Coiba National Marine Park, Panama
Today was a day another day to remember, our first in Panama. We arrived at Isla Coiba at sunrise; the forested slopes baked gold by the early light. This island is the largest uninhabited island in the eastern Pacific and is Panama’s newest National Park. In fact, it is also one of the world’s largest marine parks. Our plan was to spend the entire morning here, first on land, then in or on the water.
Before breakfast, a group of us went ashore at the Park Headquarters to explore for birds. We spied a number of interesting and colorful birds including red-legged honeycreeper, red-headed woodpecker, blue and gray tanager, crimson-backed tanager, banaquit, lesser elaenia, and the streaked flycatcher. We also watched a great kiskadee (today’s photo) feeding its young in a nest built in a palm tree directly above the trail.
The remainder of the morning we spent swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking around Granito del Oro, the “Little Grain of Gold.” This picturesque island has only 4 palm trees and is surrounded by a perfect patch of white sand about the size of a football field. Most of us took to the water with our fins and snorkels, while others paddled the turquoise water by kayak. Not a bad place to spend the day!
To end the day, we sailed into the Gulf of Panama with anticipation of visiting the famous Panama Canal tomorrow.
Today was a day another day to remember, our first in Panama. We arrived at Isla Coiba at sunrise; the forested slopes baked gold by the early light. This island is the largest uninhabited island in the eastern Pacific and is Panama’s newest National Park. In fact, it is also one of the world’s largest marine parks. Our plan was to spend the entire morning here, first on land, then in or on the water.
Before breakfast, a group of us went ashore at the Park Headquarters to explore for birds. We spied a number of interesting and colorful birds including red-legged honeycreeper, red-headed woodpecker, blue and gray tanager, crimson-backed tanager, banaquit, lesser elaenia, and the streaked flycatcher. We also watched a great kiskadee (today’s photo) feeding its young in a nest built in a palm tree directly above the trail.
The remainder of the morning we spent swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking around Granito del Oro, the “Little Grain of Gold.” This picturesque island has only 4 palm trees and is surrounded by a perfect patch of white sand about the size of a football field. Most of us took to the water with our fins and snorkels, while others paddled the turquoise water by kayak. Not a bad place to spend the day!
To end the day, we sailed into the Gulf of Panama with anticipation of visiting the famous Panama Canal tomorrow.
