Costa Rica UnCruise Immerses You in All of Nature’s Awe

“Do you want to see a snake?” asked Rey, our expedition guide.

He’d just been notified by walkie-talkie of a snake ahead of us on the trail.

We tromped quickly to a scene worth filming by National Geographic.

We were on an UnCruise Costa Rica trip, sailing on the Safari Voyager with UnCruise Adventures.

The snake was biting into a baby bull frog the size of a tennis-ball, strangling the poor thing at the same time.

The plaintive squeals from the frog were heartbreaking.

“They’re cries for help,” explained Rey, as we watched in pity and horror. “Yes, it’s sad to us, but it’s nature.”

Nature – in all its awe – was being dug up and tossed at us in spades.

Costa Rica UnCruise with UnCruise Adventures

UnCruise Adventures operates nine small adventure vessels (maximum 84 passengers) in Alaska, Hawaii, Central America, Mexico and the Galapagos.

You won’t find a casino, jewelry shop or pool onboard.

“Safari Voyager” cabins

And you won’t spend much time in your cabin, or want to.

Cabins, though comfy with ensuite bathrooms, are much smaller on UnCruise ships than staterooms on larger, traditional cruise ships.

UnCruise activities: You’re outdoors baby!

Rather, you’re outside in nature – hiking, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling and spotting wildlife on skiff excursions.

Shopping?

And, sorry, no duty-free shopping!

There are few (if any) ports or towns on most UnCruise itineraries where you can get out and shop.

UnCruise Costa Rica to Panama

The ship anchored off the non-touristy, southeastern tip of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula; guests were ferried ashore in rigid Zodiac-style inflatables.

And like all landings on our Costa Rica cruise (and in Panama), it was a “wet” landing – where, steadied by crew, we slid off the inflatable into knee-deep water and waded up onto an isolated beach.

Hiking Corcovado National Park

More hiking and wildlife highlights followed on our third day when we ventured into the lush rainforest of Costa Rica’s untouched Osa Peninsula.

We’d been told three pumas and a jaguar roamed the Campanario Biological Station property which we walked in the morning.

The sound of cicadas was almost deafening.

Mindful of any camouflaged poisonous snakes (we’d seen an eyelash pit viper at Costa Rica’s Arenal Hanging Bridges), we trod carefully over gnarled roots along the leaf-strewn path, our eyes darting from left to right, internal antennae on high alert.

“Chances are you won’t see a puma or cat in the jungle,” said the station director. “But a thousand eyes will be watching you.”

No matter that we didn’t see a jungle cat – the exuberant beauty of the giant mahogany and “walking” mangrove trees was reward enough.

When you cruise Costa Rica with UnCruise, you have tough decisions to make, as different activities are offered ashore at each anchorage.

That afternoon, we had one such tough decision to make.

Chillax on the beach?

The ship’s crew had set up a “beach club” under the shade of leafy trees, with canvas stools, towels and even a small bar for rum-and-pineapple cocktails. Inviting…

Or join Rey on a long, “guide’s choice” coastal hike which he promised would bowl us over with its scenic beauty?

The hike won out.

And in the excitement of spying not one, but two neon-yellow toucans soon after setting off, we forgot about the energy-sapping humidity that soon slowed our stride down to a mere strolling pace.

We did lots of hiking on our Alaska UnCruise: Read what it’s like to go wild on an UnCruise Alaska adventure

Toucan spotting

The toucans were easier to spot than the three-toed sloth we’d seen our first day in Manuel Antonio National Park. 

Looking like a coconut-sized bump high up in a tree, the sloth – greenish in color from the algae that flourish in the fur – had blended in perfectly with the forest canopy.

We’d needed our guide’s telescope to make it out.

By contrast, these toucans (along with other beautiful Costa Rica birds) were hard to miss once Rey pointed them out.

Monkey thieves

Ditto the white-faced capuchin monkeys jumping in the trees. 

Locals dub them “mafia monkeys,” as these charming thieves steal food and camera lenses from unsuspecting visitors.

“They’re the smartest monkeys of the bunch,” laughed Rey.

“They know how to use tools to cut open coconuts.”

Crossing a sweet beach cove – with grey sand, fine as powder – we met a family group lounging in white plastic chairs at the water’s edge, beers in hand.

We wondered how they happened to be here in this remote piece of wilderness paradise.

It turned out they were also Canadians, from Ontario, who’d rented a nearby house (invisible from the beach) through VRBO. It was only accessible by boat, and their groceries had been shipped in by water taxi.

Fishy business

A bit further on, we stopped to watch a startling scene.

The sea was bubbling and boiling up with fish beneath a cloud of dive-bombing pelicans!

And whooping and hollering, two local fishermen raced into the water, tossing their lines in. Within minutes, they reeled in four fat silvery jackfish.

Dinner, they proudly explained, was going to be good that night, fried up with oil and garlic.

Granito de Oro: Swimming and snorkeling

Hiking is all well and good, but UnCruise Adventures knows of beautiful beaches in both Costa Rica and Panama.

We were ready for a beach day when we called in at Granito de Oro (“Grain of Gold”) the next morning.

This tiny uninhabited islet off Coiba National Park in Panama – with clear turquoise water lapping onto a blindingly white sand beach dotted with palm trees – is about as perfect as a tropical island can get.

Time for snorkeling!

A kaleidoscope of colorful fish scenes unfolded underwater – yellow-and-black striped Sergeant Majors darted about, balled schools of silver jackfish swam by, puffer fish hung effortlessly in the water.

Some lucky guests even saw a white-tipped reef shark.

And in a Zen moment, a green loggerhead turtle glided by gracefully just below the surface as we tried our hand at stand-up paddleboarding.

You can snorkel with manta rays on an UnCruise Hawaii trip! Discover hidden Hawaii on this UnCruise Hawaii adventure

“Happy hour” cocktails and dinner

Come evening, we always looked forward to “happy hour.”

That’s when everyone mingled over drinks, shared the day’s experiences and learned about the next day’s adventures from the expedition team.

Happily, all cocktails and wines are included in the Safari Voyager’s rates because we took a particular liking to the “Valencia” – brandy, apricot liqueur, fresh orange juice and sparkling wine – that Daniel, the bartender, shook up.

UnCruise reviews invariably mention the good food.

And meals were delicious!

Sample dinner: Spiced carrot soup, followed by leg of lamb with eggplant and saffron rice (or for seafood lovers, shrimp with chipotle honey sauce).

Cruising the Panama Canal back to the real world

We completed our cruise from Costa Rica to Panama navigating the 48-mile length of the Panama Canal, most of which is a vast man-made lake studded with islands and tropical vegetation.

At the canal’s entrance, sitting on deck at sunset, we were spellbound by the original locks’ operation.

Running on steeply rising tracks along both sides of the locks, electric locomotives (called “mules”) attached to the ship by cables, seemed to pull the ship along.

(In fact, they keep a ship from bumping into the sides of the canal as it passes through the locks).

The whole experience was quite surreal – it’s impossible not to be amazed by this ingenious lock system, which raises ships about 80 feet above sea level at one end of the canal, then lowers them back down again at the other.

As a goodbye to our time in the world of nature, the passage through this man-made marvel was perfect for re-entering the world of civilization.

“Safari Voyager” itineraries

UnCruise Costa Rica and UnCruise Panama itineraries

The newly refitted Safari Voyager sails various Costa Rica and Panama cruises.

Highlights include exploring Costa Rica’s Curu National Wildlife Refuge and Osa Conservation Area; and in Panama, a visit to Coiba National Park and a late afternoon/evening transit of the Panama Canal.

Rates

UnCruise rates include cruise accommodations, meals, all alcoholic drinks, guided adventure excursions and onboard naturalist talks.

For more information

See Uncruise Adventures’ website

Where to stay in Panama City? We loved the boutique Global Hotel Panama

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Photo credits: 2 to 10, 12 to 15, 17, 19 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | 1, 16 UnCruise Adventures

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