Panama Canal Cruise - from Miami - 122551

Miami is a city at the South-East coast of the US state of Florida. The "Coconut Grove" district was the heart of the settlement in 1884. Today, the city is dominated by elegant boutiques and pavement cafés. Often, free street concerts are held in the side streets - usually reggae or jazz music. The city has numerous high-rise buildings, hotel complexes, areas with palm trees, shopping centres, cultural and recreational facilities. Sights include: the Southeast Financial Center - the tallest building in Florida at 55 storeys high; Dade Country Courthouse; Metro Dade Cultural, a cultural centre that houses Miami Dade Main Library; the Centre for Fine Arts and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida.

The largest of Mexico's islands lies 57 km from Cancun and 20 km from the coast of Mexico. The island has developed into a popular holiday destination thanks to its idyllic beaches, the wide range of water sports on offer and the Mayan ruins. The ferry docks at "San Miguel de Cozumel", where visitors can visit the "Museo de la Isla de Cozumel" with artefacts detailing the natural history of the island. In the North of the island there are several ruins of the ancient Mayan culture. Cozumel was once a place of pilgrimage for the Mayans who wished to pay tribute to the goddess of the moon, Ixchel. The famous lagoon "Chankanaab" can be reached via the main road to the North. The lagoon has more than 50 species of tropical fish, shells and corals and is seen as a kind of natural aquarium.

Puerto Limon is the port and capital of the province of Limon at the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and the most important Atlantic port for the export of bananas and coffee. The busy town centre is dominated by a multicultural atmosphere. The main attractions include Vargas Park, where there are lots of Banyan trees in which you can sometimes see up to thirteen sloths snoozing!

Colón is the capital of Colón province and the second-largest city in Panama. As a free-trade area, Colón is an important economic site. The cathedral and the statue-lined promenade, known as "Paseo Centenario", are well worth seeing.

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.

Manta is the most important town in the province of Manabí. The name originates from the Manta culture, which dates back to the year 500. The town has undergone a dynamic development in the fields of industry, trade and tourism. It produces primarily coffee, cocoa and tuna. Not far from the town is Montecristi, where nearly the entire population is involved in the production of Panama hats. Sights include: the museum, which exhibits mostly pre-Columbian art; the Indio market selling hand-made items.