20 October 2027 – 10 days
Register your interest for 2027 and we will contact you when confirmed details, including finalised dates and prices, are available.
Join an exciting exploration of Panama and Costa Rica aboard the expedition ship Douglas Mawson, combining a daytime transit of the Panama Canal with discoveries in some of Central America's richest natural environments, from tropical rainforests and mangroves to wildlife-rich national parks and marine ecosystems.
Travelling aboard the purpose-built, comfortable expedition ship Douglas Mawson, which carries a maximum of 154 guests, this specially curated voyage combines a daytime transit of the Panama Canal with exploration of Panama and Costa Rica's remarkable natural environments. Discover the engineering and scientific achievements behind the canal, explore rainforest ecosystems and Indigenous knowledge in Panama, and search for whales, dolphins and other wildlife in Costa Rica's biodiverse Golfo Dulce and Manuel Antonio National Park, while learning how mangroves, tropical forests and sustainable agriculture support some of Central America's richest ecosystems.
Throughout the voyage, a dedicated New Scientist expert will provide deeper insight into the region's wildlife, ecosystems and environmental science through a programme of talks and informal discussions. You will also enjoy talks and excursions led by the ship's experienced expedition team, whose expertise spans fields including marine biology, ecology, geology and ornithology, enriching the journey with lectures, guided excursions and wildlife-spotting opportunities.
This expedition is designed for anyone who enjoys looking beyond the surface of a destination. Whether your interests lie in wildlife, conservation, ecology, engineering or geography, or simply understanding how the world works, this voyage offers the opportunity to explore Central America through the perspectives of science, nature and discovery.
In partnership with AE Expeditions and Discover The World.
Day 1: Arrive in Panama City
On arrival at Panama City airport, make your way to the arrivals hall, where you will meet one of the team from AE Expeditions. You will then be transferred to your group hotel. At the hotel, visit the hospitality desk in the lobby to meet the AE Expeditions team, who will provide you with useful information regarding pre-embarkation procedures and about your time in Panama City.
You will have the rest of the day to relax or explore independently.
Day 2: Panama City walking tour and Panama Canal Museum
Today you will enjoy a walking tour through Panama City and its UNESCO-listed Casco Viejo district, tracing the city's remarkable evolution from an early strategic settlement to one of the world's great trading crossroads. Founded in 1673 after the destruction of the original city by the Welsh privateer Henry Morgan, Casco Viejo became an important link in the movement of silver, gold and goods between the Americas and Europe. Its position on the narrow Isthmus of Panama helped shape its role in global commerce for centuries, culminating in the construction of the Panama Canal.
Your exploration continues at the Panama Canal Museum, where exhibits reveal the extraordinary scientific, medical and engineering challenges involved in creating a passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Learn how advances in tropical medicine, geology and engineering helped overcome one of the most ambitious construction projects in human history.
This evening, meet your fellow travellers and expedition team during your welcome reception.
Day 3: Miraflores locks and embarkation in Colón
Before boarding the Douglas Mawson, you will visit the Miraflores Locks, one of the most remarkable feats of 20th-century engineering. At the visitor centre, discover how gravity, hydrology and precision engineering work together to move vessels through the canal's lock system. From the observation decks, watch ships being raised and lowered through chambers that connect two oceans across mountainous terrain. An IMAX presentation provides further insight into the canal's construction, operation and continuing importance to global trade.
Later, transfer to Colón and embark the Douglas Mawson.
Day 4: Panama Canal transit: Engineering on a continental scale
Today you will undertake a full daytime transit of the Panama Canal, one of the defining engineering achievements of the modern era.
Constructed by the US between 1904 and 1914 following an earlier French attempt, the canal created a navigable route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, transforming global trade and maritime transport. As you pass through locks, channels and artificial lakes, a canal specialist explains the geology, hydrology and engineering that made the project possible. Learn how the canal transformed international shipping, altered global trade routes and overcame immense challenges posed by disease, terrain and tropical climate. Few journeys offer such a vivid demonstration of humanity's ability to reshape geography on a continental scale.
Day 5: Balboa and Panama's rainforests
When the ship is in port (days 5, 7, 8 and 9), a range of complimentary activities will be available each day. Led by the onboard expedition team, these experiences offer different perspectives on the region's wildlife, ecosystems and culture. Before each outing, you will be invited to select the activity you would like to join, allowing you to choose the experiences that best match your interests.
This morning, you will have a choice of activities:
- You can either visit an Emberá community, where traditional ecological knowledge continues to guide daily life in the rainforest. While here, you will discover how generations of observation have shaped sustainable relationships with local ecosystems, wildlife and natural resources.
- Alternatively, ascend into the rainforest canopy by aerial tram. This elevated viewpoint reveals the structure of a tropical forest ecosystem, from the dark understory to the sunlit canopy where monkeys, sloths, toucans and epiphytic plants thrive.
Later, you will sail west towards Costa Rica.
Day 6: Day at sea crossing the eastern Pacific
As you sail along Central America's Pacific coastline, enjoy a day at sea with opportunities to attend expert lectures and deepen your understanding of the natural history, ecology and geology of the regions ahead.
Day 7: Golfo Dulce exploration
Today you will arrive at the port of Golfito, the principal gateway to Golfo Dulce on Costa Rica's southern Pacific coast. From here, you will explore this remarkable gulf, where rainforest-covered mountains descend directly to the sea. Golfo Dulce is often described as one of the world's few tropical fjord-like ecosystems due to its exceptional depth and restricted connection to the open ocean. This unique geography creates nutrient-rich waters that support an extraordinary diversity of marine life, including dolphins, sea turtles, whales and numerous fish species, making it one of Costa Rica's most important regions for wildlife and conservation.
Again, you will have the choice of a couple of different activities.
- A whale-watching excursion to search for humpback whales, dolphins and other marine species in one of Costa Rica's most important migration and breeding areas.
- Alternatively, explore rainforest trails and investigate one of the most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystems on Earth, where intricate ecological relationships link plants, insects, birds and mammals.
Day 8: Quepos and Manuel Antonio
The forests and coastal ecosystems surrounding Quepos rank among the most biologically rich landscapes in Central America. You will have the option to:
- Explore mangrove estuaries, where specialised trees stabilise coastlines, store significant amounts of carbon and provide nurseries for countless marine species. These highly productive ecosystems offer valuable insight into the role of coastal habitats in climate regulation and biodiversity conservation.
- Alternatively, join a guided walk in Manuel Antonio National Park, where expert naturalists help reveal the complex interactions between tropical plants, insects, birds and mammals. Search for sloths, monkeys, colourful birdlife and an extraordinary diversity of plant species.
- A third option explores Costa Rica's agricultural heritage through coffee, cacao and vanilla cultivation, examining how sustainable farming practices support both local communities and tropical ecosystems.
Day 9: Costa Rica's coffee highlands and San José
After disembarking in Puntarenas, journey into Costa Rica's fertile Central Valley, where volcanic soils, elevation and climate combine to create ideal conditions for coffee cultivation.
At Hacienda Doka, learn about the botany, cultivation and processing of coffee, as well as the environmental factors that influence flavour and quality. Discover how agriculture, ecology and economics intersect in one of Costa Rica's most important industries before enjoying a tasting of locally produced coffee and chocolate.
Continue to San José, the capital of Costa Rica, for your final evening.
Day 10: Depart San José
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward journey, taking with you new insights into the engineering, ecology and cultures that shape Central America.
