Costa Rica, Panama Canal & Caribbean Expedition Cruises

The Small Ship Difference in Costa Rica, the Panama Canal & Caribbean

Costa Rica is often considered the world's most environmentally conscious country, with a well-developed tourist infrastructure that makes it a much easier place to explore than its Central American neighbours.

Small ship expedition cruises in Costa Rica, the Panama Canal and the Caribbean allow you to get into smaller ports for easier exploration and offer expert guided tours into the national parks. Most expedition lines offer nature tours, kayaking, wildlife walks, cloud forest tours and even zip lining or white water rafting, hiking and Zodiac rides.

Luxury Small Ship Costa Rica, Panama Canal and Caribbean Cruise Itineraries

• Most itineraries offer the choice of a Costa Rica-only adventure or a combined Costa Rica-Colón journey to include the Panama Canal, usually lasting around seven days, as well as many longer options that also include the Caribbean. Many itineraries depart from Colón, the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal, then sail south to Puntarenas, with stops in Panama and Costa Rica. Several cruises also offer optional land programmes to explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest and Arenal Volcano in depth.
• There are a variety of Panama Canal cruise options. Some itineraries feature a transit at the start or end of the Caribbean season, while others focus on a series of dedicated voyages. Full transits typically begin in Florida and end in California (or vice versa), taking around two weeks and including stops at highlights such as Cartagena in Colombia (one of South America's most stunning colonial cities), the lush forests of Costa Rica, Guatemala and the idyllic beaches of Mexico.

When planning a Panama Canal cruise, we recommend scheduling a daylight transit to fully appreciate the experience. A useful tip: some ships navigate the canal at night, which may not offer the views you want. It is also best to choose a cruise that travels all the way to the Pacific rather than one that stops at Gatun Lake.

Luxury Cruise Lines that Visit Costa Rica, the Panama Canal & Caribbean

One of our favourite lines that visit the region include Ponant's ships that offer excellent and varying Costa Rica itineraries, many of which also visit Belize and Guatemala. Some are in conjunction with Smithsonian Journeys for visits to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions are another visitor, and their cruises include highlights such as the uninhabited and stunning Nicoya Peninsula, Papagayo Peninsula and Santa Rosa National Park.

Other cruise lines that offer Costa Rica, Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises include Hapag-Lloyd, whose itineraries include unusual islands such as French Guiana on their bilingual ships, and Scenic Eclipse's superyachts that sail from Panama and include the San Blas Islands and Colombia, returning each day to all the luxuries on board, from the huge spa to several fine dining options.

Best Time to Cruise in Costa Rica, the Panama Canal & Caribbean

From November to March, the dry season, most vessels are found along Costa Rica's Pacific Coast. While it is possible to visit at other times, this period is ideal for an ocean expedition.

During the Caribbean season (our winter months), there are more in-depth options on smaller ships, allowing for a fuller exploration of the Pacific coast, often combined with Panama and a Panama Canal transit. Some itineraries may also include the Caribbean coast.