Wildlife of North and Central America

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Discover Unique Ports of Call

Explore Dutch Harbor, Alaska, home to rugged Bering Sea fishermen; or Loreto, Mexico where marine biologists study the Sea of Cortez. In Nicaragua’s untouched coastal town, Corinta, locals enjoy the quiet life amidst volcanoes, lakes and lush rainforests. Experience it all from the 6-star ultra-luxury of your Discovery Yacht.

At just 551-feet in length, the world-class design and smaller size of Scenic Eclipse enables access to unique villages and local ports. Unalaska Island, the gateway to the Aleutians, Dutch Harbor survived Japanese bombings during World War II to become a vibrant, adventure playground. Sitka, an island community bridging the mountains and the sea, maintains its Russian heritage from when it was the Empire’s Alaskan capitol. Today Sitka residents welcome you to a world of brown bears, bald eagles and all five species of Pacific salmon. Be immersed in Tlingit culture, from stunning totem poles to Chief Shakes Tribal House in remote Wrangell, one of Alaska’s oldest towns and renowned as “the heart of the Inside Passage”. With just up to 228 guests on board and up to six Scenic Freechoice excursions on offer each day, delight in the knowledge and expertise of our Discovery Guides or your personal e-bike exploration. Take your Alaskan experience to the next level, with flightseeing above spectacular glaciers or heli-hiking amid mountain meadows on one of two state-of-the-art helicopters^ on board Scenic Eclipse. California

Eureka is the hidden gem of California’s northern coast, nestled between towering mountains and Humboldt Bay. Take a walking tour through the Victorian-era town including Carson Mansion, considered America’s ‘grandest Victorian home’ and stand in awe in a redwood forest with some of the tallest trees on Earth.

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D A Sitka, Alaska B Redwood Forest National Park, California, USA C Eureka, USA D Querétaro, Mexico E Embera indigenous community, Darien National Park, Panama

B Our Journey Designers offer a unique perspective on San Francisco, adding a special tour of Alcatraz, once a fort, then military prison and finally, a maximum-security Federal penitentiary where inmates like Al Capone served time. Central America

From the historic port, Loreto, delight in the antics of dolphins, seals, turtles and sea lions in Bahía de Loreto National Park, Mexico’s largest marine preserve. Join your Discovery Guide on a hike into nearby Sierra de la Giganta mountain range to view prehistoric cave paintings. Enjoy a warm welcome in Huatulco, a tropical oasis on the Bahía de Cacaluta, where 16 different indigenous groups from the Oaxacan region maintain distinctly different foods and cultures. Discover the unique experiences of Central America. From Golfito, Costa Rica’s most southern port, hike in a wildlife refuge and kayak among mangrove stands. Tour old Antigua, renowned for Spanish colonial architecture and capture breathtaking views of emerald volcanoes. In Acajutla, El Salvador, sip some of the world’s best coffee, visit a cocoa hacienda and be fascinated by archaeological sites at San Andrés. Be enchanted by untouched tropical beaches and towering landscapes of Corinto, Nicaragua, Land of Lakes and Volcanoes.

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Colombia

Marvel at myriad bird species including magnificent frigate birds on the tiny, WorldHeritage-listed atoll of Utría National Park, Colombia. Darien National Park, Panama, spans Central and South America and is home to the Embera Indian tribe. Enjoy cultural encounters with these talented craftspeople including a unique dance performance. North and Central America

Whether you choose to explore the high latitudes of Alaska and Canada; the lively west coast of USA and Mexico; or the tropical wonderland from Costa Rica to Peru, our Discovery Guides strive to enhance your understanding of unique destinations, and provide the right amount of flexibility for you to explore at your own pace.

Discover North and Central America

Welcome to a world where ultra-luxury meets discovery. Enjoy thrilling views of breaching humpback whales along Alaska’s Inside Passage from your private verandah or close-ups of iridescent hummingbirds and scarlet macaws flitting through Costa Rican rainforests, through precision Swarovski telescopes on the Observation Deck of Scenic Eclipse. Join your Discovery Team’s expert naturalists and historians for close encounters, like those with magnificent manta rays in the Sea of Cortez and living Mayan culture in Guatemala.

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North America

From spring to autumn, North America’s Pacific coast comes alive as whales, seals and birds chase increasing daylight north to feed on the riches it generates, and return south again as winter sets in. It’s a lively time as fishing fleets depart Dutch Harbor to ply the Bering Sea; grizzly and brown bears fish for salmon; while bald and golden eagles soar above. As snowpack recedes, spectacular hikes open along the coast of Alaska and British Columbia, and fascinating day trips reveal cultures ranging from villages of Inuit hunters to Tlingit totem carvers. Discover music-infused Seattle to Victorian era towns of Oregon and Northern California; and Gold Rush and counterculture San Francisco to sun-drenched beaches of Spanishinfluenced Santa Barbara and San Diego.

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A Sea of Cortez, Mexico B Seattle, USA C Blue anole D Chan Chan ruins, Peru E Santa Barbara, USA F Humboldt penguin, Isla Guañape

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Baja California, Mexico & Central America

Water activities, from paddleboarding, kayaking and snorkeling, feature along the coast of Mexico and Central America. Your expert Discovery guides are keen to show you their favorite spots where the Sea of Cortez laps against Baja California, south to the tropical oasis Bahía de Cacaluta and Oaxaca’s Huatulco National Park. In Guatemala, visit the Spanish colonial capitol Antigua, and rich coffee plantations amidst dramatic volcanic landscapes. El Salvador boasts archaeological sites like the Mayan ruins of Tazuma and Joya de Cerén, the “Pompeii of America, as well as exotic wildlife in El Imposible National Park. From Corinto, set off to hike through Nicaragua’s “Land of Lakes and Volcanoes”. In Bahia Culebra, discover Costa Rica’s natural beauty where iguanas, deer, and white-faced and howler monkeys roam. Chase adventure by horseback, zipline or snorkel, and explore magnificent rainforest in Curu and enchanted coral reefs in Manuel Antonio national parks. Peru, Ecuador & Panama

Trace changing ecosystems from Peru’s Isla Guañape, once quano-harvesting islands but now a reserve for inquisitive southern sea lions, mischievous Humboldt penguins and Guanay cormorants. The Pacoche rainforest in Ecuador is home to howler monkeys, reptiles and exotic birdlife like rufous headed chachalaca and saffron siskin. Colombia’s Utria National Park features magnificent frigate birds and the endemic blue anole, the world’s only pure blue lizard, while Panama’s Darién National Park spans. Central and South America and Embera Indians proudly maintain their traditions amidst tropical rainforest where endangered species like the night monkey, spotted paca and Guatemalan black howler live. In Salaverry Peru, explore ancient cultures and archaeological treasures of the Mochicas and Chimu civilisations, including Sun and Moon pyramids of the former, and of the latter, Arco Iris Temple and the complex of Chan Chan – the largest earthen city of preColumbian America and one of the finest examples of mud cities in the world.