Barro Colorado Island and the Panama Canal
Last night we had a successful crossing of the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks aboard of the Sea Voyager. This morning after a hearty breakfast, we had the privilege of having a team of naturalists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute of the Barro Colorado Island come on board and deliver a very interesting presentation about the different research projects occuring on the island. What a great way to start our adventure on the Barro Colorado Island and our last visit to a tropical rain forest.
Some of our guests took part in the Zodiac rides around the island, learning about the spectacular and lush forest that grows on the edge of the water, where they were able to spot howler monkey, spider monkeys, keel-billed toucans, American crocodiles and much more. Other guests, desired to explore the different trails of the island by foot, this experience also delivered wonderful sightings such as an emerald vine snake, crested guans, basilisk lizards and gave them the opportunity to take a close look of some of the giant trees of the forest and learn about its dynamics.
After our unique experience at BCI and fruitful explorations of the flora and fauna of Gatun Lake, we all went back on board of the Sea Voyager to enjoy a delicious lunch. Around 1:30pm we welcomed our pilot on board to take command of the Sea Voyager and direct us through the last part of Gatun Lake. We arrived to the last set of locks just before 3:00pm where we waited to take our turn through the last locks, by 6:00 the warm water of the Caribbean Sea greeted us. While we waited tied to the wall of the first chamber at the Gatun locks, a giant group of capybaras, the largest rodents of the world, bade us farewell. At the Port of Cristobal we docked to have our farewell dinner, the perfect conclusion of our expeditions in Costa Rica and Panama and an experience of a lifetime aboard the Sea Voyager.
Last night we had a successful crossing of the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks aboard of the Sea Voyager. This morning after a hearty breakfast, we had the privilege of having a team of naturalists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute of the Barro Colorado Island come on board and deliver a very interesting presentation about the different research projects occuring on the island. What a great way to start our adventure on the Barro Colorado Island and our last visit to a tropical rain forest.
Some of our guests took part in the Zodiac rides around the island, learning about the spectacular and lush forest that grows on the edge of the water, where they were able to spot howler monkey, spider monkeys, keel-billed toucans, American crocodiles and much more. Other guests, desired to explore the different trails of the island by foot, this experience also delivered wonderful sightings such as an emerald vine snake, crested guans, basilisk lizards and gave them the opportunity to take a close look of some of the giant trees of the forest and learn about its dynamics.
After our unique experience at BCI and fruitful explorations of the flora and fauna of Gatun Lake, we all went back on board of the Sea Voyager to enjoy a delicious lunch. Around 1:30pm we welcomed our pilot on board to take command of the Sea Voyager and direct us through the last part of Gatun Lake. We arrived to the last set of locks just before 3:00pm where we waited to take our turn through the last locks, by 6:00 the warm water of the Caribbean Sea greeted us. While we waited tied to the wall of the first chamber at the Gatun locks, a giant group of capybaras, the largest rodents of the world, bade us farewell. At the Port of Cristobal we docked to have our farewell dinner, the perfect conclusion of our expeditions in Costa Rica and Panama and an experience of a lifetime aboard the Sea Voyager.
