Exploring the 3 C's - Cartagena, Canal, Costa Rica - with a bit of Beach Time
In December, we took a Caribbean Cruise on Coral Princess, sailing out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Hubby and I enjoy cruising and consider it a way to get a "taste" of places that are on our "must-see" list and relax at the same time.
Our itinerary included Aruba; Cartagena, Colombia; the Panama Canal (partial transit); Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; and Jamaica. We added a couple of days in Ft Lauderdale, Florida before we embarked the ship.
During our pre-cruise stay, we had a terrific (and very full) two days in Fort Lauderdale.
Tricolored Heron at Wakodahatchee Wetlands near Delray Beach - terrific place for wildlife.
Great Blue Herons at sunset.
Sunrise at A.R.M Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge near Boynton Beach - didn't see as much in the way of wildlife,
but enjoyed walking the levees and being one with nature.
Anhinga (male) near Impoundment C-7.
Morikami Japanese Museum and Gardens near Delray Beach - very peaceful.
White Ibis at the Flamingo Gardens in Davie.
Riverwalk at night - Fort Lauderdale.
On embarkation day, we killed time at Fort Lauderdale Beach until the ship was ready to receive us.
Coral Princess at Port Everglades.
After two days at sea, we arrived in Aruba where we spent our half-day in port at Palm Beach.
Cartagena was a port we'd been anxiously awaiting - we were not disappointed. Despite the incredibly hot and humid day,
we wandered the Walled City and visited Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas. At the end of our four-hour walk, we were drained
... but we can't wait to go back ... terrific place.
Iglesia de San Pedro Claver from outside the walls.
Torre del Reloj (Clock Tower) - at the entrance to the Walled City.
Las Murallas (the Walls that surround the city).
A charming house inside the Walled City.
Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas - one of the most impressive forts built by the Spanish Crown.
The next day we did a partial transit of the Panama Canal through the Gatun Locks.
When the ship anchored in Gatun Lake, we tendered ashore for an eco cruise on the lake. This howler monkey was one
of the wildlife sightings during our cruise.
The next part of our shore excursion was a visit to the Gatun Locks to see the operation from the ground. We lucked out,
arriving at the locks to see our own Coral Princess locking back out of the Canal.
The fourth port of call was at Limon, Costa Rica. We did a full day excursion that started with Cahuita National Park.
On the way there, we had occasion to become acquainted with this female three-toed sloth.
At Cahuita National Park, we got to see some howler monkeys again.
The second part of our Costa Rica tour was an eco-cruise on the Tortuguero Canal where we saw this yellow-crowned night heron.
And this Green Basiliscus - also known as the "Jesus Christ Lizard" for its ability to seemingly walk on water.
We enjoyed a wonderful sunset as we left Costa Rica behind.
Our last port was Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We spent the day at Ocho Rios Bay Beach - just enjoying the sand and sea. A perfect R&R day.
After disembarking the ship, we took an excursion which ended at the airport. But before the airport drop-off, they gave us
an airboat ride in the Everglades Wildlife Management Area.
All in all; it was a terrific cruise vacation that was a mix of R&R, wildlife, and history. If you would like to see more pictures, they're at: http://eenusa.smugmug.com/Cruises/432903
Our itinerary included Aruba; Cartagena, Colombia; the Panama Canal (partial transit); Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; and Jamaica. We added a couple of days in Ft Lauderdale, Florida before we embarked the ship.
During our pre-cruise stay, we had a terrific (and very full) two days in Fort Lauderdale.
Tricolored Heron at Wakodahatchee Wetlands near Delray Beach - terrific place for wildlife.
Great Blue Herons at sunset.
Sunrise at A.R.M Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge near Boynton Beach - didn't see as much in the way of wildlife,
but enjoyed walking the levees and being one with nature.
Anhinga (male) near Impoundment C-7.
Morikami Japanese Museum and Gardens near Delray Beach - very peaceful.
White Ibis at the Flamingo Gardens in Davie.
Riverwalk at night - Fort Lauderdale.
On embarkation day, we killed time at Fort Lauderdale Beach until the ship was ready to receive us.
Coral Princess at Port Everglades.
After two days at sea, we arrived in Aruba where we spent our half-day in port at Palm Beach.
Cartagena was a port we'd been anxiously awaiting - we were not disappointed. Despite the incredibly hot and humid day,
we wandered the Walled City and visited Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas. At the end of our four-hour walk, we were drained
... but we can't wait to go back ... terrific place.
Iglesia de San Pedro Claver from outside the walls.
Torre del Reloj (Clock Tower) - at the entrance to the Walled City.
Las Murallas (the Walls that surround the city).
A charming house inside the Walled City.
Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas - one of the most impressive forts built by the Spanish Crown.
The next day we did a partial transit of the Panama Canal through the Gatun Locks.
When the ship anchored in Gatun Lake, we tendered ashore for an eco cruise on the lake. This howler monkey was one
of the wildlife sightings during our cruise.
The next part of our shore excursion was a visit to the Gatun Locks to see the operation from the ground. We lucked out,
arriving at the locks to see our own Coral Princess locking back out of the Canal.
The fourth port of call was at Limon, Costa Rica. We did a full day excursion that started with Cahuita National Park.
On the way there, we had occasion to become acquainted with this female three-toed sloth.
At Cahuita National Park, we got to see some howler monkeys again.
The second part of our Costa Rica tour was an eco-cruise on the Tortuguero Canal where we saw this yellow-crowned night heron.
And this Green Basiliscus - also known as the "Jesus Christ Lizard" for its ability to seemingly walk on water.
We enjoyed a wonderful sunset as we left Costa Rica behind.
Our last port was Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We spent the day at Ocho Rios Bay Beach - just enjoying the sand and sea. A perfect R&R day.
After disembarking the ship, we took an excursion which ended at the airport. But before the airport drop-off, they gave us
an airboat ride in the Everglades Wildlife Management Area.
All in all; it was a terrific cruise vacation that was a mix of R&R, wildlife, and history. If you would like to see more pictures, they're at: http://eenusa.smugmug.com/Cruises/432903
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Comments
Incredible photos - I am in awe.
Thank you - I appreciate the comment.
Ill have to admit, I didnt care for most of your pictures, but 3, 13, and the 3rd from the last are totally stunning, great work een.
- Ansel Adams.
Educate yourself like you'll live forever and live like you'll die tomorrow.
Ed
Ouch! But thanks for the critique - I realize most of the pictures are little more than travel "snapshots." Glad you liked some of them.
http://www.torunofamily.com
Yes, we were blessed with lots of incredibly blue skies for most of our trip, so we didn't mind the occasional drizzle the day we went through the Gatun Locks at the Panama Canal.