Happy New Year!
After exploring the beautiful country of Costa Rica, enjoying some of its beaches and its vast biodiversity, this January 1st, 2014 we arrived at an island in a very remote place called Coiba. For many Panamanians, this was known as the jail – a place not of pleasure, but where only the strongest survived.
Back in the year of 1919 Coiba’s prison was created in order to isolate prisoners from other Panamanians; it was a self-sufficient jail where you worked hard, but during the years 1968 to 1989 – when we lived under a military system – the mere name Coiba brought fear and silence for Panamanians. Nevertheless, the location of this prison facilitated the creation of this island as a protected area with more than 700,000 acres; as a national park this land has remained intact.
Many locations in Coiba have not been explored. It has several endemic species and over 80% of the island is covered by native vegetation, including mangroves, and white sand beaches.
Aboard National Geographic Sea Lion we had the opportunity to visit this place, full of mystery and beauty; we reached a small island called Granito de Oro. At Granito de Oro we had the opportunity to explore coral reefs, with great varieties of fish, like parrotfish, guineafowl puffer and important aggregations of scissor-tailed chromis, Panamanian sergeants with Pacific creolfish.
Many of our travelers had the opportunity to snorkel and see the variety of fish, swim with turtles, and see sharks. Others had the opportunity to kayak around this small island and enjoy the sun and the beach.
After a full morning our crew was waiting for us with a very good lunch including soup and sandwiches; by early afternoon we started sailing to Panama City, escorted by leaping dolphins. By late afternoon, with some rain on the horizon and the majestic view of Punta Mariato, with its series of mountains, we ended a great day aboard National Geographic Sea Lion.
