Panama Canal Cruise

Day 1 - Fly UK to San Diego

Arrive in San Diego and make your own way to your hotel, spend the rest of the day at lesuire.

Day 2 - Board your Panama Canal Cruise

Today make your way to the cruise port to board your spectacular Panama Canal cruise with Holland America. 

Day 3 - At Sea

Relax on board your Holland America Cruise.

Day 4 - At Sea

Relax on board your Holland America Cruise.

Day 5 - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Cruise to Puerto Vallarta and find yourself immersed in dynamic culture and history. Unlike other coastal resort towns in Mexico, Puerto Vallarta ("PV" to locals), retains quite a bit of its colonial-era charm.  Its town square, Plaza de Armas, and the gorgeous church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, serve as the loveliest representations of bygone ages. While on your Puerto Vallarta cruise, take in these echoes of the past and more modern attractions, including an ambitious public art project along the seaside walkway (the malecón) and trendy restaurants such as La Leche, serving contemporary Mexican cuisine. Round these out with plenty of fun-in-the-sun outdoor activities on and along Banderas Bay (whale-watching! snorkeling! jet-skiing!), cruise excursions that reveal the best of Puerto Vallarta's flora and fauna, and a side trip to one of Mexico's pueblos mágicos (magical towns, a designation conferred by the government to recognize smaller towns that possess historical and cultural value), and you'd be hard-pressed to find a more pleasant place to spend part of your cruise to Puerto Vallarta.

Day 6 - At Sea

Relax onboard your Holland America Cruise

Day 7 - Huatulco, Mexico

Huatulco, situated on Mexico's Pacific Coast in the state of Oaxaca, has nine bays and 36 beaches, offering more than enough opportunities for fun in the sun. The most popular beach is La Entrega, with clean white sand and calm waters, perfect for snorkeling and swimming . . . or just relaxing. But Huatulco's attractions aren't limited to sand and surf; there are also archaeological sites to explore, rivers to raft, and waterfalls whose pools invite childlike splashing. Bird lovers, in particular, will find Huatulco to be especially captivating. The region is home to more than 225 bird species, including many rare ones and a number that are endemic to Mexico, like the Colima pygmy owl and the wildly colorful orange-breasted bunting and citreoline trogon. Bring your bird list, because you're sure to add new species to your "sighted" column. And the food in Huatulco! The food will give you plenty to write home about. The state of Oaxaca has some of the most iconic dishes in Mexico's culinary repertoire. You won't go home hungry. 

Day 8 - Puerto Chiapas, Mexico

The southernmost port on Mexico’s Pacific coast, Puerto Chiapas is named for the state in which it is located. It is relatively new, built in 1975, and is the primary hub from which the region’s agricultural goods, including coffee, are sent abroad. For travelers arriving by cruise ship, the town of Puerto Chiapas is a jumping-off point to explore surrounding areas, including Tapachula, the second-largest city in the state of Chiapas. In addition to visiting the coffee estates and banana and cacao plantations of the area, day trips include excursions to Maya sites such as Izapa. Although not as well known as some of the Maya sites of southern and eastern Mexico, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site Chichén Itzá, Izapa is impressive nonetheless. In addition to its interesting location—it sits along a river and is aligned with a volcano (the sixth-tallest mountain in Mexico)—archaeologists have found numerous stelae and evidence that it was the largest Maya site in Chiapas. While in the area, don’t miss the opportunity to sample the cuisine of Chiapas, which is influenced heavily by the Maya. One typical dish is tasajo, a thinly sliced beef steak marinated in a sauce made with achiote (also known as annatto) and chili. 

Day 9 - Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

Puerto Quetzal is Guatemala's largest port on the Pacific Ocean side of this Central American country, important for both cargo and cruise ships. There's not a great deal to see and do in Puerto Quetzal itself, and visitors should adjust their expectations accordingly. Yet you shouldn't despair, either; Puerto Quetzal is an ideal point of departure for exploring several corners of the country. Choose your mode of transportation—plane, bus, car or boat—and decide whether you want to take in Guatemala's stunning, volcano-studded landscape, one (or more!) of the country's Maya sites, the UNESCO–recognized colonial city of Antigua (the former capital), a coffee plantation or one of the many beguiling bodies of water. In addition to the gleaming Pacific, there's Lake Atitlán, which 19th-century German explorer Alexander von Humboldt described as the most beautiful lake in the world. All of these attractions are accessible as day trips, and getting to them is all part of your Guatemalan adventure. 

Day 10 - Acajutla, El Salvador

Stunning beaches and colorful markets await on cruises to Acajutla, El Salvador. As the ship approaches, breathtaking views of the serene coastline greet your gaze. For such a small town, Acajutla has an array of things to do. Taxis offer the optimal way to travel from the port. Sightseeing is a breeze, as top attractions are only an hour away. Explore the historical city center, known for its charming streets and friendly locals. Stretch out on Acajutla Beach, a short shuttle from the cruise port. Dive vibrant reefs, tour Mayan ruins, or learn how coffee — one of the country’s main exports — is produced at a roastery.

Acajutla has plenty of outdoor adventure opportunities. Izalco, an extinct volcano, looms about 16 miles (26.8 kilometers) from the port. Thrill seekers can climb to the top and look inside its dormant caldera. The options are endless: whiz through the verdant Apaneca forest on a zipline or cool off in the spray of a waterfall. Ruta de Maya, a fantastic complex of Mayan ruins is about an hour and a half from Acajutla in Chalchuapa. While in Acajutla, sample Salvadorean cuisine, a flavorful mix of Mayan and Spanish influence with fresh seafood, corn, beans, and pork. The national dish is the pupusa, a pillowy tortilla stuffed with delicious fillings. Pair it with the national drink—the guaro sour, sour liquor mixed with sweet fruit juice.

Day 11 - At Sea

Relax onboard your Holland America Cruise

Day 12 - Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera), Costa Rica

One of the stops along the Panama Canal Zone route, Puntarenas on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast is nicely positioned within easy day-trip distance of a number of that country's national parks. The town, a busy working port on the surface, makes an ideal base from which travelers can venture out to explore the variety of this Central American country's outdoor attractions, from lush jungle destinations to pristine beaches along the Pacific. Activities include snapping photos of gushing waterfalls (and swimming at the base of one, if you bring your swimsuit!), sightseeing near active volcanoes, bird-watching in nature reserves and sanctuaries and horseback riding on Pacific beaches . . . and that's just for starters. Visitors to this extraordinary region also enjoy shopping for the handicrafts that local artists sell at their cooperatives, as well as sampling traditional Tico cuisine, especially gallo pinto—a combination of rice and beans eaten at any time of the day or night. A trip here serves as the perfect reminder that adventure often awaits just around the bend.

Day 13 - At Sea

Relax onboard your Holland America Cruise. 

Day 14 - Cruising Panama Canal

The construction of the Panama Canal is one of those epic tales from the past, an old-school feat of engineering, ambition and courage. A cruise along it today is a journey through the centuries, from the Spanish fortifications near Limón Bay to the glittering skyline of Panama City, not to mention the canal itself. Over the course of a decade a little more than a century ago, tens of thousands of workers drilled dynamite holes, drove belching steam shovels and labored with pickaxes, all the while fighting off malaria. While the French builders of the Suez Canal ultimately gave up in Panama, American crews persevered and created a route allowing ships to travel across a continent. As David McCullough recounts in his sweeping history The Path Between the Seas, it was a combination of sheer human might and engineering prowess. In 2016 an expansion more than doubled the canal's capacity, ensuring it will continue to be central to the world's maritime traffic.While many think of the Panama Canal only as a remarkable manmade achievement, the area is also of interest to naturalists. Panama’s rain forest suffered great biodiversity loss during the canal's construction, but today more than 100 species each of mammals and reptiles, as well as some 500 different birds, thrive in the nature reserves along the length of the canal.

Day 15 - At Sea

Relax onboard your Holland America Crusie

Day 16 - Oranjestad, Aruba

Located off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia, the windswept Dutch island of Aruba feels like another world. When you take a cruise to Aruba, you can relax in the shade of a swaying Divi Divi tree on a pristine beach or explore untamed coastal cliffs in an exotic landscape filled with cacti. Just one day on an Aruba cruise can lead to a lifetime full of stories.

Day 17 - At Sea

Relax onboard your Holland America Cruise.

Day 18 - At Sea

Relax onbaord your Holland America cruise.

Day 19 - Fort Lauderdale - Miami

Depart the cruise in Fort Lauderdale and make your own way to Miami to spend the rest of your day at lesuire

Day 20 - Fly to UK

Today check out yout Miami hotel and make your own way to the airport. 

Speak to your consultant if you wish to extend your stay in USA