14 Nov Caldera, Costa Rica
Embark Quest for Adventure. Depart November 15 at 0600.
Puerto Caldera is set in a lush, unspoiled region of Costa Rica. For a small port town, Puerto Caldera has some excellent features, including cliffs which form a picturesque backdrop in the distance. And from the top, offer some truly breathtaking views of the country’s Pacific Coast. If you feel like venturing further in, not far from Caldera you'll find Carara National Park, a stunning place which has a number of rare birds.
15 Nov Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Arrive 0900. Depart 1700.
Puntarenas sits on a long, narrow peninsula and its port handles mainly cruise ships. Puntarenas is the coutry's most important fishing port, so the local delicacy mainly consists of seafood. On its waterfront, you'll find countless bars and restaurants, along with open-air cafes which are perfect on a hot summer's day. Away from the beach, you'll find the Manuel Antonio National Park, Cocos Island National Park and a number of other nature reserves.
16 Nov San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
Arrive 0800. Depart 1600.
San Juan del Sur is the most popular travel destination on Nicaragua's coast. And no wonder why, with its bustling local culture and various tourist attractions. Some of the area's attractions include surfing and fishing, along with stunning beaches and a lively nightlife. Not far from the port, you'll find a host of shops and restaurants, where you can perhaps buy gifts and try the local cuisine. One thing's for sure, San Juan del Sur's natural beauty and friendly locals make it a place you'll want to visit again and again.
18 Nov Balboa. Panama
Arrive 0900 on November 18. Depart 0300 on November 19. Land by launch or tender.
Balboa is a town set close to the Panama Canal mouth. It was founded in 1914 and named after explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the first European to reach the Pacific from the New World.
Balboa is now considered part of Panama City's township of Ancon. Since its incorporation into the Republic of Panama, Balboa has been redeveloped to enhance the port's capacity and to adapt to private ownership of houses and commercial enterprises.
Sightseeing highlights for anyone visiting Balboa today include the Administration Building, the Goethals Memorial, the Prado, the remaining English-language churches or perhaps visit the famed Powell Orchid Garden which houses over 400 species of these beautiful native flowers.
19 Nov Cruise the Panama Canal
20 Nov San Andres, Colombia
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700. Land by launch or tender.
This archipelago of small coral islands in the Caribbean lies nearly 500 miles north-west of the Colombian mainland and some 140 miles east of Nicaragua. For a long time the islands were a British colony, and although the Spanish took possession after independence, the British influence on language, religion and architecture is still very much in evidence.
San Andres is everything you might expect of an archetypal Caribbean island – covered with coconut palms, white coral beaches and clear and turquoise-blue seas. Wildlife – particularly birds and iridescent green and blue lizards – abounds in the palm forests.
Local taxis will be available at the tender pier for those passengers wanting to explore independently.
22 Nov Port Antonio, Jamaica
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
Port Antonio is the capital of Portland parish on the north-eastern coast of Jamaica. Once a sleepy coastal town, it is now the island’s third-largest port, thanks to its banana trade. Port Antonio offers some of the most stunning scenery in Jamaica and was popularised as ‘paradise’ by Hollywood during the 1940s and 50s, Errol Flynn adding to this image when his yacht Zacca ran aground during bad weather in 1946.
It is still favoured by the rich and famous today. The town offers many attractions including the Folly ruins, the remains of a luxurious early 20 th -century mansion, the remnants of Fort George dating from 1726, and Titchfield Peninsula, where the houses are noted for their ‘gingerbread’ architecture.
24 Nov Willemstad, Curaçao
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
Curaçao, where the famous orange liqueur is produced, is an island in the south of the Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela. Part of the Dutch Antilles archipelago, it is renowned for its coral reefs, secluded beaches and colonial buildings.
Willemstad is the capital and is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Caribbean. It is a fascinating town with centuries of history and a charming floating footbridge that opens to let boats pass. The city centre of Willemstad has an array of Dutch influenced colonial architecture, and with its beautiful harbour entry and peculiar architecture were the main reasons for the World Heritage Site award.
Baseball has a strong presence in Willemstad. Professional Major League players Andrew Jones and Jair Jurrjens all hail from Willemstad.
25 Nov La Guaira, Venezuela
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
La Guaira lies in the narrow, arid coastal zone along the Caribbean at the foot of the central highlands in Northern Venezuela.
In 1589 Diego Osanoy Villegas founded the city of La Guaira to serve as the nearest commercial connection with the capital Caracas 15 miles away.
Its long and fascinating history includes being ransacked by English pirates in 1743.
26 Nov El Guamache, Margarita Island
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
Situated off the north coast of Venezuela, Margarita is known as the ‘Pearl of the Caribbean’. It is a mountainous tropical paradise with spectacular, deserted beaches lined with palm trees, including Playa El Agua in the north with its two-and-a-half miles of fine sand.
The island is formed by two peninsulas joined by an isthmus and was discovered in 1498 by Christopher Colombus. The locals, known as Guaiqueries, received the conquering Spaniards with open arms, unaware that they would become slaves of their own wealth.
In 1814, the islanders fought successfully for independence from the Spanish, and Isla Margarita became the first free territory in Venezuela. Today visitors can take advantage of the island’s duty-free shopping whether looking for local or imported goods.
Please note: This port is located in a relatively remote area of Margarita Island. The nearest town of note is Porlamar, approximately 15 miles away.
27 Nov Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
Capital of Trinidad and Tobago since 1757, Port of Spain's large natural harbour has seen it become a central hub for the country's busy economy.
The city is bordered by both the Gulf of Paria and the Northern Range and enjoys spectacular mountain and sea views, reflecting the charm and natural beauty for which the country is renowned.
28 Nov Scarborough, Tobago
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
Although it is largely volcanic, Tobago is an environmentally rich island with lush and thickly-wooded areas, and beaches are a peppered mix of black and golden sand.
The island’s waters are fed by the Orinoco River which attracts a wide variety of marine life, and fish that are normally found in deeper waters swim much closer to the surface.
29 Nov St George's, Grenada
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
The most southerly of the Windward Islands, Grenada is known as the ‘Spice Isle’ as the aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla are carried on the gentle breeze.
This mountainous volcanic island has an ideal year-round climate, stunning beaches and many attractive towns. Its natural attractions read like a ‘wish list’ for a paradise island: lush rainforests, beautiful mountain lakes, cascading rivers, waterfalls and rare tropical flowers. St George’s is a bustling town surrounded by an old volcanic crater and framed by a horse-shoe harbour.
30 Nov Castries, St Lucia
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
The typical image of a lush tropical paradise comes to life on the friendly island of St Lucia. Despite its small size – just 27 miles long and 14 miles wide – St Lucia is rich in natural splendour with dense emerald rainforest, banana plantations and orchards of coconut, mango and papaya trees.
The twin peaks of Les Pitons, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site rise dramatically 2,000 feet into the sky and dominate the island. Look out for unusual birds with brilliant plumage such as the St Lucia parrot, see a surprising diversity of exotic flora and enjoy the warm hospitality of the islanders in the small villages and open-air markets.
01 Dec Bridgetown, Barbados
Arrive 0800. Disembark Quest for Adventure.
Set on the island’s only natural harbour, the capital of Barbados combines modern and colonial architecture with glorious palm tree lined beaches and a number of historical attractions.
