Star Collector: Latin America Explorer via the Panama Canal

Located on the Gulf of Nicoya, the small town of Puerto Caldera is one of Costa Rica’s top attractions, perfect for travelers who like more off the beaten path destinations where the native Tico lifestyle can be experienced. It is the gateway to San Jose, Jaco and the big city of Puntarenas, plus Los Suenos and Tortuga Island. Carara National Park is nearby, the rainforest home to crocodiles, over 400 species of birds and is considered the most likely place to see scarlet macaws.

The former banana-exporting town of Quepos is your basecamp for a day of rainforest adventure. Take a walk along trails that weave up to waterfalls, or ride horseback to a beautiful jungle pool. A float trip through a mangrove swamp populated by monkeys, crocodiles, egrets, and herons is also available. Or you may choose a nature walk through Manuel Antonio National Park, with its lovely beaches, easy trails, and abundant animal life. 

Picture Jurassic foliage growing down steep hillsides all the way to the waterline, the hoots &nbsp;of monkeys echoing through trees choked by orchids. Golfo Dulce is one of Costa Rica&rsquo;s most biodiverse areas, where both the jungle and the sea brim with life. Explore the canals by kayak in search of javelinas, butterflies, and more bird species than in all of North America.&nbsp;<em>This port is accessed with a wet landing.</em>

Located within a Nature Preserve of 50 islands, and part of Chiriqui Marine National Park lovely Isla Parida boasts magnificent beaches, one of which is over 1,300 feet long.&nbsp; The crystal clear waters stay at 82 degrees year round and are filled with marine life. There are numerous hardwood trees like teak, mahogany, and eucalyptus, and fruit trees like mango, banana and coconut trees. Here you will be treated to Windstar&#39;s Signature Beach Party on a secluded beach that faces the Pacific Ocean.

One of the entrances to the Panama Canal on the Pacific side, Balboa/Fuerte Amador was founded in 1519 and is a short distance from Panama City. &nbsp;In 2012 Balboa was ranked #1 in Latin America in the category of world&#39;s busiest container ports. Sightseeing highlights include the colonial homes, the Administration Building, the Goethals Memorial, the Prado, and the local handicraft markets of traditional Panamanian crafts.

At nearly 48 miles long, on your transit through the Panama Canal you will enter three sets of locks that raise and lower the vessel 85 feet between the calm Pacific Ocean and the shimmering waters of the Atlantic. Your voyage features a daylight hours transit with numerous observation vantage points for outside viewing and comfortable indoor air-conditioned lounges. Expert onboard commentary enhances your journey as you watch the day to day workings of this bucket list experience.

Explore the inner workings of the Panama Canal, head into the jungle to meet with Embera Indians, or take an aerial tram ride through the rainforest canopy.

At nearly 48 miles long, on your transit through the Panama Canal you will enter three sets of locks that raise and lower the vessel 85 feet between the calm Pacific Ocean and the shimmering waters of the Atlantic. Your voyage features a daylight hours transit with numerous observation vantage points for outside viewing and comfortable indoor air-conditioned lounges. Expert onboard commentary enhances your journey as you watch the day to day workings of this bucket list experience.

Manta is a modern urban hub, with beautiful beaches, high rises, and amazing fish. In fact their giant tuna statue welcomes visitors, as a reminder of the delicious tuna and other seafood dishes found here. It is a foodies delight for tasting not only amazing tuna ceviche, but also squid, lobster and South American-style tapas. Check out the impressive collection of ceramics from the Manteno-Huancavilca culture at the Archaeological Museum of the Central Bank of Manta. The well-known picturesque Montechristi is only about 20 minutes away.

Manta is a modern urban hub, with beautiful beaches, high rises, and amazing fish. In fact their giant tuna statue welcomes visitors, as a reminder of the delicious tuna and other seafood dishes found here. It is a foodies delight for tasting not only amazing tuna ceviche, but also squid, lobster and South American-style tapas. Check out the impressive collection of ceramics from the Manteno-Huancavilca culture at the Archaeological Museum of the Central Bank of Manta. The well-known picturesque Montechristi is only about 20 minutes away.

The modern city of Guayaquil is known as a gateway to Pacific beaches and the Galapagos Islands. Sprawling along the Guayas River is the exciting new Simon Bolivar promenade lined with museums, restaurants and shops. See the Las Penas neighborhood full of colorful houses, Santa Ana Hill where the stairs are lined with cafes and art galleries that lead up to the Santa Ana Chapel, a lighthouse with 444 stairs. Parque Seminario is where to find over 100 iguanas roaming the park.<br />
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The modern city of Guayaquil is known as a gateway to Pacific beaches and the Galapagos Islands. Sprawling along the Guayas River is the exciting new Simon Bolivar promenade lined with museums, restaurants and shops. See the Las Penas neighborhood full of colorful houses, Santa Ana Hill where the stairs are lined with cafes and art galleries that lead up to the Santa Ana Chapel, a lighthouse with 444 stairs. Parque Seminario is where to find over 100 iguanas roaming the park.<br />
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Located in the fertile lowlands near the Gulf of Guayaquil, Machala is said to be the banana capital of the world as well as coffee and cacao. More locals escape here than tourists, and Machala has a diverse culinary scene. The downtown area is very walkable with wide sidewalks and generous amounts of flowers and greenery. The impressive Machala Cathedral is located in the popular Parque Juan Montalvo. Not far away is the Petrified Forest Puyango with the largest array of fossil trees in the world, some measuring over 6 feet in diameter and nearly 50 feet long.

Salaverry is located near the city of Trujillo, founded by the conquistador Diego de Almagro in 1534. Trujillo is known for Peru&rsquo;s traditional dance, the <em>marinera</em>. &nbsp;It retains much of its colonial charm and the colonial center is home to the majestic bright yellow Trujillo Cathedral and the blue Casa Urquiaga contrasting with the vivid green and brown terrain of the Andean foothills. Another site to see is the Iturregui Palace boasting Italian marble statues. West of Trujillo is the pre-Colombian Chimu archaeological site of Chan Chan, a vast adobe complex.<br />
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Lima has worked at becoming more than the gateway to Machu Picchu, but also a tourist destination in its own right. Declared the unofficial gastronomical capital of South America, it is the only city to have two restaurants ranking in the top 10 of the World&rsquo;s Best Restaurants. Find the Historic Center, declared a UNESCO site, the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco, the Lima Metropolitan Cathedral, the Palacio de Torre Tagle, and the National University of San Marco, the oldest continuously functioning university in the New World.

Lima has worked at becoming more than the gateway to Machu Picchu, but also a tourist destination in its own right. Declared the unofficial gastronomical capital of South America, it is the only city to have two restaurants ranking in the top 10 of the World&rsquo;s Best Restaurants. Find the Historic Center, declared a UNESCO site, the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco, the Lima Metropolitan Cathedral, the Palacio de Torre Tagle, and the National University of San Marco, the oldest continuously functioning university in the New World.