Costa Rica & Panama: Pacific Paradise
Rainforests, volcanoes, and the Panama Canal by expedition yacht
- Duration
- 7 Days
- Embarkation
- Golfito (Banana Bay Marina)
- Disembarkation
- Panama City (Flamenco Marina)
- Best season
- December – April
- Total distance
- 250 NM
Overview
Costa Rica and Panama's Pacific coast offers one of the world's most diverse yacht charter experiences — from the extraordinary biodiversity of Corcovado National Park to the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal. This 7-day expedition combines pristine rainforests, world-class diving, and tropical island paradise.
Highlights
- Corcovado National Park — most biodiverse place on earth
- Coiba Island diving
- Pearl Islands archipelago
- Panama Canal transit
- Whale watching (humpbacks)
- Scarlet macaw colonies
Day by day
Day 1: Golfito — Gateway to Osa
Golfito, Costa Rica
Morning: Arrive at Golfito and board your expedition yacht. Welcome briefing with the naturalist guide.
Afternoon: Explore the Golfito Wildlife Refuge — howler monkeys, toucans, and sloths in the canopy. Kayak through the mangrove channels.
Evening: Dinner aboard featuring Costa Rican cuisine — casado, ceviche, and tropical fruits.
Day 2: Corcovado — Biodiversity Capital
Golfito → Corcovado · 30 nm
Morning: Cruise to Corcovado National Park, described by National Geographic as 'the most biologically intense place on Earth'.
Afternoon: Guided hike through the primary rainforest — spot scarlet macaws, tapirs, all four species of Costa Rican monkeys, and possibly a jaguar. The biodiversity is staggering.
Evening: Anchor off Caño Island for dinner. Watch the sunset over the Pacific with humpback whales breaching in the distance (seasonal).
Day 3: Caño Island — Diving Paradise
Corcovado → Caño Island · 15 nm
Morning: Dive or snorkel at Isla del Caño, a biological reserve with some of the best diving in Costa Rica — bull sharks, manta rays, and whale sharks.
Afternoon: Explore the island's mysterious stone spheres — pre-Columbian artefacts of unknown origin. Snorkel the coral gardens.
Evening: Dinner aboard and overnight crossing towards Panama.
Day 4: Coiba Island — Panama's Galápagos
Caño Island → Coiba Island · 80 nm
Morning: Arrive at Coiba Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Panama's largest island. Once a penal colony, it's now a pristine national park.
Afternoon: Dive the world-class sites around Coiba — hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, and massive schools of fish. The marine life rivals the Galápagos.
Evening: Anchor in a sheltered bay and enjoy a beach barbecue on the deserted shore.
Day 5: Gulf of Chiriquí
Coiba Island → Gulf of Chiriquí · 35 nm
Morning: Cruise to the Gulf of Chiriquí Marine National Park — mangrove islands, coral reefs, and nesting sea turtles.
Afternoon: Snorkel the coral gardens and spot dolphins in the gulf. Visit a remote fishing village for an authentic Panamanian experience.
Evening: Dinner aboard as the yacht begins the overnight passage towards the Pearl Islands.
Day 6: Pearl Islands — Tropical Paradise
Gulf of Chiriquí → Pearl Islands · 100 nm
Morning: Arrive at the Pearl Islands archipelago, made famous by the TV show Survivor. Anchor at Isla Contadora.
Afternoon: Explore the pristine beaches and snorkel the coral reefs. The Pearl Islands were once the source of the world's finest pearls — visit a pearl farm.
Evening: Dinner at a beachfront restaurant on Contadora, with fresh lobster and Pacific sunset views.
Day 7: Panama Canal & Panama City
Pearl Islands → Panama City · 40 nm
Morning: Cruise to Panama City and the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal. Watch the massive container ships transit the locks.
Afternoon: Explore Casco Viejo, Panama City's beautifully restored colonial quarter — UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Biomuseo designed by Frank Gehry.
Evening: Farewell dinner at Maito, Latin America's 10th best restaurant, serving modern Panamanian cuisine. Disembark at Flamenco Marina.
Nature Lovers · Adventure Seekers · Divers · Families