Panama Canal Cruise - from Cristobal / Colón - 121895

The San Blas islands are on the Caribbean side of Panama. The island group comprises 365 islands, only a few of which are inhabited. The islands lie in an autonomous region and have been ruled by the Kuna native Indians since 1938. There are no mosquitos, perhaps one of the reasons the native Indians chose to settle here. They go out to fish for crustaceans in special wooden boats, called "Cayucos". Unlike the other tribes of the Caribbean, the Kuna are dressed top-to-toe at all times, usually in colourful traditional costumes. For tourists, the San Blas Islands represent a beautiful, untouched diving area that people are reluctant to leave on account of its sandy beaches in sheltered coves and its warm, turquoise-blue waters.

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.

Salaverry at the foot of the Andes has retained the charm of a colonial city with its old churches, colonial houses and balconies and backyards decorated with flowers. In front of the cathedral at the Plaza de Armas is a sculpture commemorating the liberation of Peru. There are many mansions that tourists can visit, such as the 'House of Emancipation', where Peru's independence from Spain was declared. From Salaverry visitors can take trips to the legendary Inca sites of Cuzco and Machu Picchu. There are many ruins dating from the time of the Incas, including the Coricancha, the second temple of the sun. Churches such as La Merced and the San Francisco Belén de los Reves monastery dating from the 17th century, as well as the Santa Clara and San Blas monasteries result in an impressive mixture of Spanish and native Indian architecture.

Callao is a suburb of Lima, the capital of Peru. Callao is the main transportation hub of South America, with one of the largest ports in this Southern Hemisphere. Lima is also the largest city in the country, in western Peru on the Pacific coast. Lima's old town, with its streets laid out like a chessboard, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. The city is a mixture of Colonial-style buildings and modern architecture. The "Plaza de Armas" is the real highlight. This is where the cathedral, the presidential palace and many important churches, such as the Iglesia San Francisco, the Iglesia la Merced and the Iglesia Santo Domingo. At the corner of the Plaza is an equestrian monument honouring the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, who founded Lima in January 1535, in order to focus the reign over the conquered kingdom of the Incas here. The San Francisco monastery with its catacombs, which is close to the Plazuela San Francisco, is also worth seeing. A trip to the Plaza de Mayo, throbbing with hundreds of traders and the shopping street Calle Union are also well worth a visit. Other sights include: the Museo de la Nacion, the "Museo de Oro" and the Miraflores and Barranco districts.

Callao is a suburb of Lima, the capital of Peru. Callao is the main transportation hub of South America, with one of the largest ports in this Southern Hemisphere. Lima is also the largest city in the country, in western Peru on the Pacific coast. Lima's old town, with its streets laid out like a chessboard, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. The city is a mixture of Colonial-style buildings and modern architecture. The "Plaza de Armas" is the real highlight. This is where the cathedral, the presidential palace and many important churches, such as the Iglesia San Francisco, the Iglesia la Merced and the Iglesia Santo Domingo. At the corner of the Plaza is an equestrian monument honouring the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, who founded Lima in January 1535, in order to focus the reign over the conquered kingdom of the Incas here. The San Francisco monastery with its catacombs, which is close to the Plazuela San Francisco, is also worth seeing. A trip to the Plaza de Mayo, throbbing with hundreds of traders and the shopping street Calle Union are also well worth a visit. Other sights include: the Museo de la Nacion, the "Museo de Oro" and the Miraflores and Barranco districts.