Panama Cruise from Colón to Valparaíso — 20 Days

Colon, Panama

Colón puts you at Panama’s Caribbean gateway, where the Atlantic meets the Panama Canal. At Agua Clara Locks, watch ships pass through the expanded canal toward Gatun Lake. Nearby, Portobelo and San Lorenzo preserve Spanish colonial fortifications built to guard Caribbean trade routes. Colón is best approached as a gateway, with its strongest draws found in the canal, historic coast and surrounding rainforest.

Panama Canal, Panama

Few journeys change your sense of scale like a passage through the Panama Canal. This 50-mile waterway links the Atlantic and Pacific, lifting ships through locks and across Gatun Lake. Watch the gates close, water rise, and a vast vessel move within inches of concrete walls. On deck, the engineering is the spectacle; beyond it, rainforest edges the route. Bring binoculars, and stay outside for the crossing.

Playa Muerto Panama (Ask Travel Agent)

Pearl Islands Panama, Panama

Scattered across the Gulf of Panama, the Pearl Islands offer a quieter counterpoint to the capital’s bustle. Ferries connect Panama City with Contadora, known for sandy coves, clear water and nearby beaches. The archipelago includes more than 200 islands and islets, many uninhabited; Isla del Rey is the largest. Come for swimming, boat trips and a glimpse of island life shaped by fishing. The name recalls pearl beds prized by Spanish colonists in the sixteenth century.

Land Tour (Land Tour)

At Sea (At Sea)

Isla de la Plata Ecuador, Ecuador

Off Ecuador’s Pacific coast, Isla de la Plata brings wildlife within reach without a journey to the Galápagos. Boat trips from Puerto López lead to trails where blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds nest. Guides interpret the island’s dry forests and coastal ecology. Between June and September, humpback whales may be seen in surrounding waters. Bring sturdy shoes and sun protection; exploring the island means walking exposed trails.

Paita (Ask Travel Agent)

Salaverry-Trujillo, Peru

Salaverry opens Peru’s northern coast, where ancient kingdoms and Spanish-era streets share the day. Trujillo, founded in 1534, lies about 14 kilometres inland and rewards a walk through its historic centre. Nearby, Chan Chan, the vast adobe capital of the Chimú, reveals a civilization that flourished before the Inca. At Huaca de la Luna, vivid painted reliefs bring the Moche world into view.

At Sea (At Sea)

Huaura Islands Peru (Scenic Stop)

Callao-Lima, Peru

Callao is Peru’s working maritime gateway, but its appeal extends beyond the harbour. From here, Lima’s historic centre and museums are within reach. In Callao, explore the imposing Real Felipe Fortress, built to defend the port, then visit La Punta for Pacific views. Stay for ceviche and discover a city shaped by trade, naval history and the ocean.

Pisco, Peru

Pisco is Peru’s gateway to a stark coast where desert, ocean and wildlife meet. Nearby Paracas offers boat trips to the Ballestas Islands, where sea lions, Humboldt penguins and seabirds gather. The peninsula’s Paracas Candelabra, etched into a sandy hillside, is best seen from the water. In town, discover the grape brandy that shares Pisco’s name; the celebrated Nazca Lines lie farther inland to the south.

At Sea (At Sea)

Iquique, Chile

Iquique lies between the Pacific and the Atacama, where desert meets a broad, surf-lined coast. Its historic centre recalls the nitrate boom, with ornate wooden façades along Baquedano Street. Plaza Prat’s clock tower anchors the district. Browse the ZOFRI free-trade zone, or linger over seafood by the waterfront. Inland, the UNESCO-listed Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpeter works reveal the harsh history behind the city’s prosperity.

At Sea (At Sea)

Pan de Azucar Island Chile (Scenic Stop)

At Sea (At Sea)

Valparaiso-Santiago, Chile

Valparaíso is Chile’s most characterful port, a steep-sided city rising above the Pacific in a mosaic of color. Ride a historic funicular into the hills, where murals, stairways and bright houses reward unhurried exploration. In the UNESCO-listed historic quarter, grand 19th-century architecture recalls the era when ships rounded Cape Horn. Visit La Sebastiana, poet Pablo Neruda’s house, then return to the waterfront for fresh seafood and broad Pacific views.