oct 28, 2027

Day
9

Bus Travel

Doka Estate, Costa Rica

Bus Travel

San Jose, Costa Rica

Disembark and head to Hacienda Doka, nestled in Costa Rica's fertile Central Valley, for an immersive coffee experience that blends tradition, taste, and storytelling. Costa Rica's coffee is world-renowned, not just for its smooth, balanced flavor, but for the deep cultural roots it holds in the country's identity and economy. At the plantation, we follow its journey through the growth cycle, harvest, and roasting process. Along the way, we explore different coffee plant varieties and learn how Costa Rica's unique climate and volcanic soil contribute to its high-quality beans. A coffee and chocolate tasting adds a delicious end to our tour, before we tuck into a traditional buffet lunch, offering a taste of local flavors. We continue to San Jose for our overnight stay. Accommodation: San Jose hotel (or similar) ...
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Land Segment of Itinerary

Friday - Oct 29, 2027

Day
10

San Jose, Costa Rica

After breakfast, farewell your fellow travelers and board your share service transfer to San Jose Airport for your onward flight.

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Other Sail Dates and Itineraries on Douglas Mawson

Sail Date	Itinerary Name	Interior From	Oceanview From	Balcony From	Suite From	Details

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