However you picture South and Central America, you can look forward to unimaginable sights and experiences that remain out of the question for most other travellers. As it makes its way along the varied Pacific coast, the HANSEATIC inspiration charts a course for unfamiliar and authentic experiences. The modern ship benefits from being small and manoeuvrable, which means that it can take you to hidden destinations that are often practically inaccessible to others. Bahia Solano welcomes you to Colombia. The local guides will introduce you to life in the small town surrounded by unspoilt nature.

One infamous visitor has left a legacy in Ecuador on Isla de la Plata: Sir Francis Drake is said to have hidden treasure on the “silver island”. However, the real riches are to be found in the animal world. An experienced ranger will guide you through the home of blue-footed and Nazca boobies, frigate birds, turkey vultures and lava lizards. From Puerto Bolivar, you will wander through the Puyango Forest*, known for the largest collection of petrified trees in South America. You can also marvel at maritime fossils and look out for the over 130 species of birds and butterflies that are native to the area. 

Isla Gorgona demonstrates how nature slowly erases the traces of civilisation: having been a base for pirates and then the “Alcatraz of Colombia”, it is now a nature reserve. Utria National Park, known for possibly having the world’s greatest biodiversity, has even more of an abundance of flora and fauna to offer. The bay of Ensenada de Utria runs like a fjord for around 5 km (3.1 mi.) and provides a protected haven for a wide variety of marine animals. Approximately 800 m (875 yards) of boardwalks lead through the mangrove swamps, providing insights that change with the tides. Anteaters, black howler monkeys, sloths and hummingbirds are just some of the species that might make an appearance on your jungle hike with the rangers.

Panama is synonymous with never-ending adventures in nature, which are particularly abundant in the east of the country. A visit to Puerto Pina will illustrate how time seems to move at a slower pace here. The local residents will welcome you to the small town on the Pacific coast. This is your starting point for discovering the green heart of Panama in the Gulf of San Miguel. Traditional boats will take you into the Darien jungle, Central America’s largest continuous rainforest. In this species-rich habitat, you’ll meet the Embera people, who live in villages scattered in the jungle, and find out more about their traditional way of life. And as if this world of green weren’t magnificent enough, the Pearl Islands are waiting to dazzle you with yet more spectacular sights. You could be fooled into thinking you have reached the Caribbean here. The archipelago is an insider’s tip on the Pacific coast and will surprise you with idyllic beaches, tropical forests and colourful underwater worlds. Relaxed enjoyment will soon make way for excitement as you near the absolute highlight of this expedition.

The most amazing waterway ever to have been built is both a masterpiece and a lifeline. Your daytime passage through the Panama Canal will treat you to over 80 km (50 mi.) of the best views from the deck. Even the gigantic locks, which are some of the largest concrete structures in the world, provide phenomenal impressions. Your varied passage, which is an experience open to few travellers, will reveal how closely nature has become entwined with the canal since its opening in 1914. Watch in awe as you glide past savannahs, rainforest and mangroves. The experts on board will enhance this unforgettable experience with fascinating background information. One thing is certain: you’ll wish it took longer to reach the Atlantic side of the canal. As hard as it might be to say farewell, this cruise will leave you with totally new impressions of South and Central America.