Discover Guanacaste, Costa Rica. These stunning photographs of the wildlife, people, beaches, and forests of Guanacaste give you a taste of our new itinerary.
Spending a day under the coconut palms of Guna Yala, off the northeastern Caribbean coast of Panama, is a rare chance to experience a traditional way of life that can also seem decades ahead of its time.
Help release rehabilitated sea turtles and learn more about turtle conservation at the Latin American Sea Turtles Association on Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula.
We'll take "things that make you go aww!" for $1000. From sloths to sea lions, these cute baby animal photos will have you packing your bags for Costa Rica, Baja, Antarctica and beyond.
The wildest of Costa Rica’s wild places are also the least accessible—unless you approach by expedition ship. Here are more reasons to explore this region from the sea.
Keep your camera close at hand. In Guanacaste, breathtaking natural beauty waits around every corner—from mist-shrouded volcanoes to remote jungle waterfalls.
One recent guest aboard the National Geographic Quest shares his 10 moments of discoveries from his voyage, including a surprise visit from a family of humpback whales.
The Panama Canal—one of the seven wonders of the modern world—has been a key conduit for international maritime trade since it was completed at the turn of the last century. Read more from Expedition Development Manager Ted Kenefick about the profound and poignant experience of crossing the canal for the first time.
For the second day in a row, we awoke underway with a beautiful sunrise and gray whales surrounding us as we headed south to Bahía Almejas. Pelicans and double crested cormorants flew low, their reflections mirrored in the calm morning water. Every so often a curious California sea lion would pop its head out of the water. After breakfast, we went out in local boats, pangas, to enjoy our second outing watching these amazing whales. Every direction we looked there were whales, and often we just quieted ourselves to soak up the sounds of their breathing. Back on board the ship, we went north to begin our afternoon hikes at Sand Dollar Beach. Starting on the bay side, we journeyed west through the stunning sand dunes to arrive on the Pacific side. This area was lovingly nicknamed for the multitude of sand dollars that you can find here washed ashore, but it is a rich area for beach combing in general. In the dunes, we stopped to photograph the resilient vegetation, the shell middens, and the animal tracks we found in the sand. It was another wonderful day!
Our first day exploring the wild side of the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica began with a lovely sunrise behind the lush forest of Drake Bay. We were so eager to land and explore the private reserve in Punta Caleta, that we geared up right after breakfast and landed on the beach. Our guests divided into groups to explore the area. There were long hikes through a pristine forest, a coastline hike, and a walk of the premises for those who wanted to concentrate more on birding and photography. No matter which excursion was chosen, everyone enjoyed the sightings of birds, mammals, reptiles, and plants. Our naturalists shared their knowledge about the area and the natural history, making it a very immersive morning. Our afternoon activities were held at the San Pedrillo Field Station in Corcovado National Park. Here two options were offered, including a hike to a small waterfall or a less strenuous walk along a trail. Back on board, we all gathered in the lounge to share our experiences of the day. It was an afternoon also loaded with good sightings of primates, birds and crocodiles. Everyone was smiling as they shared their experiences.
The sun had barely risen when we anchored in Punta Cormorant, right next to the striking geological formation of Devil's Crown. Our early morning hike began with playful sea lions greeting us at the shore. This site is famous for its large brackish lagoon, home to many flamingos. We were lucky to spot a few, as they frequently move around the archipelago, and it’s never certain where they’ll be. The island’s landscape was transforming into a lush paradise, with rain bringing life to the dormant palo santo trees. The dry desert scenery was gradually being replaced by vibrant greenery. Punta Cormorant is also known for being a sea turtle nesting site, and we saw fresh tracks of turtles that had nested the night before. We snorkeled around Champion Islet, enjoying the vibrant marine life, including plenty of fish and sharks. The calm waters and excellent visibility made for an unforgettable experience. In the afternoon, we kayaked in a tranquil protected area surrounded by sea turtles and sea lions. Our next stop was the famous Post Office Barrel on Floreana Island, where we left postcards and searched for others to hand deliver back home. As the day ended, Floreana gifted us a stunning sunset to cap off our adventure.
Our first full day together exploring the beautiful Sea of Cortez couldn’t have been better. Shortly after having watched a colorful sunrise over Danzante Island, National Geographic Venture delved deeper into the waters of the Loreto Bay National Park. The park was established in 1995 by the Mexican government to protect the very productive waters around Five Island, a well-known area for whales and dolphins, and today’s exploration didn’t disappoint. We watched not one or two, but five different cetacean species during the morning, starting with a solitary fin whale, followed by blue whales before breakfast! A Bryde’s whale, a few humpbacks, and more blues rounded out the number of baleen whales, while a pod of killer whales started the trip’s count of toothed whales. We went ashore in the afternoon at Puerto Gatos, a beautiful little bay just south of the national park where we snorkeled, hiked, and had a great time experiencing the magic of the Baja California peninsula. What an awesome first day!
A day was spent at sea on National Geographic Resolution as the expedition to Patagonia and Antarctica approaches the end with our navigation across the Drake Passage to Ushuaia. It is a time for reflection for all those on board to refresh their memories and to view their photographs of the dramatic landscapes and the diverse wildlife we have witnessed while visiting these special places on our planet. We have been blessed with the weather over the last several weeks and, today, the Drake Passage is in a calm state in terms of swells, less than 2 meters. Several long-finned pilot whales were spotted from the bridge and, so too, five species of petrel and a light-mantled albatross. Fin whales, killer whales, and hourglass dolphins were also spotted. During the day, guests enjoyed a number of presentations, including “Tectonic Accidents-The geology of Antarctica” by Jackie Windh and “The Mighty Krill” by Anne Hedlund. Captain Martin Graser gave a presentation on the design and building of National Geographic Resolution , while our photographic team, led by Alex Joseph and Jennifer Davidson Meadows, compiled guests’ photographs for inclusion in the end of voyage slideshow that is planned for tomorrow evening.