Panama, Colombia & Caribbean Islands

From $7,600 per person

13 days

Ship: Le Dumont-d'Urville

Panama, Colombia & Caribbean Islands
Ponant

Join us aboard Le Dumont-d’Urville for an exceptional PONANT cruise sailing from Colón to Fort-de-France. This 13-day itinerary will give you the opportunity to appreciate the richness and diversity of Afro-Caribbean cultures, an azure blue sky and white-sand beaches. 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, explore the mangrove in a traditional canoe from Cartagena de Indias, enjoy hiking in La Quebrada and seeing its waterfall, leaving from Santa Marta, or discover the town of Soufrière, between land and sea, on Saint Lucia. The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab). From Fort-de-France you will sail towards the ravishing Baie des Saintes, a very popular spot for mooring, with crystal clear waters and fabulous seabeds, before reaching Saint Lucia and its two majestic rocky peaks soaring straight from the sea, a unique location listed as UNESCO World Heritage site. Then, you will head south to the archipelago of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The most beautiful coral reef in the West Indies connects this chain of islands and reveals incredible underwater fauna and secret coves. Next, you will discover the magnificent Bonaire, renowned for its coral reefs protected by a huge marine park and for its pink flamingos, emblematic of the island. On the north of Columbia’s Caribbean coast, you will reach Santa Marta. This seaside resort is an infinite source of wonder, with its lush tropical forest, beautiful fine sandy beaches and Pre-Columbian treasures. Then, you will visit the city of Cartagena de Indias. Its port, fortress and historic monuments, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offer many noteworthy sights. You will next succumb to the charms of the clear waters of Panama and the San Blas archipelago, composed of more than 300 islands and cays. The Kuna people live among the palm trees and pirogues (small boats); this culture continues, among other things, the traditional craft of molas, weaved textiles in sparkling colours. Your last port of call before reaching Colon will be in the magnificent Portobelo Bay, in a region imbued with the traditions of Congo culture. The fortifications of this former gateway to the New World are a UNESCO World Heritage Site !

Journey Summary

  • Day 1 - Dec. 7, 2025, Sun. - Fort-de-France
  • Day 2 - Dec. 8, 2025, Mon. - Îles des Saintes
  • Day 3 - Dec. 9, 2025, Tue. - Pigeon Island
  • Day 4 - Dec. 10, 2025, Wed. - Union Island
  • Day 5 - Dec. 11, 2025, Thu. - Mayreau Island
  • Day 6 - Dec. 12, 2025, Fri. - At Sea
  • Day 7 - Dec. 13, 2025, Sat. - Bonaire
  • Day 8 - Dec. 14, 2025, Sun. - At Sea
  • Day 9 - Dec. 15, 2025, Mon. - Santa Marta
  • Day 10 - Dec. 16, 2025, Tue. - Cartagena
  • Day 11 - Dec. 17, 2025, Wed. - San Blas Islands
  • Day 12 - Dec. 18, 2025, Thu. - Portobelo
  • Day 13 - Dec. 19, 2025, Fri. - Colón

Detailed Itinerary

Day-by-day description of your cruise and cruise activities.

Day 1 - December 07, 2025

Fort-de-France

The largest of the Windward Islands, Martinique is 4,261 mi (6,817 km) from Paris, but its spirit and language are decidedly French, with more than a soupçon of West Indian spice. Tangible, edible evidence of the fact is the island's cuisine, a superb blend of French and creole. Martinique is lushly landscaped with tropical flowers. Trees bend under the weight of fruits such as mangoes, papayas, lemons, limes, and bright-red West Indian cherries. Acres of banana plantations, pineapple fields, and waving sugarcane stretch to the horizon. The towering mountains and verdant rain forest in the north lure hikers, while underwater sights and sunken treasures attract snorkelers and scuba divers. Martinique is also wonderful if your idea of exercise is turning over every 10 minutes to get an even tan and your taste in adventure runs to duty-free shopping. A popular cruise-ship excursion goes to St-Pierre, which was buried by ash when Mont Pelée erupted in 1902.

Day 2 - December 08, 2025

Îles des Saintes

This small group of islands lies opposite the western part of Guadeloupe. They were discovered in November 1493 by Columbus, who named them Los Santos. French settlers established themselves in 1648 and changed the name to Iles des Saintes, commonly known as Les Saintes. Since then the islands have been closely connected with Guadeloupe. Until a recent influx of tourism, Les Saintes were among the Caribbean’s most unspoiled destinations. Only two of the eight islands are inhabited: Terre-de-Bas and Terre-de-Haut. The latter is known for its impressive Fort Napoleon built in the early 19th century to replace an earlier 17th-century fort. From its vantage point there are fine views of the many tiny islets scattered in the bay and across to Guadeloupe. Terre-de-Haut is the main island of Les Saintes, with steeply scarped hills, scenic valleys, hidden coves and beautiful beaches. Its main settlement consists of a charming village of red-roofed houses situated along a curving bay. A number of small boutiques and gift shops invite browsing. Quaint cafés and restaurants offer food and drink. To the east of the village lies Grande Anse, a fine sand beach. Most of the attractions on this small island can be seen on foot. With just a few vehicles on the island, there are no organized tours possible. Time ashore here is at your leisure.

Day 3 - December 09, 2025

Pigeon Island

Day 4 - December 10, 2025

Union Island

Day 5 - December 11, 2025

Mayreau Island

The small island of Mayreau, just one and 1/2 square miles in area (3.9 square kilometres) is the smallest inhabited island of The Grenadines, and is part of the independent state of St.Vincent in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Two of the best known islands in The Grenadines are Mustique and Bequia, the second largest island in this group. The Grenadine Islands are strung out in a gentle sweep between St.Vincent and Grenada. Most visitors to Mayreau arrive from cruise ships, on the regular ferry, or by yacht. There are no proper roads on the island, only a few vehicles, no airport and only a single unnamed village. Mayreau and the neighboring Tobago Cays are very popular for divers and snorkellers. Saline Bay, on the west coast of the island, has a wonderful broad beach and a few local vendors selling T-shirts and local craft. A climb up the road to the hilltop village on the island provides breathtaking views across Mayreau, Canouan, the Tobago Cays and Carriacou.

Day 6 - December 12, 2025

At Sea

Day 7 - December 13, 2025

Bonaire

Day 8 - December 14, 2025

At Sea

Day 9 - December 15, 2025

Santa Marta

Day 10 - December 16, 2025

Cartagena

Cartagena's magnificent city walls and fortresses, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, enclose a well-restored historic center (the Cuidad Amurallada, or walled city) with plazas, churches, museums, and shops that have made it a lively coastal vacation spot for South Americans and others. New hotels and restaurants make the walled city a desirable place to stay, and the formerly down-at-the-heels Getsemaní neighborhood attracts those seeking a bohemian buzz. The historic center is a small section of Cartagena; many hotels are in the Bocagrande district, an elongated peninsula where high-rise hotels overlook a long, gray-sand beach.When it was founded in 1533 by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Heredia, Cartagena was the only port on the South American mainland. Gold and silver looted from indigenous peoples passed through here en route to Spain and attracted pirates, including Sir Francis Drake, who in 1586 torched 200 buildings. Cartagena's walls protected the city's riches as well as the New World's most important African slave market.

Day 11 - December 17, 2025

San Blas Islands

The San Blas archipelago is located off the Caribbean coast, east of Colon, and is made up of 365 islands that range in size from tiny ones with a few coconut palms to islands on which hundreds of Kuna Indians live. Only about fifty are inhabited. The Kuna rule the San Blas Territory with internal autonomy, and have tightly preserved their language and cultural traditions over the centuries despite influences from European colonies. In addition to their own language, Spanish is widely spoken and many men work on the mainland, but live on the islands. Women wear costumes with unique designs based on local themes, geometric patterns, and stylised fauna and flora. The island of El Porvenir is one of the main seats of government for the Kuna Indians. Many Kunas from the other islands came to settle on El Porvenir, bringing with them their traditional arts and crafts, including the famous molas. These intricately hand-sewn designs are made by the women of the tribes as part of their blouses and dresses. With the increased tourism, molas are now a favoured souvenir and craft item for visitors.

Day 12 - December 18, 2025

Portobelo

Day 13 - December 19, 2025

Colón

The provincial capital of Colón, beside the canal's Atlantic entrance, is named for the Spanish-language surname of Christopher Columbus, though the Americans called it Aspinwall in the 19th century.. The city was founded in 1850 by Americans working on the Panama railroad and named Aspinwall for one of the railway engineers. Following completion in 1855, Colon gained in importance, which was furthered by the plans for an isthmian canal. During the time of the French canal attempt, a fire in 1885 burned the city nearly to the ground and left thousands of people homeless. Colon was rebuilt in the architectural style then popular in France. Buildings from that era plus the ones constructed by Americans between 1904 and 1914 are still in use today, although the majority is on the verge of collapse. In addition to its importance as a port, Colon boasts the world’s second largest duty-free zone, known as Zona Libre, which is contained in a huge fortress like, walled-off area with giant international stores. However, most of the merchandise is sold in bulk to commercial businesses throughout the country.

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Dec 07, 2025

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