Star Collector: Wild Wonders of the Central America Coasts via the Panama Canal
 
Puerto Caldera to Colón
Sat Jan 11, 2025 - Sat Jan 25, 2025,
 14 days
 on Wind Star
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Puerto Caldera to Colón
Have your binoculars and camera ready looking for wildlife while exploring the pristine rainforests and remote beaches during this 14-day voyage to Panama, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Skim the waves off Playa Flamingo aboard a catamaran bound for a remote reef teeming with colorful tropical fish schools. Try ripe plantains topped with melted shredded cheese and sample sweet Tres Leches, a decadent dessert made from a trio of distinct milks, at a sidewalk cafe near San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua. Test your stamina as you fish the deep blue waters off Quepos, Costa Rica for tuna, marlin, sailfish, and mahi mahi. Seek out multihued birds, slumbering sloths, and scampering monkeys in Manuel Antonio National Park, the jewel of all Costa Rican natural refuges. Tour Panama’s remote and uninhabited islands throughout the Pearl Archipelago while swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing prior to a daylight transit of the Panama Canal.
voyage map
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Day 1: Puerto Caldera
Located on the Gulf of Nicoya, the small town of Puerto Caldera is one of Costa Rica’s top attractions, perfect for travelers who like more off the beaten path destinations where the native Tico lifestyle can be experienced. It is the gateway to San Jose, Jaco and the big city of Puntarenas, plus Los Suenos and Tortuga Island. Carara National Park is nearby, the rainforest home to crocodiles, over 400 species of birds and is considered the most likely place to see scarlet macaws.
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Day 2: Playa Flamingo
Playa Flamingo is considered one of Central America’s most beautiful beaches with it pristine blue water, exotic marine life, and some of the best deep sea fishing to be found. Located in Punta Salinas on the country’s Gold Coast, Playa Flamingo is the only full-service marina between Acapulco and Panama. Other water activities include year-round SCUBA diving, swimming, and snorkeling. The stunning and unspoiled white-sand beaches will remain in your memory for years to come. This port is accessed with a wet landing.
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Day 3: Playa Flamingo
Playa Flamingo is considered one of Central America’s most beautiful beaches with it pristine blue water, exotic marine life, and some of the best deep sea fishing to be found. Located in Punta Salinas on the country’s Gold Coast, Playa Flamingo is the only full-service marina between Acapulco and Panama. Other water activities include year-round SCUBA diving, swimming, and snorkeling. The stunning and unspoiled white-sand beaches will remain in your memory for years to come. This port is accessed with a wet landing.
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Day 4: Curú, Costa Rica
Located along Costa Rica's Pacific coast, the Curu Wildlife Reserve is an impressive nature reserve spanning 12 square kilometers. This biodiverse paradise is a haven for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers alike looking for a responsible way to experience Costa Rica’s forest and pristine beaches. Wander through dense tropical dry forests teeming with howler monkeys, capuchins, and a plethora of exotic birds or relax and bask in the sun on the beach.
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Day 5: Quepos
The former banana-exporting town of Quepos is your basecamp for a day of rainforest adventure. Take a walk along trails that weave up to waterfalls, or ride horseback to a beautiful jungle pool. A float trip through a mangrove swamp populated by monkeys, crocodiles, egrets, and herons is also available. Or you may choose a nature walk through Manuel Antonio National Park, with its lovely beaches, easy trails, and abundant animal life. 
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Day 6: Golfo Dulce
Picture Jurassic foliage growing down steep hillsides all the way to the waterline, the hoots  of monkeys echoing through trees choked by orchids. Golfo Dulce is one of Costa Rica’s most biodiverse areas, where both the jungle and the sea brim with life. Explore the canals by kayak in search of javelinas, butterflies, and more bird species than in all of North America. This port is accessed with a wet landing.
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Day 7: Punta Leona, Costa Rica
Your wet landing will drop you off at Punta Leona Beach Club, a well-known private beach resort community located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Nestled amidst lush tropical rainforests, Punta Leona offers visitors a pristine and picturesque environment to unwind and enjoy the natural beauty of the region. The resort is known for its stunning white sand beach, Playa Mantas, and clear turquoise waters. Traverse the suspended cable bridges over the forest canopy in Carara National Park, or board a jungle cruise boat up the Tarcoles river to see one of the largest colonies of crocodiles in Costa Rica. Whether seeking relaxation or adventure, Punta Leona provides a captivating destination for nature enthusiasts and beach lovers alike. *This port is accessed by a wet landing and there may be a fee for using the resort amenities. Taxis and tours organized independently will need to be added to the resort guest list.*
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Day 8: Puerto Caldera
Located on the Gulf of Nicoya, the small town of Puerto Caldera is one of Costa Rica’s top attractions, perfect for travelers who like more off the beaten path destinations where the native Tico lifestyle can be experienced. It is the gateway to San Jose, Jaco and the big city of Puntarenas, plus Los Suenos and Tortuga Island. Carara National Park is nearby, the rainforest home to crocodiles, over 400 species of birds and is considered the most likely place to see scarlet macaws.
VIEW THE JOURNEY
Day 9: Quepos
The former banana-exporting town of Quepos is your basecamp for a day of rainforest adventure. Take a walk along trails that weave up to waterfalls, or ride horseback to a beautiful jungle pool. A float trip through a mangrove swamp populated by monkeys, crocodiles, egrets, and herons is also available. Or you may choose a nature walk through Manuel Antonio National Park, with its lovely beaches, easy trails, and abundant animal life. 
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Day 10: Golfo Dulce
Picture Jurassic foliage growing down steep hillsides all the way to the waterline, the hoots  of monkeys echoing through trees choked by orchids. Golfo Dulce is one of Costa Rica’s most biodiverse areas, where both the jungle and the sea brim with life. Explore the canals by kayak in search of javelinas, butterflies, and more bird species than in all of North America. This port is accessed with a wet landing.
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Day 11: Isla Parida
Located within a Nature Preserve of 50 islands, and part of Chiriqui Marine National Park lovely Isla Parida boasts magnificent beaches, one of which is over 1,300 feet long.  The crystal clear waters stay at 82 degrees year round and are filled with marine life. There are numerous hardwood trees like teak, mahogany, and eucalyptus, and fruit trees like mango, banana and coconut trees. Here you will be treated to Windstar's Signature Beach Party on a secluded beach that faces the Pacific Ocean.
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Day 13: Balboa / Fuerte Amador
One of the entrances to the Panama Canal on the Pacific side, Balboa/Fuerte Amador was founded in 1519 and is a short distance from Panama City.  In 2012 Balboa was ranked #1 in Latin America in the category of world's busiest container ports. Sightseeing highlights include the colonial homes, the Administration Building, the Goethals Memorial, the Prado, and the local handicraft markets of traditional Panamanian crafts.
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Day 14: Panama Canal
At nearly 48 miles long, on your transit through the Panama Canal you will enter three sets of locks that raise and lower the vessel 85 feet between the calm Pacific Ocean and the shimmering waters of the Atlantic. Your voyage features a daylight hours transit with numerous observation vantage points for outside viewing and comfortable indoor air-conditioned lounges. Expert onboard commentary enhances your journey as you watch the day to day workings of this bucket list experience.
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Day 15: Colón
Explore the inner workings of the Panama Canal, head into the jungle to meet with Embera Indians, or take an aerial tram ride through the rainforest canopy.
Popular Highlights
Complimentary laundry
Pack light with complimentary daily laundry service
 
 
Cortino
In Corinto, walk by the blend of Baroque, Neoclassical and Gothic styles of UNESCO-designated Old City of Colonial Leon
Diego Vasquez
Learn insights from presentations given by Karla Taylor or Diego Vasquez, our Costa Rican Naturalists who will be on board the entire cruise. 
Isla Parida
Don't miss an opportunity to view the plentiful marine life surrounding Isla Parida.
Manuel Antonio National Park
Explore the beaches and wildlife of Manuel Antonio National Park.
Panama Canal
Appreciate this engineering feat with daylight transit of the Panama Canal.
Wet Landing
This cruise utilizes wet landings to get you up-close to natural wonders. Zodiacs, rugged inflatable boats, deliver you directly from the yacht to the beach, where you will disembark directly in the water. 
Zipline in Playas del Coco
Zipline in Playas del Coco, one of the oldest beach communities in Costa Rica.
Itinerary at a Glance
Date
Port
Arrive
Depart
Watersports
PlatformWatersports Platform: 
Sat Jan 11
Puerto Caldera
Arrive:  
Depart:  6:00 PM
Watersports Platform: 
Sun Jan 12
Playa Flamingo
Arrive:  10:00 AM
Depart:  
Watersports Platform: 
Mon Jan 13
Playa Flamingo
Arrive:  
Depart:  3:00 PM
Watersports Platform: 
Tue Jan 14
Curú, Costa Rica
Arrive:  7:00 AM
Depart:  9:30 PM
Watersports Platform: 
Wed Jan 15
Quepos
Arrive:  6:00 AM
Depart:  4:00 PM
Watersports Platform: 
Thu Jan 16
Golfo Dulce
Arrive:  7:00 AM
Depart:  4:00 PM
Watersports Platform: 
Fri Jan 17
Punta Leona, Costa Rica
Arrive:  10:00 AM
Depart:  10:00 PM
Watersports Platform: 
Sat Jan 18
Puerto Caldera
Arrive:  6:00 AM
Depart:  6:00 PM
Watersports Platform: 
Sun Jan 19
Quepos
Arrive:  7:00 AM
Depart:  6:00 PM
Watersports Platform: 
Mon Jan 20
Golfo Dulce
Arrive:  8:00 AM
Depart:  5:00 PM
Watersports Platform: 
Tue Jan 21
Isla Parida
Arrive:  8:00 AM
Depart:  6:00 PM
Watersports Platform: 
Wed Jan 22
AT SEA
Arrive:  
Depart:  
Watersports Platform: 
Thu Jan 23
Balboa / Fuerte Amador
Arrive:  8:00 AM
Depart:  5:00 PM
Watersports Platform: 
Fri Jan 24
Panama Canal
Arrive:  4:00 AM
Depart:  6:00 PM
Watersports Platform: 
Sat Jan 25
Colón
Arrive:  7:00 AM
Depart:  
Watersports Platform: 
Accommodations & Pricing
The Windstar Life
The Windstar staff-to-guest ratio is 1:1.5, and it shows.The moment you board you’ll feel it: an ever-attentive crew at your service, providing you with what you want and need, when you want and need it.
Friendly and Relaxed Atmosphere
Signature Onboard Barbecue
Cooking Demonstrations
Genuine and Thoughtful Crew
Crew Talent Show
Open Bridge
Local and Live Performances
Relax at the Pool or Hot Tub
Complimentary 24 Hour Room Service
Signature Sail Away
Shopping With The Chef
Take In The Sun
Watersports Platform
Enjoy regionally inspired treatments at World Spa by Windstar
Relax With A Morning Yoga Session
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FARES
Complimentary All-Inclusive Upgrade
Great cruise-only fares or make it an all-inclusive voyage with Wi-Fi, unlimited beer, wine, and cocktails, and gratuities. From $89 per guest per day.
Date
Ship
All-Inclusive
From
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From
Sat, Dec 21 - Sat, Jan 4, 2025
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Sat, Jan 11 - Sat, Jan 25, 2025
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THIS
SAILING
Sat, Feb 8 - Sat, Feb 22, 2025
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