Sara Macefield and her family take a cruise on the wild side and get a look at the Panama Canal on an NCL Central American adventure
Upsetting the locals had never been so entertaining. Each time the engines revved on our small river boat, an angry chorus of deep barks echoed through the air as a large troop of howler monkeys vented their displeasure.
As I looked up at the huge tree overhanging the river, I could see dark shapes jumping through the branches in rising consternation at every mechanical roar. Then twigs and branches started to rain down around us as the furious primates began throwing whatever they could lay their hands on.
“We’d better go,” our guide advised. “This is their first line of defence and if it doesn’t drive us away, they’ll start throwing their poo at us.”
Naturally, we didn’t hang around and roared off into the jungle to explore this slice of Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast on a hunt for exotic wildlife.
This pocket-size eco-tourism haven proved to be a real high point on our Norwegian Cruise Line round-trip voyage from Miami, but it wasn’t the only one. The other big draw was the chance to sail through the Panama Canal, one of the bucket list attractions in this part of the world.
In the lead-up to our departure, I’d impressed upon my 14-year-old twin daughters the historical significance of this legendary waterway linking the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. But then, just a few weeks before we departed, the penny suddenly dropped. We weren’t actually going to be sailing through the Panama Canal – well, not the entire length of it, anyway.
Denne historien er fra December - January 2017-utgaven av Cruise International.
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Denne historien er fra December - January 2017-utgaven av Cruise International.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
SCARLET LADY
The first ‘ladyship’ from new cruise line Virgin Voyages is stylish and innovative
“WE RENEWED OUR vows at sea”
Deborah Stone and her husband Nick were among 1,443 couples who broke a Guinness World Record in the Caribbean
Win AN AEGEAN CRUISE FOR TWO WITH CELESTYAL CRUISES
Win AN AEGEAN CRUISE FOR TWO WITH CELESTYAL CRUISES
SHOPPING
THE LATEST GORGEOUS THINGS AND GADGETS TO BUY FOR YOUR TRAVELS
Wild WORLD
As we seek to connect more closely with the natural world, safari cruises are becoming one of the hottest travel trends. Nick Dalton selects some of the most enticing itineraries
JULIE PEASGOOD
With so many onboard activities and excursions on shore, our celebrity columnist is thoroughly spoilt for choice
REGENT SEVEN SEAS SPLENDOR
Glamorous sophistication and impeccable service make this ship luxury perfected
LAND of SMILES
Its troubled history and extraordinary beauty makes Cambodia one of the most compelling destinations you can visit on a river cruise
Fantasy ISLANDS
Unleash your inner Robinson Crusoe on one of these exotic private resorts exclusive to cruise lines.
CRUISE WELL
EVERY ISSUE WE BRING YOU THE LATEST HEALTH AND WELLBEING NEWS