Ocean cruises

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.

Throughout your journey, you will benefit from an excursion included per person per port of call, to choose from a selection offered by PONANT. During this cruise, dive into incredible Mayan history from Santo Tomás de Castilla, as you discover the pyramids and sanctuaries of the Quiriguá archaeological site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Puerto Limón, sail along the labyrinthine canals of the Tortuguero National Park, in the heart of a tropical forest featuring fascinating fauna and flora, or discover traditional cocoa growing in a Ngöbe village on the island of San Cristóbal, from Bocas Del Toro.

During your odyssey aboard Le Champlain, expect to hear birdsong and see dense tropical forests and the intertwined roots of mangrove burgeoning with life. On the Rio Dulce, aboard small local boats, discover gorges shaped by the river opening onto lush vegetation, a haven of peace for many birds, such as cormorants, egrets and pelicans. Another little-known and pristine paradise, in Honduras, La Ensenada invites you to discover a unique ecosystem, at theLancetilla Botanical Garden, the largest tropical gardens in the Americas. In Puerto Limón, the Puerto Vargas Reserve, in the Cahuita National Park, is home to exuberant wildlife, including howler monkeys, white-faced capuchin monkeys, sloths, coatis, agoutis... mere steps away from idyllic beaches.

Fans of swimming and immaculate landscapes will not be left out either. In the Caribbean Sea, on the little volcanic island of Providence, a former buccaneer hideout off the coast off Nicaragua, make the most of the abundant turquoise waters and beaches fringed with coconut trees to immerse yourself in the gentleness of the Caribbean. Off the coast of Isla Utila, the Water Caye islet unfurls its stretches of white sand along an azure sea, truly an invitation to lose yourself in thought and relax.

From one port of call to the next, you will also be able to seize the opportunity to share unforgettable moments with local communities. In Santo Tomás de Castilla, the Garifuna community will welcome you with a unique performance of traditional dance and music aboard the ship.  In Panama, on the Bocas del Toro archipelago, famous for its rich underwater and terrestrial biodiversity, you will learn about a different history, that of the country’s largest indigenous community, the Ngöbe-Buglé.

With featured guest Christine Ockrent, journalist specialising in French and international news and geopolitical questions, author of some fifteen books.

Over 16 days, fall under the spell of the beauty and richness of the Indonesian archipelago and the northern shores of Australia. Aboard Le Soléal, take an exceptional expedition cruise with PONANT, sailing from island to island, from idyllic landscapes to unforgettable encounters.

From the ‘island of gods’, head to mysterious Komodo, a small wild island whose national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among other things, it is home to the famous Komodo dragons, gigantic monitor lizards that can grow more than three metres long. Here you will be able to see them in their natural environment. 

You will then set sail for Flores, the island of flowers, followed by the Alor Archipelago, two destinations where the inhabitants have successfully maintained their age-old traditional lifestyle.

The next port of call on your cruise will be Kalabahi. This authentic destination in the Alor Archipelago provides the opportunity to interact with local people who have preserved their traditional practices and customs.

After calling at the fabulous Barat Daya Islands, you will explore the Moluccas (Maluku Islands), also known as the Spice Islands, and make a stop on the island of Banda Neira, marked by Dutch and Portuguese influences.

Le Soléal will continue on to the Indonesian province of West Papua to give you the opportunity to admire the Kiti-Kiti Waterfall. Surrounded by lush vegetation, you will undoubtedly be tempted to swim or snorkel at the foot of this stunning natural site.

Then, you will sail to the heart of Triton Bay. Located within a protected marine environment in the middle of the Coral Triangle, you will enjoy an unforgettable zodiac cruise through the spectacular rainforest-capped karst islands.

Further south, you will discover the Asmat region, one of the most isolated and mysterious areas in the world.

Le Soléal will finally reach Australia to finish on a high note exploring Lizard Island, an island with exceptional marine life, from multicoloured coral to giant clams.

The encounters with the wildlife described above illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.

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