Coiba National Park, Panama
Our morning began early aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion. After sailing 120 nautical miles we left Costa Rica behind and entered Panamanian waters. Standing out on deck as the sun was rising, the Island of Coiba came into view. The Zodiacs were lowered from the lido deck and we took the short ride over to this infamous island that had been a penal colony for decades. Coiba, a group of smaller islands, its surrounding waters, and one of the largest coral reefs on the eastern Pacific coast, was established as a National Park by the Panamanian government in 1991 and covers 270,000 hectares. UNESCO recognized the ecological significance and biodiversity of this pristine place and designated it as a World Heritage Site in 2005.
We walked along the beautiful sandy beach past a skeleton of a whale. We saw several turkey vultures with their wings spread wide, drying them in the early morning sun. Then our naturalist spotted a lone howler monkey sitting high up in a tree watching us as we watched her. We learned that on occasion a monkey may be ousted from the troop from a time and later allowed to rejoin the troop. Bird watchers spotted the brilliantly colored Scarlet-rumped Tanager. The amazing red color contrasted against the green leaves, provided a wonderful photo opportunity.
Our next outing was to the tiny island of Isla Granito de Oro or “Little grain of gold”. This spectacular spot surrounded by turquoise water and a marvelous coral reef was the perfect snorkeling spot. We saw a variety of fish including Moorish Idols, Parrotfish, eels, white tipped sharks, and also Hawk’s billed turtles. Some guests kayaked around the island while others observed the hermit crabs and relaxed.
Back on the National Geographic Sea Lion we began our 180 mile navigation eastward towards the Panama Canal.
