Last night we entered the Panama Canal on the Pacific side of Panama. Passing under the bridge of the Americas into the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks, bringing to a near conclusion our voyage after sailing from Costa Rica, where our expedition began (less than a week ago)!
This morning we woke up anchored in the Gatun Lake, in the middle of the Panama Canal, 85 feet above sea level, right in front of our destination for our morning activities, the famous Smithsonian Institute’s Barro Colorado Island or “BCI”. BCI was once the top of a hill, but during the construction of the Panama Canal, when the Chagres River was dammed and Gatun Lake was created, it became an island. Back then, visionary people saw the potential of creating a research facility deep within the protection of the Canal zone for the tropical rainforest. BCI is today, a long ongoing and well known research facility, where many generations of researches have been gathering most of what we know today about the tropical rainforest.
This morning we had the privilege of visiting the island either by expedition landing crafts around it, or by walking on the very same trails used by the researchers, and all of our groups led by certified naturalist of BCI. During our visit, we had the opportunity of learning about some of the research done in the past and today. We certainly owe a lot of what it is known about the tropical rainforest to BCI.
During our visit we had great sightings of some the wildlife that lives here, such as American crocodiles, spectacled caimans, snail kites, spider and howler monkeys, Central American agouties among other creatures.
Upon our return to National Geographic Sea Lion in the afternoon, we gathered to enjoy a splendid lunch and later took some time to rest and wait for our second Panama Canal pilot to take us to the grand finale: at the Gatun locks on the Caribbean coast of Panama. Descending again to sea level while enjoying cocktails on the outer decks to celebrate the end of a great week together along the coast of Costa Rica and Panama.
