Explore the unique culinary culture of Panama’s Caribbean region with a local chef at a local home. Chef will first introduce you to the key elements of cooking in the archipelago, including staples like plantains and bananas, root vegetables, other seasonal produce and, of course, the abundant seafood. Learn about the history of these ingredients and their uses, then it’s time to get cooking as chef guides you through the preparation of some local specialties.
Retreat to the beauty of a private garden whose owner welcomes you for an intimate guided tour, followed by time to enjoy the pool and a tropical lunch. Finca Los Monos is a delight for the senses: its lush 24 acres span Isla Colon from coast to coast, offering incredible views of the sea, nearby islands and mainland Panama. The gardens are a labor of love, filled with varieties of palms, gorgeous ornamental plants, fruit trees, and fragrant flowers -- and include native forest.
Enjoy a day amid the unspoiled natural beauty of the small islands found off Panama’s Caribbean coast. This boating-and-beach excursion takes you first to Zapatilla Cay, a small, picturesque island that is part of Panama’s Marine National Park. Zapatilla’s shores are sheltered by colorful coral reefs, making for calm, crystal-clear waters that are perfect for swimming and offer wonderful snorkeling. Stretch out on the white sand or go for a leisurely stroll – your time is your own here.
Just over a mile long, the Oriole Trail cuts through dense rainforest to the top of Lawyer’s Mountain with its panoramic view of the island. You will see a plethora of birds, butterflies and unusual plants, and perhaps even spot the rare Montserrat Oriole, the island's national bird.
Once called The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, Montserrat is now known as a modern-day Pompeii. On July 18, 1995, out of the blue, Chances Peak, a majestic mountain in its day and part of the Souffrière Hills volcano, sprung to life. In a flash, the lives of Montserrat’s 13,000 residents changed forever. Over 39 feet of mud and ash devastated the southern part of the island, causing widespread evacuations, destroying the capital city Plymouth and making half the island uninhabitable. Eruptions have continued ever since and about two thirds of the population have now left the island.
Explore an ancient city, colonial heritage and Maya traditions on this overnight tour on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Travel from the port town of Progreso some 150 kilometers inland to the archaeological site of Chichén Itzá, once the most important Maya city and ceremonial center on the peninsula.
Your arrival is timed to coincide with a purification rite performed by a modern Maya shaman. You’ll then check in and relax over a welcome cocktail at Mayaland, a family-owned hotel with lush tropical gardens established inside the archaeological park in 1923.
Spend the day exploring the wonders of the ancient Yucatan with a visit to the spectacular ruins of Chichen Itza and a refreshing swim in a sinkhole pool known as a cenote. Located some 150 kilometers inland from Progreso, Chichen Itza emerged as the most important ceremonial center of the ancient Maya on the Yucatan peninsula. The combination of traditional Maya building techniques and styles, including alignment with astronomical events, with elements incorporated from the Toltec culture of Mexico’s central highlands factor into its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Spend the day getting to know Mérida, the cultural capital of the Yucatán Peninsula. Driving along its narrow streets with vibrant colonial architecture, you begin your day at the Monument to the Country, a massive stone sculpture that tells the story of the Yucatán. A drive down Paseo de Montejo reveals some of the city’s most iconic buildings, and a stop at the Santa Ana neighborhood allows time to visit its cathedral and market. You will also explore one of the oldest cathedrals on the continent and contrast that with the Museum of Modern Art in Merida’s historic center.
Built on a bluff overlooking crystal-blue Caribbean waters, the ruins of Tulum represent Mexico’s most scenic archaeological site. To reach them, you’ll travel by ferry from Cozumel to the beach town of Playa del Carmen on the mainland. There you’ll board the van for the scenic, hour-long drive along the coastal road to Tulum. Your guide will escort you around the ruins, sharing the history of the ancient Maya and explaining the meaning and mysteries of the pyramids and other buildings, frescoes and iconography.
The Nachi Cocom Beach Club is your destination for sun and relaxation on Cozumel without the crowds. Set on the island’s southwest coast, facing the Mexican mainland, the private club has nearly 2,000 feet of sandy beachfront with sheltered waters that are ideal for swimming. Over several hours, you can relax in your beach chair in the shade of an umbrella, soak in the Jacuzzi and lounge around the swimming pool and bar. Your club visit includes a four-course lunch at the open-air restaurant that stays cool thanks to the traditional high thatched roof.
