Specialist tour operator Journey Latin America is delighted to unveil a new expedition cruise in Panama. The voyage includes off-the-beaten-track locations as well as the famous Panama Canal transit.

The 9-day holiday, Journey Between The Seas, starts in Panama City with a full day to explore the historic centre and the Biodiversity Museum before setting sail on board a luxury, 24-passenger catamaran to the pristine Darien jungle.  The shores of Darien Province are hemmed by a curtain of dark, tangled rainforest which has kept out explorers and potential settlers for centuries. Here, visitors will have the opportunity to meet with the Embera indians, the original inhabitants of the region.

Dropping anchor in the Pearl Islands, an archipelago of over 200 palm-fringed islands in the Gulf of Panama, there is plenty of time to swim and snorkel before the next day's voyage along the monumental feat of engineering which is the Panama Canal.

Further highlights include Barro Colorado Island where the Smithsonian's Tropical Research Centre is located. It is also an excellent spot to observe birds, monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and crocodiles thriving in their native habitat.

Before exiting the canal on the Caribbean side, there's time to explore the Chagres River by kayak. Once used by the Spanish conquistadors to move their gold across the Isthmus of Panama en route from Peru to Spain, the Chagres River is still fringed by tropical rainforest and the river is teaming with wildlife. Later visit the fort of San Lorenzo which was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century to defend the gold trail.

The final day is spent on land at Portobelo. Founded by Christopher Columbus on his fourth voyage to the Americas in 1597, this quaint town was the site of many sea and land battles between the Spanish colonials and the pirates and corsairs who relentlessly raided the Spanish Main. Explore the fortifications built by the Spaniards to protect their treasures.

Return by train to Panama City; the railway line flanks the Panama Canal passing through the rainforest, cruising alongside the Canal's locks, through the Gaillard Cut and gliding over slender causeways in Lake Gatún.

The holiday costs from £4,141pp. The price includes good-quality accommodation, the 8-day cruise on board the MV Discovery, transfers, excursions and most meals. International flights are extra and start at £600pp.

Journey Latin America is delighted to add the Journey Between The Seas expedition cruise to their new Latin America Coastal Cruises range that also features Colombia, Ecuador, Chile and Argentina.

Rafe Stone, Product Manager, comments, “Much of Panama's interior is almost impenetrable, which is why an expedition cruise is the best way to discover the country's hidden charms.”

About Journey Latin America

Journey Latin America is an award-winning tour operator with over 36 years of experience creating tailor-made holidays and group tours to all of Central and South America as well as Antarctica, Cuba and Mexico. The holiday firm has over 70 members of staff who have all lived, worked and/or travelled extensively throughout the region and as such can offer first-hand knowledge based on personal experience.

For more information on Journey Latin America visit www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk or telephone 020 8600 1881.

Press contacts:

Jenny Powles, Head of Press

Laura Rendell-Dunn, Press Manager

press@journeylatinamerica.co.uk

020 8747 8315