Guna Yala, Panama , 11/8/2022, National Geographic Quest
Aboard the
National Geographic Quest
Costa Rica, Panama & Colombia
Today we enjoyed one of the most amazing cultural experiences Panama has to offer. We visited the people of Guna Yala in their amazing archipelago of incredible islands. In the morning we visited the village of La Maquina, where we were greeted by many of its 500 inhabitants. We learned about their culture and looked at the different art and souvenirs they sell to visitors, especially the molas. We also enjoyed the beach on one little island, with crystal clear water and white sand the snorkeling was amazing.
Known for his passion for nature and dedication to conservation and ecotourism, Max Vindas has been guiding natural history trips in Costa Rica since 1993. On his first trip to the rainforest at age eight, Max realized his love for the outdoors and w...
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After cruising during the night, National Geographic Quest arrived at the coast of Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge. This 53-hectare wildlife reserve has 13 hectares of dry tropical rain forest and more than 40 hectares of coral. We were eager to go ashore and spend the entire day exploring this paradise. In the morning, the tides were ideal for snorkeling. A lovely school of bicolored parrot fish together with orange-sided triggerfish were seen by our guests. The resilient reef showed evidence of health and life. We were all delighted to see the abundant marine life, the amazing result of conservation. After lunch, we walked around the premises of the park. A big colony of magnificent frigatebirds were nesting at the back of the island. The males had their red gular pouches inflated, and were clicking their beaks, waiting for a female to accept their charming advances. It was a great day enjoying what nature provided for our guests.
This morning, National Geographic Quest anchored in front of Barro Colorado Island (BCI), where the sunrise provided a stunning view, perfectly aligned with one of the nearby buoys. After breakfast, some guests visited the Forest Discovery Center (FDC), near Gamboa, part of Soberanía National Park. There, they observed various species of hummingbirds and trogons and had the chance to visit the observation tower for an incredible view of the forest canopy. On the way back from the FDC, they spotted white-faced monkeys, howler monkeys, and Geoffroy's tamarins. At the same time, guests had the option to explore the island by land or water. Some chose to embark on a Zodiac cruise around the island, exploring its perimeter with a guide while taking in the surrounding wildlife. Others ventured onto the island itself, walking trails frequently used by scientists. On the island, guests spotted spider monkeys, crested guans, and various species of antbirds following the army ants, offering an up-close look at the island’s diverse ecosystem. In the afternoon, we continued our transit through the Panama Canal, heading toward the Culebra Cut where we prepared to enter the Pacific set of locks, making our way toward the Pacific Ocean.
It’s amazing how the time goes! It feels like just yesterday that everybody came aboard to explore Costa Rica’s rainforest, people, and traditions. Today, on our last full day together, we visited one of the most unique biological reserves in the world: Barro Colorado. This island in the middle of the Panama Canal is the site of some of the world’s most important tropical rainforest research; biologists from all over the world have been fascinated with the country’s biodiversity since the Panama Canal opened. We had the opportunity to walk through the island with guides who explained their work and the various programs they run. At the same time, another group of guests opted for a different tour to explore the small town of Gamboa. We visited the Rainforest Discovery Center, where we really enjoyed the rainforest because we got rain. In the afternoon, we offered two panga boat tours around the island in the canal. For almost two hours we had the opportunity to see iguanas, birds, and monkeys, including the area’s most unique monkey species, Geoffroy’s tamarin.
