Cruising

Panama Canal x2

/ marniesteve / 1 Comment

We’ve cruised the Panama Canal twice before, and both times we did a full transit. That means we went in one side and out the other. This time our itinerary included a partial transit which means we went in part way and then turned around and came back the same way we entered. We didn’t realize it when we booked this trip, but the partial transit has a lot of advantages. We spent more time in the canal, saw the highlights from two directions, and didn’t have to fly across the country to get home.

Our canal passage began by crossing under the Bridge of the Americas, at one time the Pan American highway’s connection across the water and the official entrance to the canal. It was at this point we could see the Country Inn & Suites, the hotel we stayed in a few years ago.

During the transit a narrator provides commentary about the canal’s history and operation so you know what you are seeing. Whether on deck or in your cabin you can listen throughout the day-long transit.

Passing through the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks, the Culebra Cut, and into Gatun Lake, we enjoyed the day by wandering the ship and taking in the sites from all angles. We saw cargo ship of all sizes transporting everything from oil to cars and even yachts. Did you know there are crocodiles in the Panama Canal? Yep, we saw them!

After reaching Gatun Lake, which is more than halfway through the Canal, we pulled out of the shipping channel and dropped anchor. While spending the night in the canal we were able to watch even more ships pass by, on their way to ports across the globe.

The following day we did it all again in the opposite direction. And, like when you’re hiking, it looked different from the other way. On our way back out to the Pacific Ocean we continued to be awed by the enormity of the canal project and the impact it has had on world commerce.

One fascinating thing we observed on the second day was the transit of two small boats. Normally the daytime is reserved for big ships, and the small ones pass at night when the traffic slows and the prices drop. For some reason two sailboats we’re using the locks at the same time as we were. It was fun to watch them maneuver the locks in contrast to how the big ships do it. To say they were dwarfed in comparison to our ship is an understatement.

Our second day cruising the Panama Canal finished by anchoring off the coast of Panama City, where the night was spent off loading trash and refueling for the remainder of our journey.

Now we are headed towards home, with stops in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Manzanillo, Mexico. More adventures are planned, so stay tuned.

Redemption at Pacaya

/ marniesteve / 2 Comments

At least ten years ago we cruised to the Panama Canal with a stop at Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala. Our plan at that time was to hike the active Pacaya Volcano. Via the ship’s excursion we made it to the trailhead. But Marnie’s suspected case of Norovirus sent us back to the ship before we even took a step towards the lava. We’ve had this on our bucket list ever since.

Today we embarked on the same excursion, feeling 100% and ready to tackle the trek. Along with 21 other Island Princess passengers we conquered the relatively steep two mile hike up through the jungle until the volcano appeared before us.

Pacaya is very active with the last big flow occurring in 2014. We watched in awe as rocks and smoke shot from the top of the mountain and red lava flowed from its sides.

The so-called “ring of fire” runs through Central America with many active volcanoes throughout the region. We visited several during past trips to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and now we can add Guatemala’s craters to the list.

In total we hiked about four miles and being down close to recent lava flows was a highlight. Now Guatemala is on our list of places to return, as there are many more volcanoes to explore.

Now we’re on our way to the Panama Canal!

Canyoning the Zimatan River and a Haircut in Chiapas

/ marniesteve / 1 Comment

After three relaxing days at sea, we arrived into the port of Huatulco, Mexico. We’d been here one other time on another cruise through the Panama Canal and knew we’d enjoy the day.

A side note: our preference is always to find excursions on our own, rather than booking through the ship. We’ve found that the ship’s excursions are often overpriced and don’t offer the kind of flexibility we like. We’d much rather be in a car instead of a tour bus, with the option to stop when we want if something cool catches our eye. As such, we researched and booked quite a few active adventures prior to setting sail, and our first one was today in Huatulco.

Upon leaving the ship we met Cristian from Oaxaca Expediciones, who led us on our canyoning adventure. Cristian had great reviews on Trip Advisor, so we were comfortable jumping into his car and heading into the outskirts of Huatulco and down a dirt back road.

After about a 40 minute drive we came to a stop overlooking the Zimatan river. After being outfitted with helmets and life jackets, the three of us began our hike up the river. Crossing the river and the scrambling over large boulders, we travelled about a mile and half up the river canyon. It was pretty warm–about 90 degrees. That made getting into the fast moving river all the more refreshing.Once we reached Cristian’s designated spot, we slid into the water to cool off and enjoy the natural hydro massage pools. The massage was provided by the fast moving water, which eventually took us downstream. At some points the water was too shallow to float, so we’d get up and walk.

Eventually we reached a place where the canyon narrowed and the granite walls towered around us. The only way through was by rappelling down the rock face into the water below. Cristian is an accomplished river guide, and he expertly set us up to safely lower ourselves down the 30 foot rock wall on a rope.After the fun rappel, we finished floating back to where we began.

We are probably some of the youngest of the 2000+ passengers on the Island Princess and those who asked about our day seemed amazed when we described our excursion. Since it wasn’t like the ship-sponsored excursions, most seemed to think we were a little crazy. But for us, today was the perfect way to experience Huatulco.

The following day we docked in Puerto Chiapas, our first visit to Mexico’s most southern state. Instead of an excursion here, we opted for a shuttle to the closest city of Tapachula.

Once on every trip Steve likes to get a local haircut and Tapachula seemed like a good place for that. Miguel the barber gave Steve a great cut for less than $3.00. After taking care of business, we wandered the local market, making friends with some of the most friendly people we’ve met in a long time. While selling everything from chicken and meat to vegetables and housewares, everyone had a warm smile for us. Next we move south to Guatemala’s Puerto Quetzal where another adventure awaits.