The Panama Canal & Costa Rica

If you are a U.S. citizen, you will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Tauck journey for entry into Panama and Costa Rica. You will not need a visa for the short duration of this tour. Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

If you are a citizen of another country traveling internationally, you should contact a consulate or embassy of Panama and Costa Rica to determine what travel documentation is required.

You will be issued a boarding card, which you must present before embarking the ship in each port.

We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Note: For activities marked with an asterisk (*) in day-by-day descriptions, participation is at your own risk; a signed liability waiver will be required.

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN AS A GUARDIAN: If you are traveling as the guardian of a child/children, we strongly suggest that you carry a letter from both parents of the child authorizing emergency treatment in the event of illness or accident. For travel abroad, many foreign countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling internationally without BOTH parents. (These requirements are in response to the increased incidence of children being abducted and taken abroad.) PLEASE NOTE THAT TAUCK IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for children traveling without both parents.

Your journey is designed with leisure in mind. Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is adaptable and allows for layering. Most days are spent outside or in transit. Therefore, casual, comfortable, cotton clothing is recommended. Breezy days at sea and cool evenings will require warmer, layered clothing. A jacket and tie are not required for gentlemen aboard ship.

The "casual elegance" of a small cruise ship is also reflected in the way their guests' dress. We recommend that you wear relaxed and comfortable clothing, as you would at an elegant land resort. For women's daytime wear, we suggest walking shorts, skirts, sarongs, lightweight tops and cover-ups; for evening wear - sun dresses, pants, or informal cocktail attire. For men's daytime wear, we suggest Bermuda shorts, polo shirts, and khaki pants; in the evening - lightweight trousers and short-sleeved dress or polo shirts. No suits or ties are required. Shorts, jeans, and t-shirts are not permitted in the restaurant or bistro during the evening.

Comfortable walking shoes with ankle support are a must, and also important for this journey are reef shoes, aqua socks, Teva sandals or an old pair of sneakers for beach landings because your feet will get wet. Due to tropical conditions you will also need to bring a rain poncho or jacket. Don't forget a swimsuit, and a t-shirt to wear over your swimsuit when snorkeling. Snorkeling equipment is provided free of charge, or you may bring your own.

For higher elevations and cool, breezy nights at sea, bring a windbreaker, sweater, or light jacket. Please also note that sundries, toiletries, and medications are difficult to obtain during this itinerary.

Consider packing a number of garments you can wear in different combinations over four or five days. On board the ship, next-day laundry and pressing service is available; dry cleaning services, irons and ironing boards are not available.

Beyond your normal wardrobe and personal grooming items, we suggest you also bring along:

• Comfortable walking shoes (VERY IMPORTANT!)
• Reef shoes, Teva sandals or Aqua socks
• Rainwear, such as a raincoat and rain hat, plus a collapsible umbrella
• Short and long-sleeved shirts/tee shirts (extra tee shirts are always a good idea)
• Shorts and pants for casual daytime wear
• Sport jacket for men (not required) and slacks/dress for women for evening wear
• Lightweight sweater
• Camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards and chargers
• Swimwear
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen and hat (baseball caps are recommended)
• Small flashlight
• Insect repellent
• Pre-moistened towelettes and/or antibacterial lotion
• Backpack for your photographic equipment or other belongings during ship-to-shore transfers
•  Reusable zipper lock bags or other waterproof bags to protect cameras and other valuables during ship-to-shore transfers
• Binoculars
• Travel alarm clock/ cell phone with alarm functions (many hotels do not have clocks in the rooms)
• Prescription medicines (an adequate supply to last your entire journey), and written copies of your prescriptions from your doctor. While it may be possible to refill prescriptions during your journey, the availability of refills cannot be guaranteed. What's more, refilling prescriptions in foreign countries can be difficult and time-consuming.

We have partnered with New Headings, an experienced online provider of travel gear, to assist you in selecting the appropriate gear for this destination. Their Tauck-exclusive website is accessible at necessarygear.com. Please note that while Tauck has an affiliation with New Headings, this is only one option for travel gear. You may wish to look into other outfitters for your travel needs.