7 Days - New World Caribbean Trio[San Juan to Colon]
Itinerary
Day San Juan, Puerto RicoDepart 5:00 PM
"Back in the 1500s, Puerto Rico was one of the first Caribbean islands to be settled, and its capital, today's San Juan, became a vital hub of Spains New World colonies. The historic part of the city, known as Old San Juan, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it's also a National Historic Site within the U.S. National Park Service. Strolling the narrow cobblestoned streets of Old San Juan, you'll discover a historic treasure surrounded by massive city walls. You can climb the ramparts of imposing fortresses like El Morro, at the entrance to the bay, and visit the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, one of the oldest churches in the Americas and the final resting place of the citys founder, Ponce de León. Modern San Juan extends well beyond the historic district and offers diversions of its own. Condado, a lively beachfront neighborhood, has high-rise resorts and trendy waterfront bars. Visitors may sample one of Puerto Ricos best-known products at Casa Bacardí, the rum distillery across the bay. And stunning natural wonders await just outside the city, including the rain forest and waterfalls of El Yunque National Forest and the otherworldly lights of Fajardos bioluminescent bay. "
"Back in the 1500s, Puerto Rico was one of the first Caribbean islands to be settled, and its capital, today's San Juan, became a vital hub of Spains New World colonies. The historic part of the city, known as Old San Juan, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it's also a National Historic Site within the U.S. National Park Service. Strolling the narrow cobblestoned streets of Old San Juan, you'll discover a historic treasure surrounded by massive city walls. You can climb the ramparts of imposing fortresses like El Morro, at the entrance to the bay, and visit the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, one of the oldest churches in the Americas and the final resting place of the citys founder, Ponce de León. Modern San Juan extends well beyond the historic district and offers diversions of its own. Condado, a lively beachfront neighborhood, has high-rise resorts and trendy waterfront bars. Visitors may sample one of Puerto Ricos best-known products at Casa Bacardí, the rum distillery across the bay. And stunning natural wonders await just outside the city, including the rain forest and waterfalls of El Yunque National Forest and the otherworldly lights of Fajardos bioluminescent bay. "
Day Isla Catalina, Dominican RepublicArrive 08:00 AM Depart 09:00 PM
Small Isla Catalina boasts gleaming white-sand beaches ringed by coral reefs beckoning snorkelers. The island is a protected Natural Park where one beach is completely protected from the wind and the sea is delightfully calm. While beaches occupy more than 2/3 of the coastline, Isla Catalina also has unique rocky coasts and cliffs. One of the best diving sites of the Dominican Republic, Muro, can be found here. It boasts an impressive underwater wall over 328 feet deep. Isla Catalina is also the only place in the D.R. where raccoons and wild hares can be found.
Small Isla Catalina boasts gleaming white-sand beaches ringed by coral reefs beckoning snorkelers. The island is a protected Natural Park where one beach is completely protected from the wind and the sea is delightfully calm. While beaches occupy more than 2/3 of the coastline, Isla Catalina also has unique rocky coasts and cliffs. One of the best diving sites of the Dominican Republic, Muro, can be found here. It boasts an impressive underwater wall over 328 feet deep. Isla Catalina is also the only place in the D.R. where raccoons and wild hares can be found.
Day Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicArrives 07:00 AM Departs 03:00 PM
La Capital, as Santo Domingo is affectionately known, is a UNESCO site and one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean, with Zona Colonial buildings dating back to the 1500s. Santo Domingo is also considered the most modern metropolis in the Caribbean doing a great job of converging old and new. At the heart of the Zona Colonial, a pedestrian-friendly maze of cobblestones and interesting architecture is the first cathedral built in the New World. Find time to sample the aromatic coffee and cacao.
La Capital, as Santo Domingo is affectionately known, is a UNESCO site and one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean, with Zona Colonial buildings dating back to the 1500s. Santo Domingo is also considered the most modern metropolis in the Caribbean doing a great job of converging old and new. At the heart of the Zona Colonial, a pedestrian-friendly maze of cobblestones and interesting architecture is the first cathedral built in the New World. Find time to sample the aromatic coffee and cacao.
Day At Sea
Day Cartagena, ColombiaArrive 02:30 PM
The Spanish founded Cartagena, officially known as Cartagena de Indias, in 1533. The city rapidly became a thriving commercial port, where precious stones and minerals from the New World awaited shipment back to Spain. Situated in a bay on the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena had the most extensive fortifications in South America, once guarded by 29 stone forts and a high wall of coral-stone measuring 16-miles long, 40-feet high and 50-feet wide. Completed in 1657, the Castle of San Felipe de Barajas is said to be the most grandiose work of military architecture erected by Spain in the Americas. Today, Cartagena's riches are found in the Boca Grande, an area of the city with beautiful waterfront hotels, trendy restaurants, casinos and boutiques.
The Spanish founded Cartagena, officially known as Cartagena de Indias, in 1533. The city rapidly became a thriving commercial port, where precious stones and minerals from the New World awaited shipment back to Spain. Situated in a bay on the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena had the most extensive fortifications in South America, once guarded by 29 stone forts and a high wall of coral-stone measuring 16-miles long, 40-feet high and 50-feet wide. Completed in 1657, the Castle of San Felipe de Barajas is said to be the most grandiose work of military architecture erected by Spain in the Americas. Today, Cartagena's riches are found in the Boca Grande, an area of the city with beautiful waterfront hotels, trendy restaurants, casinos and boutiques.
Day Cartagena, ColombiaDeparts 01:30 PM
The Spanish founded Cartagena, officially known as Cartagena de Indias, in 1533. The city rapidly became a thriving commercial port, where precious stones and minerals from the New World awaited shipment back to Spain. Situated in a bay on the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena had the most extensive fortifications in South America, once guarded by 29 stone forts and a high wall of coral-stone measuring 16-miles long, 40-feet high and 50-feet wide. Completed in 1657, the Castle of San Felipe de Barajas is said to be the most grandiose work of military architecture erected by Spain in the Americas. Today, Cartagena's riches are found in the Boca Grande, an area of the city with beautiful waterfront hotels, trendy restaurants, casinos and boutiques.
The Spanish founded Cartagena, officially known as Cartagena de Indias, in 1533. The city rapidly became a thriving commercial port, where precious stones and minerals from the New World awaited shipment back to Spain. Situated in a bay on the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena had the most extensive fortifications in South America, once guarded by 29 stone forts and a high wall of coral-stone measuring 16-miles long, 40-feet high and 50-feet wide. Completed in 1657, the Castle of San Felipe de Barajas is said to be the most grandiose work of military architecture erected by Spain in the Americas. Today, Cartagena's riches are found in the Boca Grande, an area of the city with beautiful waterfront hotels, trendy restaurants, casinos and boutiques.
Day San Blas Islands, PanamaArrive 08:00 AM Depart 05:00 PM
An archipelago of 365 palm-fringed isles surrounded by coral reefs, the San Blas Islands (known to locals as Guna Yala, its official name since 2011, or by its former name of Kuna Yala) lie off Panamaâs northeast Caribbean coast. Fewer than 50 of the islands are inhabited, and on ones close to the mainland, residents live in thatched bamboo houses and get around by dugout canoes. Some outer islands are coconut plantations with a lone caretaker as the sole resident. An autonomous province of Panama since 1924, with its own constitution approved in 1945, the San Blas Islands are governed by the Kuna Indians, whose ancestors arrived in the early 19th century from the mainland along the ColombianâPanamanian border. The men farm bananas, plantains and coconuts, while the women, colorfully dressed and adorned with nose rings, metal bracelets and beads wrapped around their ankles and wrists, sell their handiwork to touristsâbeautiful reverse appliqué cloth panels known as molas. Here, you can experience a genuine slice of Central American culture from an indigenous people who are staunch protectors of their traditions and environment.
An archipelago of 365 palm-fringed isles surrounded by coral reefs, the San Blas Islands (known to locals as Guna Yala, its official name since 2011, or by its former name of Kuna Yala) lie off Panamaâs northeast Caribbean coast. Fewer than 50 of the islands are inhabited, and on ones close to the mainland, residents live in thatched bamboo houses and get around by dugout canoes. Some outer islands are coconut plantations with a lone caretaker as the sole resident. An autonomous province of Panama since 1924, with its own constitution approved in 1945, the San Blas Islands are governed by the Kuna Indians, whose ancestors arrived in the early 19th century from the mainland along the ColombianâPanamanian border. The men farm bananas, plantains and coconuts, while the women, colorfully dressed and adorned with nose rings, metal bracelets and beads wrapped around their ankles and wrists, sell their handiwork to touristsâbeautiful reverse appliqué cloth panels known as molas. Here, you can experience a genuine slice of Central American culture from an indigenous people who are staunch protectors of their traditions and environment.
Day Colon, PanamaArrive 07:00 AM
The town was built as the Caribbean terminus of the Panama Railway and is adjacent to the Caribbean end of the Canal. A trip through the coastal rain forest to the old Spanish fortress of San Lorenzo gives great views of wildlife along the way and the seacoast at the end. Visitors often tour to the Miraflores or Gatun Locks of the canal from here. The Chagres National Park offers visits to the indigenous Embera people, and nearby Portobelo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose church holds an unusual statue of Christ depicted as a black man.
The town was built as the Caribbean terminus of the Panama Railway and is adjacent to the Caribbean end of the Canal. A trip through the coastal rain forest to the old Spanish fortress of San Lorenzo gives great views of wildlife along the way and the seacoast at the end. Visitors often tour to the Miraflores or Gatun Locks of the canal from here. The Chagres National Park offers visits to the indigenous Embera people, and nearby Portobelo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose church holds an unusual statue of Christ depicted as a black man.