Isla Coiba National Park
While we slept, National Geographic Sea Lion continued sailing through the night up the Pacific Coast. We awakened in the morning in one of Panama’s newest and largest national parks. Covering 700,000 acres and including 27 islands, Coiba National Park is the third-largest marine park in the world. The namesake and largest of these islands, Isla Coiba, along with several surrounding islands, has been virtually untouched by development because it housed a self-sustaining prison from 1919 up until very recently. In 2003 the last of the prisoners were relocated and the area achieved its National Park designation. Next year it will be named a World Heritage Site.
We spent the day enjoying the beautiful white sandy beaches and turquoise waters of two of these islands. First stop: Granito de Oro (“Little Grain of Gold”). Imagine a tiny spit of sand peeking out of turquoise waters, with a handful of palm trees along a crescent band of rock and coral outcroppings. This little paradise is home to thousands of hermit crabs sporting shells of various shapes, colors and sizes. Snorkelers, swimmers and kayakers explored the rich waters, teeming with fishes and wildlife supported by the coral. A few lucky people were visited by a turtle! Our second stop for the day: picnic lunch on the main island near the ranger station, followed by relaxed strolls along the beach and through forest trails on the lookout for birds, and second rounds of snorkeling, kayaking, and swimming.
Back onboard we gathered for a final talk on the history and culture of Panama, and then for cocktails and recap. I noticed a large group remained on the upper bridge deck – reluctant to leave the fresh ocean air and spectacular scenery. At this writing we are underway, heading further north for our entrance into Costa Rica.
