FROM CALLAO TO BELEM

In Peru, your expedition will be characterised by the former Spanish conquistadors. Let your experts on board get you in the mood for this moving history. All of Peru’s territories were conquered one after the other and placed under Spanish rule. The port city of Paita, the Spanish capital on Peru’s north-west coast from 1578 to 1588, still boasts historical colonial flair today.

In the 16th century, the privateer Sir Francis Drake went on a raid in the Pacific Ocean. He is said to have hidden a legendary silver treasure on the Isla de la Plata, the “Silver Island” in Ecuador. During your individual shore visit, you won’t have to search long to discover the real treasure: an impressive variety of wildlife. The whimsical frigate birds and turkey vultures, as well as lava lizards, are native to the island. With local guides and your experts, you will walk across the island and be introduced to the vegetation of this dry forest, which is also found in a similar form on the Galapagos Islands. The wildlife constantly invites you to take photos, perhaps when magnificent frigate birds gracefully circle over the surf or brown pelicans practice diving. Images of nature that will never fade in your memory, even without a camera.

In the Utria National Park on the Pacific coast of Colombia, the wild beauty of the rainforest and the sea combine to create an unforgettable habitat. This huge park boasts one of the greatest biodiversities in the world, with species including anteaters, howler monkeys and deer. Surrounded by mountains cloaked in mist and mangrove-lined estuaries that change with the tides, you will be amazed by the flora and fauna. During a walk in the jungle or along the lagoon, your experts on board will continually hone your eye for unforgettable natural and animal sightings. Tropical birds, reptiles, amphibians, land mammals – which of these species will you observe? An excursion into the cultural heritage of the Afro-Colombian communities living here will round off your experiences.

One of the most amazing waterways and shortcuts ever created by man: the Panama Canal, a masterpiece of engineering. The daytime passage through the canal that is over 80 km (50 mi.) long is the perfect mix of nature and technology accompanied by the pure spirit of discovery. Instead of the new section for giant container ships, your small expedition ship will take the narrow, original route of the canal. Feel the pulse of the lifeline as the ship glides past jungle and mangrove forests. The banks here are denser and the lock chambers narrower, giving you a direct view of their mechanics. You can watch the ship negotiating the the locks of Miraflores, Pedro Miguel and Gatun with great excitement – as you listen to knowledgeable commentary from your experts on board. It’s not just a passage, but a nostalgic experience with a historic atmosphere.

On the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal, San Blas awaits you with its 365 stunning islands – many of which are uninhabited. White beaches, turquoise-coloured water and lush green vegetation create a pure Robinson Crusoe feeling. The archipelago is home to the Indigenous Kuna tribe, who fought for their autonomy within Panama in 1925 in disputes with the central government. Today, the tribe lives on the larger islands, mainly near the mainland. They are known as the “gold people” because of the gold jewellery they wear. The colourful “molas”, elaborate sewing with traditional decorations, are typical of the women’s costumes. Gain an insight into the life of the Kuna on an individual shore visit and spend a few relaxing hours on the beach of one of these beautiful islands.

Cartagena de Indias, as the Colombian port city is called in contrast to the Spanish city of Cartagena, is said by many South America experts to have the most beautiful old town on the continent. Colombia declared the historic city centre a national heritage site as early as 1959, and in 1984 it also became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The massive fortress walls that still encircle the old town today and the colourful facades of the noble palaces and merchants’ houses are truly exceptional. With his novel, “Love in the Time of Cholera”, Gabriel García Márquez brought literary fame to Cartagena. Relax and explore the lively old town, the Spanish fortress of San Felipe and the Gold Museum on your own or with your experts. Cartagena’s Andalusian roots are unmistakable in its flair and architecture.

Caribbean dreams come to life in a colourful landscape: here on Curacao the sky appears to melt into the ocean, and the beaches and the sun gleam as if they were trying to outdo each other. Curacao is the largest of the three ABC islands – Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao – in the Netherlands Antilles, and is located in the Caribbean Sea. Historic Willemstad is a Dutch treasure of palm trees with its canals, pastel-coloured houses, beautiful colonial buildings and the historic Fort Amsterdam. During your exploration, the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will show its European aspects and Dutch roots. In addition to the urban highlights, your experts on board will also shed light on the former dark side of slavery.

The small Caribbean island of Bequia has retained its friendly and laid-back atmosphere. Here, life seems to move at a slower pace: the island only gained electricity and telephone service in the 1970s. Port Elizabeth adds an international flair: take a relaxed stroll through the capital, with its popular marina, which is also the starting point for sailing trips to the island world of the Grenadines. Bequia is a mecca for sailing, even in miniature: every year at Easter, a regatta of miniature sailors takes place here, for which there are numerous workshops for model ships. The island has something for everyone – from the small vegetable market to Mount Pleasant with its sweeping views and a sea turtle sanctuary. Or you can simply enjoy a day at the beach on the white sands of a sheltered cove, with the turquoise sea as your backdrop.

The name itself reflects the eventful history of Port of Spain – taken by the Spanish, conquered by the British, then the capital of the short-lived Federation of the West Indies. In 1962, the city was named the capital of Trinidad and Tobago as part of the country’s independence from Great Britain. Follow in the footsteps of these times, either independently or with your experts: Independence Square, Holy Trinity Cathedral, the Parliament Building and Queen’s Park Savannah with its colonial-style buildings are all settings for history. The name Trinidad goes back to Christopher Columbus, who, inspired by the island’s three distinctive mountain peaks, named it after the Holy Trinity. The large wetland habitat on Trinidad’s west coast is a birdwatchers’ paradise where cormorants, three-coloured herons and cardinals live. A real highlight is the opportunity to watch the scarlet ibises as they return to their roosting trees in large numbers at dusk.

The rocky island of Ile Royale welcomes you with a mix of Brazilian rainforest and Caribbean palm trees as a cinematic backdrop. It was used as a French penal colony until 1951 – made famous by the book “Papillon” by Henri Charrière and its 1973 film adaptation starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman. The island invites you to go on an exciting journey through time – from arriving by Zodiac at the old landing site, which was once built by the prisoners, to looking into the cell blocks overgrown by vegetation. Enjoy the freedom to explore this secluded island independently. No film can capture the experiences that you’ll gather on your expedition.