panama and costa rica excursions?

Ana · #1 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2005, 04:28 PM

My family and I are traveling on the Carnival legean., I need help on what to do in panama and costa rica??
Any info on the sloth excursion in costa rica?

Jim Bragg · #2 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2005, 07:59 PM

In Panama you can choose the Grand Tour which includes hitting the highlights like Gatun Lake, tour of the old Navy base, Indians and the locks or you can just go see the indian village.
In costa rica you can take what I consider the best tour in the Caribbean, white ater rafting! It is a must do and the best tour I have done anyplace there.
Jim

#3 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2005, 08:40 PM

Ana:

We did the Torteguero Canals in Costa Rica and really enjoyed the scenery. Say lots of wildlife and even passed a sloth that had come down to shore!

In Panama we did the Aerial Tram & Ecological Tour and it provided a great view of the Panama Canal, a visit the the Embara Indian Village and a great butterlfy aviary. We also stopped at the Gamboa Resort which is quite a place to see!

I have some pictures if you would like to see them I could email them to you. Our kids were 5 & 8 at the time and enjoyed the tours.

The Hills
Ottawa Canada

Ana · #4 (**permalink**) February 23rd, 2005, 01:48 PM

Thank you, pictures would be great! My kids are 5 and 10.

wapanda10 · #5 (**permalink**) February 23rd, 2005, 06:37 PM

I recommend you the Indian village in Panama, for me was the best and the sloths santuary in CR.

enjoy your trip.

#6 (**permalink**) February 24th, 2005, 08:30 PM

Hi Ana:

I sent you some pictures to your email so hopefully they will come through!

The Hills
Canada

#7 (**permalink**) February 25th, 2005, 10:21 AM

Can anyone tell me the difference in the Grand tour and the Embera Indian Village. I know the grand tour includes a visit to the locks and a look at the indian village, but do you have the same experience once you get to the Indian village? Thank you in advance.

wapanda10 · #8 (**permalink**) February 25th, 2005, 11:33 AM

You will visit the same indian village, the only difference is in Grand Tour you will visit the Gatun Locks and will take a boat ride on the Chagres river to watch the rainforest.
I did the Grand tour with a local operator and was the highlight of the trip.

#9 (**permalink**) February 25th, 2005, 03:17 PM

We took Celebrity Galaxy to the Panama Canal recently. We stayed on the ship through the Gatun locks and back.
The next stop was Puerto Limon Costa Rica and we did a pontoon jungle ride. Carnival may have something similar. We started out at a resort which has a canal leading to a river with rain forest on both sides. We saw 4 sloths, a line of long-nosed bats on a palm tree, numerous plants, birds and butterflies. On the way back, the bus stopped so we could get out and watch and take pics of a family of howler monkeys frolicking in the trees at the roadside. They even howled at us. It was a cool excursion.

Explorer E. Carib. 1/12/02
Explorer W. Carib 1/18/03
Summit Alaska cruise/tour 8/3/03
Adventure S. Carib. 2/8/04
Galaxy Panama Canal 2/3/05