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5 Countries to Consider if You Want to Try Life Outside the U.S.

8/10/2020

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Costa Rica might be your ideal expat home. The Caribbean nation is affordable and English is widely spoke, making it easy for Americans to settle in.
By John Roberts
If you're reading this, you obviously have a passion for travel and new experiences. 
What about really leaning into your wanderlust by moving to a new country?
Americans are increasingly looking abroad, pondering a life outside of the United States.
The following article, courtesy of InternationalLiving.com, details some of the hottest spots that look like attractive new homes for Americans looking for something new and exciting.

More Pondering a New Home Since the Pandemic

More than 250,000 Americans have investigated moving to New Zealand since the world became gripped by the COVID-19 crisis, according to the New Zealand Herald. In June 2020, searches were up 160 percent compared with June 2019.
International Living reports that its How to Move Out of the U.S. page has seen a surge of in traffic, with views up 505 percent since the end of May 2020.
Companies that help people get second passports say they're seeing a significant uptick in interest in their services. Clearly, Americans are looking for ways to escape, for a variety of reasons, including concern about the possible dwindling attractiveness of the U.S. passport.
The pandemic has caused job losses in the millions in the United States, so some folks are looking for places where they can lower their cost of living. For others, remote working flexibility has them thinking that if they can work from home, their home might as well be at a beach. In the right spots overseas, a waterfront home can prove remarkably affordable.
"English-speaking New Zealand, which has been in the news lately for its positive handling of the pandemic, seems an obvious place to start," says Jennifer Stevens, executive editor, International Living. "However -- it's relatively expensive, far away, and has very strict and hard-to-satisfy immigration rules.
"Other options can make more sense -- places that are closer, lower cost, and have easier-to-meet visa requirements -- but which are also friendly, safe, welcoming locales where it's pretty easy to settle in as an expat.
"In a place like Costa Rica, for instance, lots of people speak English as it's taught in the schools from a young age. Well-established expat communities make settling in easy, your dollars really stretch (a budget from as low as $1,500 can bankroll a comfortable life for a couple), and three good visa options make it relatively easy to gain residence there."
The website's editors have highlighted countries that offer good value and ease of transition for Americans looking to move.
Thinking of making a big move overseas? You might want to consider Costa Rica, Belize, Ireland, Uruguay, and Portugal.

Costa Rica
A perennial front-runner in International Living's Annual Global Retirement Index, Costa Rica's political stability and low-key profile are strong draws for expats.
Costa Rica's landscape is stunning, with jaw-dropping expanses of coast, jungles rich with everything from spider monkeys and sloths to scarlet macaws and quetzals, gorgeous lakes and volcanic valleys.
Although just the size of West Virginia, the country has two major international airports, typically with daily flights on every North American airline from major gateway cities. With that ease of travel, it is convenient to get back home for special occasions or to easily receive visitors in your adopted homeland.
Ticos (the moniker Costa Ricans give themselves) have established one of the world's most stable democracies. The country dissolved its standing army in 1949 and the reallocated funds are spent on education, healthcare and pensions.
English is taught in schools in Costa Rica from a young age, so while it's helpful to know Spanish, a lot of expats get by on just the basics, as most citizens speak some English -- and in tourist towns, English is widely spoken. With plenty of well-established expat communities, Costa Rica is a relatively easy place for Americans to settle in.
Tourists can stay for up to 90 days on a tourist visa, and longer stays are easy enough to arrange. If you plan to live in Costa Rica long term it is best to seek residence -- The Pensionado Program and The Rentista Program are more popular visa options.
A couple a can live well in Costa Rica's cooler-weather Central Valley in a town like Atenas, for instance, from $1,518 a month.

Belize
This beautiful country has seen rapid growth in popularity as an option for expats. 
There are good reasons for the retirement haven's popularity.
As a British Commonwealth country, English is the primary language, making it easy for expats to transition. In fact, Belize is the only country in Central America with English as its main language, and that goes for its islands, too.
Also, moving to Belize is easy -- U.S. currency is accepted, credit cards are widely used, and well-known U.S. brands are available too; they're expensive, but substitutes are easy to find. 
Belize is a barefoot nirvana. It's hard to put its charm into words, but the best description might include the phrase "rustic paradise."
From its secluded beaches to its steamy rain forests, Belize is a country of diverse natural beauty. Its slow pace of life makes it a popular tourist destination, and the cost of living remains low. For the more adventurous traveler, activities can include a trek into the jungle in search of Maya ruins, spotting parrots, toucans and maybe even a jaguar along the way. 
Belize requires visitors to have sufficient money to support themselves, a return ticket and a passport valid for at least three months beyond the date of arrival. As a citizen of the U.S. or Canada, you can stay in Belize for up to one month without a visa. If you want to stay longer, you'll need to go to the Immigration office for an updated visitor's permit or tourist stamp. If you can show proof of long-term renting or other documents showing why you are staying in the country, you can be granted a 60- or 90-day permit.
Many expats apply for permanent residence in Belize. As a resident, you can work in Belize without needing a work permit. Having your residence also makes it easy to travel in and out of the country.
You must live in Belize for 50 consecutive weeks before you can apply for permanent residence. To do this, enter the country on a tourist visa and then renew your visa every 30 days until you reach 50 weeks. At that point, you can submit your application for permanent residence. It can take a few years to receive approval and your residence card.
A couple living and renting on Ambergris Caye can live well on a monthly budget from $2,875.

Ireland 
Even if you have no familial ties to Ireland, you've likely heard plenty about what this small island nation in the North Atlantic has to offer: the stunning beauty of its dramatic coastlines, historic castles, a rich culture of music, dance and literature -- and warm, witty, friendly people.
The whole nation -- but particularly the countryside -- takes a small-town approach to life. Everyone in Ireland speaks English (even in the few Irish-speaking areas). The Irish are friendly, hospitable people. It may be a cliche, but it's true: the literal translation of "hello" in Irish is "a hundred thousand welcomes to you."
You don't have to make a hard choice among seascapes, mountains, tranquil lake lands or verdant river valleys. Ireland has them all.
Ireland is small. In most towns and villages, you're never too far from the ocean, golden beaches swept clean by rolling Atlantic waves, views of mysterious smaller islands shimmering offshore and quaint harbor towns with hand-painted shop fronts and color-washed cottages. 
And Ireland is a key player for folks who want to explore Europe, thanks to the island being outside the Schengen Zone. That means that a trip to the Emerald Isle (or another country outside the Schengen Zone, such as Cyprus or Croatia) for under 90 days, stops the clock on their EU tourist visa—allowing travelers to pick up where they left off when they return to the Zone.
On a monthly budget of $2,762 to $2,806 a couple can enjoy a coastal retirement in a community like Waterford.

Uruguay
This small country on the east coast of South America is also among the top countries in the region when it comes to infrastructure.
Here, you'll find the best overall road system, the most reliable electrical grid and one of the fastest overall internet speeds in Latin America. You'll also find quality medical care, safe drinking water and good public transportation.
The country's interior is part of the South American Pampas used for cattle grazing and farming. On Uruguay's coast, you find beautiful sand beaches popular with vacationers. Most expats are attracted to Uruguay for its tranquilo (calm) lifestyle -- a healthy, stress-free approach to living.
Even though Uruguay is a small country, it offers a variety of lifestyle options. Choose among places like Punta del Este, the continent's most sophisticated beach resort; La Paloma, a small beach town on the Atlantic coast; a small farm or rural town in Uruguay's countryside or Montevideo, the capital city with an active cultural scene.
Montevideo, a coastal city on the Rio de la Plata, is a place where the traditional and the modern weave together to form a sophisticated European-style feel. It is one of the most diverse and cosmopolitan cities in South America.
From its Old World theaters and opera houses, to its jazz festivals and exquisite restaurants, Montevideo looks and feels like modern Europe.
The city has many large parks, plazas, tree-lined streets, sandy beaches, and wide avenues. The "rambla" -- the promenade that runs the full length of Montevideo's seven-mile coastline --provides a long-paved strip ideal for walking, running and bicycling.
You can stay in the country for 90 days at a time as often as you like. And for a small fee, a tourist visa can often be renewed, for stays of 180 days at a time. However, if you are thinking longer-term, becoming a permanent resident enables you to live in Uruguay full time, make Uruguay your home country, get a job or start a business in Uruguay. One of the benefits of Uruguay residency is the ability to import your home furnishings and household goods duty free during the residency approval process.
Two people can live in Montevideo on $3,200 a month, renting a one-bedroom, furnished apartment in Pocitos, the most popular expat neighborhood in the city.

Portugal
"Safety, quality affordable healthcare, a relaxing lifestyle, a rich history and culture, savory cuisine, geographic diversity -- you'll discover all these elements in Portugal -- on about a third of your current budget," says expat Tricia Pimental. "I know. It's where I've spent the past seven years and I love it.
Portugal offers so much to retirees. Expats typically find their expenses in Portugal run about one-third of what they are in the U.S. You can live a comfortable, although not extravagant, lifestyle for about $2,500 a month.
If you choose to live in Porto, Lisbon or in the expat havens of Cascais or the Algarve, that number bumps up to $3,000.
Rental and housing markets offer diverse options. Naturally, it is more expensive in prime areas like Lisbon and in the southern region of the Algarve.
"But by searching within 20 minutes of a specific town, you can find a gem that fits your budget,” Pimental says.
As a retirement destination, Portugal is simply fantastic -- but it is also a top destination for digital nomads.
"Since the late 2000s, Portugal has been implementing a plan to develop a preeminent, state-of-the-art infrastructure," Pimental says. "That's evidenced by one of the highest per-capita fiber optic networks in Europe and also what is arguably the most modern highway system, per mile driven, in all of Europe. The speed of this development has attracted international high-tech firms, even luring the Web Summit a few years ago from its home in Ireland to a ten-year contract in Lisbon."
A visa is not required for tourist visits to Portugal for a period of up to 90 days for U.S. and Canadian citizens. However, note that your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of your entry into Portugal. If you wish to stay in Portugal for longer than the tourist limit of 90 days out of every 180 days, then you should look into getting a residence visa. There are several types of visas available, including visas for students, the self-employed and investors. Portugal also offers a so-called Golden Visa for high net-worth individuals.

What do you think? Do any of these destinations stir a little expat wanderlust in your soul? Do you think you would like to try living at least part time in another country?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Thanks for reading,
JR
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Blissfully Lost in the Wilds of Panama/Costa Rica with UnCruise

3/15/2018

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Embera Quera villager in Panama operates his dugout wooden boat
UnCruise Adventures voyages in Panama include trips deep into the remote wilderness to interact with native people such as the Embera Quera (see sidebar story below).
By John Roberts 

Our small expedition cruise ship has just slipped into Gatun Locks, and chef Joe Pienody is grilling shrimp for the passengers gathered on the sun deck of Safari Voyager.

It's always hot and humid in Panama in August, but the sun is beginning to drop along with the temperature, and we have perfect conditions to enjoy dinner while observing the choreographed activities in the lock chambers. Our vessel is being raised three levels to manmade Gatun Lake to continue its 48-mile journey from the Caribbean Sea across the isthmus to the Pacific Ocean.

Passengers munch their meals and sip beers and sangrias while wandering the 174-foot-long ship. Chatting excitedly, they watch ropes tossed and affixed to the mechanical "mules" that run on tracks flanking the locks. They'll keep the ship centered in the chamber. Safari Voyager is positioned behind a massive cargo ship as we move through.
Top deck barbecue on UnCruise Adventures' Safari Voyager
Chef Joe prepares our meal on the top deck as we enter our first lock while transiting the Panama Canal.
I've been eagerly anticipating this fascinating part of our Panama Canal cruise. The engineering marvel, which opened for traffic in 1914, took a huge human toll to build. Today, it is vital for how it facilitates world commerce and because of the number of jobs it provides in Panama. It's also a draw for tourists interested in learning about the engineering that makes it possible and the area's diverse wildlife.

Expedition guides mingle with passengers on Safari Voyager, answering questions as the last golden rays of the sun slip away. With UnCruise Adventures, the itinerary is always the main attraction, and we enjoy a full schedule that keeps us on the go in Panama and Costa Rica.

Before
 reaching the canal, we visit the village of the indigenous Embera Quera people and take a hike in the rainforest at UNESCO World Heritage site Fort San Lorenzo. 
Now sailing, we sleep while moving through Gatun Lake. The next morning, we immerse ourselves in the wilderness.

Our
 group includes mostly those aged 50 and older, but a pair of teens are onboard, too. The 36 passengers -- the ship can accommodate 62 -- and 30 crew members quickly bond. I'm traveling with my wife, Colleen, and our stateroom is small. It's comfortable but built for function -- a place to store our stuff and get a restful night's sleep after days filled with action.

We spend our 
time playing in the waters or hiking in the jungles. At the secluded Granito de Oro, our group is alone to snorkel around the tiny island. We take skiff rides ashore and are greeted by thousands of hermit crabs that continuously crawl the sands. (They also nibble at our toes when we plop into loungers for a snack or beer break.)

I tug 
on a snorkel mask and fins and slip beneath the surface, entering a colorful underwater world. Hawksbill and green turtles lazily eat seagrass 35 feet below. We swim amid schools of fish before finishing our exhilarating lap around the island. Some head over to give the standup paddleboards a try. Others keep snorkeling. I make a beeline to the stocked cooler, bringing back an armful of beers and passing them around. A group of us enjoy the beverages while soaking just off shore. Everyone's convinced this is paradise.

Liddy and Gregg Hora
 wanted to cruise in Panama to see the canal as well as enjoy the outdoor activities. Liddy says seeing turtles, fish and coral reefs is a thrill for the Fort Dodge, Iowa, couple because it's an experience they don't get at home.

S
ightings of dolphins and breeching humpback whales are a daily occurrence while we sail in bays and inlets. Crew and passengers keep eyes trained on the waters and call out when creatures are spotted. The expedition guides are native Costa Ricans and have been to each of our stops many times, but their enthusiasm for nature and conservation is genuine. They expertly lead us ashore and point out the sloths, howler monkeys and other creatures and plants that call the rainforest home.

On
 Safari Voyager, your cruise fare includes one 30-minute massage for each passenger, as well as drinks and a fantastic menu that features a creative mix of familiar cuisine and regional specialties like ropa vieja and fresh fish. The crowd gathers each afternoon for a drink of the day and fresh-made cookies.

Colleen and I 
rise the final day onboard to see storm clouds overhead. We ditch the daily morning yoga session on the sun deck, grab breakfast and get ready for our last hike. The heavy rains make trails muddy in the Osa Conservation Area, and streams of water rush past as expedition guide Erika leads our group. Animals hide from the storm, and the only sound is the slosh of our shoes and steady rhythm of the rain hitting the lush forest canopy.

"I never thought I'd have so much fun hiking in a rain
storm," Colleen says.

T
he rains pass, and we make our way along the final stretch toward a rushing waterfall to snap a group photo. A tribe of capuchin monkeys scrambles overhead, and we all pause to check them out. We never know what the days will bring during this adventure; we just know that we're not likely to be disappointed.
Monkey in Panama
Sea turtle in Costa Rica

Visiting the Embera Quera village in Panama

Life Off the Grid with the Embera Quera People of Panama

We load into dugout boats and head into the wilds.

Modernity quickly fades as we venture up narrow Gatun River -- with a quick stop to watch a spider monkey put on a thrilling show swinging from tree branches that hang just feet from our boat (our first monkey of the trip!).

UnCruise Adventures is bringing is to the Embera Quera village, and the indigenous people of Panama warmly welcome us ashore. Women, men and children wear colorful beads, flowers and skirts. Their faces and bodies display lovely tribal tattoos. The Embera people sell crafts and host visitors to support their community of about 50. They consider themselves a large family, and they treat visitors as the same. We are all overjoyed to learn about their simple lifestyle.

Children scamper about with dogs on neatly swept dirt floors. A feisty toucan roams the main building, where we take seats to hear a young lady talk about the community. Afterward, we are asked to join in singing and dancing with our hosts and are offered a snack of fish served on a large banana leaf. We shop for hand-crafted items, and I pick a carving of two sloths. Too quickly, it's time to go, and I envy the serenity these people seem to have found off the grid.

-- 
John Roberts

Safari Voyager cruise ship UnCruise Adventures
The Details
Ship: UnCruise Adventures Safari Voyager (62 passengers max capacity) 
Itinerary: Unveiled Wonders: Costa Rica and Panama Canal, 8 nights 
Journey: Panama City, Panama to San Jose, Costa Rica (or reverse) 
Price: From $4,395 per person (based on double occupancy)


A Look Back and What's Ahead for Panama and Costa Rica

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We checked in with UnCruise Adventures' CEO Dan Blanchard to ask what he has heard from passengers who booked the line's expedition experiences in Costa Rica and Panama during UnCruise's first full season sailing in this exotic and raw part of the world. UnCruise is now underway with its second season exploring Panama and Costa Rica on Safari Voyager. 

What was the feedback from guests on how they enjoyed your "Pure Panama" and "Unveiled Wonders" cruises after your first full season? The response from guests who've taken the trip has been great.  As expected, the Panama Canal gets a lot of play prior to the trip but is rarely mentioned as the highlight after the trip. Most people find that Panama is so wild and free outside of the canal zone that they are often a little surprised. The two native groups we work with in Panama create a lot of positive vibes with the guests. The Darien and Guna Yala/San Blas areas are big memory-makers and are top items for our guests along with amazement at the early Spanish and pirate history nearby or underfoot.

Did it go as you had expected? The route and experiences have been over the top and second only to Alaska in my mind, but so different they are hard to compare. Pure Panama was an instant hit from a guest satisfaction level and has far exceeded our expectations . . . that goes for the crew too. The main takeaway is culture and clear warm water.  So yes, it did go as expected. However, we are realizing two things: One, guests want more time in the area, and two, they prefer Costa Rica and Panama together on a longer trip. We are working on developing 10- and 12-night Costa Rica and Panama combination trips.

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Back to Nature: Panama and Costa Rica with UnCruise Adventures

11/6/2017

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Visiting Embera Quera Village in Panama
One of our first stops brought us to the Embera Quera Village in Panama to meet the indigenous people of this region.
By John Roberts 

Linking arms and hands, our group of six hikers was able to safely cross the rapidly flowing stream. A small footbridge had long been washed away, and the rain storm made the waters race down the hillside with increased pace this afternoon. With our shoes now completely drenched, we continued scrambling along the muddy trail in Costa Rica's Osa Conservation Area. The animals we had hoped to spot stayed hidden away during the heavy afternoon rains. They were up there somewhere, I imagined, watching this strange pack of people below who don't have enough sense to huddle away during such conditions. 

What's it like to spend time in the wilds
 in one of the most biodiverse and pristine parts of the world? That's just what I had aimed to find out during our voyage with UnCruise Adventures in Panama and Costa Rica. And this hike was giving us the full sense of the raw, lush, beautiful, mysterious and often unforgiving conditions that serve as home to a staggering number of the world's animal and plant varieties.  
UnCruise Adventures Safari Voyager in Shelter Bay marina, Panama
I had been to Costa Rica and Panama a couple times before, but only on short stops -- one-day port visits with other cruise lines. This gave me a nice sampling of these amazing places, but UnCruise puts the region on full display, unveiling its fascinating rainforests, coastlines and vast array of creatures during its journeys on Safari Voyager, the 62-passenger ship purpose-built for this itinerary. 

Our journey starts in Panama City, and we board the ship in Shelter Bay Marina. To escape civilization, we will be transiting the Panama Canal. Shelter Bay is our base for a day as we first venture into Gatun Lake and up a river on small boats to meet indigenous people living in their village in the remote country. Embera Quera is a commune of sorts, with about 50 people living as one large family led by a chief away from the Panamanian government on wilderness land they have purchased. They support themselves by hosting visitors (day trips or overnight lodging is available) and selling crafts.  
Embera Quera Village in Panama
Boating to Embera Quera Village in Panama
Monkey in Panama Gatun Lake
Embera Quera Village in Panama
It's a fun experience to visit with people enjoying simple and uncluttered lives. We engaged in a discussion and presentation on how they live, as well as enjoy songs and dances. We then were encouraged to join in, and many of us paired up with our Embera partners to sway and spin around the hard-packed dirt floor under the large open-air, thatched-roof of the central meeting building. Imagine a 6-foot-4 white Westerner pirouetting with a barely 5-foot-tall brown native girl. We all had a blast and were also given a homemade tilapia and plantain snack that was served up in large palm leaves. 

We capped our trip to the rustic village by purchasing a memento of our visit: a pair of sloths (mom and child) hand carved from a tagua seed. While riding into and out of the village on our motorized narrow dugout canoes, we spotted our first wildlife, too. An active spider monkey gave us a show in the trees at the edge of a lake, and we also saw a small crocodile and several turtles. It was early on during the adventure, but you could already see fellow cruisers beginning to bond with one another. It seems that singing and dancing with friendly native people in a gorgeous fresh-air natural setting and spying active and exotic animals from the cramped confines of a wooden boat is an ideal way to turn perfect strangers into fast friends.
Howler monkey at Fort San Lorenzo in Panama
We were fortunate to see this howler monkey at Fort San Lorenzo. These monkeys are typically shy.
The next morning before setting sail on Safari Voyager, we went on a hike at St. Lorenzo Fort, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site just six miles from Shelter Bay. The fort sits at the mouth of the Chagres River, and we saw howler monkeys in the trees just at the edge of the property. We didn't have to take many steps on our trail before we saw a sloth, more monkeys, humming birds, colorful flowers, butterflies and a massive termite nest -- our guide Erika even persuaded us to eat a few live ones to learn some "survival skills." (They are a sweet pine flavor, by the way.) 

The trip was off to a good start.
 
Fresh cookies on UnCruise Adventures Safari Voyager
Can chocolate chips cookies really be a highlight of your trip? Yes, they can!
RELATED: Six Reasons an Expedition Ship is the Best Way to Cruise the Panama Canal
Ship Life 

UnCruise Adventures refurbished Safari Voyager and relaunched the ship in early 2017. The four-deck vessel is comfortable, with a spacious lounge and several pleasant outdoor spaces with seating. These areas are where passengers spend most of their time on the ship. The bar (drinks are all included on Safari Voyager) is in the lounge, and you also meet here for daily chats about the upcoming schedule of events for your voyage as well as for after-dinner enrichment talks on subjects such as mangroves or primates. The lounge features a small library of DVDs (cabins have TVs with DVD players) and a selection of games to keep you occupied and help you get acquainted with other passengers. Many on our cruise had fun putting together a large puzzle. 

The food is also a highlight on this trip. Breakfasts, lunches and dinners were all outstanding, featuring fresh-made meals that are locally sourced and highlight the traditional flavors of the region. Dinner menus offer a meat, fish and vegetarian dish each night. It’s also common for people to choose a half-and-half plate if they can’t decide between two delicious-sounding options. 

At 3 p.m. each day, it's "Cookie Hour" with the best-tasting cookies I've ever had. We had chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, chocolate chip mint and snickerdoodles. Passengers constantly raved about the pastries, brownies, breads and other sweets throughout the week.  

Safari Voyager has a viewing platform on the front of Deck 2 and a small bench to use on Deck 3 in front of the bridge. The captain welcomes visitors into the bridge at most any time to see how the ship operates. The sports marina is at the back of the ship and is used for launching the daily excursions via kayak or skiff boat. A nice seating area is on Deck 3 aft, and the crew served a barbecue dinner outside there as we began our voyage sailing through the Panama Canal. It was an incredible experience to be enjoying dinner inside a canal lock on a sunny day as we watched the workers onshore throwing ropes to the ship and guiding us through the system. 

This Deck 3 outside area is also the space for early-morning stretch and yoga sessions led by the Safari Voyager wellness staff. Spin bikes, an elliptical machine and set up free-weights are also located in this area for morning workouts. The ship has two massage rooms, and each passenger is entitled to a 30-minute massage during the cruise (included in your fare). 

Basic cabins are tight for two people, but the space is well thought out with smart nooks and areas for placing all your clothes, gear and camera equipment you will be using. It rains a lot in this region, and 
you'll probably encounter heavy, long periods of downpours. The ship offers a dryer and clothes spinner to help wring out the wetness from your clothing. 
UnCruise Adventures skiff tour in Costa Rica
Our expedition guide Erika is a wealth of knowledge about Panama and her native Costa Rica.
Turtle in Coiba National Park, Panama
Snorkeling in Coiba National Park, Panama
Granito de Oro in Panama
Rainforests, Beaches and Animals 

The food is wonderful, and the drinks and amenities are fabulous bonuses and add to an overall fantastic expedition. But the main draw for this journey is what is off the boat. After transiting the canal, we arrived to the Pacific Coast of Panama. Granito de Oro (Little Grain of Gold) is our destination, and the tiny island has the best snorkeling we have enjoyed outside of the southern Caribbean. 

The island is part of the protected Coiba Island National Park region, and we spent the day there. In the morning, we headed to the tiny island beach. Safari Voyager cruisers get the oasis to themselves for a couple hours before other tour boats arrive. The island looks as if it was made for postcards. One prominent palm tree sits in the center of the beach, back near the tree line, and the sands are crawling with our welcoming committee -- thousands and thousands of hermit crabs.  

We gear up, slide into the water and begin to snorkel around the island. We make a complete circumnavigation of Granito de Oro, and schools of fish encircle us frequently in the clear waters. We also spot several turtles: greens and Hawksbills. The snorkeling experience is delightful here, and even a few small stings from tiny jellyfish didn't ruin the day. The jellies were invisible to us, causing a brief shock, but we finished our swim with no problem. UnCruise deploys guides and kayakers to keep watch over snorkel groups and will get you out of the water if you feel at all uncomfortable.  

We finish our circumnavigation of the island, a little tired and thoroughly satisfied in what we've seen. I race to the cooler ashore that's packed with drinks and return with several beers to share with my fellow snorkelers as we compare notes on turtles, fish and coral and wade in the warm waters. We sipped from cold cans of Balboa lager. And gazing at the surrounding views, you wouldn't be able to convince any of us that this isn't paradise.  

Several in our group were snorkeling for the first time and had a blast. However, I'm afraid having your first snorkel experience at Granito de Oro might lead to a bit of a letdown when you try it again at most other places in the world.  
 
Kayaking in Costa Rica
Passengers also jumped into kayaks and onto stand-up paddleboards to have fun in the waters. For the afternoon, Safari Voyager repositioned to the main Coiba Island, the largest island in Central America. We had lunch ashore and took a nature walk, which led to a spectacular set of monkey encounters. We could hear a monkey making a ruckus in a nearby tree as we ate our lunch, and we found him early on the path into the forest.

Our 
UnCruise Adventures expedition guide Rey told us this guy was an alpha-male Coiba Island Howler, the only place in the world to see this species, which is a smallish howler with reddish-brown coloring on its fur. 

Then, just a few paces away from where we had lunch at picnic tables, a troop of white-face capuchins came onto the lawn. This species is much bolder, and the tribe we encountered was obviously used to visitors to the island. Several of the monkeys picked over fallen coconuts, reaching into them for insects and scrounging the edge of the trees for nuts and other food. We could have watched them for hours, but soon it was time to head back to Safari Voyager. Cookie Hour was approaching
, after all. 

We headed to bed early to prepare for 
a pre-dawn wakeup on our first day in Costa Rica. Safari Voyager left Panama and headed to Golfito, a small fishing village and bay in Costa Rica. We woke to view low-hanging clouds in the hillside (cloud forest) and loaded into skiffs to explore the bay and mangroves at sunrise. Mangroves are an under-appreciated forest formation that provide a sanctuary for all kinds of birds and mammals and are a nursery area for crocodiles, shellfish, fish and crabs.  

They also offer protection for coastlines from storms and prevent erosion. We spotted many birds and a few monkeys active high in the trees nearby. We 
simply reveled in the quiet calmness of the early morning on the waterway. 

The ship 
cruised up the coast to reach Piedras Blancas National Park, where groups chose to go ashore for a rainforest hike or yoga at an ecolodge. We opted to go kayaking. It was raining, so our hearty batch of paddlers thought "why not just go out on the water?" We hoped to see a crocodile or two, but we settled for more birds and two hours of active paddling. We had only one full day left ahead of us on the voyage, and it seemed like we were just getting started. Time really flies when you are immersed in such an interesting and enlightening part of the world and able to get off the grid and commune with nature. 
Iguana Island in Panama
Iguana Island in Panama was one of several exotic and remote getaways we were able to enjoy on our trip.
Safari Voyager arrived in Peninsula de Oso on Day 6 to place us right in the heart of perhaps the most biodiverse location on the planet. Things were crackling from the moment we stepped off our skiffs at a beach upon arriving in the morning. Passengers zigzagged on paths along the edge of rainforest, exchanging details and directions about where they spotted baby monkeys in the trees or birds such as toucans and macaws. 

Sheridan, a biologist on vacation from Colorado, came back to the beach after her walk and gave us perfect directions to a spot in a clearing where we were able to see two colorful scarlet macaws perched comfortably on a branch.  

There was time for beers, sodas, snacks and swimming, too. The picturesque beach is framed by jagged volcanic rock formations jutting from the sea. It's a true nature-lover's paradise. We had lunch on the ship and then more activities to take on. The afternoon excursion took us to another spot in the rainforest after the ship had relocated. Rains poured on us during the first hour of our rainforest hike, and the animals had disappeared to take shelter.  

Still, we found ourselves thoroughly enthralled as we trudged into the hills along a muddy path as red-clay colored waters flowed as tiny rivers beneath our feet and the lush green forest enveloped our group. The sounds of rains hitting the leaves and rushing waters was a delightful rainforest symphony. 

Colleen noted how surprised she was to be having fun walking in a rain storm -- shortly after our group had successfully joined hands to traverse that stream. 

Then, our patience and persistence in braving these jungle conditions paid off. The rains slowed to a gentle mist, and the animals started to emerge. First a troop of capuchins scurried around overhead, hungry and active after waiting out the storm. Branches, leaves and fruits tumbled to the forest floor. (Were they throwing them at us?)

We could hear the raging waterfall just ahead, our ultimate destination on the hike. Reaching another wonderfully scenic landmark, we gathered together to snap a group picture as a fitting way to cap our amazing week with 
UnCruise Adventures.
toucan in Panama
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