Panama Canal Discovery

Nestled along the sun-drenched shores of Florida's Atlantic coast, Fort Lauderdale beckons with its pristine beaches, vibrant culture and world-class amenities.

More than 700 islands make up the coral-based archipelago of the Bahamas which stretches 5,358 miles over the Atlantic Ocean.

Willemstad, the vibrant capital of Curaçao, is a Caribbean jewel that blends Dutch colonial heritage with tropical flair.

On Colombia’s Caribbean-facing coast, Cartagena is a handsome and historic city, with distinctive Colonial architecture dating back to the sixteenth century.

At the center of one of the world’s greatest engineering projects is a place where nature has been given a space to flourish—the vast Gatún Lake. The lake includes some 33 kilometers (20 miles) of the 77-kilometer (48-mile) route that ships follow through the Panama Canal. While a passenger gazing at its forested shores may assume they are looking at a landscape that predates the canal, the lake is as much a manmade creation as the various locks. It was formed in 1912, with the damming of the Chagres River, and the islands that dot the lake were once the peaks of hills. The surface of the lake sits at an elevation of between 25 and 27 meters (82 and 87 feet) above sea level. At its Caribbean end, the Gatún Locks raise ships traveling towards the Pacific to the level of the lake; at its other end, the Pedro Miguel and then the Miraflores Locks lower them back to sea level. In addition to opportunities to see the infrastructure of the canal, created at the expense of millions of dollars and thousands of lives, Gatún Lake is fascinating for its remarkable biodiversity. More than 100 species each of mammals and reptiles, as well as some 500 different birds, thrive in the nature reserves in and near the lake.

Colon lies on the stunning Caribbean coast of Panama, where unparalleled beaches and lush tropical scenery are de rigueur. In nearby Portobello, discover the ruins of Spanish forts, watch the colorful yachts sailing in the bay or hunt for treasures in the local markets. Travel to the Gatun Locks for a bird's eye view of the immense ships passing through the Panama Canal.

Explore the lush rainforests, mangrove swamps, numerous volcanoes and crystalline waters of this Central American isthmus, then meet the laid-back 'Ticos' locals that call it home.

The Cayman Islands, a Caribbean paradise, beckon with their blend of natural splendour and financial prosperity.

Nestled along the sun-drenched shores of Florida's Atlantic coast, Fort Lauderdale beckons with its pristine beaches, vibrant culture and world-class amenities.