Star Collector: Mayan Monuments & Alaskan Glaciers

Located on the Gulf of Nicoya, the small town of Puerto Caldera is one of Costa Rica’s top attractions, perfect for travelers who like more off the beaten path destinations where the native Tico lifestyle can be experienced. It is the gateway to San Jose, Jaco and the big city of Puntarenas, plus Los Suenos and Tortuga Island. Carara National Park is nearby, the rainforest home to crocodiles, over 400 species of birds and is considered the most likely place to see scarlet macaws.

<span><span class="ui-provider a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak" dir="ltr">Located along Costa Rica&#39;s Pacific coast, the Curu Wildlife Reserve is an impressive nature reserve spanning 12 square kilometers. This biodiverse paradise is a haven for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers alike looking for a responsible way to experience Costa Rica&rsquo;s forest and pristine beaches. Wander through dense tropical dry forests teeming with howler monkeys, capuchins, and a plethora of exotic birds or relax and bask in the sun on the beach.</span></span>

Playas del Coco, with its unspoiled cocoa-colored beaches, is a jumping off point for rainforest canopy tours, nature walks, and other inspiring eco-adventures. It&nbsp;is one of the more popular beach towns in the country for both locals and tourists and is well-known for being a family friendly town. <em>This port is accessed with a wet landing.</em>

Puerto Chiapas is an important commercial port for agricultural produce and the gateway to Tapachula and the Izapa Mayan ruins. The Izapa played a major role in the creation of the Mayan calendar and the settlement here is 3,500 years old. The ruins include the Mayan Tree of Life carving, several plazas, pyramids and ball courts. The fertile fields produce high-quality cocoa beans and bananas. In Tapachula visit the planetarium for information on Mayan astronomy and cosmology. See the architecture and town square with its diverse influences from German, Chinese, Japanese and French cultures over the years and shop for handcrafted goods like leathers and ceramics.

Santa Maria Huatulco is one of the few places on earth to earn the pure air EarthCheck Gold Certification.&nbsp; It is known for the nearby pre-Hispanic ruins found at Parque Eco-Arqueologico Copalita, including a large stone temple. Huatulco is home to nine bays together called Bays National Park, a protected reserve. The coral reefs provide excellent diving opportunities and kayaking the rapids and sport fishing are also popular activities here. A visit to the Museum of Oaxacan Art will provide an chance to purchase traditional clay creations known as &ldquo;Barro Negro,&rdquo; and date back several centuries. Each piece is unique and hand sculpted.

Recognized as Mexico&rsquo;s busiest seaport, Manzanillo was also the location for the filming of Bo Derek&rsquo;s slow-motion jog down the beach in the movie &ldquo;10.&rdquo;&nbsp; The large blue sculpture at the waterside plaza is a tribute to Manzanillo&rsquo;s self-proclaimed status as &ldquo;Sailfish Capital of the World.&rdquo; The waters off Manzanillo offer a high concentration of marlin and other deep-sea fish and excellent dive sites with numerous coral reefs, shipwrecks. With 350 days of sunshine a year any day can be a beach day and Miramar Beach will attract with its waterfront promenade, golden sand and spectacular view of the twin bays here.

A popular resort town, visitors come here to relax and rest on the lovely sandy beaches or take up activities like strolling the picturesque boardwalk, horseback riding, snorkeling and boat trips.&nbsp; The quaint cobblestone center of Puerto Vallarta is home to boutiques, restaurants, bars and the ornate Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe church.<br />
Puerto Vallarta&rsquo;s biodiversity is home to hundreds of species including orchids, birds, ocelots, jaguars and iguanas. The sea is full of wildlife as well including dolphins and humpbacks.

As the 4^th busiest port in the United States, evergreen Seattle is surrounded by mountains, forests and water. Home to Microsoft, Starbuck&rsquo;s and Amazon, Seattle&rsquo;s most recognizable icon is the Space Needle. &nbsp;Northwest &nbsp;cuisine with Asian infusion includes apples, salmon, Dungeness crab, razor clams paired with fresh microbrews and Washington wines. Among the sights to see are Pike Place Market, Chihuly Gardens, Boeing Museum of Flight, Pioneer Square, and the Ballard Locks.

Vancouver&rsquo;s location at the mouth of the Fraser River and on the waterways of the Strait of Georgia, Howe Sound, Burrard Inlet and all their tributaries makes this busy seaport an easy place for meeting. It is one of Canada&rsquo;s most populated, most ethnically diverse cities that is a popular filming location. Visit the interesting neighborhoods of Gastown, Granville Island and Chinatown. Walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge and stroll through Stanley Park. See the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Museum of Anthropology. There is an amazing variety of things to see and do here.

Transiting Seymour Narrows is a memorable highlight of any Inside Passage journey. This narrow channel in British Columbia is known for its strong tidal currents, which can reach up to 15 knots. Because of the fast-moving water, ships can only transit during <i>slack water</i>&mdash;a short period when the tide shifts and currents are at their weakest. Since slack water times vary daily with the tides, each transit is carefully timed for safety and comfort. Before and after navigating the Narrows, the ship cruises through the Canadian Inside Passage for several hours, passing serene channels lined with dense forests and dotted with small, remote islands. This stretch is an underappreciated and unexpected favorite for many guests&mdash;offering peaceful, scenic views and a true sense of the wild Pacific Northwest.

Dubbed the Salmon Capital of the World, Ketchikan is the southeastern-most town in Alaska and is home to the world&rsquo;s largest collection of standing totem poles that are found throughout the city and at four major locations: Saxman Totem Park, Totem Bight State Park, Potlatch Park, and the Totem Heritage Center. Other attractions of Ketchikan are Creek Street, a boardwalk road built on pilings over Ketchikan Creek and the Waterfront Promenade that skirts the bustling shoreline with inviting whale-tail benches to take in the view.

Cruising Misty Fjords/Rudyerd Bay in Alaska offers an awe-inspiring adventure through one of nature&rsquo;s most pristine landscapes. Towering granite cliffs rise dramatically from mirror-like waters. The mist-shrouded environment evokes a sense of ancient mystery and tranquility, while diverse wildlife, including seals and eagles, adds to the experience. Navigating these majestic fjords provides an unforgettable glimpse into Alaska&rsquo;s raw, untouched beauty, where every turn reveals a new, breathtaking vista

One of the oldest towns in Alaska, Wrangell is located near the mouth of the Stikine River. Much of its history can be seen in the impressive collection of totems scattered throughout the town. Highlights here are the amazing Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park where you can find primitive rock carvings and just 30 miles away is the Anan Wildlife Observatory with the largest pink salmon runs in the Inside Passage, and a platform from which you can look for eagles, harbor seals and black bears.<br />

Sitka is one of the oldest and most culturally significant communities in Alaska, filled with rich Tlingit, Russian, and early American settler history. Sitka is famous for its spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, the copper-domed St. Michael&rsquo;s Cathedral, the Pioneer Home and the Russian Bishop&rsquo;s House. It contains 22 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is where the contract of sale was signed transferring Alaska from Russia to the United States.

Depending on the day&rsquo;s conditions, you will cruise Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm. Both glacial fjords feature icebergs drifting serenely by and towering granite cliffs, carved by millennia of glacial activity. Here, you can witness impressive calving events as icebergs thunder into the water. The surrounding wilderness, with its rugged terrain, offers a pristine backdrop for spotting wildlife like seals and mountain goats.

Haines is one of the most popular Alaska cruise ports and one of the best places for hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing, especially bald eagles.&nbsp; Within the Haines city limits Fort William H. Seward is a nationally recognized historic landmark, with some of its structures open to the public. Other cultural offerings in Haines include the Alaska Indian Arts Center where traditional craftsmen offer demonstrations of their work, the Sheldon Museum &amp; Cultural Center where local Tlingit people are featured, the Hammer Museum, dedicated to the history of the hammer and the Tsirku Canning Company Museum with memories of Haines&rsquo; salmon canneries.

Located on the Gastineau Channel in the Alaskan panhandle, Juneau sits at sea level below steep mountains between 3,500-4,000 feet high. Atop these mountains is the Juneau Icefield, a large ice mass from which about 30 glaciers flow, and two of them &ndash; Mendenhall Glacier and Lemon Creek Glacier are visible from the local road. A unique feature of Juneau is that it is the only U.S. capital that has no roads connecting it to the rest of the state.