Central America

A Tropical Odyssey in Central America (Colón – Belize City)

11 Days aboard Le Champlain. Contact for pricing.
Small Ship Expeditions
Details

Overview

On this 11-day cruise aboard Le Champlain, you will sail the Caribbean Sea discovering the lush landscapes of Central America, exploring the region’s historical cities to learn more about their history, sharing with the local populations and creating unforgettable memories.

Itinerary Highlights

  • Uncover the secrets of Central America during a cruise exploring six countries, featuring verdant scenery and cultural discoveries.
  • Ports of call in Bocas del Toro, to explore the mangrove and discover the local communities.
  • Encounter the local populations and discover their traditions, including Panama’s largest indigenous community, the Ngöbe-Buglé.

Itinerary in Brief

  • Day 1: Colón
  • Day 2 and 3: Bocas del Toro
  • Day 4: Puerto Limón
  • Day 5: San Andrés and Providencia archipelago
  • Day 6: At sea
  • Day 7: Water Caye, Isla Utila
  • Day 8: La Ensenada
  • Day 9: Santo Tomás de Castilla
  • Day 10: Dulce River
  • Day 11: Disembarkation Day - Belize City/Cancún

Ship Information

For more information on the Le Champlain please view the ship page.

View Le Champlain

Travelling with Eclipse

Peace of Mind
  • Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
  • 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
  • We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
  • No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
  • Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
  • Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
  • We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
  • Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
  • Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
  • Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
  • Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.

Day 1: Colón

Embarkation 12/3/2025 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Departure 12/3/2025 at 6:00 PM

Colón is the second largest city in Panama, at the Caribbean entrance of the Panama Canal. Colón is today an important port, and the free trade zone created in 1953 contributed greatly to the development of the city. Colón was founded in 1850 by Americans working on the Panama railroad connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts through the isthmus of Panama; the city rapidly overshadowed the older Caribbean ports of Panama when the canal opened.

Dinner included.

Day 2 and 3: Bocas del Toro

Heavenly stretches of beach with opalescent sand, virgin rainforest, traditional houses in flamboyant colours... the Bocas del Toro Archipelago welcomes you in a gentle, typically Caribbean atmosphere. Anchored to the north-west coast of Panama, this lush and wild Eden is composed of nine main islands surrounded by thousands of verdant islets. Boasting a rich biodiversity, this lost paradise is home to the only national marine park in Panama: Isla Bastimentos. This stunning reserve protects an exceptional marine ecosystem composed of a rich coral reef, more than 200 species of colourful fish, and a population of bottlenose dolphins that live here permanently. On Isla Popa, meet the Ngöbe-Bugle, an indigenous community of Panama that still lives according to its ancestral traditions.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 4: Puerto Limón

We’re pretty sure the little coastal town of Puerto Limón will completely win your heart. It is located on the Caribbean sea. Just beyond the harbour, Playa Bonita creek opens its arms to a haven of beauty rimmed by clear blue waters and shaded by giant peach-palms. If you wish to explore the lush green areas in the town, it’s worth taking a stroll through the lemon groves that give Puerto Limón its name. You’ll have all the time in the world to mosey around the streets scattered with multicoloured wooden makeshift stalls. These makeshift bars with their raffia roofs offer fresh juices blended just for you.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 5: San Andrés and Providencia archipelago

The Isla de Providencia, an insular Colombian territory near the coast of Nicaragua, is part of the Archipelago of San Andrés. Nicknamed the “flower of the ocean”, its clear and warm waters and lush tropical forests are surrounded by legends and stories of pirates. The beauty of its underwater life has earned it the title of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. You’ll be able to discover the island’s natural riches during a walk or while snorkelling. The Isla de Providencia offers an enchanted interlude and the serenity of balanced and preserved nature, home to pretty and colourful houses.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 6: At sea

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 7: Water Caye, Isla Utila

The Bay Islands archipelago is home to stunning cays, sheltered coral islets with warm, crystal-clear turquoise waters. Off the island of Utila, the white-sand beaches lined with palms and coconut trees and the reefs of the deserted islet called Water Caye offer a picture-postcard setting that will delight fans of swimming and snorkelling.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 8: La Ensenada

Lying on the Honduran shores, the small community of La Ensenada will charm you with its gentle way of life and breathtaking landscapes. Make the most of a timeless moment to go and meet the local population and learn more about their day-to-day lives and their customs. The mangrove, a unique ecosystem teeming with life, will also reveal itself to you with the possibility of a river cruise aboard a local boat.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 9: Santo Tomás de Castilla

A port city located in the north-east of Guatemala, on the coast of the Amatique Bay, Santo Tomás de Castilla offers exceptional access to the fabulous Mayan archaeological site of Quiriguá. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, this place takes you back in time, deep into a décor of ruins and vestiges from the 8th century.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 10: Dulce River

In the waters of the Rio Dulce flows a part of the Caribbean soul. Lanchas, the motor boats that travel along the river and the Caribbean Sea, are the only way of reaching this small, welcoming town with no overland access to the rest of the country. Here, you are in Garifuna country: the inhabitants, descendent from Jamaican slaves, perpetuate their culture through oral tradition and ceremonies. Garifuna music, which is lively and sounds similar in some respects to reggae, and Garifuna dance, to the beat of drums, have both been classified by UNESCO as “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 11: Disembarkation Day - Belize City/Cancún

Belize City is the former capital and the country’s largest town. Located on the Caribbean Sea, this lively little town symbolises the fusion of British, Spanish and Maya cultures. The departure point for flights over the Great Blue Hole and the barrier reef, it’s also the ideal gateway for discovering the treasures of Maya architecture: in the heart of the jungle, the grandiose and mysterious ruins of temples and palaces at the Lamanai and Xunantunich sites await you. Another unmissable experience: a trip to the mouth of the Belize River: with a little luck and care, you’ll get a glimpse of manatees, dolphins, crocodiles, iguanas and many aquatic bird species.

After breakfast, you will disembark and transfer from the port to the airport for your flight from Belize City to Cancún.

Breakfast included.

Please contact us for dates

Cabin Details

Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3

• One king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm)
• A bathroom with shower
• A private 4 m² balcony with two armchairs
• A glazed panoramic swing door and rectangular window

Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3
Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3
Prestige Stateroom Deck 4

• One king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm)
• One chaise longue
• A bathroom with shower
• A private 4 m² balcony with two armchairs
• A panoramic sliding bay window or panoramic swing door

Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
Prestige Stateroom Deck 5

• One king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm)
• One chaise longue
• A bathroom with shower
• A private 4 m² balcony with two armchairs
• A panoramic sliding bay window or panoramic swing door

Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
Prestige Stateroom Deck 6

• One king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm)
• One chaise longue
• A bathroom with shower
• A private 4 m² balcony with two armchairs
• A panoramic sliding bay window

Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
Prestige Suite Deck 5

• Champagne and fruit basket upon arrival
• An assortment of sweet or savoury canapés and fruit basket every day
• A bedroom with king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm)
• A lounge with convertible sofa to a king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm), armchair, second TV, and sliding courtesy door
• Two bathrooms with shower
• A private 8 m² balcony with four armchairs
• Two panoramic sliding bay windows

Prestige Suite Deck 5
Prestige Suite Deck 5
Prestige Suite Deck 6

• Priority boarding
• Champagne and fruit basket upon arrival
• Butler service
• An assortment of sweet or savoury canapés and fruit basket every day
• A bedroom with king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm)
• A lounge with convertible sofa to a king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm), armchair, second TV, and sliding courtesy door
• Two bathrooms with shower
• A private 8 m² balcony with four armchairs
• Two panoramic sliding bay windows

Prestige Suite Deck 6
Prestige Suite Deck 6
Grand Deluxe Suite Deck 6

• Priority boarding
• Butler service
• An assortment of sweet or savoury canapés and fruit basket every day
• A bedroom with one king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm)
• A lounge with sofa bed convertible to a double bed (160 x 190 cm) or a single bed (80 x 190 cm) , armchair, and second TV
• A bathroom with shower and Baleno bathtub
• A private 32 m² terrace with two deckchairs and four-seater dining table
• Two panoramic sliding bay windows

Grand Deluxe Suite Deck 6
Grand Deluxe Suite Deck 6
Owner's Suite Deck 5

• Concierge Service: tailor-made and fully customisable services, from your reservation until you return from your trip
• Private return transfer
• Priority boarding
• Champagne and fruit basket upon arrival
• Butler service
• An assortment of sweet or savoury canapés and fruit basket every day
• A lounge with armchair, double sofa bed, and second TV
• A bedroom with king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm)
• A bathroom with shower, balneo bathtub and smart mirror
• A one-hour spa treatments per person (for 2 people) in the well-being space, chosen from the facial and body treatments on offer
• Premium drinks at the bar
• A private 45 m² terrace: 2 deckchairs, jacuzzi, and lounge corner with sofa and armchair
• Two panoramic sliding bay windows

Owner's Suite Deck 5
Owner's Suite Deck 5
Deluxe Suite Deck 6

• Champagne and fruit basket upon arrival
• One king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm)
• An armchair and sofa (90 x 190 cm)
• A bathroom with shower
• A private 6 m² balcony with two armchairs
• A panoramic sliding bay window

Deluxe Suite Deck 6
Deluxe Suite Deck 6
Deluxe Suite Deck 4

• One king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm)
• An armchair and sofa (90 x 190 cm)
• A bathroom with shower
• A private 6 m² balcony with two armchairs
• A panoramic sliding bay window

Deluxe Suite Deck 4
Deluxe Suite Deck 4
Deluxe Suite Deck 3

• One king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm)
• An armchair and sofa (90 x 190 cm)
• A bathroom with shower
• A private 6 m² balcony with two armchairs
• A glazed panoramic swing door and panoramic window

Deluxe Suite Deck 3
Deluxe Suite Deck 3
Deluxe Suite Deck 5

• Champagne and fruit basket upon arrival
• One king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm)
• An armchair and sofa (90 x 190 cm)
• A bathroom with shower
• A private 4 m² balcony with two armchairs
• A panoramic sliding bay window

Deluxe Suite Deck 5
Deluxe Suite Deck 5
Privilege Suite Deck 5

• Priority boarding
• Butler service
• One king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm)
• A lounge corner with chaise longue and armchair
• A bathroom with shower
• A private 8 m² balcony with two armchairs
• A panoramic sliding bay window

Privilege Suite Deck 5
Privilege Suite Deck 5
Privilege Suite Deck 6

• Priority boarding
• Champagne and fruit basket upon arrival
• Butler service
• An assortment of sweet or savoury canapés and fruit basket every day
• One king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm)
• A lounge area with chaise longue and armchair
• A bathroom with shower
• A private 8 m² balcony with two armchairs
• A panoramic sliding bay window

Privilege Suite Deck 6
Privilege Suite Deck 6

Le Champlain Deckplan

deck plan

Specifications

  • Built: 2018
  • Length: 430 ft. / 131 m.
  • Draft: 15 ft. / 4.5 m.
  • Beam: 59 ft. / 18 m.
  • Tonnage: 9,900 gross tons
  • Cruising Speed: 12.5 knots
  • Air Conditioned: Yes
  • Elevator: Yes
  • Passenger Decks: 6
  • Number of Cabins: 92 staterooms & suites
  • Number of Guests: 184
  • Crew Members: 110
  • Registry: France

What's included?

  • Economy class flight from Belize City to Cancún. 
  • Transfer and services mentioned in the programme.
  • English-speaking assistance.
  • Accommodation in your selected stateroom
  • Landings and zodiac outings
  • A full meal plan
  • Open Bar: beginning with boarding, and during the duration of the cruise, a wide selection of drinks (mineral water, soft drinks, wine, beer, Charles Heidsieck champagne, spirits, coffee, tea) is served on request and at any time of the day. Certain premium alcoholic beverages on the menu are not included in the Open Bar.
  • Free Wi-Fi internet access 24 hours a day
  • Port taxes

What's not?

  • Tips.
  • Personal expenses.
  • Any other service not mentioned in the programme.

Price Assurance

At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.

Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.

Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.

Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!

Destination: Central America

Let us take you on an authentic journey throughout this rich and versatile region with its spectacular Caribbean beaches, smouldering volcanoes and lush green jungles sheltering a rich variety of fauna. Throw in its fascinating history, hidden Mayan ruins and the rhythm of Cuban salsa and we’re certain you’ll find this region is a treat to the senses.

Downloadable travel guide

Planning your next adventure has never been easier with our free downloadable travel guides. Get in-depth insights into local attractions, dining options, and hidden gems, all curated by our team of travel specialists with decades of experience.

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A Tropical Odyssey in Central America (Colón – Belize City)

11 Days aboard Le Champlain. Contact for pricing.