Panama City & San Lorenzo Post-Extension

Disembark National Geographic Quest and visit Agua Clara Locks for a firsthand look at the newest operational locks on the Panama Canal. Fifty percent larger than the original locks, these accommodate the largest vessels transiting between oceans.

Continue to Fort San Lorenzo, perched on a cliff where the Chagres River meets the Caribbean. This iconic UNESCO World Heritage site dates to the early 1600s, built to protect the Spanish Main.

Explore San Lorenzo National Park on foot, discovering one of Panama's less-visited natural gems. Listen for the raucous call of mantled howler monkeys and watch for toucans, trogons, poison dart frogs and blue morpho butterflies.

After lunch at a local marina, cross the isthmus to Panama's capital. Check into the hotel with time to rest and freshen up before dinner.

After breakfast, visit Amador, strategically positioned to protect the southern terminus of the Panama Canal. Named for Panama's first president, Manuel Amador Guerrero, the fort served as a U.S. Army base until 1999.

Tour Frank Gehry's BioMuseo—his only design in Latin America. The museum features eight exhibits dedicated to the isthmus of Panama and its biodiversity. Drive through the former Panama Canal Zone, passing by landmarks such as the Panama Canal Administration Building in the foothills of Ancon Hill. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant en route.

At Miraflores Locks, enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour followed by an illustrative documentary on the waterway narrated by Morgan Freeman a private VIP tour of the Panama Canal Museum. Return to the hotel for the afternoon.

In the evening, visit Casco Viejo, one of Panama City's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Walk the historic peninsula with its cathedral spires, narrow streets and colorful colonial architecture before dinner at a local restaurant.

Transfer to Tocumen International Airport for flights home.