CARB

With the arrival of Europeans in the Americas, the Embera people began to migrate from their traditional homeland in Colombia’s Choco region to the rainforests and waterways of the Panamanian isthmus. Discover how they have maintained their longstanding traditions over the centuries on a visit to one of their villages. This cultural exploration begins with a drive from the coast, through the jungle and into Chagres National Park. Along the way, your guide will share Panamanian history and discuss Embera culture.

Experience yoga in a beautiful natural setting with an invigorating flow class in the jungle. You’ll be welcomed by peaceful space surrounded by lush tropical foliage. Your teacher will then guide you through an invigorating, 90-minute practice that is suitable for all levels, from beginners to more experienced yogis. In savasana, the final relaxation pose, listen to the calls of the many tropical birds and the chatter of monkeys. Following the class, recharge with a lovely, healthful smoothie and fresh fruit.

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.