Bona & Otoque Island, Miraflores & Pedro Miguel Locks, Panama Canal
At 10:00 the Sea Voyager entered the waters of the Gulf of Panama. Calmed waters, overcast skies and at least two dozen bottle-nosed dolphins welcomed us to the area of Bona and Otoque islands.
Right after breakfast, we lowered the Zodiacs to explore this masterpiece of nature, with its lush green vegetation and basaltic geological formation. Magnificent frigatebirds, brown pelicans, blue-footed and brown boobies were the main actors that entertained our spirits with their gracious flight.
Our attention was focused as well on the local fishermen and their daily routine. Their faces showed hope to catch a good size snapper or sea bass to sell it on the local fish market. Our cameras captured these moments all together, men and nature interacting as one.
By mid afternoon, we entered the area around Flamenco Bay, our main port of call in Panama City. We received the immigration officers, officials from the ACP (Panama’s Canal Authority) and by late afternoon our pilot to direct us into the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks.
Our transit through the first set of locks kept our guests in constant movement throughout the ship. The fully lit canal chambers provided a great display of colors from the luminosity of the locomotives, control towers and other ships crossing the locks westbound. This time we share the lock chamber with a general cargo ship bound towards the Caribbean islands. As the locks opened or closed we marveled with this piece of engineering that was built to last. The vast vision of the constructors into the future ninety-three years ago keeps different generations of travelers to Panama marveling.
At 10:00 the Sea Voyager entered the waters of the Gulf of Panama. Calmed waters, overcast skies and at least two dozen bottle-nosed dolphins welcomed us to the area of Bona and Otoque islands.
Right after breakfast, we lowered the Zodiacs to explore this masterpiece of nature, with its lush green vegetation and basaltic geological formation. Magnificent frigatebirds, brown pelicans, blue-footed and brown boobies were the main actors that entertained our spirits with their gracious flight.
Our attention was focused as well on the local fishermen and their daily routine. Their faces showed hope to catch a good size snapper or sea bass to sell it on the local fish market. Our cameras captured these moments all together, men and nature interacting as one.
By mid afternoon, we entered the area around Flamenco Bay, our main port of call in Panama City. We received the immigration officers, officials from the ACP (Panama’s Canal Authority) and by late afternoon our pilot to direct us into the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks.
Our transit through the first set of locks kept our guests in constant movement throughout the ship. The fully lit canal chambers provided a great display of colors from the luminosity of the locomotives, control towers and other ships crossing the locks westbound. This time we share the lock chamber with a general cargo ship bound towards the Caribbean islands. As the locks opened or closed we marveled with this piece of engineering that was built to last. The vast vision of the constructors into the future ninety-three years ago keeps different generations of travelers to Panama marveling.
