Central Pacific Discovery: A Voyage from Chile to Costa Rica
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Overview
Highlights
- I like to spend much of the day exploring
- Whether walking through historic neighborhoods at a moderate pace or out and about on a coach, I prefer to keep my days full
- Stairs don’t bother me, and I love to keep up with the group
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Itinerary
See your program’s travel details regarding transfers. City walking on mostly flat/paved surfaces; some standing.
Early check-in and settle into rooms. 12:00 p.m. Orientation at the hotel. The Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introdu...
We'll board the bus and begin our journey to Valparaiso via the Casablanca Valley. After 1.5 hours ride we will arrive to Valparaiso.This shore side city is the country’s most important seaport and the alleged cultural capital of Chile.
Next, we'll continue our ...
At leisure.
Coquimbo is located in a valley, about 10 kilometers south of the town La Serena, and the two cities combine to create the area Grande La Serena with around 400.000 inhabitants. According to legends Sir Francis Drake has hidden a treasure outside Coq...
We cruise slowly as we pass the islands known for their penguin nature reserve. If the weather allows it, we will embark our Zodiacs and pass by closer to the islands. We are not allowed to make any landings, but hopefully we can see some of the wildlife that the area...
At leisure.
Listen to a lecture from our experienced expedition staff, and go out on deck to catch glimpses of migrating birds and hopefully some whales. Even though the whale season is normally considered to run December-March they are also often seen in April....
At leisure.
Iquique, which loosely translates to “quiet place to relax” in the native tongue of Aymará, is a modern city, where travelers in the northern Chile often stop by. Apart from its beautiful location, it is known for wonderful beaches and the old centra...
At leisure.
Chile's most northern city, is only 12 kilometers from Peru’s border in the area Norte Grande. The milder climate and easier access to water has always made Arica into an important area, witnessed by the first settlements that are as old as 6,000 BC....
Another day to enjoy some of the services onboard as we cruise along the last part of the journey following the cold Humboldt Current, soon we will break free of it as our course takes us even more north along the coast of Peru towards the Equatorial counter.
Ou...
At leisure.
Our first port of call in Peru is Paracas, known as the entrance to Pisco. The small village has ample beaches, hotels and shorefront restaurants. Apart from the lovely sandy beaches, the area is famous for the islands of Ballestas, located not far f...
At leisure.
We arrive today to the seaside city of Callao, with its historic port. Not only was it the historical main port for all trade coming in from Peru, Bolivia and Argentina, before being shipped to Panama and then Spain, it is also the famed starting poi...
At sea.
We are set to arrive in the port city of Salaverry after lunch and from here we will embark on an adventure in both the past and the present. We begin with the past, as we visit the Chimu cultures old capital Chan Chan, renowned for being the largest cit...
During the night we have made our way north and will enter the Ecuadorian waters during the day and continue along the coast towards our next destination. Today there is time to relax, read a book, listen to some of the scheduled lectures and enjoy the company of our ...
Although Manta, Ecuador is not a typical tourist destination, this city has a lot to offer when it comes to seascapes, history, and culture. Manta is the second largest port city in Ecuador and its economy largely relies on the fishing and tourism industry.
Toda...
Today we have more time in lovely Manta, but also more time to get to know the area and crafts. We set off directly from the dock in Manta and go to Montecristi, a place known for the quality of handicrafts made with wicker, wood, and ancestral fibers like piquigua an...
This day allows us to relax and let some of our recent explorations sink in. Our onboard team will offer lectures and activities. The route takes us over the Gulf of Panama during the end of the dry season that runs from January to April. From May the area experiences...
At leisure.
It’s time for a tropical visit in Panama, as we lay anchor near Coiba island. We sail to land by Zodiacs and visit the Coiba National Park. The Park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005, because of the multitude of endemic mammals, pl...
At leisure.
Golfito of today is a sleepy fishing village, whereas in the 1960’s a booming banana export told a very different story. In 1985 the banana adventure on the west coast grinded to a halt, as declining foreign markets, rising export taxes and banana di...
The captain has led the ship northwards along the Humboldt Current and the Latin American coasts of Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Panama and Costa Rica. Today we’ll arrive in Puntarenas, one of the larger cruise ports on Costa Rica’s western coast, and we’ll say farewell to t...
See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.
This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions...
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Dates & Availability
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel since 1975, offers 5,500 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries. Alongside local and renowned experts, experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural tours and study cruises to walking, biking and more.
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There are no grades or tests on Road Scholar programs. All that's needed is an inquiring mind, an adventurous spirit, and the belief that learning and discovery are lifelong pursuits.
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You Can't Beat Road Scholar's Remarkable Value: Our all-inclusive prices have no hidden costs. Compare the price of one of our programs to what it would cost to duplicate the experience on your own (if that's even possible) and you'll see what we mean by "remarkable value."
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- Number of Breakfast: 18
- Number of Lunch: 17
- Number of Dinner: 18
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