Panama Canal Cruise - from Cristobal / Colón - 128931

In 1502, when Christopher Columbus was searching for the passage route he longed for between the Atlantic and the Pacific on his fourth voyage to America, he landed on the coast of what is now Panama in a sheltered cove he christened "Portobelo", meaning "beautiful harbour". Portobelo is approximately 50 km to the east of Colon. The harbour entrance is enclosed by three large stone fortresses. The Spanish forts, the tollhouse, a Spanish canon and the treasure room in which the Peruvian gold is kept, are particularly worth seeing.

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.

Balboa is a port at the Pacific end of the Panama canal in the canal zone. With 2,000 inhabitants, the city is considered to be the administrative hub of the Panama canal zone.

The city of Quepos is situated at the pacific coast of Costa Rica. Through its location, Quepos is blessed with long sandy beaches and prosperous maritime flora and fauna. Beeing part of the province of Puntarenas, Quepos is an up-and-coming town. Centuries before, the town has been named after the indigenous people, the Quepo Indians. Today big game sport fishing is one of the maritime attractions. However, the city centre with numerous restaurants, bars, hotels, art galleries and shops near the beach is worth visiting as well. Another beautiful sight can be found in Manuel Antonio National Park. Enhancing ecotourism, visitors can explore the nature through various activities.

Puntarenas means 'sandy tip' and the town lies on a tongue of land that sticks out into the Gulf of Nicoya. For a long time it was the most important Pacific port in the country, and even today the harbour is lined with fishing boats, giving the town its incomparably maritime character. This beach resort, which is steeped in tradition, is the perfect place for a stroll along the southern beach promenade, Paseo de los Turistas, which is particularly busy at the weekends. In the evening you can watch the glowing red sun sink down into the Gulf von Nicoya while enjoying a cocktail at the popular beach.