At a time when luxury is no longer measured solely by comfort, but by accessibility, authenticity, and connection to the destination, PONANT EXPLORATIONS has been embodying this way of traveling for years. Their proposal for winter 2026/27 in the Caribbean and Central America is a prime example: nearly 50 departures, eight itineraries, and a single underlying concept—exploring without intruding.
With over 35 years of history, PONANT EXPLORATIONS has built its identity on a rare balance: French sophistication and an expeditionary spirit. This is no accidental combination. An intimate fleet of twelve boats—small yachts—allows access to places others cannot reach: remote archipelagos, nature reserves, and small communities. The sailing ship Le Ponant, an elegant three-masted vessel launched in 1991 and completely refurbished in 2019; the four sister ships, Le Boréal, L'Austral, Le Soléal, and Le Lyrial, which combine classic itineraries with expeditions capable of sailing even to polar regions; and the PONANT Explorers series, with Le Lapérouse, Le Champlain, Le Bougainville, Le Dumont-d'Urville, Le Bellot, and Le Jacques-Cartier, which incorporates the latest advances in design and technology. and Le Commandant Charcot, the first hybrid luxury icebreaker powered by liquefied natural gas, which opens the door to extreme destinations such as the North Pole and the far reaches of Antarctica.
On board, everything reflects that same approach. Outside suites with balconies, French-inspired cuisine, experts accompanying each voyage—naturalists, historians, local guides—and a constant feeling of traveling “in a different way.” Closer, slower, more mindful.
A season between two oceans
The 2026/27 winter program unfolds between the Caribbean and the Pacific, connecting destinations that share more than just geography. There is history here—the Spanish influence, the pre-Columbian civilizations—but also a biodiversity that makes each stop a unique experience.
Panama, Peru, Costa Rica, and Baja California are not new destinations. What's changing is the way you travel through them.
Panama and Peru, from the Caribbean to the Andes
One of the most comprehensive itineraries is the one that connects Panama with Peru. A journey that begins in the most authentic Caribbean, in the San Blas archipelago, where the Kuna people maintain their traditions intact, and continues by crossing the legendary Panama Canal.
From there, the landscape changes. The Pacific opens the door to another narrative: colonial cities, pre-Columbian ruins, and the constant presence of the Andes on the horizon. The experience can be extended inland with excursions to Machu Picchu.
The voyage “From the wild beauty of Panama to the Peruvian coast” departs on October 20, 2026, from Colón and visits the San Blas Archipelago, the Panama Canal (transit), Coiba Island, Golfito, Cocos Island, Salaverry, and Callao. An 11-day journey aboard L'Austral.
Baja California, nature in its purest form
In Baja California, the pace of the journey changes. Here, everything revolves around nature. An arid, almost wild territory, where the desert meets one of the richest marine ecosystems on the planet.
Gray whales arrive in these waters every year to give birth. Dolphins, manta rays, and exceptional marine life accompany the traveler on a truly contemplative experience.
The "Exploration in the Heart of Baja California" voyage departs from Cabo San Lucas on January 31, 2027, February 20, March 2, and March 12, 2027, and visits Magdalena Bay, Puerto San Carlos, Loreto, Espíritu Santo Island, La Paz, Los Islotes, Cabo Pulmo, and returns to Cabo San Lucas. An 11-day voyage aboard Le Bellot.
Costa Rica, total immersion
If there's one destination that truly embodies the idea of "responsible exploration," it's Costa Rica. Its Pacific coast is one of the planet's great natural sanctuaries.
From Puntarenas to the Osa Peninsula, every stop is an immersion in biodiversity. Corcovado National Park, Drake Bay, and Manuel Antonio are not just names; they are living ecosystems.
The trip begins on December 1st or 28th, 2026, from Puntarenas, visiting Tortuga Island, Quepos, Manuel Antonio National Park, Golfito, Drake Bay, Corcovado National Park, Caño Island, and returns to Puntarenas. An 8-day trip aboard Le Bellot.
Five additional itineraries complete the nearly 50 planned departures in the region, with routes through the Lesser Antilles, Cuba, Belize, Honduras and the Atlantic-Pacific axis through the Panama Canal.
This programming fits particularly well in the Spanish market, since beyond the climate or the distance, there is an obvious cultural connection, such as the shared language, common history and recognizable references.
The Caribbean and Central America remain aspirational destinations. But when explored from a different perspective—more intimate, more conscious, more connected—the journey is completely transformed.
The 2026/27 season of PONANT EXPLORATIONS doesn't seek to reinvent these places, but rather to offer access to their most authentic selves. And in that balance between exploration and comfort, between nature and culture, lies perhaps the key: making luxury meaningful.
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