Panama
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal measures 80 kilometres in length, from Colon on the Caribbean to Panama on the Pacific. The transit of the Canal takes approximately 10 hours. This leg offers the opportunity to observe the operation of one of the marvels of modern world.
Pearl Archipelago
The Pearl Archipelago, off the Panamanian Pacific Coast, offers solitary beaches of white sand.
There are reefs on the islands with schools of multi-coloured fish, sea
turtles, devil fish and beautiful corals.
Galapagos
Tahiti
The sapphire blue of Tahiti and her islands. The dazzling white of her coral
sands. The brilliant greens of the elegant coconut palms. Blue, white and
green; these are the predominant colours of Tahiti and her Islands. All
118 of these gorgeous Polynesian islands spread across five far-flung archipelagos.
Each with its own very individual character whose inhabitants blend the
twenty first century to the ancestral rhythms of sun and sea. Tahiti and
her Islands offer a myriad of land and sea activities that will reveal to
you the dazzling panorama of their magnificent scenery. The Polynesians
of these lands of great beauty and natural abundance express their joie
de vivre, willingly shared with all, in their dances, in their music, in
the power of their brassy church choirs and in their wild and free canoes
as they fly through the waves. Their hospitality is legendary. And when
you come to leave these islands, you will feel the warmth of emotion as
you are adorned with shell necklaces which, unlike the flowers of your arrival,
will never fade... Cook Islands
Samoa
Tonga
Often referred to as the ‘Crown Jewel of the South Pacific’, Tongais the
only remaining constitutional monarchy in the South Pacific. King Taufa’ahau
Tupou IV reigns over this picturesque small nation which Captain Cook named
the friendly islands. Religion and tradition play such an important role
in everyday life there. The main island of Tongatapu is rich in culture
and traditions with a touch of royalty for good measure. The Ha’apai group
to the north is the ideal relaxing destination for a get-away-from-it-all
holiday. The northern most group of islands, Vava’u, is yachties heaven
with it’s sheltered harbour. Whether one is inclined towards adventure holidays
such as surfing, scuba diving, sailing or sea kayaking or just soaking up
the sun, an amazing experience is to be had by all in the friendly islands
of the Kingdom of Tonga. Tonga’s population of 96,000 is scattered across
a chain of over 170 small islands occupying a combined land mass of just
699km2. Fiji
Often referred to as the ‘Crossroads of the South Pacific’ because of it’s
geographical location, the Fiji Islands is a hospitable land of contrasts
in people, flora, fauna and culture. It is home to people who have been
called the friendliest on earth. It is made up of a chain of over 300 islands
and is a cosmopolitan cocktail of culture, race and religion. It is a place
where ‘bula’, the traditional Fijian greeting, is a very special word and
you can relax without a care in the world. Fiji Islands has a population
of just over 750,000 and a land area of 18,200 km taken up mostly by the
two major islands Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. New Caledonia
Located in the heart of the South Pacific, 1500kms from the Australian coastline
and 1700km from New Zealand, New Caledonia is a large archipelago over 500kms
in length, composed principally of the mainland, Isle of Pines and Loyalty
Islands. Like a pearl in its shell, New Caledonia is surrounded by an immense
coral reef which protects it from the great depths and swells of the open
seas. In this way, the mainland is cocooned in a superb lagoon, the largest
in the world, promising innumerable treasures. Native flora and fauna protected
in vast natural reserves, variety of species, beauty of underwater scenery,
New Caledonia is a blessed marine environment. For diving disciples, it
is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful sites in the world. In the shelter
of its coral reef, caressed all year round by the gentle tradewinds of the
Pacific, the lagoon is a paradise for nautical activities such as sailing,
windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing and water skiing. Vanuatu
Made up of 80 islands strung out in the shape of a "Y" and covering a total
land area of 12,189 km2, Vanuatu - "The Land which has always Existed" brings
to mind a vision of timeless tranquillity. Formerly known as the New Hebrides,
the country was run (up until 1980 when it became independent) as a Condominium
with administration being shared between Britain and France. Consequently
there is a strong French influence evident in this beautiful country with
most of the 180,000 inhabitants speaking both French and English as well
as the national language Bislama - a form of Pidgin English. Whether it’s
the excitement of witnessing the death-defying ‘Land Divers of Pentecost’
plummet earthwards or discovering the delights of it’s underwater wonderworld,
Vanuatu - the timeless lands – will captivate you. Solomon Islands
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a country rich in natural resources but its wealth
of tradition, beauty and history is unparalleled in the Pacific. From the
magnificent beaches to the cool highlands, the world above water is equally
fascinating. Take a breath of fresh, crisp mountain air 4,500 meters up
at the base of Mount Wilhelm, the country’s highest peak. Thirty eight of
the forty three known species of exotic Birds of Paradise are found in PNG
together with countless butterflies and over 2,000 magnificent species of
orchid. Beauty also lies in the people who still today, observe their delicate
traditions and culture. Papua New Guinea has the biggest land mass of all
the island nations of the region, covering 465,000 km2 and includes some
600 islands, atolls and coral reefs that guard the nations coastline and
unites 200 different and distinct cultures and over 800 different languages.