Panama Canal Cruise - from Panama City - 106349

In the middle of Central America lies the tropical region of the Panama Canal with its lush vegetation and rainforests. The Panama Canal is a technical masterpiece and one of the most important waterways in the world. It takes just a day to travel along the canal, but visitors are sure to remember the trip for many a long year.

Oranjestad is the capital of Aruba, the smallest of the ABC-Islands and is closest to Venezuela. Oranjestad is a lively little town with many shopping arcades and restaurants. The new houses are a rather bold and colourful echo of the old colonial style, making it seem at times like one has landed in a Caribbean version of Disneyland. This is also where visitors can find the lovely schooner harbour, where there is a daily market. Zoutman Fort, the oldest building on the island, houses the Historical Museum. Every Tuesday a mini music festival is held in the courtyard, providing an insight into island culture. The Archaeological Museum, the Geological Museum and the Numismatics Museum are also worth a visit. Oranjestad is famous for its excellent shopping facilities and the shopping street of Caya Betico Croes offers the greatest choice. In terms of tourism, Aruba is the most developed of the islands. The shops entice passengers with duty free luxury articles; or visitors can choose to spend a day at the beach or get carried away by the nightlife in one of the island's many casinos. To the North-West of Oranjestad is where the main beach, measuring 12 kilometres in length, begins. It is a lovely sandy beach lined by palm trees and hotels ranging from up-market to pure luxury high-end. Anyone spending any length of time on Aruba should definitely take a trip inland to see the huge monoliths and the ancient rock paintings of the indigenous peoples in the caves at Fontain and Canashito and at the cliffs of Arikok and Ayo.

Port of Spain is the port and capital of Trinidad and the joint capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The city centre between the harbour and Queen's Park Savannah can easily be explored on foot. The ideal starting point for a tour of the city is Frederick Street, one of the main shopping streets, which starts at South Quay by the harbour. This is also where visitors can see Fort San Andres, built in 1785 to protect the harbour, which today houses several administrative bodies. The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, the Jama Masija, a Friday mosque, the Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity and the National Museum are also all worth a visit. You can enjoy a wonderful view of Port of Spain from the green hills of the hinterland. A trip to the tropical landscape of the Northern Range is also extremely worthwhile.

The capital of the Brazilian state Amazonas is in the north of the country by the banks of the Rio Negro and is surrounded by beautiful rainforest. Manaus was founded in the 17th century by the Portuguese military. Due to the industrial boom in the city at the end of the 19th century, ports, market places, monuments and impressive buildings were built on the island. The city is famous for its rubber and latex production and its nickname is the "Paris of the tropical rainforests". Sights include the "Teatro Amazonas" with its distinctive dome, which even today is the greatest symbol of this rich city.

The capital of the Brazilian state Amazonas is in the north of the country by the banks of the Rio Negro and is surrounded by beautiful rainforest. Manaus was founded in the 17th century by the Portuguese military. Due to the industrial boom in the city at the end of the 19th century, ports, market places, monuments and impressive buildings were built on the island. The city is famous for its rubber and latex production and its nickname is the "Paris of the tropical rainforests". Sights include the "Teatro Amazonas" with its distinctive dome, which even today is the greatest symbol of this rich city.

The small riverside village of Boca da Valeria with its typical houses built on stilts is the perfect place to get to know the "Cabolos", the "River People" and discover the Amazon. Explore the secrets of the rainforest, the largest forest on the planet, and also the largest reservoir of freshwater with its countless varieties of flora and fauna.

The tiny fishing village Alter do Chao is just a 30-minute car journey from the city of Santarém, which has a population of 270,000. The breathtakingly beautiful area in which the city lies is renowned for its unique beaches, an expansive dune landscape and the abundance of fish. The 'Centre for the Conservation of Native Art and Culture' is particuarly worth a visit .

St. George's is the capital of Grenada, which is one of the prettiest ports in the Caribbean with its narrow, steep streets running between the houses and churches. The horseshoe-shaped harbour basin of the Carenage in the town centre is encircled by Wharf Road. Along the quay promenade there are old warehouses from the French and British colonial era, some of which have been restored and converted into restaurants, shops or offices. On the elevated area around St. George are the remains of old fortifications, such as Fort George, behind which rises the silhouette of the forested mountainsides.

Willemstad is the capital of Curaçao, the largest of the ABC Islands and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 1997. The city is divided in two by the entranceway to the port and the famous Emma Bridge connects the two parts. The floating market with sailors and schooners from South America who sell fish, fruit and even monkeys direct from their ships is a must-see. Other sights include Fort Amsterdam, built in the 17th century, the Curaçao Museum with its old furniture and the oldest synagogue in the western world, Mikve Israel Emmanuel Synagogue, which dates from 1732. The houses in the old town, built in the Dutch colonial style, are also well worth a look. The vibrant port town is the perfect place to take a stroll and do some shopping, since it has many shops and shopping arcades

In the middle of Central America lies the tropical region of the Panama Canal with its lush vegetation and rainforests. The Panama Canal is a technical masterpiece and one of the most important waterways in the world. It takes just a day to travel along the canal, but visitors are sure to remember the trip for many a long year.