Callao - Belem Expedition South and Central America with Panama Canal: An endless kaleidoscope of creation

In Peru, your expedition will be characterised by the former Spanish conquistadors. Let your experts on board get you in the mood for this moving history. All of Peru’s territories were conquered one after the other and placed under Spanish rule. The port city of Paita, the Spanish capital on Peru’s north-west coast from 1578 to 1588, still boasts historical colonial flair today.

In the 16th century, the privateer Sir Francis Drake went on a raid in the Pacific Ocean. He is said to have hidden a legendary silver treasure on the Isla de la Plata, the “Silver Island” in Ecuador. During your individual shore visit, you won’t have to search long to discover the real treasure: an impressive variety of wildlife. The whimsical frigate birds and turkey vultures, as well as lava lizards, are native to the island. With local guides and your experts, you will walk across the island and be introduced to the vegetation of this dry forest, which is also found in a similar form on the Galapagos Islands. The wildlife constantly invites you to take photos, perhaps when magnificent frigate birds gracefully circle over the surf or brown pelicans practice diving. Images of nature that will never fade in your memory, even without a camera.

In the Utria National Park on the Pacific coast of Colombia, the wild beauty of the rainforest and the sea combine to create an unforgettable habitat. This huge park boasts one of the greatest biodiversities in the world, with species including anteaters, howler monkeys and deer. Surrounded by mountains cloaked in mist and mangrove-lined estuaries that change with the tides, you will be amazed by the flora and fauna. During a walk in the jungle or along the lagoon, your experts on board will continually hone your eye for unforgettable natural and animal sightings. Tropical birds, reptiles, amphibians, land mammals – which of these species will you observe? An excursion into the cultural heritage of the Afro-Colombian communities living here will round off your experiences.

One of the most amazing waterways and shortcuts ever created by man: the Panama Canal, a masterpiece of engineering. The daytime passage through the canal that is over 80 km (50 mi.) long is the perfect mix of nature and technology accompanied by the pure spirit of discovery. Instead of the new section for giant container ships, your small expedition ship will take the narrow, original route of the canal. Feel the pulse of the lifeline as the ship glides past jungle and mangrove forests. The banks here are denser and the lock chambers narrower, giving you a direct view of their mechanics. You can watch the ship negotiating the locks of Miraflores, Pedro Miguel and Gatun with great excitement – as you listen to knowledgeable commentary from your experts on board. It’s not just a passage, but a nostalgic experience with a historic atmosphere.

Nestled in the Darien jungle on Colombia’s north-western Caribbean coast lies a place that can only be reached by boat: Sapzurro Bay. No roads, no crowds – just the deep green of the rainforest stretching to the edge of the turquoise-blue sea. When you arrive here, you will feel as if you’re in a forgotten world. A small fishing village, founded in 1889 by Afro-Colombian settlers, provide insights into the lives of its few hundred inhabitants. The bay opens up like a natural amphitheatre: palm trees sway in the wind, colourful fish shimmer in the clear water and the sound of tropical birds fills the air. Hiking trails lead through lush vegetation to hidden beaches – a walk telling of adventurers and border crossers.

Cartagena de Indias, as the Colombian port city is called in contrast to the Spanish city of Cartagena, is said by many South America experts to have the most beautiful old town on the continent. Colombia declared the historic city centre a national heritage site as early as 1959, and in 1984 it also became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The massive fortress walls that still encircle the old town today and the colourful facades of the noble palaces and merchants’ houses are truly exceptional. With his novel, “Love in the Time of Cholera”, Gabriel García Márquez brought literary fame to Cartagena. Relax and explore the lively old town, the Spanish fortress of San Felipe and the Gold Museum on your own or with your experts. Cartagena’s Andalusian roots are unmistakable in its flair and architecture.

Bonaire, the second largest of the Caribbean ABC islands, offers a mixture of colourful nature and a fascinating underwater world. The name of its capital Kralendijk translates as “coral dyke”, which refers to the fantastic coral world that stretches off the coast in the Bonaire National Marine Park. While the hilly north of the island boasts exotic species of birds and tropical vegetation in the Washington-Slagbaai National Park, the Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary in the flat south attracts nature lovers with one of the largest flamingo colonies in the world. Bonaire is a paradise for snorkellers and explorers alike.

Scarborough, the capital of Tobago, is the gateway to exploring the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, which is known for its tropical landscapes and cultural diversity. While the larger island of Trinidad attracts visitors with white sandy beaches and fascinating animals such as leatherback turtles and scarlet ibises, Tobago offers a captivating array of lush rainforest and mountainous terrain. The Caribbean rhythm of calypso, whose roots go back several centuries, can be felt all over the island and makes the way of life in Trinidad and Tobago so special.

The rocky island of Ile Royale welcomes you with a mix of Brazilian rainforest and Caribbean palm trees as a cinematic backdrop. It was used as a French penal colony until 1951 – made famous by the book “Papillon” by Henri Charrière and its 1973 film adaptation starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman. The island invites you to go on an exciting journey through time – from arriving by Zodiac at the old landing site, which was once built by the prisoners, to looking into the cell blocks overgrown by vegetation. Enjoy the freedom to explore this secluded island independently. No film can capture the experiences that you’ll gather on your expedition.

When cruising through the Breves Channels, the advantages of your small expedition ship will become apparent. The calls of the toucans, yellow-headed caracaras and saffron finches will accompany you. The lush banks close in around the ship, while it confidently negotiates challenging changes in direction – much to the delight of the locals, the Caboclos, who you will meet on their boats, both large and small.